History of Toronto and county of York, Ontario, containing an outline of the history of the Dominion of Canada, a history of the city of Toronto and the county of York, with the townships, towns, villages, churches, schools, general and local statistics, biographical sketches, etc., etc Volume 2

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LIBRARY

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METROPOLITAN.

TORONTO

L BRARY

r

CANADIAN HlSTORr

HISTORY

OF

TORONTO AND COUNTY OF YORK

ONTARIO;

CONTAINING AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA ;

A HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TORONTO AND THE COUNTY OF YORK,

WITH THE TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES,

SCHOOLS; GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ETC., ETC.

VOLUME II.

TORONTO:
C. BLACKETT ROBINSON, PUBLISHER,

1885.

METROPOLITAN

TORONTO

LIBRARY

CANADIAN HISTORY

JAN 1 7 1980

CONTENTS.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

PAGE.

City of Toronto - i

York (East), Township of 179

York (West), Township of - 211

Etobicoke, Township of - 245

Scarborough, Township of - - 269

Markham, Township of - 285

Markham, Village of - - 315

Vaughan, Township of - 329

Richmond Hill, Village of 375

King, Township of - 379

Aurora, Village of - 435

Whitchurch, Township of - - 447

Newmarket, Town of - - 469

East Gwillimbury, Township of - - 487

North Gwillimbury, Township of - 50^1

Georgina, Township of - 59

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE.

James B. Boustead . I ^

Thos. Bright . X 6

John Bugg - . I7

W. H. Clinkenbroomer - . % 32

James Dobson . *i

John William Drummond - - - - 42

Garrett F. Frankland . . - 51

Andrew Heron - - . . - 64

John G. Howard - - - - 69

Mr. Howard s Tomb - --.... go

John Jacques - . - 85

Robt. Jaffray gg

Jas. Michie . . . - 112

Hon. David Reesor . . . . - 134

George Percival Ridout . . - 137

Joseph D. Ridout - ....

William Smith, sen r - --....

William Smith, jun r - -....,

John Smith - ------ 147

Residence of John Smith ... - - 148

S. Vernoy . . . - 165

John Joseph Vickers . . . . - 166

Paul Kane . . . . -176

George Leslie . . . - 196

Lakeview Park - ...... 22 6

John Heron - ...... 271

Geo. Taylor - ..... 277

F. G. Percy - - - - 321

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

CITY OF TORONTO.

L.

AMES ACHESON was born in the County of Leitrim, Ireland,
in 1810, being the sixth in a family of ten children. His parents
were Thomas Acheson and Elizabeth Clark. In 1822 the family
came to Canada and located on a cleared farm of two hundred
and fifty acres near Brockville, where the mother died, aged
ninety-four; in 1841 the father returned to Ireland, where he
died at the age of eighty-six. James Acheson spent his early
life on the farm, and was educated in the common schools. In 1827 he
went to Brockville to learn the trade of a tanner with Isaac Beacher ;
he spent four years there. In 1831 he came to Toronto and began work
with the late Jesse Ketchum. In 1839 he started business for himself, east
of the Don, in a tannery owned by one John Smith ; but in two years he
gave it up and went to Ireland for his health, where he remained eighteen
months. On his return he built a tannery on Yonge Street and ran it for
three years, at the end of which Mr. Ketchum gave him his business. He
carried that on for three years, and then removed to Charles Small s farm
on the Kingston Road, where he built a tannery, which was soon afterwards
burned down. He .then occupied a tannery which was built on the present
site of the Union Station. When that property was sold to the Grand
Trunk Railway he went to Acton, where he built a tannery in partnership
with Alexander McGlashan. On the latter s death, at the expiration of five
years, Mr. Acheson retired and removed to Toronto, where he now li.ves at
40 Maitland Street. In politics he is a Reformer. In 1845 he married
Mary, daughter of John Hamilton, by whom he had one child, now dead.

2 Biographical Notices.

WILLIAM CASE ADAMS, dentist, was born in the Methodist parsonage
at Lundy s Lane, near Niagara, on the i8th October, 1823, and is the
third son of the Rev. Ezra Adams, U. E. Loyalist and Methodist minister,
whose first circuit, in 1814, extended from Rama, on Lake Simcoe, down
Yonge Street to York, and west to St. Catharines and Newark (now Niag
ara), thence to Queenston and on to Long Point, taking six weeks for the
trip. Owing to the lack of postal communication, Mr. Adams carried
letters for such as wished, this being the only way then of conveying news
to friends at a distance. The early education of Dr. Adams was chiefly by
his mother, who was a school teacher previous to her marriage. After
spending sometime studying he went to Victoria College, Cobourg, and from
thence to Highblue, Missouri, where he commenced the study of medicine
with Dr. Berryman. He returned to Canada and finally turned his atten
tion to dentistry, studying about a year with Dr. Harris and a year with
a Dr. Jones, when he settled in Toronto, on King Street, in 1854. In 1870
he was elected one of the teachers in the Dental College and Infirmary,
which position he held until 1873. Dr. Adams is possessed of considerable
mechanical skill, and has invented an appliance for removing roots and
decayed stumps of teeth. With this instrument stumps and roots can be
removed from the mouth with ease when all other known methods have
failed. He was admitted a member of the American Dental Convention at
Saratoga, which society changed its name from the American National
Dental Convention in order to admit him and others from Canada. He is
also a member of the Masonic body and Royal Arcanum, and is a member
of the Methodist Church.

WILLIAM ADAMSON, wharfinger, was born in Heden, Yorkshire, Eng
land, in 1822, being the second son in a family of six children. In the follow
ing year his father, Joseph Adamson, who was a doctor, came to Canada
with his family, and located in the township of Toronto, where he continued
the practice of his profession until his death in 1852. He purchased four
hundred acres of land in that township ; those farms are now in the posses
sion of his sons James and Alfred, and his daughter, Mrs. Shyman.
During the Rebellion Dr. Adamson served as a surgeqn in the First Bat
talion of Incorporated Militia, under his brother, the Hon. Peter Adamson,
who was colonel of the regiment. The Hon. Peter Adamson, R.J.S., was
a member of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada until the Union in
1841 ; he came to Canada in 1821. Before he came out he had served for
many years in the British army ; he entered at the age of fifteen and rose
to the rank of Major in the 7ist Highlanders and Lieutenant-General in the

City of Toronto. 3

Portuguese service. In 1853 the subject of this sketch was married to
Rachael, eldest daughter of Wm. Rutherford, by whom he had five sons
and two daughters living. He served during the Rebellion in the First
Battalion of Incorporated Militia as lieutenant under his uncle. It was in
1854 that he began business as a wharfinger. In religion Mr. Adamson is
a member of the Church of England; in politics he is a Conservative.
From 1864 to the present time he has represented St. David s and St.
Thomas Wards in.the City Council.

MAJOR D. H. ALLAN is a. native of Perth County, Ontario. His father,
the late Rev. Daniel Allan, of Goderich, was one of the pi6neer Presbyterian
clergyman of Western Ontario. After several years of missionary service,
he was for about forty years pastor of the North Easthope Presbyterian
congregation. On retiring, which he did some nine years ago, he took up
his residence in Goderich, where he died on the loth of December last, at
the advanced age of seventy-nine years. His son, the subject of our present
sketch, has been a resident of this city since 1866, and for two years studied
law in the office of Paterson, Harrison & Paterson. For some reason or
another he gave up the idea of following the legal profession and engaged in
business as real estate agent, in which line he has been more than ordinarily
successful. Major Allan joined the Queen s Own Rifles as a private at the
time of the Fenian Raids of 1866, and has kept up his connection with
the regiment ever since ; his soldierly and earnest attention given to all
matters that would add to the reputation of his corps, receiving due reward
in promotion as rapid as it is was deserved. He now holds a first-class
Military School certificate and is Senior Major of his regiment.

JEROME ALLEY, 519 Sherbourne Street, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in
1810., He came to Canada in 1830, and taking an official position under
Government served the State in various departments until 1874, when he
retired. Mr. Alley has six children living, three sons and three daughters,
viz., Henry R., Education Department; John A. M., accountant, Federal
Bank ; Alfred R., insurance agent, Chicago ; Celia ; Emma ; and Kate, wife
of Allan Harvey, Bank of British North America, London, England.

JAMES ARMSTRONG was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, 1813, and
came to Canada in 1832. During the voyage he had a terrible experience
of the dreaded disease cholera, which broke out on the vessel, and out of
three hundred passengers thirty-one were committed to the deep. He was
a farmer in Ireland and for some short time followed that occupation here,
afterwards conducting a saw-mill in Bear Creek, which he continued some

4 Biographical Notices.

years. During the Rebellion of 37 our subject was in 101 Company,
commanded by Major Gurnett, and was on guard during the execution of
Lount and Matthews. After this affair was over Mr. Armstrong settled in
Toronto. In 1840 he married Ann Durnan, whose father had charge of the
lighthouse until 1854. ^ r - Armstrong retired from business about six
years ago, selling his farm for some property. He has two sons in Toronto.
He is a member of the Conservative Party, and in religion belongs to the
Presbyterian Church.

THOMAS ARMSTRONG is a native of Fermanagh, Ireland, being the only
son of John Armstrong, merchant, who came to Toronto about 1825, and
died in 1848. He was a member of the first Council of this city on receiving
its charter of incorporation, and represented the Ward of St. Andrew s
until the time of his death ; the Ward showing its appreciation of his
success and honouring his memory by electing his son as successor. Mr.
Thomas Armstrong in 1880 was appointed to a position in the Custom
House.

G. W. BADGEROW, M.P.P., is a native of this county, born near
Markham. His father, a native of the State of New York, came to Canada
in 1810. Our subject received his professional education in this city, in
the same building as his office is now located (Ontario Hall). He was
called to the bar in 1871, and has since practised his profession in this
city. He is Past Grand Master of the United Workmen. He was elected
a member of the Provincial Parliament in 1879 an d re-elected in 1883. He
is a member of the law firm of Badgerow & Galbraith.

ALLEN BAINES, M.D., C.M., L.R.C.P., London, England, is a native
of Toronto, being the youngest son of the late Thomas Baines, one of the
pioneers of the brewing interest in this city, who was born in Shropshire,
England, and came to Canada in 1826, and for a number of years was
Crown Land Agent. He died in Toronto in 1866, at the age of sixty-seven.
Dr. Allen Baines was educated at Mr. Barren s school, Cobourg, and at the
Upper Canada College, Toronto. He graduated M.B. in 1878 at Toronto
University, and M.D., C.M. in 1878 at Trinity College, Toronto. He
studied at St. Thomas Hospital, London, England, and while there
acquired, in 1879, L.R.C.P., London. He returned to this city and com
menced practice in 1882. He is at present physician in attendance at the
Home for Incurables, Toronto Dispensary, and Infants Home.

DR. JAMES BUCHANAN BALDWIN is the son of William Augustus, second
son of Dr. William Warren Baldwin. William Augustus Baldwin was

City of Toronto. 5

twice married; his first wife was Isabel Clarke Buchanan, daughter of
James Buchanan, British Consul, New York, by whom he had the
following children : Phoebe, now Mrs. Lefroy, living in Toronto ; James
Buchanan, living in Toronto; W. Augustus, M.D. ; Robert Russel; ^Emilias,
living in Muskoka ; Isabel E., married to her third cousin, William Ross
Baldwin, agent for the Duke of Devonshire, and now living in Ireland. His
first wife died in 1850. By his second wife Margaret Fry McLeod,
daughter of Captain McLeod, Drynoch, Isle of Skye, of the 93rd High
landers he had the following children : Jane McLeod, now Mrs. Martin
Graham, living in Rome, New York ; Bessie, now living in the old home
stead ; Anna Maria Martin, who died 1883; Lawrence, living in the old
home ; Margaret, Norman, Charles and John. Dr. James Buchanan
Baldwin was born in Toronto, July I4th, 1839. In 1872 he married the
second daughter of Hon. J. C. Morrison of the Court of Appeal.

JOHN SPREAD BALDWIN, second son of Robert Baldwin, was married in
1822, to Ann, daughter of Major-General Shaw, and widow of Dr. Scott of
the Royal Navy, by whom he had the following children: Harriet E.,
dead; John, dead; Edmund, dead; Louisa Isabella, dead; John Maurice;
Frederick A., dead ; and Arthur Henry. Edmund Baldwin was born in
Toronto in 1826, and married Miss Grasett, by whom he had two children,
Dr. E. St. George Baldwin, 51 Baldwin Street, and Rev. Henry Grasett.

The Hon. ROBERT BALDWIN was born in Toronto, May i2th, 1804, at
the old home on the corner of Front and Frederick Streets, and died
December gth, 1858. He had the following children : Maria, died 1865;
William Willcocks Baldwin, Osgoode Hall ; Augusta B., wife of the Hon.
John Ross ; Robert, 22 Carleton Street. William Willcocks Baldwin was
born May 2Oth, 1830. Up till 1864 he was farming, but since that year he
has held the position of Distributor of Law Stamps at Osgoode Hall.

ROBERT BALDWIN, deceased, came with his family from the County of
Cork, Ireland (where the Baldwins, of Norman descent, had lived for
generations), in 1799, and settled on a farm in the Township of Clark. He
had the following children : William Warren ; Eliza, afterwards Mrs. John
Morgan ; Alice Anna Maria ; John Spread, father of the late Canon
Baldwin, of the present Bishop of Huron and of the Rev. A. H. Baldwin,
of All Saints Church ; Mary Warren. All his other surviving children
also came to Canada between 1817 and 1819 : Captain Augustus Baldwin
(afterwards Admiral Baldwin) ; Captain Henry Baldwin ; and Mrs. Sullivan,
the mother of the late Judge Sullivan. William Warren Baldwin was born

6 Biographical Notices.

i

in the County of Cork, Ireland, in 1771, and graduated with the degree of
M.D. at Edinburgh, Scotland. After coming to Canada he began to
practise his profession and subsequently adopted that of law ; and it often
happened that while attending to a case in one of the law courts he would
be called away to attend to the case of a sick person. In 1803 he married
Phcebe Margaret, daughter of William Willcocks. At his death in January,
1844, he left two sons, the Hon. Robert Baldwin and William A. Baldwin.

JERROLD BALL, M.D., is a native of York County, having been born on
his father s old farm, where he lived until he was fifteen years of age. He
attended the Public Schools and Grammar School in this city, matriculating
in Toronto University in 1870, and graduating as M.B. four years later.
He began the practice of medicine in 1875, which he has since continued
with success. In 1881 he married Miss Emily Moore, of Toronto.

J. BALMER, Superintendent of the Necropolis, was born in County Down,
Ireland, on the 8th March, 1819. He joined Her Majesty s 38th Regiment
of Foot in November, 1839. The Regiment until 1848 was stationed at
Gibraltar, Ionian Islands, and Jamaica, when it was sent to Canada, and
was stationed at Halifax for two years, then returned to England. Mr.
Balmer remained in Canada, and joined the Royal Canadian Rifles. He
was stationed at St. Johns, near Montreal. In 1856, when the Hudson
Bay Company applied to the British Government for troops to protect their
interests, which were threatened by the Indians, Mr. Balmer was one of the
hundred men who were sent by the Government, and who arrived at York
Factory on the shores of Hudson Bay in August, 1857. After remaining
at York Factory for two weeks, they went to Fort Garry where they re
mained four years. In 1861 he returned to St. Johns, and completed his
time, receiving his discharge with Sergeant s pension in January, 1865. In
1870 he came to Toronto?, and in the following year became superintendent
of the Necropolis, which position he still holds. In 1851 Mr. Balmer was
married at St. Johns to a daughter of Robert Carey, of Sligo, Ireland. He
has three sons, two of whom are Methodist ministers. The elder, Robert
Henry, is stationed at St. William s (1884), and the other, William John, is
an Undergraduate of Victoria University, Cobourg. His third son, George
Francis, is a student in Upper Canada College, preparing for the University.
His eldest daughter married Rev. J. B. Avison, who was pastor of the Don
Mills Church (Methodist). He died in 1882. Mrs. Avison was again
married to Rev. James Liddy, Methodist minister, in September, 1884. His
second daughter Lina is married to G. T. Pendrith, machinist, of Toronto.

City of Toronto. 7

WILLIAM BARCHARD, retired, was born in Ross, Yorkshire, England,
in 1810. He was the fourth child of his father s family. His parents
were Peter and Ross (Turner) Barchard. In 1829 he married Sarah
Calvert, born August 2ist, 1810. He and his wife came to Canada
in 1833, and on Saturday, August nth, landed at Toronto ; the steamer
" William I V. " was burned to the water s edge that night. He first located on
a farm in Vaughan Township, about three miles from Stone Hollow, where
he worked for fourteen months for Aaron Barker, who was married to his
wife s sister, and who paid him at the rate of $100 a year. He then went
to work for a Dutchman named Baker, who was in the saw-mill business.
In 1858 he began business for himself on the lot he now occupies, the whole
extent of his capital at that time being $700. With this sum he purchased
a lot of lumber, and making it into boxes sold them to the city merchants ;
on this he realized such a profit as to form a foundation for what is now a
prosperous business. Mr. Barchard is a Reformer, and a member of the
Methodist Church. By his marriage he had twelve children, of whom seven
are now living. His eldest son, John Barchard, was living in Cincinnati at
the breaking out of the American Civil War. He enlisted in the cavalry,
and reached the rank of Captain, but was never heard of after the Battle of
Gettysburg. Another son, George Edward, a brakeman, was killed at
Nipissing by falling from a car. There are now two sons at home, William
D. Henry, and Isaac James.

JOHN BARRON was born in Cumberland, England, in 1827. In 1832
his parents, John and Ann (Robson) Barron, came to Canada with their
family, consisting of one son and four daughters. The family settled in
Little York, and for ten years occupied a house in George Street, between
Queen and Duchess Streets, which is still standing. About 1842 the father,
who had been a farmer in England, took up fifty acres of land outside the
city, on the east side of Yonge Street, where he lived until his death in
1862, aged sixty-nine years ; his wife died in 1872. John Barron, our subject,
was educated in Toronto, and until he was twenty-five years of age worked
with his father on the farm. In the spring of 1852 he came to the city and
began the business in the Market Square, remaining there for twenty-five
years, when he removed to his present stand, 149 King Street East. Mr.
Barron married Hannah Bond Herron, whose father was born in Toronto
in 1807; she was the grand-niece of Captain Bond, who received large
grants of land from the Crown. Mr. Barron has two sons and two
daughters living in Toronto, John and William, Mary and Minnie. He is
a member of the Methodist Church.

8 Biographical Notices.

CHARLES R. BELL, real estate and insurance agent, was born in Milton,
Cumberland, England, in 1820, being the only child of George and Mary
(Ruddick) Bell. In 1835, when nearly sixteen years of age, he enlisted in
the Cumberland Regiment, which, when formed, was known as the " Cum
berland Sharpshooters." In 1837 our subject, being an acting corporal,
joined the regiment which was then stationed at Halifax. After spending
some time in cities in the Maritime Provinces, he came to Toronto in the
winter of 1837-38 and was made a staff-sergeant, and was afterwards sta
tioned at Amherstburg for two years. On its return to England in 1840
Mr. Bell procured his discharge, and became a clerk in the office of Gamble
& Boulton, on the recommendation of the late Lord Airey, remaining
there ten years. In 1850 he became manager of Milton s mill on the Hum-
ber, and in 1860 went to Pennsylvania, where he remained for two years
engaged in railroad construction. On his return to Toronto he became
book-keeper at Hurd & Leigh s, where he was until 1865, when he became
connected with the firm of Hewlett & Bell. He has been engaged in his
present business since 1878 ; and represents two insurance companies, the
Royal and the Liverpool. In 1842 he married a daughter of James Ken
nedy, by whom he had five sons and one daughter. One son is dead.

CHARLES T. BELL was born in Toronto in 1842, and is the son of
Thomas and Catharine (Kendrick) Bell. His father was born in Little
York, January ist, 1803 ; his grandfather, Thomas Bell, senior, settling here
before 1800, and taking part in the war of 1812-14. His father was a
Justice of the Peace, and lived for some time in Newmarket. Our subject
is connected with the mail department of the postal service between Toronto
and Hamilton. His wife is a daughter of David Ross, of Queen Street
West.

ROBERT BELL, M.P.P., was born in Toronto, and is the eldest son of
John Bell, builder and contractor, who came to Canada from County
Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1823 ; married, in 1827, Annie Anderson, and died
in 1855. In 1853 Robert married Matilda, seventh daughter of Joseph
Clegg, C.E., of County Mona ghan, Ireland. In 1860 he was elected coun
cilman for the .Ward of St. Andrew s, and served in that capacity until
1867, when he became an alderman until 1873. ^ n 1872 he was elected to
the Board of Water Commissioners, and in 1874 was ma -de chairman of
that body until its extinction in 1877. In 1875 he was first elected to
represent West Toronto in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and was
re-elected in 1879.

City of Toronto. 9

THOMAS BERNEY, caretaker of the Riverdale Park, is a native of the
North of Ireland (Strabane), and came to Canada in 1850. He was variously
engaged up to 1854, after which he kept an hotel on Yonge Street for about
ten years. In 1880 he accepted the position as head caretaker of this
beautiful park.

THOMAS BEST was born near Darlington, in the County of Durham,
England, in 1821. He came to Canada in 1843, and engaged in the hotel
business in Toronto. He was connected with the Bay Horse Hotel from
1844 to 1872, and has been living retired since the latter date at 33 Murray
Street. Mr. Best was married in 1849 to Elizabeth Tindale ; the issue of
the marriage was five children. We may add that Mr. Best is one of the
oldest living hotel proprietors in the city.

DR. NORMAN BETHUNE is the son of the late Angus Bethune, who was
born, in 1793, at Carleton Island, in the River St. Lawrence, opposite
Kingston; his grandfather, the Rev. John Bethune, of Williamstown, Glen
garry, was chaplain to H. M. 84th Regiment, which was then stationed on
that island. The Rev. John Bethune had the following sons : Angus
Norman, who settled in Montreal, and was a merchant and Queen s auc
tioneer ; John, who became Dean of the Church of England Cathedral
at Montreal ; James, who lived at Cobourg ; Alexander Neil, who became
Bishop of Toronto ; and Donald a well-known steamboat proprietor. Angus
Bethune was engaged in the North-West and Hudson Bay Company s
service for fifty years. He came to Toronto in 1840, and at his death left
five sons, Norman being the second. His wife was a daughter of Roderick
Mackenzie. Dr. Norman Bethune was born at Moose Factory, Hudson s
Bay. He came to Toronto in 1840, was educated at Upper Canada College,
and in 1843 began his medical studies. He graduated in the University of
Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1850, and in the following year began his practice
in Toronto, which he has since continued with the exception of nine years
in which he practised in Edinburgh. Dr. Bethune was for many years
connected with the Medical School attached to Trinity College, in the
organization of which he was largely interested.

JOSEPH BICKERSTAFF was born in the County of Armagh, Ireland, in
1832, and came to Canada in 1851. He located in Toronto, and began
business as a grocer, which he continued for twenty years. In 1881 he
received an appointment in the Custom House, and has charge of the
Queen s Warehouse. He is a member of the Orange Society, and the

io Biographical Notices.

Church of England. He is a Conservative in politics. Mr. Bickerstaff
married Elizabeth Moore, of this city; her father was Captain of a Company
during the Rebellion of 1837.

JOHN BISHOP, retired, was born in Islington, near London, England,
December i6th, 1799. His parents were John and Sarah Bishop. His
father was a butcher, and previous to his arrival in Canada conducted a
large business in London. He arrived in New York in 1816, from thence
he removed to Toronto, and erected a small cottage in which the family
lived for a short time, afterwards removing to a house on the west side of
Market Square, which he built along with others in 1819. He followed his
own trade successfully for a number of years, retiring from active participa
tion in the business in 1833, being succeeded by his son William. In 1829
he built Bishop Buildings on Adelaide Street, a large row of brick houses,
which are still standing. He died December 25th, 1845, aged seventy-
five years, leaving a family of five children, of whom John was the second.
William, the third son, succeeded to the , father s business, continued
the same until 1852, when he retired. Mr. Bishop was a member of the
old fire company in 1826. In politics he is a Reformer. In 1831 he
married Jane Julia Rubergall, who died in 1841 ; his second wife was
Christiana Ferrier, second daughter of the late R. C. Ferrier, baker.

FRANCIS BLACKSTONE, professor of music, was born in Chelsea, Bromp-
ton, England, in 1844, son of George Blackstone. His mother was a
daughter of John Sartoris, who painted the celebrated racehorse Eclipse-
He came to Toronto in 1871, where he has since lived, following the pro
fession of music teacher.

JOHN. NETTERVILLE BLAKE, President of the Lake Simcoe Junction
Railway, and for several years President of the Toronto Brewing and
Malting Company, was born in Toronto in 1846. His father, the Rev,
D. E. Blake, was born in Wicklow, Ireland, in 1806, and came to Canada in
1832. He was appointed by the Governor-General Rector of Adelaide, and
settled in that Township ; subsequently he became Rector of Thornhill,
County of York, where he resided for many years. The subject of this
sketch began to study law in 1863, and was called to the bar in 1869. In
1873 ne originated the Lake Simcoe Junction Railway, and in 1880 became
President of the Toronto Brewing and Malting Company. He is largely
interested in the malting business. He is a Conservative, and a member
of the York Pioneers.

City of Toronto. i r

JOSEPH BLOOR, deceased, was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1789,.
where he acquired his education and spent the earlier portion of his life.
He married Sarah Lees of the same place, and in i8ig came to Canada and
settled in the County of York with his family. He located in Toronto,,
where he kept an hotel on King Street, and a few years later purchased a
tract of land in Yorkville, east of Yonge, and opened out the great thorough
fare in the north of the city which bears his name. He divided his land
into lots and erected many private buildings, and also engaged in the
brewing business for a period of twenty years. He held a magistrate s
commission ; in politics was strongly Conservative ; and though in early
life a member of the English Church, he subsequently identified himself
with the Methodist Church, of which he proved a useful and earnest
supporter, and contributed largely to the erection of the Bloor Street place
of worship belonging to that body. After his death an appropriate slab
was placed within the church to his memory by the congregation. Mr.
Bloor was a member of the old Fire Brigade of York, and also of the St-
Geofge s Society. At his death he left two daughters, Sarah and Eliza,
the latter married M. W. Browne, of Hamilton.

JOHN BOND was born in Devonshire, England, in 1810, and came to
Canada with his father when quite a child. His father was a sergeant-
major in the British Army and served in the war of 1812-14, having fought at
Lundy s Lane, Chippewa, Fort Erie and Queenston Heights. He received
his discharge at Kingston in 1817, and engaged afterwards in contracts for
the Government. He died in this city on July 4th, 1853. His son, whose
name appears at the head of this sketch, passed his early life in Kingston,,
removing from thence to this city in 1834 ; and having previously learned
his trade of cabinet-maker, commenced business at 154 King Street East,,
which he conducted for thirty years, afterwards retiring. Mr. Bond served
with credit during the Rebellion of 37, and was sergeant in the corps com
manded by Colonel Thomas. We ought not to omit to mention that his
father had charge of the cannon at the skirmish of Montgomery s tavern.
Mr. Bond is a devoted adherent of the Roman Catholic faith, and in
politics has thrown in his lot with the Reform Party. He married, in
1833, Catharine Gorman.

GEORGE BOSTWICK. The grandparents of our subject, John and Mary
(Lardner) Bostwick, were of English origin, having emigrated from England
to the United States previous to the American Revolution. They took up
their residence upon the present site_of the city of Baltimore. The grand-

12 Biographical Notices.

mother was a niece of the Rev. Dionysius Lardner, LL.D., F.R.S. (Fellow of
the Royal Society of Edinburgh). Baltimore was the birthplace of a numer
ous progeny of descendants, of which Lardner, the father of our subject (so
named in honour of the illustrious divine) was born in 1774 ; his early life
was passed in that city until 1808, when he came to Niagara, where he
married Sarah Bradshaw, and came to York two years later. He was a
participant in the battle of York during the War of 1812, and was also a
prisoner at its capitulation. After peace was declared he drew three
hundred and fifty acres of land in the London district, although he never
cleared or improved it. In 1810 he purchased one and one-fourth acres
upon the south-east corner of King and Yonge Streets, for which he paid
three hundred and fifty dollars, which he retained until his death. Upon
this property he erected suitable buildings and embarked in the manufacture
of carriages, in which business he was engaged for many years. In politics
he was a Baldwin Reformer, and sat in the old Council of York with Wm.
Lyon Mackenzie, when the city was first incorporated. His death occurred
in 1834, at which time he left a family of seven children three sons and
four daughters. George, our subject, was the second eldest, born at York,
on the 22nd March, 1811. He received his early education at the primitive
schools of that day, and early acquired of his father the trade of carriage
making. Upon the death of the latter he succeeded him in business, which
he conducted for several years. In 1836 Mr. Bostwick took up his residence
on the west side of Yonge Street, on the northern portion of what was then
the city limits, and was elected a member of the Council Board in the
Village of Yorkville. In 1850 he was commissioned magistrate by the late
Hon. Robert Baldwin,. in which capacity he has ever since acted. During
the crisis of 37 he firmly adhered to the principles of responsible govern
ment as advocated by the Reform party, and has since lived to see those
blessings shared in by those who were then his strongest political enemies-
In 184.0 Mr. Bostwick married a daughter of Robert Ferrier, from Aberdeen-
shire, Scotland, by whom he had one son and four daughters. His son,
George F. Bostwick, represents the extensive manufacturing firm of Goldie
& McCulloch, safe manufacturers, of Gait, Ont., whose office and ware-
rooms are at No. 50 Church Street, Toronto. The second daughter married
John S. Mayfair, of the old-established wholesale dry-goods house of Bryce>
McMurrich & Co., Yonge Street; third, Mrs. J. H. Macdonald ; fourth,
Mrs. David Denne, of Montreal ; fifth, Jessie, resides at home. Lardner,
brother of our subject, was born at York, June 2oth, 1815 ; educated at
Thomas Appleton s district school at the old market place on King Street;
, was a student with Dr. Morrison; 1842, he married Eliza Kennedy;

City of Toronto. 13

one year later moved to Chicago, where he was three years engaged in the
dry-goods business ; then settled at Minneapolis, where he studied law and
was admitted to the Bar, and subsequently elected Judge of the Surrogate
Court.

JAMES B. BOUSTEAD is the only son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Bell)
Boustead, and was born at Carlisle, Cumberland, England, in 1833. His
father was educated for an Episcopal clergyman, but after completing his
education, he emigrated to the County of York, Upper Canada, and settled
at Newtonbrook in the year 1832, where he died in January following
leaving a son and daughter, of whom our subject was the youngest. After
completing his education, at the age of twenty-one he entered the well-
known dry-goods house of John Macdonald, remaining one year, then for
the five years following he had charge of a large milling business at Hills-
burg. In 1857 he returned to Toronto, and engaged in the wholesale
provision trade until 1874, when he became connected with the fire and
life insurance business, which he has conducted until the present time.
He now represents the " Citizens," and " Union Scottish " Companies, and
is also an issuer of marriage licenses, and a magistrate for the County of
York. Mr. Boustead was elected to a seat in the City Council Board as
early as 1865, first representing St. David s and later St. James Wards ; he
filled the position for sixteen years, being one of the most active members of
that honourable body. During the long period he sat in the Council he
filled the position of chairman of some of its most important committees,
notably the Fire, Water, and Gas Committees, and is entitled to the credit
of reorganizing the Fire Department, and establishing the Fire Alarm
system ; he also obtained for the city, through his earnest exertions, the
charter under which our present water-works were built, and which resulted
in obtaining pure water from the lake. Mr. Boustead has taken a great
interest in our educational institutions, having been a member of the School
Board for some years. When the " Queen s Own " was organized he was
one of its first members, and he received his commission of Lieutenant ; he
was present and took part with his regiment at Ridgeway ; he retired in
1867 with the rank of Captain. Mr. Boustead has also been actively
engaged in church work, having been Superintendent of the Methodist
Sabbath school in Yorkville from 1866 to 1876, and of the Metropolitan
Methodist Sabbath school from 1878 to the present time. His life has been
an active and busy one, and he has left his mark upon the city which he has
made his home.

14 Biographical Notices.

SAMUEL BOWMAN, retired, was born in the County Derry, Ireland, in
1812. His father was John Bowman, a farmer, and his mother a daughter
of Joseph Thompson ; they had seven children. The family came to
Canada in 1832, landing at Quebec on June 4th. They remained at Quebec
a few days and then went to Montreal, where, four days after they arrived,
the father and one of the sons died. The family arrived at Toronto, August
9th, and took up their residence in a house on Yonge Street in which a man
had died of cholera that morning, but fortunately none of them were
infected. Samuel Bowman obtained work at teaming for a Mr. Clinkin-
broomer, with whom he remained six months ; then he became a porter in
a store, helping a man named Ware, on the corner of King and Yonge
Streets. In 1838 he commenced carting, and continued that until 1850,
when he sold out and retired. During the Mackenzie Rebellion Mr. Bow
man joined an independent company, and was present at the burning of
Montgomery s tavern. Mr. Bowman has only one brother living now ; he
resides at 142 Nelson Street.

WILLIAM BRIGGS was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England, 1818, and
came to Toronto in 1845. He is a builder and contractor, which business
he conducted from the time of his arrival in the city until recently, when he
retired from it, and is at present enjoying the ease and comfort he has
deservedly earned. Mr. Briggs was the first settler on the fifteen acre lot
where he resides (No. 9 Maitland Street). His wife was Mary Machin,
a native of Selby, Yorkshire, England ; she died in 1850.

JOHN BRIGHT. The Bright family are of English origin. John, the
subject of this sketch is at the present time the eldest white male resident
of Toronto. He was born at Three Rivers, Quebec, 1793, fourth son of
Louis and Margaret (Brady) Bright, and came to York with his parents in
1802, bemg nine years of age. His father served seven years in the 42nd
Regiment of His Majesty s Infantry during the Revolutionary War, at the
close of which he came to Canada, having but three weeks to serve, when
he arrived on what is now called King Street. Here he rented a slab
shanty situated between York and Bay Streets (of a coloured man by the
name of Franklin), into which he moved his family and wrought for some
time as a stone-mason, but subsequently settled down to farming and
butchering. He died at the ripe age of ninety-nine years and ten months,
leaving six sons and six daughters. John attended the first school held in
the county, on the corner of King and George Streets, Mr. Elihu Pease
being the first teacher ; at the age of thirteen was burned out and learned

City of Toronto. 15

the trade of shoemaker, of Mr. Wallace, serving six years, which business
he afterwards conducted for over forty years. He married in 1808, Nancy,
third daughter of William Knott, a Revolutionary soldier who came to
Canada with the " Queen s Rangers," and afterwards settled upon King
Street, just east of the Mail buildings. Mr. Bright participated in the War
of 1812, was at the battles of York, Stony Creek, Queenston Heights and
Lundy s Lane. In the latter engagement he received three wounds first,
by a bullet on the top of his head, taking off a portion of the scalp ; second,
through the sleeve of the right arm ; and third, a shot in the left side. He
belonged to the Infantry Corps, and at the battle of Queenston Heights he
saw General Brock fall from his little bay mare which he rode, it having
been presented to him by Adjutant Fitzgerald, or " Crazy Fitzgerald " as
he was sometimes called. He saw his body carried from the battle-field
by orderlies into a barn near by ; was present at his death and burial.
" We cried like good fellows when he fell." Mr. Bright was in the last
charge made upon the army at Queenston Heights, and saw many of the
Americans leap over the side of the mountain in their efforts to escape,
while others stole away amid the clouds of smoke that enveloped the place.
After serving his time Colonel Fitzgerald tried to induce the regiment to
which he belonged to re-enlist for three years by offering every able-bodied
man three guineas ; but they, not having had a change of clothing for three
months, declined and returned home ; after which he served twenty-seven
years as assistant messenger under his father, who was chief messenger of
the old Legislative Council of Upper and Lower Canada, while the Govern
ment buildings were at Toronto, Kingston and Montreal. He was present
.at the latter place when the buildings were burned. He also served twenty-
seven years as Crier of the General Sessions and County Court, which
office he still holds. During the Rebellion of 1837 he was a volunteer, while
his father was doing garrison duty at the Parliament House. He and his
brother Louis shouldered their muskets and joined the loyal forces at
Montgomery s tavern. He retains his mental faculties in a wonderful
degree, and nothing affords him greater pleasure than to have an old friend
or neighbour call and recount bygone scenes of his early life.

JAMES BRIGHT, 71 King Street East, blacksmith, and brother of the
above, is the youngest son of the same family, was born in York in 1807,
corner of Princess and Duke Streets. When fifteen years of age he learned
the trade of blacksmith with his brother Louis, whose shop then occupied
the north-east corner of King and York Streets, where the Shakespeare
Hotel now stands. They wrought together for five years. In 1832 he

1 6 Biographical Notices.

married Amelia, daughter of Isaac Columbus, who was employed in the
Garrison, being edge-tool maker and silversmith. He made a sword for
General Brock, which he carried on the day of his death. Soon after Mr.
Bright s marriage he moved east of the Don and took up his residence at
71 King Street East, where he established himself in business as a black
smith, and where he has ever since resided. Having seven sons and two
daughters, the former having succeeded him in business.

JOHN, BRIGHT, builder, was born in Toronto in 1842, his father being
James Bright. He learned the trade of a carpenter before he was of age
and worked at that until 1872, when he opened a grocery, flour and feed
store on King Street East. In 1875 ne gave up store-keeping and returned
to his trade. In 1870 he married Emiline Louisa, daughter of Emerson
Coatsworth, City Commissioner. He is a Conservative and a member of
the English Church.

THOMAS BRIGHT, youngest son of John Bright, was born at Toronto 1837,
was seven years engaged in the grocery trade, subsequently succeeded his
father as Sheriff s Officer and Crier of the Court of General Sessions, which
office he has held for the past twenty-two years, and which has been filled
by some member of the family since the establishment of the first Court in
York. Mr. Bright has been twice married, first to Mary, daughter of
Robert Hodgson, by whom he had four children, second to Ellen Brady.
In politics he has been a strong Conservative, and a member of the Orange
Society, and Church of England.

WILLIAM BRODIE, L.D.S., was born in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire,
Scotland, and was the son of George Brodie, a farmer in that district, who
came to Canada in 1835, and settled on a farm in Whitchurch, where he
died in 1882, at the advanced age of ninety years. During his residence in
Whitchurch he took a lively interest in municipal affairs, and was for some
time a member of the County Council. He was for a number of years an
elder of the Presbyterian Church. He married Jane Milne, of.Banff, only
daughter of John Milne of that town, a vessel owner, who was lost at sea ;
she died in 1865 at Whitchurch. Mr. Brodie, the subject of this sketch,
received his early education at Whitchurch, subsequently teaching school
there for three years. He afterwards studied his profession, which he
practised in Markham for two years, removing to Toronto in 1865. He has
from its commencement been connected with the Toronto Natural History
Society, and to his energy the institution may be almost said to owe its
existence. He married Miss Jane Anna McPherson, eldest daughter of

THOMAS BRIGHT.

City of Toronto. ij

Alexander McPherson, farmer, of Scotch birth, who, as a contractor, had
assisted in the construction of the Lachine Canal. He died at Whitby.
Mr. Brodie s residence is 325 Parliament Street.

JOHN BUGG, deceased, the eldest of a family of seven children, born
to William and Elizabeth (Walker) Bugg, was born in Yorkshire, Eng
land, February 6th, 1807. His early life was spent upon his father s farm.
Before he reached his majority he learned the trade of carriage and house
building. Upon the death of his father he, being the eldest son, inherited
all the property. After paying all claims upon the estate, he embarked for
Canada, and arrived at Little York on June igth, in the spring of 1831. It
being Sunday, he immediately wended his way to church, and there found
an old acquaintance in the resident pastor, who introduced him to Mr.
Cawthra, then employed in the erection of the Ontario Parliament buildings,
with whom he secured employment. After remaining in York one year he
returned to England and brought the family back with him. After the com
pletion of the Government work he began building for himself, and subse
quently embarked in the lumbering and building business on a large scale,
his yard being at the corner of Teraulay and Albert Streets. He also dealt
largely in real estate, and purchased the McCauley estate, and opened Ger-
rard and Walton Streets. In 1837, during the Rebellion, the loyal forces
were quartered at his residence, as at those of many others who were strong
Reformers and advocated Responsible Government. Our subject took an
active part in municipal matters, and was elected to a seat in the Council
Board for St. Patrick s Ward, when that Ward included the district at
present covered by St. John s, St. Stephen s and St. Patrick s. When St.
Patrick s Ward was subsequently divided he sat as alderman for St. John s
Ward, his term of service being thirteen years, and on every occasion but
one he was returned at the head of the poll. As an alderman he united a
progressive spirit with a careful regard to economy, a watchfulness over
the city s interests, and a firm adherence to his principles. As an instance
of his firmness of character, it may be mentioned that for several years he
formed one of a minority, composed of four aldermen, who strenuously
opposed a number of measures which they considered detrimental to the
city s interests. In religion he was a Primitive Methodist, and was elected a
life member of the Conference of that body. Soon after Confederation he
was commissioned a Magistrate, in which capacity he acted many years.
His wife was a daughter of the late John Purkiss, of Toronto. The fiftieth
anniversary of their wedded life was celebrated on the 3oth October, 1883.
At his death he left three sons and two daughters : William, Charles,
Joseph, Elizabeth and Sarah, now Mrs. Robert Jaffray.
3

1 8 Biographical Notices.

JAMES BUGG, farmer, and brother of the above, was fourteen years and
six months old when he landed in York in 1833. He worked about one year
for Mr. Northcott ; the following spring he went to Thornhill and worked
on a farm for about ten years ; then was engaged as manager on a farm in
Markham Township, In 1844 he married Rebecca, second daughter of
Robert Mason, by whom he has three daughters. In 1850 he was chosen
councillor for Markham Township, and in 1870 he received a Magistrate s
commission, but did not qualify until ten years later. In politics he is a
Reformer, in religion a member of the Primitive Methodist Church. As
a result of many years of honest toil, he has a beautiful farm in the Town
ship of King, where he at present resides, and is one of the most substantial
citizens in his municipality.

ALEXANDER BURNS was born in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh,
Ireland, in 1837, and came to Canada in 1853. Previous to coming out h e
was for a short time in the grocery business, and on his arrival in Toronto
continued the same business with his brother in a store at St. Lawrence
Market. In 1869 he commenced a soda-water business on the corner of
Young and Buchanan Streets, that part of the city being then all bush,
which extended without a single break along the front of Yonge and College
Avenue to Hayter Street. The trade conducted by Mr. Burns was one of
the largest of its kind in the city, and proved very successful. He retired
from business in 1881, since which time he has been living a quiet and
retired life on the fruits of his former industry. In 1868 he married Miss
Martha McDonald, by whom he has a family of three sons and three
daughters.

. *

DAVID BURNS, deceased, was born in the County Derry, Ireland, in
1803. He came to Canada in 1823, and engaged in the leather busifiess at
Little York, which proved so successful that he retired about twenty years
before his death, which occurred in 1872. At the time of his death he
owned a considerable quantity of real estate. He left surviving him a wife
and three sons. The eldest, David Burns, is a civil engineer ; the second,
Robert, is studying medicine ; and the youngest, Stephen, is engaged in the
study of the law.

.HORATIO C. BURRITT, M.D., C.M., was born at Smith s Falls, Ontario,
in September, 1840. He is the eldest son of Dr. Walter H. Burritt, who
was born at Burritt s Rapids, Ontario, in 1809 ; being the youngest son of
Cdlonel Daniel Burritt and grandson of Daniel Burritt, one of the original
United Empire Loyalists, who emigrated to Canada immediately after the

City of Toronto. ig

American Revolution, and settled on the Rideau River, where the Village
of Burritt s Rapids now stands. The subject of our sketch was educated at
Smith s Falls Grammar School, Bishop s College, Lennoxville, and McGill
College, Montreal, from which latter institution he received the degree of
M.D., C.M., in May, 1863. He spent some months, after graduating in Lin
coln Hospital, Washington, D.C., as acting assistant surgeon during the
American Civil War. Shortly after returning to Canada he settled in
Morrisburgh, Ontario; in 1868 he removed to Peterborough, where he had a
very extensive and lucrative practice for fourteen years ; when he began to
feel that if the incessant hard work, with the exposure, etc., were continued
much longer it would seriously impair his health. To avoid such a calamity
he disposed of his practice to Dr. Halliday, of Grafton, and removed to
Toronto. On his departure from Peterborough he was presented with a
most complimentary address and a magnificent epergne, by many of his
staunch friends. In 1880 he was elected by the medical men of Newcastle
and Trent Electoral Division, as their representative for five years in the
Ontario Medical Council. Daring his two years residence in this city, he
has acquired a successful and extensive practice. Dr. Burritt married in
1864, Maria Harriet, fourth daughter of James G. Rogers, Esq., of Grafton,
Ontario.

EPHRAIM BUTT, third son of Samuel Butt, weaver, was born in Stone-
house, Gloucester, England, on the 8th of March, 1822. His father,
with his family, came to Canada and settled in Toronto, in the year 1832.
He has been a resident of Toronto for fifty-two years. In 1844 ^ e married
Sarah, youngest daughter of James Davey, of Hull, England, by whom he
had sixteen children. Of these only four survive, viz. : the eldest, Samuel
James ; Mary (now Mrs. J. H. H. Mottram, Detroit, U. S.); George (of To
ronto); and the youngest, Henry John Wilkinson (of Detroit, U.S.). For forty
years he has successfully carried on the general business of waggon-mak
ing, and for a number of years past of blacksmithing. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Ephraim Butt have been devout members of the Wesleyan Methodist
denomination since 1842, and since the year 1854 the former has been a
class-leader. He is a brother of James Butt, whose first wife, now deceased,
was a sister of Mrs. Ephraim Butt.

!

JA.MES BUTT, retired, was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1815.
His parents were Samuel and Anne (Smith) Butt. His mother s brother
Charles was killed at the battle of Trafalgar, where he fought under Lord
Nelson. His father came to Little York (now Toronto) in 1832, with his
wife and seven children, of whom five are living and two are dead ; he was

2o Biographical Notices.

a gardener by occupation, and worked for Dr. Widmer until his death in
1843. James Butt first worked for Mrs. Major Small, and then spent three
years in learning the blacksmith trade with James Bright, who lived east
of the Don. At the time of the Rebellion he was working for Louis Bright,
who had a blacksmith shop in Toronto, where they did some work for the
Government. In 1839 he commenced business for himself on Shuter
Street, and continued it until 1867, when he retired. In 1840 he married
Mary, daughter of James Davey, of Yorkshire, England, by whom he had
five children ; three are dead, and two Charles E., living in Plainfield,
New Jersey, and Richard H., living in Toronto still survive. His first
wife died in 1870, and he afterwards married Jane, daughter of John Purkiss,
of Toronto. He has been connected with the Methodist Church since 1835.

HON. CHIEF JUSTICE M. C. CAMERON, Toronto. Matthew Crooks
Cameron, son of John McAlpin Cameron, was born at Dundas, Ontario, on
the 2nd day of October, 1822. His father was a descendant of the Camerons
of Fassifern, Scotland, and emigrated from Inverness-shire to Upper
Canada, in 1819, settling at Dundas, where he engaged in the mercantile
business ; subsequently discharged the duties of Deputy-Postmaster under
Thomas Allen Stayner, then the Imperial Postmaster-General for Canada,
at Hamilton,, -and also Deputy-Clerk of the Crown for the then Gore Dis
trict. Later he was student-at-law with Sir Allan MacNab, with whom he
remained until he was appointed to the first permanent clerkship of com
mittees in the Parliament of Upper Canada, from which office he went to
the Canada Company s office in Toronto, where he held an important posi
tion for many years. Coming to this part of the country as he did, when it
was yet undeveloped, sparsely settled, and engaging in active life, Mr.
Cameron became well and widely known. He died in Toronto in November,
1866, aged seventy-nine years. The name of our subject s mother was
Nancy Foy, a native of Northumberland, England. The education of
Matthew Crooks Cameron was obtained first at a school at Hamilton,
under a Mr. Randall, and afterwards the District School in Toronto, which
he attended for a short time. In 1838 he entered Upper Canada College,
where he studied until 1840, when in consequence of an accident when out
shooting by which he lost a leg, he had to retire. Two years later he
entered the office of Messrs. Gamble & Boulton, of Toronto, as student-
at-law, where he remained until Hilary Term, 1849, when he was called to
the bar of the Province of Ontario (then Upper Canada). He engaged in
Toronto in the practice of his profession, first with Mr. Boulton, his former
master. This firm continued until the law partnership of Messrs. Cayley

City of Toronto. 21

& Cameron was formed, the senior member being the Hon. William
Cayley, an English barrister, and at one time Inspector-General of the
Province. In 1859 Dr. McMichael entered, the firm then becoming Messrs.
Cayley, Cameron & McMichael, Later Mr. Cayley retired, and Mr. E.
Fitzgerald became a partner in the business, and his name added to the
name and style of the firm, remaining so for several years. On the retire
ment of Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Alfred Hoskin became a partner, and it
remained Cameron, McMichael & Hoskin until the senior member s eleva
tion to the Bench in November, 1878. His appointment was the recogni
tion of true merit and legal ability. As a lawyer he was eminent in every
department of his profession, but particularly excelled before a jury ;
possessing an excellent power of analyzing and arranging facts, combined
with an impressive manner of speaking, he delivered his arguments with a
logical force and clearness rarely surpassed. The same qualities of mind
may also be said to render his rulings and decisions on the Bench equally
clear and explicit. He was created a Queen s Counsel in 1863, and elected
a Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario in 1871. The first public office
held by Chief Justice Cameron was that of a Commissioner, with Colonel
Coffin, appointed by the Government in 1852, to enquire into the causes of
accidents, which had been of frequent occurrence, on the Great Western
Railway. From 1859, when he represented St. James s Ward in the City
Council, he figured prominently in public life. In 1861, and again a few
years later, at the solicitation of many citizens, he contested the Mayoralty
unsuccessfully. In 1861 he entered the arena of political life, and sat for
North Ontario, in the Canada Assembly, from the general election of that
year until the general election of 1863, when he was defeated. But in July,
1864, he was re-elected for the same seat, which he continued to hold until
Confederation, when he was again unsuccessful. At the general Provincial
election in 1867 he was returned to the Ontario Parliament from East
Toronto, and re-elected in 1871 and 1875. He was a member of the Execu
tive Council in Ontario in the Sandfield-Macdonald Administration, from
July 20, 1867, until the resignation of the Ministry, December 19, 1871, and
with the exception of the last five months of this period, when he was Com
missioner of Crown Lands, he held the offices of Provincial Secretary and
Registrar. He was also leader, and a very able one, too, of the Opposition,
from the general election in December, 1871, until appointed to the Judge-
ship in the Queen s Bench, in November, 1878, which position he held unti
appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in 1884. While in politics
Judge Cameron was a formidable opponent of the Reform Party, and aided
in forming the Liberal-Conservative Association of Toronto ; became its

22 Biographical Notices.

first president, and held that office until his elevation to the Bench. He
was also vice-president of the Liberal-Conservative Convention which was
assembled in Toronto, September 23rd, 1874. He was one of the promoters
and became a Director of the Dominion Telegraph Company, and also of
the Confederation Life and the Isolated Risk and Insurance Companies,
all of which proved successful enterprises, and have become permanent
institutions. In religious views Chief Justice Cameron adheres to the
Church of England, of which he is a member, and is also a member of the
Caledonian and St. Andrew s Societies. On December ist, 1851, he was
married in Toronto, to Miss Charlotte Ross, daughter of William Wedd,
Esq., of Eriglish birth, who immediately prior to his death resided in
Hamilton, Ontario. She died January i4th, 1868, leaving three sons and
three daughters, who are all still living in Toronto. The eldest son is Dr.
Irving Heward Cameron, a practising physician of this city.

THOMAS CAMPTON is a native of Leicestershire, England, where he was
born February 23rd, 1813. When eighteen years of age he joined the 68th
Regiment, British army, and by good conduct attained the rank of
sergeant. During his years of service, he spent some time at Gibraltar
and Jamaica ; and from the latter station he removed with his regiment to
Canada. While here he obtained his discharge from the army, and at once
came to Toronto, where he established himself in the grocery business.
This was in 1842, and three years later he removed to Collingwood, then a
new settlement, where was born to him a son ; the first white child there.
In 1850 he returned to Toronto, where he engaged in the meat business,
from which he retired in 1881, and has since lived in private life.

FREDERICK CHASE CAPREOL. The name of this gentleman, one of
the oldest residents of Toronto, connected as it is with the organization, and
carrying out of the first railroad constructed in the Province, certainly
deserves a prominent place in our pages. Mr. Capreol was born loth
June, 1803, and is the second son of Thomas Capre ol, Esq., of Bishop
Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. His pedigree on his father s side is
derived from the ancient and ennobled foreign family of the De Capreols,
and on his mother s side equally illustrious, as she was niece to the late
Sir- Richard Chase, and a relative by marriage of the late Marquis of Salis
bury. Mr. Capreol first came to Canada in 1829 to assist in arranging
the affairs of the old North-West Fur Company, and having fulfilled his
part of the business returned to England in 1831. Two years afterwards
he again came to Canada, and shortly after his arrival in New York,

City of Toronto. 23

married a Miss Skyring, a lady who had been a fellow-passenger with him
across the Atlantic. He proceeded to Toronto and determined to settle
here, having purchased a large quantity of land at Port Credit. The
result of this purchase was a long and tedious lawsuit, in which he was,
however, successful. For some time he followed mercantile pursuits, but
these he gave up when he conceived the idea of promoting the Northern
Railway. It is a well-known fact that to Mr. Capre ol the Northern
Railway owes its existence, as it was he who projected it, and promoted
the design, almost unaided, and at his own expense forwarded the pre
liminary arrangements. No one can fully estimate the benefits which the
services of this gentleman in this respect conferred on Toronto and the
country north of it. After the completion of the railway Mr. Capreol
proceeded to Europe with his family and travelled on the continent, and
whilst in London had the gratification of being presented with a handsome
service of plate, given to him on behalf of the citizens of Toronto as a mark
of .their confidence, esteem and gratitude for the services which he had
rendered to their city. Mr. Capreol was also the founder of the first Water
and Gas Works in the city, and was once a member of the City Council.
Mr. Capreol s name is also associated with a noble piece of gallantry, which
reflects not a little credit on his public spirit. In the month of July, 1843,
a gentleman of the name of Thomas Kinnear, residing at Richmond Hill, a
much esteemed citizen, together with his housekeeper, were brutally and
barbarously murdered during the same day by two of his servants, who after
the cold-blooded deed escaped to the United States. The city authorities
would not take any action in the matter, and Mr. Capreol, hearing of the
whereabouts of the murderers, chartered a steamboat, at twelve o clock on
Sunday night, and at a considerable sacrifice of time and money proceeded
to Lewiston, where he succeeded in capturing the fugitives, and brought
them to Toronto. They were tried, found guilty, one of them suffered the
extreme penalty of the law, and the other, Grace Marks, was sentenced to
the Penitentiary for life. A full account of this tragedy will be found in
Chapter IV., page 32, of the History of the County of York, embodied
in this work. Mr. Capreol on his return from the continent obtained
a charter incorporating the Huron and Ontario Ship Canal Company,
having for its object the building of a canal between Lakes Huron and
Ontario to connect and improve Canada s great water highway. H ,
indomitable energy and pluck in endeavouring to secure the completion oJ
this great work is well known to most of our citizens. Mr. Capre ol has
brought up a large family, three sons and eight daughters. His eldest son,
J. Lonsdale Capre ol, is Clerk, of the Executive Council of Ontario. His

24 Biographical Notices.

second son, Frederick Chase, is in the Department of the Interior, Ottawa.
His third son, Alfred Reginald, is in the Imperial Bank. Of his daughters,
only one is married, she is the wife of F. O. Cross, Esq., Manager of the
Canadian Bank of Commerce at Woodstock.

REV. JOHN CARRROLL, D.D., was born on Saltkill Island, Passama-
quoddy Bay, New Brunswick, on August 8th, 1809, being one of twin sons.
He is the son of Joseph and Mary (Ridout) Carroll. In 1809 the family left -
New Brunswick, and after residing at Maford, Ten Mile Creek, Fairchild s
Creek and Grand River, settled in York at the close of the War of 1812.
Their first habitation was a share of Artilleryman Elder s hut on the west
shore of the bay, an edifice which fully eighty years ago tumbled into the
water. They next occupied a house at the corner of Duke and George
Streets. As Joseph Carroll \vas a saddler and harness maker by trade he
subsequently removed to the corner of Duchess and George Streets, where
he opened the regimental harness shop of the loth Regiment. John Carroll
acquired an education at various York primary schools, and received a
classical training at a higher school. He then commenced teaching, from
which occupation he was called by the authorities of the Methodist
Church to become a circuit preacher. He ultimately entered the regular
ministry at the Conference of 1829, and continued his duties until 1870,
when he was superannuated. During an active ministerial career of forty-
two years, Dr. Carroll has been stationed at the leading cities and towns in
the Province, among those being London, Hamilton, Ottawa, St. Catharines,
Belleville, Prescott and Cobourg. While at the latter place he taught for a
year at Victoria College, and attended classes in Greek, Hebrew and Phil
osophy. For twenty-five years .he had charge of districts over some of
which he travelled. In 1874 ne received the degree of D.D. from the North
Carolina State University. Since his superannuation Dr. Carroll has
spent his time writing books, chiefly of a religious character. Among them
are "Case and His Contemporaries, a History of Methodism in Canada,"
"Life of Father Carson," "Methodist Baptism," "Exposition Expounded,
Defended and Supplemented." He died at his residence in Toronto after
a brief illness, December i3th, 1884, and was buried at St. Catharines.

ROBERT CARROLL, of Carroll & Dunspaugh. His father was born in
the north of Ireland, where he acquired the building business with his
father, who was a Government contractor for many years. He continued
with him until he emigrated to Canada in the year 1831, and followed the
same line of business in the City of Toronto until his death in the year 1868.

City of Toronto. 25

His wife, Mary McCallen, was born in the same place. She was the daughter
of a farmer, who was of Scotch descent, who now lives on Ontario Street, aged
seventy-seven years. On leaving the Old Country they had one daughter,
who died on the voyage out. While in York he had three sons, James,
Matthew and Robert. James died in Lockport, N. Y., to which place his par
ents moved from Canada, they lived there for six years, during which time
three daughters were born, Mary Jane, Anne and Alvarina, the latter died
in Buffalo, whither her parents had moved, after ten months trial of Pitts
burgh, and where they resided over two years. They returned to Toronto in
1845, and made it their home for life, where another son was born,
James W. (1845), who married Sarah Morrison, sister of James Morrison,
brassfounder, Adelaide Street West. He went to Winnipeg, where he
now resides with his wife and one son, having lost three daughters in
Toronto. Matthew married in Toronto and made his home in New York,
U. S., and died there in 1869, leaving a wife, son, and one daughter,
who now resides in Toronto. Mary Jane married J. Segsworth, wholesale
jeweller and importer, Wellington Street East, near Yonge, son of John
Segsworth, an old pioneer who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, to
Little York in the year 1831, and who carried on a successful business as
waggon-maker on Richmond Street West, from which he retired on
a competency, and died in the old homestead in 1871. Mary Jane is now
the mother of eleven children, ten of whom are now living with her and her
husband at 137 Church Street. Anne was married to Mr. D. J. Bradley,
from Yorkshire, England, engaged in the dry-goods line ; she had seven
children, four of whom are- now alive, one son and three daughters.
Robert, the subject of this sketch, was educated at the old Model School,
which stood on a site of the residence of the present Lieutenant-Governor.
He learned the building business with the firm of Metcalf, Wilson &
Forbes, during which time they had the contract for St. James Cathedral,
Trinity College, Normal School, and the old Post Office, on the west side
of Toronto Street. After his apprenticeship he commenced business as
builder and contractor. He married Catharine Jamieson on I5th Decem
ber, 1864, daughter of Wm. Jamieson, lumber merchant, one of the old
pioneers from Ayrshire, Scotland, who arrived in Little York in 1831 and
died in 1875, by whom he had six daughters. Three are now alive : the
eldest, Catharine Marion, Hamilton; second, Mary Louise; the youngest,
Elma Burns. Their mother died April i8th, 1883. He continued in the
same business until he formed a partnership in the year 1868 with his
brother-in-law, W. M. Jamieson, in builders supplies. The latter was a
prominent Mason and York Pioneer, having come to Canada with his father

26 Biographical Notices,

when seven years old. He continued this business until the death of W. M.
Jamieson in 1877, after which time W. F. Dunspaugh took his place (1879)
in which he, W. F., continued until he effected another partnership with
Francy, on the Ohio River, U. S., for the manufacturing of sewer pipes,
which firm is known as the Great Western Fire Clay Company, Toronto,
Jefferson County, Ohio, U. S. His father, W. H. Dunspaugh, took his
place in the old firm 1882, which now stands Carroll & Dunspaugh, dealers
in and importers of sewer pipe and general builders supplies, 66 Adelaide
Street West.

JOHN JOSEPH CASSIDY, M.D., was born in Toronto, of Irish parents, in
1843. He received his early education at a private school, and also at a
school taught by the Christian Brothers. At the age of eleven years he

*

was sent to St. Michael s College, Toronto, where he remained six years,
afterwards spending three years at Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere, Province of
Quebec. In 1864 he matriculated in medicine in Toronto University, grad
uating as M.B. in 1868, and as M.D. in 1869. At the examination for
M.B. he carried off the Star gold medal for Anatomy. He began the practice
of medicine in this city in 1868, and has now accumulated a large and
prosperous patronage. In 1868 he was appointed physician to the House
of Providence, Toronto, and he remained the sole medical attendant of that
institution for seven years. In 1869 he was appointed a member of the
visiting staff of the Toronto General Hospital, a position which he main
tained until 1884, when he was transferred to the consulting staff. He is
a member of the Provincial Board of Health of Ontario, being the commit
tee on " the heating and ventilation of buildings," and a member of the
committee on "publication." Dr. Cassidy married, in 1878, Miss A. A.
Messner, of Formosa, Bruce County, Ont. He is a Catholic.

THE CAWTHRA FAMILY. In the beginning of the present century
Joseph Cawthra came from England to America and settled on a grant of
land still in the possession of his descendants near Port Credit, where,
among the Indians, the name " Etobekous " was given him and his family,
from the number of elder trees on the shore ; Etobicoke being the
Indian name for elder tree. Mr. Cawthra s enterprise soon brought him to
Toronto, then called York, where he opened the first wholesale business
established there, and where for many years he was a prominent citizen,
and died at an advanced age in 1842. His widow survived him and died
at the age of eighty-six, in Toronto, in 1847. Their second son, John
Cawthra, served his country in the War of 1812 ; he was with General Brock

City of Toronto. 27

at the capture of Detroit, and at Queenston. He settled at Newmarket,
and represented the County of Simcoe in the Parliament of Upper -Canada
as its first member, on its separation from the County of York. He died at
Newmarket in 1851, leaving three sons and one daughter. William Cawthra,
the youngest son of Joseph Cawthra, was for many years a well-known
citizen of Toronto. After his education, first in the early school of Arch
deacon Stuart, and afterwards at Montreal, he remained with his father in
business in Toronto, and though he took an active and prominent part in
the stirring political events of those early days, he never entered Parlia
ment, although often solicited by his party and friends to do so. He
married Sarah Ellen, daughter of the-late J. Crowther, -who survives him.
He died at Toronto in 1880, in the seventy-ninth year of his age.

JAMES CHAMBERLIN, hotel-keeper, Toronto, was born in this city in
1847. His father, Erial Chamberlin, was born in Albany in 1793, and at
the close of the War of 1812 removed to Canada and located on land about
fourteen miles out of Yonge Street, where he lived until his death. His
mother was Mary Fulton, who was born in Richmond Hill. Her father
was Colonel James Fulton, who fought in the War of 1812 and who died of
cholera at Little York. While the custodian of some valuable despatches*
he was taken prisoner at Niagara by some Americans, but managed to get
away from them ; he was followed to an hotel which was surrounded all
night by a guard, and in the morning was again taken prisoner, but again
effected his escape. Mr. Chamberlin s maternal grandmother was a Mun-
shaw, the first family to settle upon a farm on Yonge Street. The
Munshaws came to Little York from Pennsylvania in an ox-cart by way
of Hamilton. Mr. Chamberlin has been in the hotel business for about
four years and is married to a daughter of William Funston, of this city.
His brother Charles, a builder, lives at 450 Parliament Street. When the
Munshaw family landed in Little York, one log building used for a custom
house was all the signs of civilization to be seen.

COLONEL WILLIAM CHEWETT was born in London, England, 2ist
December, 1752. In early life he was educated with a view of entering
the East India Company s service, and at the age of eighteen years passed
his examination and received an appointment as engineer and hydro-
grapher, with orders to sail for the East. Unfortunately he was attacked
with small-pox shortly before the departure of the vessel to which he was
appointed, and was left in England. On his recovery he decided upon
going to America, and sailed for Quebec in 1771. He very soon

28 Biographical Notices.

received full employment from the Government in surveying, making charts
and maps of the rivers and country in the neighbourhood. When the
American Revolutionary War, which broke out in 1775, extended to Lake
Champlain and the vicinity of Quebec, Mr. Chewett served in the Quebec
Militia, and in the course of the siege, when off duty, assisted in the
engineers department. After the defeat of the Americans he was appointed
acting pay-master of works to the Engineers , Quartermaster s and Naval
Departments for the Ports of St. John, Isle aux Noix, and their depen
dencies on Lake Champlain, in which office he remained until 1785. In
1786 he took charge of the District of Lunenburg, formerly called the East
ern District of Upper Canada, and now comprising the easternmost counties
of Ontario, and there surveyed land and located the disbanded troops and
loyalists. It was while there engaged that he met and afterwards married,
in 1791, a Scottish lady (Isabella) the daughter of Major Archibald Mac-
donnell, of the Long Sault, whose family left Scotland on account of their
active and rebellious support of the cause of the Pretender. In 1792 he was
employed, under Governor Simcoe at Kingston, in reconstructing the map
of the Province by dividing it into new Districts and Counties, previous to
its being separated into Upper and Lower Canada. In 1796 he accom
panied Governor Simcoe to Newark (Niagara) which was the temporary
seat of Government till removed to Toronto, where he was employed in
surveying and preparing buildings for its reception. He also about this
time (1779) commenced the erection of a house for his own use, which he
afterwards occupied until his death, and which is still standing (1885)
somewhat modified by an additional storey. In 1802, upon the retirement
of Mr. Surveyor-General Smith, he was appointed Deputy Surveyor-
General, conjointly with Mr. Ridout, who afterwards received the appoint
ment of Surveyor-General. During the American War of 1812-14 he was
in command of the 3rd Regiment of York Militia and in the battle of York,
27th April, 1813, he was, in the absence of Major General Sheaffe, in com
mand of the forces ; and when the townspeople capitulated to the greatly
superior numbers of the Americans, he, with Major Allen, arranged the
terms for the surrender of the town. In the engagement, while riding with
Captain Loring, of the io4th Regiment, he was severely injured by the
explosion of the powder magazine which caused so great a loss of life among
the American troops. After the war he continued to serve the Government
until 1832, when he was allowed to retire on full pay after a service
in numerous departments for upwards of fifty-eight years. Colonel
Chewett died in Toronto on igth September, 1849, at the advanced age of
ninety-seven years.

City of Toronto. 29

JAMES GRANT CHEWETT, eldest son of Colonel Chewett, was born gth
November, 1793, at Cornwall. In early life he was educated at the then
historical school, in that town, kept by the late Bishop Strachan ; he after
wards was engaged in the surveys which his father superintended, and for
thirty years he was employed by the Government in what was then known
as the Surveyor-General s Department. He ultimately became Deputy
Surveyor-General of the Upper Province, and retired with a pension when
the seat of Government was removed to Kingston. During the War of 1812
he served in his father s regiment, and actively assisted in blowing up the
powder magazine. In 1826 Mr. Chewett married, at Toronto, Martha
Smith, second daughter of Richard Robison, who was of Scottish descent
and born in L Assomption, 1780, and afterwards settled at Napanee, where
he formed a business partnership with Mr. Cartwright. In 1832 Mr.
Chewett commenced on his property, at the corner of King and York
Streets, a block of buildings, afterwards known by his name, one of which
formed in those days a large and commodious hotel, kept by a Mr. Keating
under the name of the British Coffee House. In 1835, as one of the City
Fathers and Chairman of the Finance Committee, he arranged the system of
one and two dollar debentures redeemable in one year with interest, and
which then passed current in Canada as money. The few still outstanding
are greatly prized by the curious. After Mr. Chewett s retirement from
public life he took an active part in the management of the Bank of Upper
Canada, of which he was many years the Vice-President. From that estab
lishment he passed to the Presidency of the Bank of Toronto when that
institution was organized, and remained in office until his death, which
occurred suddenly on 7th December, 1862. Mr. Chewett s kindliness of
disposition and gentlemanly manners made him a universal favourite. He
was thoroughly acquainted with the country in which he was born and
brought up, and to the close of his life took an active and intelligent interest
in everything which transpired. Mr. Chewett left issue two sons and a
daughter; the eldest, Dr. William C. Chewett, was born in Toronto, i6th
August, 1828, was educated at the Upper Canada College, and afterwards
took the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the University of Toronto in 1851,
the first regular student of that institution upon whom the degree had been
conferred. Dr. Chewett never practised his profession, but turned his
attention to other pursuits. He married, in 1857, Maria Susan, second
daughter of Henry Ranney, Esq., an English gentleman now deceased, who
settled many years ago in Ohio. Dr. Chewett, with his family, now owns
the entire stock of the Rossin House Hotel Company ; the land on which
the hotel stands being in the family since the original grant from the Crown.

30 . Biographical Notices.

GEORGE CHEYNE is a native of Tyrone, Ireland, and came to Canada
in 1830. On his arrival he bought one hundred acres of land in the County
of Peel, and at once proceeded to farm it, having in early life been brought
up to that occupation. He remained here about thirty years, and after
spending ten years in Orangeville he came to Toronto, where he has since
resided. He married in 1831 Miss Walker, daughter of Robert Walker, of
Toronto Township, by whom he had a family of six sons and three daughters
three sons and three daughters are living. Mr. Cheyne is a Conservative
in politics, and in religion belongs to the Canada Methodist Church.

ALEXANDER CHISHOLM, deceased, was born at Cromarty, on the High
lands of Scotland. He came to Canada with his parents; his father settled
at Kingston, and served during the War of 1812, and subsequently died at
Owen Sound. Alexander settled at York in 1848, where he was married,
by the late Dean Grasett, to a daughter of Lawrence Burns. He soon
afterwards engaged in the grocery and dry-goods trade, for several years.
He was also manager for Isaac Gilmore and R. A. Hoskins, but owing to
failing health he retired from business. He was a member of Holy Trinity
Church for many years ; at his death he left a family of one son and three
daughters: Catharine, married Philip Dwyer, of Troy, N.Y, ; Alicia,
married William Keiting, of Portsmouth, England. The third daughter
married Walter Page, a grocer, of Yorkville.

JOHN C. CLAPP, M.D., M.C.P.S.O., was born in New York, U.S., and is
the son of James A. Clapp, a mechanic and farmer, who resided in Seneca
County, N.Y. Mr. Clapp, sen r, was a native of Connecticut, and descended
from a family whose ancestry is traceable as far back as the eleventh
century. In the year 1017, one Osgod Clapp, a Danish noble, settled in
England, and was attached to the Court of Canute. For services rendered
in the council and war he became possessed of certain lands at Salcombe,
in Devonshire, which are still in the hands of the family, and on which at the.
present time still stands, an old ancestral piie. In 1830 Ebenezer Clapp,
lineal descendant of Osgod Clapp, settled in Massachusetts, U.S., and was
for many years a printer of the Hampshire (Mass.), Gazette, and was the
progenitor of his race on this side of the Atlantic. The subject of our
sketch studied his profession at Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterwards engaged
in practice in Western New York. He came to Toronto in 1861, and since
his advent has obtained a good share of patronage.

THOMAS CLARK, son of William Clark, of Wilton, near Pickering, York
shire, England, was born in 1808, where he lived till the death of his father

City of Toronto, 31

in 1829; his mother having died some months before. The following year
he emigrated to Canada, and after living in what was then known as Little
York about two years, he leased and lived on a farm in West York, where
some two years later he married Eleanor, daughter of Francis and Mary
Linton, natives of Alliston, near Pickering, England. In 1842 he bought
and farmed lot 15, 2nd concession, East York ; his wife died in February,
1844, leaving three sons and four daughters. In 1847 he married Nancy,
daughter of James and Mary Miller, of East York, by whom he had two
sons and four daughters. He continued to reside on his farm till 1884,
when he sold out and retired, and now lives at his residence, 93 Bleeker
Street, Toronto.

JOHN A. CLINDINNING, boat-builder, was born in Kingston, Ont., in
1826, being the fifth in a family of six children. He was educated and
brought up in Toronto, having come here with his parents in 1830. In
1849 he commenced keeping an hotel on what is now the Island, but what
was then only a peninsular ; he continued the hotel business, as well as
boat-building, across the bay until the great storm of 1860, in which the
waters of the lake washed completely over the peninsular. He then
removed to the city, where he has been ever since. He has obtained the
reputation of building some of the finest pleasure boats ever floated on
Toronto Bay.

ROBERT W. CLINDINNING, printer, was born in the North of Ireland
in 1815. His father was David Clindinning, born in the County Mona-
ghan, and a tailor by trade ; his mother was a daughter of John Clark,
farmer, of the same county. In 1819 his parents with their three children,
Matilda, Robert and Emily, left Belfast, Ireland, and emigrated to Canada,
where they settled at Gananoque,in Leeds County. Mr. David Clindinning,
sen r, worked at his trade for six years, at the end of which he removed to
Kingston, Ont., where he kept an hotel at the Market Square, called the-
Hibernian Inn; while there his son John A. was born. In 1830 he removed
to Little York, where he opened an hotel on Church Street, one door
north of what is now the Publi,c Library. He afterwards removed to
Rochester, N.Y., and subsequently to Kiantone, N.Y., where he died, May
26th, 1856. His wife died in Toronto, January 3oth, 1855. His third son,
John A., was born in Kingston. Of his five children, the only living ones
are Robert Wilson and John A. Robert W. Clindinning was educated at
Kingston, and began to learn the trade of a printer on May 6th, 1831, in the
office of the Courier, a Conservative paper, published by George Gurnett,
who became Mayor of Toronto in 1837; he was six years there. When

j2 Biographical Notices.

that paper was discontinued he worked in the office of the Palladium,
a moderate Conservative journal, published by Charles Fothergill ; he was
a year on that paper. Next he worked for a year on the Star, published by
J. F. Cootes, and then in the Upper Canada Gazette, the Government
office. From 1840 until 1843 he worked on the Church, a weekly journal,
published by Henry Rowsell, and edited by Bishop Bethune, who was then
Archdeacon; the Church was removed to Cobourg in 1843. It was in 1843
that the late Hon. George Brown came to Toronto and unfurled the Banner;
only three or four printers were employed on that paper, and those who
first set type in the office were John McLean, foreman, James Lumsden and
our subject. In the following year the Banner was merged into the Globe,
which was published in an office comprising two rooms, on the corner of
Yonge and King Streets. It was printed on a hand press. It was in the Banner
that the article entitled " A Ministerial Crisis," written by Mr. Peter Brown*
Hon. George Brown s father, and which favoured the Baldwin Govern
ment, appeared; the article changed the paper in a great measure. Mr. Clin-
dinning worked on the Globe for three years, and then bought a printing office
in New York, which he sold to Robert R. Smiley, the founder of the Hamilton
Spectator. He spent another year on the Globe, after which he went on the
British Colonist, a moderate Conservative journal, published by the late
Hugh Scobie, on King Street. At Mr. Scobie s death in 1853, the paper was
sold to Mr. Samuel Thompson, who continued it until 1860; Sheppard &
Morrison then took charge of it ; it was Sheppard who wrote the celebrated
article "Whither are we Drifting ?" In 1860 the copyright was sold to the
Leader, on which paper Mr. Clindinning worked from 1860 until 1878;
since the latter year he has been working in Dudley & Burns book room.
Mr. Clindinning has seen much that was exciting in the early days of To
ronto. He witnessed the execution of a York farmer who roasted his child,
and that of Julia Murdock, the servant girl who poisoned with arsenic her
mistress, the wife of John Roddy, merchant ; he also saw the execution of
Lount and Matthews, for participating in the Mackenzie Rebellion. Mr.
Clindinning has been a strong Reformer. One of his sisters, Matilda, died
of the cholera in 1834.

NICHOLAS CLINKENBROOMER, deceased, was of German origin, being the
son of a wealthy gentleman. When a young man he had every advantage
of a good education, and on reaching his majority he had acquired three
languages, English, French and German. One evening when walking out
in a sea-port town in his native country, he was taken by a press-gang with
others, and hurried on board of an English ship of war and brought to

JOSEPH CLINKENBROOMER.

City of Toronto. 33

Quebec, where he fought under Major-General Wolfe upon the Plains of
Abraham, 1759; also participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, Boston,
June lyth, 1795; and served at Saratoga under General Burgoyne, June
i7th, 1777, where the British forces were made prisoners of war to Major-
General Gates of the American army. After the close of the Revolution,
he had the choice of being returned to his native country or of receiving a
grant of, land in Upper Canada. He accepted the latter, and drew one
hundred acres near Dundas, Ontario. He first took up his residence at
Newark (now Niagara), where he worked for William Jones, an army tailor.
One year later he engaged with the North-Western Fur Company, as an
Indian trader. In 1795 he settled in York, on the corner of what is now
Adelaide and Jarvis Streets, and began business on the present site of the
Post Office, being the first tailor in York. On January 4th, 1799, there
not being an English Church clergyman within eighteen miles of the place,
he was married by John Wilson, J.P., to Sarah White, the witnesses being
John Clarke and Hugh McPhee. He died at York in 1807, leaving three
sons, the eldest, Charles, born on Duchess Street in 1790. When a mere
boy he was bound out as an apprentice to Jordan Post, the first silversmith
and watch-maker of York. After serving his apprenticeship he began busi
ness for himself on the south side of King Street, near Church, which he
continued until 1870. He married Hannah, daughter of John Anderson, of
Eglinton, by whom he left eight children. In politics he was a strong
Reformer, and subscribed for the first copy of the Leader issued in Toronto.
The Globe was a welcome visitor at his residence until his death. Although
repeatedly solicited to accept municipal honours, he declined. Many of
the old families of York retain silverware and clocks made by his skilful
hand, and although nearly a century old they show but little the effects of
age. Charles Edward, 71 Major Street, eldest son of the above, was born
in Toronto in 1841, and married Martha, daughter of John Campbell.
Eliza, the fourth daughter, married John Alexander, a native of York, at
whose residence, Baldwin Street, her father passed the remaining years of
his life and died in 1881. Thomas, the youngest, married Sarah, daughter
of John Wright, of Parkdale. Joseph Clinkenbroomer, deceased, the
second son of Nicholas and Sarah Clinkenbroomer, was born at York in
1801. At the age of fourteen was bound out to James Ross, a tailor of
York, with whom he served seven years. The price he received for making
a suit of clothes was five dollars. He was twice married, first to Theresa,
eldest daughter of Jonathan Hale; second to Ann Finck. He died May
24th, 1884, being the oldest native-born resident of York, except one. Three
sons, and one daughter survive him. William Henry, the eldest, was

4

34 Biographical Notices.

born in Toronto, 1834. At the age of fourteen he went to the Township of
Vaughan and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner ; when twenty-two
years of age he married Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Donald Gilchrist,
from the Island of Islay. In 1867, during the Fenian Raids, he served
six months on the frontier at Fort Erie, in the Volunteer Corps, and
under Major George D. Denison. Since that date he has been engaged in
contracting and building. In early life he acquired the trade of blacksmith
and is at present located at 667 Queen Street West. In 1866 he married
Ann, daughter of John Sweetman.

W. C. COOK was born in the parish of Houston, Norfolk, England,
being the son of one Warrener Cook. Our subject came to Canada in
1818, and for one year followed boating on the Ottawa. He came to this
city in 1830, and for some time was head wheelsman on a boat that traded
between Kingston and Toronto and other ports. He next settled in King
ston, and opened a general store where he remained two years, subsequently
returning to Toronto and purchasing some property on King Street. This
was in 1830, and the price paid for sixty-six feet was $300. He also owned
three vessels which traded on the lakes. Mr. Cook has been twice married,
first to Maria, daughter of James Ellis, a woollen draper of Nottingham
shire, England. His second wife was Eliza Cramp, who was a native of
Kent. He has one son and two daughters living. Mr. Cook is a Reformer
in politics, and in religion a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.
He is the eldest living ratepayer in St. David s Ward, and has paid taxes
since 1834.

REUBEN COONS, real estate agent, was born in the Township of Matilda,
County of Dundas, in 1825, being the third son of Jacob and Rebecca
(Brady) Coons. Mr. Coons father and grandfather were U.E. Loyalists,
who served all through the American War of 1812. On his father s side
his people came direct from Holland, his grandfather settled in the Town,
ship of Matilda, County of Dundas, with his four sons. His father was
engaged in farming until 1829, when he removed with his family to Pres-
cott, where he died in 1882, aged ninety-five years. His grandfather died
on his farm in the Township of Matilda. Reuben Coons spent his school
days in Prescott, under the instruction of the Rev. Reuben Tupper, after
which he began business as a clerk, with his uncle Samuel Brady, who was
in partnership with Mr. Horton, M.P. He kept a general store in Pres
cott. He remained there four years, and then went to work for a man
named Alfred Jones. In 1836 he went to Kingston with his brother
Nicholas, who engaged in the dry-goods business ; he was clerk for him

City of Toronto. 35

eight years. In June, 1844, he came to Toronto with his brother, who
opened a dry-goods store on King Street, opposite Toronto Street. After
three years he served Remain Bros., as clerk, for one year. He then spent
a year in Hamilton and Brantford, and afterwards returned to Toronto,
where he has been ever since. He worked for Peter Patterson ; after that
he entered the employ of the Grand Trunk Railway Company, he was there
twelve years, furnishing supplies, to the railroad men. After that he went
to William Burke, where he ran a planer four years, since which time he
has acted in the capacity of a general agent, renting houses, etc. He is a
member of the Queen Street Methodist Church, being a steward and
treasurer of the poor fund of that church. In politics he is a Conservative.
His first wife was Frances E., daughter of John Murchison ; and his second
wife Anne, daughter of James Watson. He has one daughter living.

WILLIAM CORNER, deceased, was born in Yamaska, Province of Quebec,
Canada, in 1831. He was the third son of Charles Corner. In 1852 he
became associated with the mechanical department of the Grand Trunk
Railway as car foreman, which position he held until his death in 1884,
being at that time the oldest employe on the road. In 1848 he married, in
Montreal, a daughter of Robert Finley ; he left five sons and five daughters.
He belonged to the A.O.U.W., from which his family received $2,000 ; he
also belonged to the Royal Arcanum, from which his family received $3,000.
He joined the Freemasons twenty-five years previous to his death, and
continued a member of that fraternity. His son, John J., lives over the Don.

GEORGE GILLESPIE CRAWFORD, Doctor of Medicine, was born in 1809,
on St. Joseph s Island, where his father, Louis Crawford, a U. E. Loyalist
in New York State, was in the employ of the Northern Land Company.
His father afterwards went to England, where he died. His mother was
Jessie Mitchell, daughter of Dr. Mitchell, of the 8th Regiment. Our subject
being young when his father died, he was taken care of by his uncle s
partner, George Gillespie, who had him educated at Bothwell. He after
wards took a course at Edinburgh University. He then became an appren
tice with Dr. Alexander Gillespie, with whom he served his time. In 1829
he came to Canada and went to Penetanguishene, where he succeeded his
uncle, Dr. David Mitchell, as surgeon in the 8th King s Own Regiment.
In 1830 he settled permanently in Toronto, and began a business partner
ship with Newbigen & Co., as a sleeping partner. Dr. Crawford has been
twice married ; first, to Marion Maitland in 1855 ; his second wife was
Elizabeth, widow of James Sams (one of the English Cricketing Eleven) and
daughter of Sergeant Hurley, Her Majesty s 8ist Regiment. He has three
daughters and two sons.

36 Biographical Notices.

COLONEL F. W. CUMBERLAND, deceased, was born at London, England^
September loth, 1820. After receiving a liberal education he served several
years apprenticeship as an architect, and later entered the service of the
Great Western Railway Company, London, England. He subsequently
filled a Government appointment in the Portsmouth dockyards, until 1848.
One year later he came to Toronto, received the appointment of Engineer
of the Home District, and had charge of the York Roads from 1849. For a
period of ten years, he followed his profession of architect, during which
time he designed St. James Cathedral, the old Post Office, and the Normal
School. In 1852 Mr. W. G. Storm became a partner in his business, which
continued for seven years, during which time they designed the University
of Toronto, Osgoode Hall, and many other public and private buildings.
During the great Exhibition held in London, England, he visited that city
as one of the Canadian representatives of our Government. In 1859 he
received the appointment of Chief Engineer of the Northern Railroad, the
following year became Managing Director, which position he held until his
death, 1881. Under his efficient management the road made great progress,
and by many kind and generous acts, he greatly endeared himself to the
officials and employes, and as a tribute to his memory, they erected, at Allen-
dale, after his death, a bronze monument. In 1861 he organized a regiment
of mechanics, called the loth Royals, of which he received a commission as
Colonel. During the Fenian Raid in 1866. he largely assisted the staff by
superintending the transportation of the troops. In 1865, he received
the appointment of Provincial Aide-de-Camp, from which he retired in
1868, receiving the thanks of Lord Dufferin. At the time of his death he
was a member of the Masonic body, one of the Council of Trinity College,
Vice-President of the Canadian Institute, and member of the St. George s
Society, of which he was President in 1855 and 1856. He was also Presi
dent of the Mechanics Institute. In politics he was a Conservative, and
represented the District of Algoma in the Ontario Legislature for three
years, and for one year occupied a seat in the House of Commons, during
which time he was considered a man of quick perception, good judgment
and a fluent speaker. He ever retained his- youthful spirit. At the time of
his death he was President of the Toronto Cricket Club. His esteemed wife,
Wilmot Bramley, by whom he left a family of five children, one son and
four daughters, survived him at the age of sixty-three. Barlow Cumberland
was born at Portsmouth, England, 1849 ; came to Toronto the same year,
where he was educated at the Grammar School, and subsequently at Chelten
ham College, England ; afterwards took a degree of M.A., at Trinity College,
Toronto, entered Osgoode Hall and studied law, under Osier & Moss,

City of Toronto. 37

until 1871, since which time he has been General Passenger Agent for
various railway and steamship lines. He has also held a captaincy of the
loth Royals since 1874, and was elected President of the St. George s
Society in 1883.

PATRICK CUNNINGHAM (Old Fort) was born in Dublin, Ireland, 1842.
He came to Canada at the time the Trent affair was likely to lead to
war between Great Britain and the United States, with the i6th Foot,
under the command of Colonel Peacock, and remained in Montreal about
two years. In 1863 he came to Toronto and assisted in establishing the
first military school in Canada. After handing it over to the 47th Regiment
he did duty in several cities of Western Canada, and also at the Thorold
Instructive Camp, all in connection with the service. In 1867 he gave up
matters military, and entered the Railway Company s service for three
years, part of which time he acted as conductor. A knowledge of carpen
tering gave him the opportunity of exercising his talents in that direction
for ten years, and even now he occasionally handles the tools of his trade.
Mr. Cunningham has been a member of the Queen s Own for eleven years,
ten of whicji he has occupied the honourable position of Sergeant- Major.

EDWARD DACK, boot and shoemaker, 73 King Street West, was born
in Stradbally, Queen s County, Ireland, in 1834. His father, Matthew
Dack, was a hardware merchant, and emigrated to Canada with his family
in 1834. He began a boot and shoe business in Kingston, and afterwards
engaged in that line in Toronto, in the place now occupied by his son. He
died in 1842. Since then the business has been carried on by his son, who
does a large trade. In 1850 Edward Dack married Jane Nixon, by whom
he had four sons and three daughters. He has one son in business in
Toronto (E. Dack & Son), and one in the United States. Mr. Dack does
not take a very active part in politics ; he votes for principle rather than
party. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in his seventy-
first year still continues hale and hearty.

W. DARLINGTON, deceased, is a native of Shropshire, England, where
he was born in 1814. He came out to Canada in 1849, and engaged in
business as felt and gravel roofer, which he continued to conduct until his
death, April i8th, 1881. He was the first to introduce the felt and gravel
roofing business in this country, and being a man of energy ability, and
steady habits, he amassed considerable property. His wife s maiden name
was Frances Burton ; she was from England also. Mr. Darlington was a
member of the Toronto Hunt and Gun Clubs, and, being a splendid rider

38 Biographical Notices.

as well as a capital shot, added in no small degree to the reputation
enjoyed by the respective clubs. He was a Reformer in politics, and a
member for upwards of twenty years of the Richmond Street Methodist
Church. At his death he left one son, named W. H. Darlington, who
is engaged in job printing ; he resides at 63^- Mutual Street.

JOHN DAVIS is a native of Staffordshire, England, and came to Canada
in 1880. Three years later he accepted his present position as caretaker of
the Toronto Medical School.

SAMUEL H. DEFRIES was born in Toronto, being the son ot Robert
Defries, a native of Devonport, County of Devon, England, who came to
Little York, now Toronto, in 1829. The latter was for thirty-six years
Postmaster in the Legislative Assembly, and after Confederation occupied
the same position in the House of Commons, till his death in 1871. He
died at his residence on Old Mill Road, and was buried by the York Pio
neers, of which body he was a member. His wife was Susan, daughter of
George K. Fealstead, from Tyrone, Ireland, by whom h had a family of six
sons, viz.: Richard, Robert, George, Samuel, John and Mark; the last
named was shot at Ridgeway, during the Fenian Raid of 1866, being at
that time Corporal in No. 3 Company, Queen s Own Rifles. The subject
of this sketch, Samuel H., at the age of fourteen went on a whaling voyage
in the ship Navigator, of Edgartown, Mass., U. S., which occupation he
followed seven years, then returned to Toronto, and has since been in the
employ of the Grand Trunk Railway Company. In 1859, ne married
Sophia, daughter of George Ernest, of Toronto, by whom he has one
child, a daughter. The only other surviving member of fhe family of
Robert Defries is Richard, the eldest son.

JAMES ACLAND DE LA HOOKE, surgeon, is a native of Plymouth,
Devonshire, England. He was born in 1814, and studied his profession at
the Hunterian Theatre of Anatomy, King s College, London University, and
St. George s Hospital, of that city, and was granted his diploma by the
Royal College of Surgeons, England, in the year 1837. Two years after
this he came to Canada and settled in Weston, where he practised his pro
fession for many years. In 1870 he came to Toronto, where he now
resides, and still practises his profession. In 1872 he was appointed
a coronerfor Toronto and County of York. Dr. De La Hook was in 1842
gazetted Surgeon to the first Huron Regiment of Militia, and has been
attached to various regiments in the Province. In 1879 he was promoted
to the rank of Surgeon Major, and he at present occupies the position of

City of Toronto. 39

Senior Surgeon Major in the Dominion. Dr. De La Hook has twice
married, first to Miss Sarah England, who died at Weston in 1846. His
second union was with Miss Maria Louisa Denison. He has three sons liv
ing, James Acland, E. Dillon A., and T. D. Auley.

CHARLES LESLIE DENISON, Dufferin Street, was born in York in 1841,
his father being George Taylor Denison. He is the youngest child by
his father s third wife. He has been engaged in farming nearly all his life,
and now owns property in Toronto. He has been a member of the York
Township Council. In 1859 he was commissioned a Cornet in the Gover
nor-General s Body Guard and received a lieutenant s commission in
1861, but is now on the retired list. In 1882 he married a daughter of the
late E. C. Fisher.

E. P. DENISON was born in Weston in 1835, his father being Thomas
John Denison, a farmer. He spent his early life in Weston, farming and
store-keeping. In 1878 he removed to Toronto. He is now, and has been
for twelve years, connected with the Governor-General s Body Guard, in
which he holds the rank of Captain. In Nov., 1882, he married a daughter
of Major John Paul, of Weston.

CAPTAIN JAMES DICK is a native of Argyleshire, Scotland, and was born
in 1826. At the age of sixteen he began life as a sailor before the mast in
the merchant service. He came to Canada in 1838, and took up his
residence in Toronto, and in 1839, in conjunction with his brother, Thomas
Dick, commenced sailing on the lakes, an occupation which they success
fully followed for many years. His connection with the different lines of
steamers which operated in the early days was large and varied, and we
ought not to omit to mention that Captain Dick, in company with several
other inflential celebrities, ran the first steamer on the north shore of Lake
Superior. This was in 1858. The same combination has the " Mail " con
tract from Collingwood to Fort Garry, and we may incidentally notice that
one letter and two newspapers occupied the bag on the first trip, in 1858.

JAMES ISAAC DICKEY was born in Belfast, Ireland, and came to Toronto
in 1847. He sailed in company with his brother, the remainder of the
family coming the year after. Both parents have died since their arrival.
James was a machinist by trade, and for a year worked in this city for Mr.
Spencer, whose establishment was on Yonge Street. He subsequently
obtained a situation as Mechanical Superintendent at the Susquehanna
Depot of the New York and Erie Railway. In 1852 he returned to Tor
onto and, in company with his brother and brother-in-law, purchased a lot

4O Biographical Notices,

on Beverley Street, on which they built and established the Soho Foundry
and steam engine works. This business was conducted with success until
1876, when James and Nathaniel Dickey retired, leaving the business to Mr.
Neil, their brother-in-law, who conducted it as Neil & Son. At Mr. Neil s
death, in 1879, the business was closed. Mr. Dickey took an active interest
in the formation of the ioth Royals Regiment.

JOHN DILL, painter, was born on Bay Street, Little York, in 1833.
His father was Alexander Dill and came to Canada from the North of
Ireland in 1827. In l8 28 he married Jane, daughter of Robert McCormick,
by whom he had the following children : Sarah, married James Hughes,
Toronto ; Margaret, married J. Ashfield, Toronto ; William, lives in New
Orleans, La.; Mary Ann, married Alfred Booth, Toronto; Robert, lives
in Toronto ; Jane, lives in Cleveland, O. ; Elizabeth, a widow, lives in
Toronto. Alexander Dill worked in George Ketchum s tannery, corner
of Yonge and Queen Streets, for twelve years ; then he was employed
in the Sheriff s Office and in the Police Office, until his death in 1851.
He served in the Rebellion of 1837-8. His father and mother came to
Canada one year after he came out. John Dill was six years in the
employ of A. R. Leonard, with whom he learned his trade. He afterwards
started business for himself and has continued it ever since. In 1853
he was married to Sarah Ann, only daughter of William Hughes. In
politics he is a strong Conservative, and takes an active part in political
matters. He sat at the Council Board, during 1876-7-8, as a representative
of St, Patrick s Ward. In religion he is a Presbyterian. Mr. Dill was
connected with the Masonic Society, with the Orange Body and with the
Irish Protestant Benevolent Association.

JOHN DIXON, carriage manufacturer, was born in Toronto, March 8th,
1837, and is the youngest of a family of five children, born to William and
Elizabeth (Smith) Dixon, who came to Toronto from the State of New
York in 1833. His father, who was a bricklayer by trade, was born in
Lincolnshire, England ; he was a Sergeant -Major during the Rebellion of
1837-8, and served in Toronto, Kingston, Malaga, Chippewa, and partici
pated in the cutting loose of the Caroline. He died at the age of sixty-five
years. Mr. Dixon s mother is still living, at the advanced age of ninety-one
years. Of the five children three sons are living, two daughters being dead.
Mr. Dixon learned his trade in Toronto, and now gives employment to about
forty-five men. In 1862 he married Ellen, eldest daughter of William Hamp-
son, who came from England and settled in Toronto some years ago. He
was a builder and built Upper Canada College.

City of Toronto. 41

JAMES DOBSON, postmaster, Yorkville, is the eldest son of Matthew and
Ann Park Dobson, his birthplace being Mohill, County of Leitrim, Ireland.
He was born in 1810 and is now in his seventy-fifth year. His ancestry
is traceable to the persecuted Huguenots who took refuge in England in
the seventeenth century. His father served in the Leitrim Militia, and
was Quartermaster-Sergeant for nearly twenty years, receiving his discharge
and a pension at the close of the French war. He came to Canada, and died
here in his eighty-eighth year. When seventeen years of age, the subject of
this memoir was bound an apprentice to Francis Irwin, Esq., architect and
builder, of Carrick-on-Shannon, for seven years, and on completing his term
came to Canada. This was in 1834. He did not reach Toronto until
some time in the following year, having spent the winter in the older Prov
ince. He worked with the late George H. White, of Yorkville, for a
season, afterwards removing to New York, where he remained till within a
short time previous to the Rebellion of 1837 breaking out. On his return he
settled in Yorkville, purchasing a house and lot a little south of the
site of the Town Hall, and worked there at his trade. The Rebellion
having commenced, he took up arms and joined a company of volunteers,
under the captaincy of Walter McKenzie, Esq., with John Hillyard
Cameron, Esq., as Lieutenant. Mr. Dobson, like others of his countrymen,
took up arms in defence of law and order, but when the affair was over and
the passions and prejudices of the moment had subsided, he was compelled
to admit in a great part, that something in the cause of the Rebels was not
unmixed with justice. Our subject carried on the building trade until his
marriage, in 1840, to Sarah Ann, daughter of the late Captain Moore, of the
Township of York, a veteran of 1812, who fought under General Brock, and
was wounded at the Battle of Queen ston Heights. The issue of the marriage
was a family of eight children, two of whom died at an early age; three sons
and three daughters are yet living : William Egerton, James Haines and
Charles Albert ; Sarah, Anne Eliza and Edith. During the early portion
of Mr. Dobson s residence in Yorkville the population was small but
steadily increasing, and several brick manufactories were accumulating in
the neighbourhood. The moral and religious welfare of this rising com
munity was, however, not all that could be desired, there being no schools
and only a small frame church, built by the Primitive Methodists, but after
wards sold to the Wesleyan Methodists. Mr. Dobson gave up his house
for religious services and Sabbath school while a church was being built,
and also took a deep and active interest in getting a school and temperance
hall established. We may add that the present school-house and grounds
are not inferior to any in the Province. In the year 1852, when Yorkville
became incorporated, Mr. Dobson was one of the chief instruments in

42 Biographical Notices.

bringing about this desirable accomplishment, going into the matter with
an energy and interest that could not fail to secure its object. At the first
election the chosen were John Sleigh, butcher; John Severn, brewer; James
Wallis, blacksmith ; Thomas Atkinson, brickmaker, and James Dobson,
builder, the latter being chosen first reeve of the new municipality. He
remained a member of the Council seven years, and filled the chair on two
occasions. Mr. Dobson retired from the building business in 1851, having
got together a considerable amount of landed property. He opened a
general store and was at this time appointed postmaster of Yorkville. In
the year 1863 he was made a J.P. for the County of York ; in 1868, Com
missioner of Affidavits in B.R. ; in 1870 he was appointed agent for
marriage licenses, all of which positions he at present holds. He is an
office-bearer and trustee of the Bloor Street Methodist Church, Toronto
In concluding our necessarily condensed record of Mr. Dobson s life and
labours, we should say that both in public and private life he is recognized
by all as a man of strict integrity and unblemished reputation. In con
nection with his public duties he is courteous, considerate and obliging,
while in private life his hand is ever ready to relieve the needy, or he will
give wholesome advice to those in misfortune. In politics Mr. Dobson s
opinions are decidedly favourable to the Liberal cause, his ideas having
undergone a complete change after the Rebellion of 1837. One other great
motive in his life has been to promote the temperance cause, and it has ever
been his consuming desire to see Prohibition the law throughout the land.

JOHN WILLIAM DRUMMOND, deceased, was born in Little York, Septem
ber 2nd, 1817. His parents were John and Mary (Lloyd) Drummond, who
came to Canada from Chester, England, in 1811. His mother died when
he was an infant. After the death of his wife, John Drummond placed his
children in the care of friends and relatives, and embarked upon a whaling
expedition, from which he never returned. John William Drummond, was
apprenticed to Jacques & Hay, furniture manufacturers, and at the age of
twenty-one went to New York, where he remained two years. In 1840 he
returned to Toronto, and began the manufacture of furniture in partner
ship with his brother-in-law, John Haigh, who was succeeded on his death,
in 1848, by James Thompson; in 1850 Mr. Thompson returned to Montreal,
and then business was discontinued. Mr. Drummond then engaged in
the lumbering business, Yonge Street, until July, 1868, when his stock being
destroyed by fire, he decided to retire. On April 22nd, 1847, he married
Hester Ann, second daughter of John Doel, by whom he had five daughters.
Mr. Drummond was elected to represent St. James Ward in the City

City of Toronto. 43

Council in 1865, but resigned the honour at the end of a few months on
account of ill-health. In 1877 he was commissioned a Justice of the Peace.
For many years he was one of the Board of Directors of the House of
Industry. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Church up to his
death, which occurred September gth, 1881.

JOSEPH DUGGAN is a native of this city, and a York Pioneer, having been
born in 1832, and was a son of Thomas Duggan, a native of Ireland, who
came to Canada in 1827, and died in Toronto in 1854. Mr. Joseph Duggan
in 1851 commenced business at the corner of King and Princess Streets. In
1872 he bought a farm on Kingston Road, on which he erected an hotel.
This he carried on for two years, afterwards renting it, and built the beau
tiful homestead where he now resides, known as Woodbine Park. He
subsequently built the hotel on the race track, called the Woodbine Park
Club-house, which he occupied for four years; he then retired to the home
stead, which he has again rented, and is now living at 539 Church Street,
Toronto.

WILLIAM DUNCAN, deceased, was born in the County Donegal, Ireland,
in 1780, and in 1825, came to Canada and located on lot 25, concession 3,
East York, where he took up four hundred acres of uncleared land, half
being in York, and half in Markham Townships. This he improved and
cultivated and resided upon until his death, which occurred in 1865. He
married Mary Fletcher, of Dublin, who died in 1813, leaving six children.
He married again, Mrs. Lackie being his second wife, and by whom he
had three children. The only living representative of the family by the
first marriage is William Duncan, born in 1812. He lived upon the old
homestead till 1867, when he retired from farming and removed to the city,
where he still resides. He married in 1852, Margaret McGuire, of Pitts-
burg, Pennsylvania, who died in 1858.

JONATHAN DUNN, deceased, was born at Bridlington, Yorkshire, Eng
land, in 1798, being the youngest son in a family of five children; his
parents died when he was quite young. At the age of twenty-five he, in
company with his brother, arrived in York, and began business at St. Law
rence Market as a butcher. When St. Patrick s Market was completed he
removed to the latter place, where he continued the same business until a
few years previous to his death, which occurred in 1864. During the
Rebellion of 1837 he held a contract under the Government to furnish the
supplies to the garrison. In 1843 he was elected to represent St. Patrick s
Ward in the City Council, which office he held until, 1863, when he retired

44 Biographical Notices.

from the deliberations of the council board. When eighteen years of age,
he was stricken with a severe illness caused by over exertion ; he then
embraced religion, and ever after maintained his Christian character.
When the Queen Street Methodist Church was built, he was one of the
board of trustees, and was a very active member until his death. As a
member of the church he was ever true to her interests. A distinguishing
feature of his life was his integrity in public or in private. As a man of
business he fully maintained his character ; his word was unquestioned ; his
honesty gained for him the esteem and respect of all, and at his death as an
expression of sympathy and the respect in which he was held, many places
of business in the city were closed. Mr. Dunn was twice married. His
first wife was Anna Pickenny ; she died soon after his arrival in New York,
leaving three children, one son and two daughters ; John Dunn, the eldest;
Mrs. John Lee, Rochester, N.Y ; Mrs. James Wallis, dead. His second
marriage was to Jane, eldest daughter of John Wallis, who -formerly kept
the old Red Lion Hotel on Colborne Street ; by her he had five sons and
four daughters, as follows : Mary Jane, wife of William Wharin, 47 King
Street West ; William, dead; James R., City Weigh-master ; Mrs. W. L.
Wilkinson ; S. C. Dunn, farmer, in East York ; Wallis, a farmer in Tor
onto Township ; Jonathan, living in Detroit ; Rosa, wife of W. C. Stratton,
Inland Revenue Department ; Lillie M., wife of John Ritchie, 91 King
Street West. James R. Dunn, third son of the above, was born in Toronto
in 1839, at the old home on the Denison property, north side of Queen
Street; received his early education in Toronto. He succeeded his father
in business. In 1864 when Mr. Jonathan Dunn, sen r, retired from
the Council, he was chosen Alderman to represent St. Patrick s Ward,
which office he held during 1864, 1865 and 1866. In i874- 75 he repre
sented St. Andrew s Ward, at the expiration of which time he received
the appointment of City Weigh-master, which office he now holds. He
served as a volunteer in Colonel George T. Denison s Cavalry for three
years. On December i5th, 1860, he married Frances, youngest daughter
of Adam Rolph, of London, England. Our subject has been a Free
mason for many years, and was Worthy Master of Occident Lodge, 346,
in 1883. He has been a member of the Odd-fellows for twenty years, and
is also a member of the Ancient Order of United W r orkmen.

CHARLES DURAND, barrister. His ancestors were originally of French
extraction. In about 1690 the Durands were among the Huguenots who
settled in England and were made citizens by patent in Queen Anne s reign.
His great-grandfather was Charles Durand ; the name Charles having been

City of Toronto. 45

in the family for generations. His grandfather, Charles Durand, was an
officer in the British army, and was stationed on the Welsh border where
his son, the late Captain James Durand, the father of our subject, was born
in 1776. His father came to Canada about the year 1800, and commenced
business as a merchant in Montreal, where he remained several years. He
then opened a store, and bought a large farm at Long Point, near Simcoe,
Norfolk. In 1805 he bought and removed to a two-hundred acre farm
which he had purchased in the then Village, now City, of Hamilton. His
first wife, an English lady, was killed in 1805, while descending the then
dangerous mountain pass at Hamilton ; by her he had four children, viz. :
Maria, born 1798, and still living near Hamilton ; James, Harriet and
George, three of whom were born in England. In 1807 he married his
second wife, a daughter of Hugh Morrison, a Revolutionary soldier, who
fought under Washington, by whom he had five children, as follows :-
Henry, born in 1808; Charles, born in 1811 ; Ferdinand, born in 1813;
Alonzo, born in 1814; Ellen, born in 1816; all of whom are dead, except
ing Charles. During the War of i8i2- i4 his father commanded a very
large flank company of militia, and took an active part in the Battle of
Queenston Heights, where General Brock was killed. In 1815 he removed
to a point on the Bay of Quinte, and two years later returned to a farm
near Hamilton. From 1814 to 1822, he was a member of the Upper
Canada Legislature. In 1820 he bought a large farm, seven miles from
Brantford, and remained there until near the time of his death in 1833. He
was Registrar of the Counties of Halton and Wentworth for about twenty
years. His second wife died in 1828. Charles Durand, the subject of this
sketch, was born in 1811, in Hamilton, and received his early education at
Hamilton and Dundas. In 1829 he was articled to the late Robert Berrie,
a Scotch barrister, at Hamilton, and in February, 1835, was admitted
to practise as an attorney, and in February, 1836, was admitted as
a barrister. He practised his profession in Hamilton until the end of 1837.
After the troubles of 1837, he went to Buffalo, and thence to Chicago, prac
tising his profession in the latter city from 1839 until 1844, when he returned
to Toronto, where he has ever since resided. In April, 1837, he married
Sarah, a daughter of Lardner Bostwick, one of the pioneer settlers of Toronto,
and one of its first aldermen. She at her death, in 1855, left six daughters,
four of whom are married. In 1858 he married Mary Ann Bradshaw, a
daughter of the late James Bradshaw, of Hamilton, belonging to a large and
numerous family of U. E. Loyalists of the Niagara District, by whom he
had six children, two sons and four daughters, four of whom are living ; two
daughters being dead. The subject of this sketch has been a practising

46 Biographical Notices.

lawyer for over fifty years, and is still engaged in the practice of the law at
his advanced age. He has also been a contributor to the political and
literary periodicals in Canada since the year 1832, and owned and edited a
paper of his own from 1851 to 1854, extensively circulated and devoted to
temperance principles, literature and general news.

JOHN EAGLE, retired, was born in the suburbs of London, England, in
1820, and at the age of twenty-three came to Canada. He first settled in
Brant County, taking up 200 acres of land, on which he lived and laboured
nine years. At the end of this period it was taken from him by the
Government, who desired it for the Indian Reserve, he receiving no compen
sation, after having devoted some of the best years of his life to its cultiva
tion. In 1853 ne came to Weston and rented a small hotel, where he did
business for some years. He afterwards bought the place, and erected
near the site his large and commodious hotel, called the Eagle House,
where he lived until 1884, retiring then from business and removing to this
city. During his stay in Brant County Mr. Eagle underwent all the hard
ships and dangers incident to pioneer life, being frequently a mark for the
Indian bullets, the latter looking upon the settlers as interlopers. Mr.
Eagle for several years did an extensive business in Weston as brick-
maker, farmer and hotel proprietor, besides taking great interest in the
construction of macadamized roads leading into the city. Mr. Eagle has
been twice married.

JAMES EDGAR, M.D., was born in Wentworth County in 1824 ; he entered
the ministry of the late Primitive Methodist Church in 1846, and continued
in service until 1880, when failing health compelled him to retire. He is
now engaged in medical practice in this city.

HUMPHREY ELLIOTT was born in the North of Ireland in 1831, where
he remained until 1839, being the second son of Thomas Elliott, deceased,
who first located at Ottawa on his arrival in Canada, where he stopped a
short time, coming to Kingston and Toronto in 1840. The subject of this
sketch learned the moulder s trade, which he worked at until 1855, when he
engaged in boarding-house keeping. He located on the corner of Richmond
and Victoria Streets, where he continued up to 1876. He afterwards retired
and purchased some property on Wellesley Street, where he erected two
brick houses. He now owns Nos. 88, 90 and 92. In 1854 ne married Miss
Mary McArthur.

JOHN W. ELLIOTT is a lineal descendant of John Elliott, who composed
one of that now historical body, the " Pilgrim Fathers." He was born in

City of Toronto. 47

Leicester, Mass., September 7th, 1822, and in early life learned the dentistry
profession, which he followed for many years in different cities before his
arrival in Canada. He established himself in Toronto in 1858, where he
has since remained, having gathered together a large practice.

THOMAS WILLIAM ELLIOTT, coal, wood, flour and feed merchant, was
born in the Township of York in 1840. -His father was Edward Elliott, who
came to Canada in 1834 from England, and took up land in the Township of
York, where he died at the age of sixty-seven years. His mother, Susannah
Smith, was a daughter of William Smith, who fought under General Brock,
and was killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights. Thomas W T . Elliott came
to Toronto in 1867, and engaged in the coal, wood and feed business, to
which he still adheres. In 1868 he was married to Ellen, fourth daughter
of John Grey, a Scotchman, one of the oldest settlers in York County. In
politics he is a Reformer ; in religion belongs to the Methodist Church.
Mr. Elliott is connected with the City Council ; he was elected alderman for
St. Matthew s Ward last year, and re-elected in 1885.

JOHN ELLIS, No. i Wood Lane, Yorkville, was born in Yorkshire,
England, at a place called White Cross, on the 28th of March, 1810. Mr.
Ellis was brought up on a farm. In 1831 he came to Canada with his wife,
Rachael Johnson Ellis. When he first came to Toronto he went to work for
the Hon. Wm. Allen ; afterwards rented a farm in York Township, where he
was nine years engaged at farming, after which he returned to Yorkville,
purchased property and built eight houses. In 1872 he retired. He is
a Conservative and a member of the English Church. When he came to
Yorkville the old Red Lion Hotel was the only building in the village.

JOHN ELLIS, deceased, was born in Norwich, England, in 1795, and was
an engraver by trade. In 1828 he married Rhoda, daughter of George
Charles Bunting, by whom he had four children ; two of them died in
England. In 1836 he came to Canada, and, locating in Toronto, took up
his residence on King Street, near Simcoe Street. He was engaged in
business until 1868. In politics he was a Conservative, and in religion a
member of the Church of England. He took a great interest in music,
especially classical. At his death he left two children, a son and a daughter.

REMELIUS ELMSLEY is of English extraction, his grandfather, John
Elmsley, having emigrated from Yorkshire in the year 1795. He received
his education in England, and was intended for the bar. His legal know
ledge, combined with administrative talents of a high order, secured for him

48 Biographical Notices.

the position of Chief Justice of Upper Canada, which he filled for about
five years. He was in the Upper House of the Legislature, and occupied
the post of Speaker. He died in Montreal in 1805. He left a family of one
son and two daughters. Our subject s father was born in 1801, and at the
age of seventeen joined the Royal Navy, in which he served for a number
of years, retiring in 1827 on half pay. He took up his residence in Canada
about this time, and after a useful life died in 1863. Mr. R. Elmsley is the
youngest son of the family.

H. A. ENGELHARDT, Superintendent Mount Pleasant Cemetery, was
born in Milhauson, Prussia, in 1832. His father was Major Christopher
Engelhardt; his mother s name was Damme; he was the only son. He
received his education in the University College, Berlin, where he studied
those subjects which would fit him for his profession of a civil engineer.
He completed his studies when nineteen years of age. According to custom
he spent two years in the sharp-shooters guard, located in Berlin, and one
year as volunteer ; he served in Schleswig-Holstein. In 1851 he came to
America and located at Baltimore, where he became a landscape gardener;
he spent a year assisting in the laying out of Central Park, New York. He
lived in North Carolina and Virginia until 1870, when he came to Canada,
where he has since been engaged in laying out public grounds and ceme
teries, including Government works ; subsequently designing most of the
recent cemeteries and public parks of Ontario.

JOHN FARR, deceased, was born in Hertfordshire, England, 1782, and
settled in York, U. C., about the year 1815. He was by occupation a
brewer, and was the pioneer of that business in this city, which he carried
on for a number of years. His career was marked by that success which
never fails to attend perseverance, integrity and straightforwardness of
purpose, and in all business affairs he was highly respected. His death
occurred in 1874, in the ninety-second year of his age. He married, in
1821, Mary Bishop, a native of London, England, who died in 1882.

JAMES FARRELL, retired, was born in the County of Derry in 1808.
His parents were James and Margaret (Atkinson) Farrell ; his mother died
in Ireland. In 1831 he came to Canada, without a tracie and without
money; but nothing daunted he got a horse and cart and went as carter,
which he continued for fifteen years. He afterwards set up a grocery store
in Queen Street West. Then he kept the General Brock Hotel. About
twenty-five years ago he retired from business. Mr. Farrell served for two

City of Toronto, 49

years in the cavalry. For four years he represented St. John s Ward in
the City Council. He has two daughters, but no sons ; one daughter is
married to Charles Shields, of this city; and the other is married to Dr.
Ross, of Thunder Bay.

ARTHUR E. FISHER, music professor, was born in England in 1848, and
came to Canada in 1879, locating first in Montreal, where he was engaged
as organist of St. George s Church nearly three years. He studied in Paris
under the principal violinist of the Conservatoire of Music, and at Trinity
College, London, under Henry Holmes. Mr. Fisher devotes himself chiefly
to voice tuition and the theory of music (harmony and counterpoint), and
has lately sent up a number of lady pupils to the examination at the
University of Trinity College for the degree of music, the first instance of
the kind in Canada. He is also the originator of the St. Cecilia Madrigal
Society.

EDWARD FISHER, organist and professor of music, 12 Wilton Crescent,
was born in the United States and came to Canada in 1875. He first
located in Ottawa, where he had charge of the musical department of the
Ottawa Ladies College. He studied the organ under Eugene Thayer,
composition with Julius Eichberg, and piano with J. B. Sharland. Mr.
Fisher resided in Burton during his studentship with these masters, holding
during this period various important positions in that city as organist and
pianist. He finished his education at Berlin, Prussia, under the organist,
Haupt, and the pianist and composer, Loeschhorn. Leaving Ottawa in
1879, ne removed to Toronto, having accepted the position as organist of
St. Andrew s Church, and a few months later formed the " St. Andrew s
Choral Society," latterly known as the " Toronto Choral Society," number
ing now about three hundred active members and four hundred honorary
members. Mr. Fisher is also musical director for the Ontario Ladies College
at Whitby, and for the past year conductor of the " Guelph Choral Union."

ANDREW FLEMING was born in the County of Tyrone, Ireland, in
1819, and in 1825 came to Canada with his father, John Fleming, who
remained in Quebec until 1830. He moved to Bytown (now Ottawa) after
wards. Andrew is the eldest of the family living. After leaving school he
joined the volunteers during the Rebellion of 1837, and remained in the
City Guards for seven months afterwards. He subsequently joined the
first troop of incorporated dragoons, and remained with them until their
disbandment. In 1848 he received the appointment of Usher to the High
Court of Queen s Bench, which position he still retains. He was tax col-

5

50 Biographical Notices.

lector for St. John s Ward, twelve years. In 1841 he married Miss Mary
Ann Boddy, daughter of Michael Boddy, by whom he had ten children,
seven of whom are still living. He attends the English Church.

JAMES FLEMING, seedsman and florist, Yonge Street, is a native of
Aberdeen, Scotland, and came to Canada in 1834. He located in Montreal
two years, and being a practical gardener and florist worked at his trade.
,In 1836 he came to Toronto and commenced market gardening on three
acres of land west of Yonge and Elm Streets ; his present place being part
of the original lot. In 1837 he erected a seed store and greenhouses for the
sale of plants and seeds which has proved very prosperous as a business
venture. In 1864 Mr. Fleming was commissioned a Justice of the Peace
for the City of Toronto, and in 1884 received the same honour in connection
with the county. In 1877 he was elected alderman for St. John s Ward,
and has since been re-elected for three years. Mr. Fleming is a director
of the Horticultural Society and the Industrial Association. In politics he
is a Reformer, and in religion a Presbyterian.

McGREGOR FLIGHT, engineer and architectural "draughtsman, City
Engineers Office, is a native of Kingston-on-Thames, England, eldest son
of Thomas Flight, a retired captain of the Greensine Merchant Service.
He came to Toronto in 1870. Mr. Flight was articled with Mr. T. Har
rington, marine engineer and surveyor, London.

J. C. FORBES is the son of the late Duncan Forbes, builder. Mr.
Forbes is a portrait painter by profession, and commenced the practice of
his art in Toronto in 1866. In 1876 he exhibited at Philadelphia paintings
entitled, "The Wreck of the Hibernia," and " Beware." He has taken
portraits of Lord Dufferin, Sir John A. Macdonald, and many other prominent
politicians. His paintings of scenes in the Rocky Mountains and in the
forest are unexceptionally good. " The Grand Canyon of the Arkansas,"
"The Mount of the Holy Cross" and "Love Lilly" being especially
admired. He received a medal for a portrait of his father at the Inter
national Exhibition, held in Buffalo, in 1871. He is a member of the
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, also the Ontario Society of Artists.

JAMES FOSTER, optician and electric instrument maker, 13 King Street
West, is the only child of Henry and Mary (Andrews) Foster. Henry
Foster was a bricklayer and stonemason by trade, and came to Canada
from Drumaulk, County Monaghan, Ireland, in 1828 ; he located in Toronto
where he acquired some property on Duchess Street. James Foster

City of Toronto. 51

was born in Toronto in 1830, and was only eighteen months old when his
father died at the age of thirty-six years; his mother died in 1877, aged
eighty-seven years. He afterwards received a good education, and when
sixteen years old commenced to learn the trade of mathematical instrument
maker. In 1864 he began business for himself on Adelaide Street, where
he also did considerable work for the Montreal Telegraph Company, and
for twenty years made all the instruments used by that company west of
Kingston, employing a considerable staff of workmen. In 1873, finding his
former stand too small for his business, he leased the building, No. 40
Colborne Street, and fitted it up to suit his business, and having then suffi
cient room he began to manufacture surveying and engineering instruments.
He remained there until the fall of 1883, when he removed to his present
commodious stand, 13 King Street West, where he now carries on the most
extensive business in the optical and surveying instrument line in the city,
and manufactures most of the meteorological and other instruments of
precision, used in the Dominion, and is kept actively employed by an ever
growing demand for his skill and instruments. Mr. Foster married Mary E.
Jobbet, whose grandfather was paymaster in the famous Queen s Rangers.

THOMAS Fox was born in the City of London, England, in 1812, and at
the age of twenty he emigrated to Canada, and settled in York. He was
for some time engaged in the manufacture of brick, subsequently erecting
property on Curzon and Leslie Streets, and is now living retired. In 1834
he married Miss Mary Rose, of Devonshire, England, who died in 1854.
He married a second time, Mary Rooney. By his former wife he had nine
children, and by his present wife two children.

GARRETT F. FRANKLAND, a representative of a Saxon house, and one
of the leading citizens of Toronto, was born in the Village of Barrowford,
Lancashire, England, in 1834, and settled in Toronto in 1854. ^ n early
life he learned the trade of a butcher and grocer, in connection with
farming. On his arrival in Toronto, he started as a butcher for the St.
Lawrence Market. By energy and perseverance he gradually increased his
business, and in 1860 he began to export meat to the United States and
Great Britain. This business, which has now assumed such gigantic
proportions, Mr. Frankland was mainly instrumental in originating ; the
particulars connected with its rise and progress, together with statistical
matter, will be found elsewhere in this .volume and, therefore, needs no
repetition. We may also add that Mr. Frankland has done this country the
signal service of raising the price of cattle from $25 to $30 a head. He was

52 Biographical Notices.

also the means of causing the Corporation of Liverpool to expend over
$200,000 for the accommodation of live stock upon its arrival, thus relieving
the suffering endured by the exposure to the twelve hours quarantine
imposed by the Imperial Government. As a recognition of his valuable
services, Mr. Frankland was the recipient, in 1876, of a banquet and an
illuminated address, presented at the Walker House, here ; also a clock, at
the City Arms, and in 1879 f a service of silver plate, at Liverpool. Mr.
Frankland was married, July 8th, 1857, to Jane Nelson, of Antrim
County, Ireland, by whom he had a family of six children

EDWARD GALLEY, 303 Parliament Street, is a native of the Isle of
Wight, and came to Toronto in 1852. In 1856 he married Mary Jane,
daughter of the late Richard Jewell, of Toronto. He was for twenty-four
years engaged in the contracting and building business, from which he
retired in 1879. During his business career he erected many of the whole
sale stores and buildings on Front, Wellington, Yonge and Bay Streets ; also
the Grand Opera House, a nd five churches, including the Sherbourne and
Parliament Street Methodist Churches. In addition to public buildings,
he has erected upwards of fifty private residences ; altogether he has erected
nearly one thousand buildings, upwards of forty of which he owns. He
employed at one time about five hundred hands. Mr. Galley has been a
member of the Public School Board since 1873, an< ^ was two years chairman
of that body. In 1878 he contested East Toronto for the Dominion House
of Commons. He was elected member of the Toronto City Council for the
Ward of St. Thomas in 1885. Amongst other offices held by him may be
mentioned a directorship in the Land Security Company, the North
American Life Assurance Company and others. In religion he is a mem
ber of the Methodist Church. .

THE GAMBLE FAMILY. Nathaniel Allan Gamble, retired, 554 Church
Street, Toronto, is of Scotch extraction, and was born on lot 90, Yonge
Street, and is a grandson of Nathaniel Gamble, sen r, who came from near
the Town of Bowmore, in the Island of Isla, Argyleshire, Scotland. He
settled in Canada in 1798, on lot 89, on the east side of Yonge Street ; he
was married to a daughter of Samuel Chambers, by whom he had three
sons and two daughters, all of whom came with him. He was a Presby
terian, and lor a long time was trustee of glebe land belonging to that
Church, near Markham. . He died .in 1833, leaving a large quantity of land
in the Counties of York and Simcoe. Nathaniel Gamble, jun r, youngest
son of the above, was born in 1764. Settled "on lot 90, on Yonge Street

City of Toronto. 53

which he cleared and farmed until his death in 1836. Like his father, he
was an extensive landowner. He was identified with the municipality in
which he- lived, and belonged to the Militia, in which he held the rank of
Captain. In 1803 he married Susannah, daughter of Thomas Mercer, of
York "Mills. He belonged to the Church of England, and was a Conserva
tive in politics. He left the following children: Anne, James, Susannah,
Mary, Thomas, Nathaniel Allan, George and Sarah, all of whom married
and settled iri the County of York, except Thomas. The eldest son, James
Gamble, inherited his grandfather s farm, lot 89, and lived on it until his
death in 1854. ^ e was a commissioner in the Court of Request, before
Division Courts were established ; a magistrate, and also held a commis
sion in the Militia. Thomas Gamble, the second son of Nathaniel Gamble,
jun r, settled in the Township of Tecumseth, County of Simcoe, in 1838,
where he cleared a large farm. He was a magistrate and held a commis
sion in the Militia as Captain. Nathaniel Allan Gamble, the third son of
Nathaniel Gamble, jun r, was born in 1817. He inherited his father s farm,
lot 90, on Yonge Street, where he lived until 1859. In 1856 he was com
missioned a Justice of the Peace ; he also served as quartermaster in the
1 2th Battalion of Volunteers. When he left his farm, he lived in New
market for some years, where he owned and managed a brewery. In 1872
he moved to Toronto, and married a daughter of John Sproule (who kept a
store, near the market, on King Street, Toronto, for many years before his
death in 1849. George Gamble, the youngest son of Nathaniel Gamble,
jun r, was also an extensive farmer for many years in the Township of
King, near Lloydtown. He also married a daughter of John Sproule, of

Toronto. He is now retired and living in Toronto.

\

JOSEPH GIBSON, ornamental plasterer, was born in Lincolnshire,
England, in 1823, being the only son of Joseph Gibson, shoemaker, and
Martha Clue, daughter of Thomas Clue. His mother died in 1831, and in
1833 he came to Canada with his father, who took up a farm in East
Gwillimbury, and having cleared it, lived there until his death in 1864,
aged sixty-four years. After coming to Canada he was married to Mrs.
Hannah Philips, by whom he had a son and a daughter. When eleven
years of age, Joseph Gibson commenced to learn the plastering trade with
his uncle, John Gibson, who had come out in 1830. He remained with him
until he was twenty-three, when he married Anne, the eldest daughter of
William Smith, by whom he had three sons and one daughter. In 1850
Mr. Gibson started business for himself. He is a Reformer, and a member
of the English Church.

54 Biographical Notices.

COLONEL GIVINS, deceased, was born in the North of Ireland, about
the year 1784. He was a relative of the Duke of Abercorn, and came out
to Canada with Governor Hamilton, and afterwards joined Governor
Simcoe at Bermuda, to whom he was Aide-de-Camp. He returned again
to England and exchanged into the 5th Regiment, and again came out to
Canada. He married, soon after, a daughter of Commodore Andrews, who
was lost on the war-ship Ontario, which was lost on the lake, off Niagara,
with all on board. Colonel Givins received the appointment of Agent for
the Indian Department, which office he held until his death. He left a
family, as follows: Henry Hamilton; Caroline H., who married Colonel
Hillier, Aide-de-Camp to Sir P. Maitland ; James (Judge Givins, of London,
Ont.); Cecil; Saltern (Canon Givins); Elizabeth; and George, for twenty
years Surgeon-Major on Her Majesty s Medical Staff in India.

ARTHUR W. GODSON, contractor, was born in Warwickshire, England, in
1 845, being the youngest son in a family of seven children. His father, George
Godson, came to Canada with his family in 1849 and died in 1866. Arthur
Godson was married in 1871. He has been employed upon the public
works of Toronto for the past fifteen years, having laid at least two-thirds
of the block paving in this city. In 1881 he completed the contract for
paving Yonge Street, and subsequently completed Beverley Street, a portion
of King Street, and others. He also constructed and completed the Sub-way
between Parkdale and the city.

*

JAMES GOODERHAM. The subject of this sketch, was the second son of
the late Wm. Gooderham, Esq., and was born in Norfolk, England,
December agth, 1825. At the age of seven years he accompanied the other
members of the family to Canada and settled in York, where he was
educated. He was always an earnest, thoughtful and conscientious youth,
and his mind was early imbued with serious thoughts of religion. It was
when about sixteen years old and during a short residence at the Village of
Thornhill, that he became converted, and the event left its impress upon his
character through all the subsequent years of his life. Sometime afterward
his leanings towards the ministry induced him to enter Victoria College,
with a view to prepare himself for the sacred calling of a Methodist minister.
In 1848 he was appointed junior preacher on the Whitby circuit, and so
earnest was he and diligent in the discharge of his pastoral duties, so
devoted in his self-sacrificing zeal, that during that year between two and
three hundred were added to the membership of the church on his circuit
by conversion. The following year he was appointed to the Markham

City of Toronto. 55

circuit, but the wasting labours of his previous charge had so exhausted his
physical powers that it soon became evident it would be impossible for him
to continue in the regular work of the ministry. But though forced, by
circumstances beyond his control, to abandon his cherished calling, he never
lost the spirit of a minister of Christ. He loved to preach the Gospel, and
amid the cares and activities of secular life, found frequent opportunity to
labour in various ways for the salvation of sinners, and took a deep interest
in missionary work. He was often associated with leading ministers of his
Church at dedicatory services in various parts of the country, and it was
not an uncommon thing to see the announcement of Dr. Ryerson, or Dr.
Wood, or Dr. Rose, or some other distinguished divine to preach in the
morning, and James Gooderham, Esq., in the afternoon. On July 23, 1850,
Mr. Gooderham was married at Oshawa to Miss Gibbs, daughter of the
late Thomas Gibbs, Esq., and sister of the late Hon. T. N. Gibbs, of that
place ; he afterwards engaged in business in Norval, with one of his
brothers; in 1859 removing to Meadowvale, and in 1863 to Streetsville,
where he engaged in merchandise and milling. At the latter place he also
managed the linen mills of Messrs. Gooderham & Worts, until they were
burned down. During his residence in Streetsville, which continued until
1877, he was a prominent and useful citizen, taking a deep interest in the
prosperity of the town and holding the office of Reeve for eight years. In
the last named, year Mr. Gooderham removed to Toronto, where his home
henceforth remained, though he still retained his large property and busi
ness interests at Streetsville. He was a Director of the London and Ontario
Loan Society from its inception, and Vice-President of the Dominion Tele
graph Company, both of which corporations at his death presented to Mrs.
Gooderham, handsomly engrossed resolutions testifying to the respect in
which he was held, and lamenting his sudden loss. Mr. Gooderham was
one of the first to advocate the project of the Credit Valley Railway, and
actively supported the enterprise until its success was assured. He was a
man of remarkable business talents, pushing and energetic, but withal,
quiet and unassuming. He induced the residents of Streetsville and other
municipalities to grant large bonuses to the road. On May loth, 1879, he
accompanied a party of prominent citizens from Toronto, to inspect the road
as far as completed. At Streetsville he made a short address, justifying
himself in the course he had pursued in connection with the road, and
pointing with pride and pleasure to the rapid completion, not only of that
branch, but of the whole line, and, as might have been expected, was warmly
congratulated on {he result of his labours, even by those who had strongly
opposed him at the outset. A few hours after this address of congratula-

56 Biographical Notices.

tion a collision occurred on the road which resulted in Mr. Gooderham
receiving fatal injuries. He survived long enough to be brought home,
retaining consciousness to the last ; he died the death of a sincere and
exemplary Christian. He was buried in the family vault in St. James 1
Cemetery, his funeral being from the Metropolitan Church, and one of the
largest ever seen in the city. There is no fitter eulogy on the life of any
man than is expressed in the words of Rev. Dr. Potts on this occasion :
" Wise in counsel, prudent in action, intuitively discerning and unflinching
in performing the right, there was in his character the true ideal of a man
and a Christian."

PATRICK GRAHAM, retired, was born in the County Tipperary, Ireland,
in 1802, being the eldest in a family of four sons and four daughters, born to
John and Mary (Power) Graham. In 1832 he came to Canada and worked
on the Purdue farm, near Toronto, and for two years on the farm owned by
Captain W. Baldwin. He then bought two hundred acres of land in the
Township of Asphodel, County of Peterborough; but after clearing ten
acres and losing his first crop he became discouraged and sold the land.
Then he came to Toronto and became a clerk in the store of George
Cheeney, dry-goods merchant. At the end of two years he married Bridget
Madigan, and bought the property on the south-west corner of Wellington
and Scott Streets, the present site of the Great North- Western Telegraph
Company s office, paying three hundred pounds for it, and a one and a-half
storey house which stood on it. There he and his wife kept a private
boarding-house until 1871, when the Montreal Telegraph Company paid
him $10,000 for the lot. Mr. Graham is a Conservative in politics. By his
marriage with Miss Madigan he has one son and two daughters living.

CHRISTOPHER GRAY, Superintendent of the St. James Cemetery, was
born at Ross Head, Ireland, in 1826, and came to Canada in 1842. He
was a nurseryman and gardener in the Old Country, and his lifework has
been devoted to the care and culture of plants, shrubs and trees. He has
been connected with the cemetery sixteen years, and in charge of the same
thirteen years. Mr. Gray married, in 1857, Ellen Gamble, a native of
Ireland, who came to Canada same year as himself. They have four
children, three daughters and one son.

MAJOR JOHN GRAY, M.P.P., Parkdale, was born in Yorkville, 5th January,
1837, being the only surviving child of John and Jane Gray, who were both
born in the County of Meath, Ireland. His father was a nurseryman and
was killed at a railway crossing, January i3th, 1878. The subject of this

City of Toronto. 57

sketch was educated at home and at G. F. Needham s Academy, Rochester,
New York. On his father s death he succeeded him in business, which he
still carries on. In 1861 he was married to Catharine Angeline, daughter
of Joseph Calverley, of Orillia. Mr. Calverley was born in Hull, England,
and married Mary A. Stewart, of London, England. By his marriage
Major Gray has six children, viz. : William Thomas, John Calverley, Frank
Albert, Emma Louisa, Ida Marion and Caroline. In religion he is a
member of the Church of England. Major Gray is a Liberal-Conservative
and in the elections of February, 1883, for the Ontario Legislature, was
returned for West York, redeeming a constituency which for twelve years
had been Reform. He is a member ol the A.F. and A.M., C.O.O.F., also
President of the Toronto Electoral Division, and second Vice-president of
the Toronto Horticultural Society. Major Gray was enrolled in the Toronto
Field Battery in 1856, and in 1860 was appointed Drill Instructor. On
March 8th, 1866, he was commissioned First Lieutenant, and in October,
1869, was with a division of the battery on board the gunboat Prince Alfred,
which was cruising from Sarnia to Amherstburg. In 1870 he was com
missioned Captain; in 1875 Brevet Major, and in 1883 Major commanding
the Toronto Field Battery. He commanded the brigade of artillery in
camp in 1882, 1883 and 1884. On May 8th, 1877, he received a letter of
thanks from the Major-General commanding the Militia, for his offer to raise
a battery for active service in the East. On the incorporation of Parkdale
in 1879, he was elected reeve, and occupied that position for three years.

JOSEPH GRAY, 194 Beverley Street, was born in London in 1816, and
came to Canada in 1834. On his arrival in Toronto he entered the service
of J. D. & G. Ridout, as an assistant, and remained about six months,
removing afterwards to what is now known as Willow Dale, where he
taught school for ten years. He had received a good education at Madras
House, Hackney, London, which fitted him for almost any position ; on
giving up teaching he returned to the city and was engaged as book-keeper
and clerk in the wholesale store of B. Thorne & Co. After some time spent
in this occupation, he entered the service of the Port Hope and Lindsay
Railroad, since called the Midland Railway", subsequently appointed as
Receiver by the Bank of Upper Canada. He engaged with the Nipissing
Railroad Company, as accountant, in November, 1873, and continued to act
in that capacity until the railway was sold in 1881. Mr. Gray is a member
of the St. George s Society, and a follower of the Methodist Church. He
married in 1839, Rachael, daughter of .Isaac Lamoreaux, who was one of
the early settlers in Scarboro Township. Mr. Lamoreaux was ninety-nine

58 Biographical Notices.

years and ten months old when he died. Mr. Gray married again, his
second wife being Elizabeth, daughter of Adam Break, of Markham. Mr.
Gray received by presentation a handsome watch from Mr. Gooderham,
on the occasion of his retirement from the services of the Toronto and
Nipissing Railroad Company.

SAMUEL DAVID HAGEL, M.D., was born at Hagel s Corners, in the County
of Oxford, Ontario, in 1842, on the farm owned and reclaimed from the
forest by his father, Samuel Hagel, who was also a born resident of that
district. The parents on both sides were of U.E. Loyalist descent. His
early education was received at the Common and Grammar schools of his
native county. He also taught school for nearly eight years in the same
county. In 1867 he matriculated in medicine at the University of Toronto,
graduating in 1873, receiving the University and State medals for that
year, and the scholarship for the previous year. On graduating he
immediately began practice in this city, where he has built up a large and
lucrative practice. Dr. Hagel organized and commanded a company of
volunteers in the 22nd Oxford Rifles, during the Fenian troubles of 1866.
He married in 1864, Miss Mary Ann Moyer, of Oxford County, by whom
he has three daughters, all living.

J. B. HALL, M.D., M.C.P.S., of Hahnemann Villa, 326 and 328 Jarvis
Street, is a native of Lincoln, England. He received his education at the
University of Oberlin, O;; Homoeopathic Hospital College of Cleveland?
and the Missouri Homoeopathic College of St. Louis, Mo. In 1862 he
established practice in Cleveland, afterwards St. Paul, Minn., where he
remained several years, and commenced practice in Toronto in 1880. Dr.
Hall is an out-and-out exponent of the principles of homoeopathy.

WILLIAM HALL was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, 1800. His
parents were Charles and Mary (Carruthers) Hall. He crossed the Atlantic
in 1824 and settled in the City of Boston, where he resided about seven
years, learning while there the trade of carpenter. He returned to Ireland
in 1831, and after a stay of two years came back to Boston. In 1834 he
married Margaret, eldest daughter of Mitchell and Isabella (Armstrong)
Swords, and two months after this event he removed to Little York, where
he purchased a lot and built a home. He worked for the late Richard
Woodsworth for ten years ; the latter had the order to build the scaffold on
which Lount and Matthews were to be hung, but Mr. Hall refused decidedly
to work at it. Mr. Hall is and always has been a staunch Reformer in
politics, and a Methodist in religion. He occupied a seat in the Council as

City of Toronto. 59

representative of St. John s Ward in 1853, and was also School Trustee for
St. Patrick s Ward. Mr. Hall is still living at his home on Seaton Street,
and has arrived at the good old age of eighty-five years ; he has one
daughter and two sons ; the former is a widow and resides with him. Mark
Hall, the eldest son, was born in 1837, and is an architect by profession.
He early learned the building business with his father, who carried on that
business for many years, retiring in 1870.

SIDNEY HAMILTON is descended from a family of U. E. Loyalists. His
grandfather, Thomas Hamilton, after serving through the Revolutionary
War, settled in Nova Scotia with his family. The parents of our subject,
Thomas and Ann Hamilton, left Nova Scotia and settled at Port Dover,
Upper Canada, upon wild land, which they cleared and resided upon several
years ; Thomas, a brother of our subject, being the first white child born in
that neighbourhood. While living at Port Dover a journey of fifteen miles
had frequently to be made to grind a grist of corn, while flour was procured
from Chippewa. In 1795 Mr. Hamilton removed to York, and purchased
two acres of land on the north-east corner of King and George Streets,
where he built a house, which became the family residence for a number
ot years. During the War of 1812 he opened a general store in the
same house, and shortly afterwards built the Hamilton Hotel and Ship-
Hotel on Market Street. During the early days of senior Mr. Hamilton s
residence in York he purchased a small schooner, and was engaged in
carrying passengers to and from Niagara. He belonged to the York volun
teers, and participated in the defence of .York. After its capitulation the
American soldiers discovered his red coat hanging in his house, and were
about to take him prisoner, when, through the intercession of some of the
American officers, he was liberated. He afterwards became Coroner of the
United Counties, and also served a number of years as Deputy- Sheriff.
He died at the age of sixty-five. Sidney was the youngest of a family of
ten children, born in York, February 2nd, 1811. He. attended the early
schools of the place ; after the death of his father he began sailing on the
lakes. The first vessel he commanded was the schooner Wood Duck,
after which he owned in succession the Commerce, the William Gamble,
the Rose, the Isabella and the Alliance. With the latter he was engaged
in transporting merchandise between Halifax and Chicago. In 1864, in
connection with his son Robert, he established another dock in Toronto,
known as Hamilton s Wharf, and is now engaged in the same busi
ness at the George Street Elevator. During the Rebellion of 1837 he
belonged to the old fire brigade, and was on duty at the Don Bridge. In
politics he has always been a pronounced Reformer, and in religion a

60 Biographical Notices.

member of the Zion Congregational Church. In 1837 he married Ann
Coulthard, by whom he had eleven children (eight sons and three daughters),
of whom four are now living. Margaret married William Evans, of St.
Catharines ; Robert is in business with his father ; Elizabeth married John
Adams, Assistant Inspector for the Bank of Toronto ; Henry, a barrister,
is now practising law at Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

JOHN HARPER, retired builder and architect, is the son of Richard
Harper, an Englishman, who left Belfast, Ireland, in 1810, and crossing the
ocean settled in New York, where for seven years he manufactured looms.
Richard Harper s wife was Jane, eldest daughter of James Dalrymple, a
Scotchman, by whom he had one son, John, and two daughters, Elizabeth,
the widow of William Somerset; and Catharine who is dead. In 1817 the
family left New York, and crossing Lake Ontario in the schooner Mayflower
(Captain Paterson), located at Little York, where Richard Harper com
menced his business, that of a builder. He died in 1834 ; his wife died in
1836. John Harper was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1806, and came to
America with his parents. He learned the building trade with his father,
and continued at it from 1829 until 1856. He built the stone barracks for
the New Fort, St. Michael s Cathedral, Trinity Church (Trinity Square), the
.General Hospital, and the first Observatory in Toronto, besides numerous
private residences ; he also laid the foundation for the Lunatic Asylum. In
1856 Mr. Harper became an architect, and superintended the erection of the
Post Office, and the Court Street Fire Hall and- Police Station. In 1834
he built what is now the Newsboys Home, but which was then intended for
the Canada Company s Offices ; he also built the first depot and machine
shop for the Northern Railway. Mr. Harper sat in the City Council during
the first three years of its incorporation, 1834-5-6; he was assessor for St.
James s Ward for a number of years. He was offered the appointment
of Justice of the Peace, but considering that it would interfere with his
business he declined the honour. In politics he is a Reformer, and in
religion, a Methodist. Mr. Harper married the youngest daughter of
Wm. Miles, of Ireland, by whom he has now living three sons, William,
John and George; and one daughter married to J. P. Edwards. George
R. Harper, architect, is the youngest in a family of ten children, and was
born in Toronto in 1843. He commenced the study of architecture in
1861, in the office of the late Wm. Irving, with whom he remained for three
years ; then he went to New York, and at the end of five years returned
to Toronto, where he has been ever since. He made the designs for the
Police Court building, and built Gurney s foundry, besides other large
buildings. He has been a member of the City Council.

City of Toronto. 61

REVEREND ELMORE HARRIS, B.A., Pastor of Bloor Street Baptist
Church, is the second son of Alanson Harris, Esq., of English descent,
of the firm of A. Harris, Son & Co., manufacturers of mowers and v reapers,
Brantford, Ontario, and a prominent citizen of that city. Mr. Harris,
sen r, was born in Oxford County, Ontario, about 1820, and married, in
1840, Miss Mary Morgan, of Beamsville, and formerly of Glamorganshire,
Wales. The Rev. Elmore Harris was born near Brantford. He received
his early education at the High School, Beamsville, and subsequently at St.
Catharines Collegiate Institute. In 1872 he entered on his University
course at Toronto, and graduated in 1877. ^ n 1876 he took charge of the
Centre Street Baptist Church, in St. Thomas, Ontario, where he remained
until 1882. About this time he received a call from the congregation of
the Yorkville Baptist Church, and took charge of the same ; but the locality
proving most inconvenient it was determined to erect a new church, which
was carried out at a cost of nearly $40,000. The new church was built
on Bloor Street West, corner of North. The average attendance in 1882
was about one hundred, and has since increased to five hundred. In 1877
the subject of this sketch married Miss Ruth Shenston, youngest daughter
ofT. S. Shenston. Esq., Registrar of Brant County, Ontario. They have
two children, Burton and Helen Mary. The new church referred to is fully
described on page 316, Vol. I.

SAMUEL RETALLACK HARRIS, a York Pioneer, and a well-known and
highly-respected citizen of Toronto, was born at Roseneaque, the parish of
St. Keverne, near Helston, Cornwall, England, in 1818. He was the
youngest son in a family of seven children, two boys and five girls, born to
John and Mary (Retallack) Harris. His father was a farmer, who lived on
his farm for about seventy-five years, and died in 1873, in tne ninety-fifth year
of his age. There is now only one sister living at St. Keverne. Mr. Harris
left home when thirteen years of age to learn a trade, and remained away
about three years until his mother s death, which took place in 1834 and
the same year he took passage on a sailing vessel bound for the New World.
The time occupied in the voyage was five weeks and three days, from the
point of departure to the arrival in Quebec, and the journey from that point
to Toronto was accomplished in two weeks. The mode of locomotion was
in Durham boats, drawn by oxen, and the route lay through the Rideau
Canal. From Kingston they took the steamer William IV., by which
means the journey was completed. The description given by Mr. Harris
of the appearance of Toronto at that time (1834) is worth recording. He
says : " Well do I remember going from the market up King Street to

62 Biographical Notices,

Yonge, jumping from one stone to another, there being no sidewalks. From
King up to Yonge Street was a better sidewalk on the west side, laid down
by our old and esteemed friend, Jesse Ketchum, with tan bark. There were
no brick buildings as now. There was an old fence covered with hides
drying for the tannery. In this same year," continues Mr. Harris, " William
Lyon Mackenzie was elected Mayor of Toronto, not by the people but by
the Council." Mr. Harris did not remain long in Toronto on his first visit,
but returned to Kingston and entered the employ of John Collar, a boot
and shoe merchant, with whom he stayed four years, and it was during this
period that the Rebellion broke out. Mr. Harris became a volunteer in
Captain James Jackson s Company and was under arms six months, but
never saw much active service; he was a Sergeant in his corps. In 1838
he once more found his way to Toronto, and although work was plentiful
there was hardly any money in circulation, wages being chiefly paid in store
goods. In 1838 T. D. Harris first issued his twenty-five and fifty-cent
" shin-plasters," which currency passed as good as gold in those days. Mr.
Harris also records the fact that not many improvements were made in the
city until 1840. " When you see the large brick buildings fast taking
the place of the old shanties on King Street ; who would have thought,"
he exclaims, "that the Toronto of 1834 would be the Toronto of to-day ?" .
Mr. Harris was married in the year 1850, his wife being Ann, daughter of
Richard Hocken, of Montreal. The family were of English extraction, and
came to Canada in 1818. By his marriage he has four sons living, and one
daughter, Mrs. J. H. A. Taylor, living in Toronto. His youngest son
resides in the city, and is book-keeper to Messrs. Mason & Risch ; the other
three sons are in the United States. Mr. Harris has taken an active part
in the affairs of mutual benefit societies and brotherhoods, and was ini
tiated in the City of Toronto Lodge of Oddfellows in 1844, and is now the
oldest initiated Oddfellow of good standing in the city. " He was elected
Grand Master of the Order in 1870, and retired the following year. Mr.
Harris was presented with a gold watch and chain, and his wife with a
silver tea service by the brethren of Toronto. He is now a member of the
Ontario ; the Dominion ; the Alma and the Purple Encampment (Hamilton
Orders). On March i8th, 1862, he joined the Wilson Lodge (No. 86) of
Freemasons, and is still a member of good standing. He was elected and
held the office of Treasurer of that Lodge for ten years, and at the end of
five years service in that capacity he was presented with a Mason s gold
ring, and on his retirement from the same, received a testimonial taking the
form of a gold-headed cane. Mr. Harris filled the position of postmaster
at Yorkville for one year in 1862 ; which position he resigned. In religion
he belongs to the Church of England.

City of Toronto. 63

GEORGE HASKIN was born in Devonshire, England, in 1844, and in
1870 came to Canada, locating in Toronto. He was traveller for O Keefe,
the brewer, for seven years, and shortly after engaged in the hotel business,
at the corner of King and Princess Streets, known as the Red Rose Hotel.
This he continued till 1883, since which time he has been engaged in erecting
houses. In 1865 he married Miss Annie Palfree, a native of Devonshire,
also, by whom he has two sons.

G. M. HAWKE was born in Bath, Ontario, August i2th, 1826, being
the third son in a family of seven children. His father, Anthony Baudon
Hawke, came to Canada from Cornwall, England, at the close of the War of
1812, and settled in Prince Edward County. He was afterwards appointed
Chief Emigration Agent of Upper Canada, and came to live in Toronto ; he
died in Whitby, October, 1865. At his death he left a family of two
sons and three daughters, viz. : Edward Henry, living in New York ;
George M. ; Louisa, married Judge Dartnell ; Harriet, married Lyman
English, of Oshawa ; Eliza, married Mr. Hawkins, of Colchester.

CHARLES HEATH was born in India, and was the only son in a family
of three children. His father was Brigadier- General Heath, who was born
in Lexington, Essex, England. He entered the British army when quite
young, and was killed in action at Madras, India. Mr. Heath came to
Canada in 1836, and was followed by his mother shortly afterwards. He
purchased Deer Park. After he came here he was for some years in the
Dragoons, and was a volunteer during the Mackenzie Rebellion ; he rose
from the rank of First Cornet to that of Major. In 1847 he was admitted to
the bar.

ALEXANDER HENDERSON, J.P., is a native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland,
and was born in the year 1824. He came to Canada in 1834, locating in
Little York, being at that time about ten years of age. He entered
the general business house of William Mathers, Queen Street West, then
known as Lot Street. In 1842 he commenced business for himself with
such success that he was enabled in 1857 to retire, and has since lived as a
private gentleman. Among the positions of public trust held by Mr. Hen
derson, it may be mentioned that he was for ten years an Alderman, and
filled for five years the Chairmanship of Finance, and the Boards of Works
and Health. He was a Director of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway,
and also occupied a similar position in connection with the Union Building
Society for upwards of twenty years. He was a Director of the House of
Industry, and has been a member of St. Andrew s Society since 1836.
Mr. Henderson can remember many of the striking incidents that occurred

64 Biographical Notices.

during the Rebellion, and was an eye-witness of the execution of Lount and
Matthews. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the City of
Toronto and County of York some years ago, which position he fills with
considerable ability. His residence is 50 Gerrard Street East.

ANDREW HERON, at the present time the oldest native resident of the
City of Toronto, the third son of Samuel and Sarah (Ashbridge) Heron,
was born on November 3Oth, 1800, in a small log house erected by his
father on the north side of Duke Street, near the present residence of the
Hon. M. C. Cameron. His father was the youngest of a family of three
sons, born at Kirkcudbright, Scotland, 1770. He emigrated to New York
City, where he remained a short time, and then made his way to Niagara.
In the spring of 1792 he left Niagara, with an ox team and cart laden with
provisions and tools necessary in a new settlement, and journeyed around
the lake by way of Hamilton. On arriving at the Don River, he crossed
over in a rough scow, and proceeded to what is now known as Ashbridge s
Bay, and took up two hundred acres of land, where he found Mrs. Ashbridge
and her sons, who had settled there a few months previous. December i4th,
1794, he married Sarah Ashbridge, whose people were English Quakers
from Philadelphia. Being U. E. Loyalists, the mother and sons drew land
from the Crown. In 1796 Mr. Heron concluded to try his fortune in
mercantile life, and accordingly erected the log house on Duke Street and
a log store on King Street. His first stock of goods was procured from
Montreal. He continued in business for a few years, and subsequently
settled on a Government tract of land of two hundred acres, on Yonge Street,
about seven miles from the bay. It was located near what was called Heron s
Hill, afterwards Hogg s Hollow. The steady and rapid influx of a thrifty
class of emigrants and the clearing of their lands, offered inducements for
other enterprises. He erected a saw and grist-mill, ashery and distillery,
and opened a market for ashes which he converted into potash. His
business increased rapidly,* and was in a thriving condition when in 1817
he died. Andrew Heron, the subject of this sketch, resided with his
father until 1811, when he was sent to Niagara to live with his uncle
Andrew, his father s brother, who was a merchant at the latter place.
After attending school for a short period he entered his uncle s store as a
clerk. In 1812, at the breaking out of the war between the United States
and Great Britain, he was attending school at Niagara, in close proximity
to Fort George. The same spirit that provoked the two nations to draw
the, sword was shared by the youth of that day, and many were the battles
fought between juvenile rebels and loyalists, who used stones to good

City of Toronto. 65

advantage, the former being often compelled to take refuge within the fort.
When York was attacked, in April, 1813, by the American fleet under
Commodore Chauncey and General Dearborn, Mr. Heron was upon
Niagara Commons. He heard the roar of cannon and the explosion of the
powder magazine, and -naturally felt very anxious about the fate of his
father and brother, who belonged to the York Militia, which participated in
the engagement. His brother John fought at the battle of Lundy s Lane,
where he was shot. While he lay in a ploughed field, the enemy passed
over him, thinking him dead. He afterwards rejoined the British forces,
and, having served during the war, received a pension until his death.
Andrew was also at the Battle of Queenston Heights. He saw the Ameri
can prisoners as they were escorted through Niagara on their way down
the lake, and was present at the funeral of General Brock, who had fallen
at Queenston Heights, while cheering on his men to the attack. He was at
Niagara when the Americans burned and sacked the town, and witnessed
his uncle s house and store devoured by the flames. After the close of the
war Mr. Heron was summoned by the Government to Ancaster to give
evidence against some American sympathizers, who were tried and con
victed before Chief Justice Robinson. In 1819 Mr. Heron left Niagara and
came to York, working upon his uncle Ashbridge s farm until 1822, when
he returned to Niagara, where he rented from his uncle Andrew a small
row boat, which he began plying between Niagara and the Youngstown
ferry. " Sevenpence ha penny" was the fare charged for one passenger. The
fresh arrival of immigrants at that time rendering ferry business very pro
fitable, the enterprising young boatman was soon compelled to increase the
facilities for transit. He constructed a horse-boat the horse being on deck
attached to a windlass, which transferred the power to a wheel at the stern.
Mr. Heron continued running the ferry until 1835. In 1829 he married
Cynthia, youngest daughter of Cornelius Beaugardis, an American lady of
German extraction, by whom he had four sons and one daughter, only one
son now surviving. In 1835 he placed the ferry business in charge of
another person, and opened a store at the Town of Niagara, which he con
ducted until 1838, when, in consequence of the increasing travel, he
embarked in the steamboat business, by forming a joint partnership with
Thomas Lockhart and Thomas Dick. The first boat, called the Experi
ment, was launched at Niagara and ran between York and Hamilton. She
did not prove to be a paying investment, and was sold upon Mr. Lockhart
retiring from the business, which was conducted by Mr. Heron and
Captain Dick, who soon after built the City of Toronto, a side-wheel boat
built at Niagara in 1840, afterwards called the Algoma.
6

66 Biographical Notices.

JAMES HERSON, provision dealer, was born in the County of Tyrone,
Ireland, in 1831, and when only three months old was brought to Canada
by his parents, John and Mary Ann (MacDonald) Herson. He was the
youngest in a family of five sons and four daughters. His father located in
Little York, and being a carpenter carried on that trade ; but only for a
few months however, for, before a year had elapsed, he died from sunstroke ;
three of his sons also were carpenters. When he attained the age of fifteen
he entered the employ of Andrew Heron, who owned several steamers.
He ran on the old City of Toronto, the Chief Justice Robinson, the
American, the Eclipse, and the Peerless (on which he was steward),
owned by Mr. Heron and Captain Dick ; it ran between Toronto and
Niagara, and made two trips a day. Mr. Herson was on the Rescue
that ran on Lake Superior, between Collingwood and Fort William, and
had the honour of assorting the first mail that passed through Canadian
territory. After leaving the steamer Rescue, he went fur trading among
the Indians on the North Shore of Lake Superior, where he lived four years,
during that time undergoing great hardships and having no nearer white
neighbour than within a distance of eighty miles. He subsequently left
that part of the country and engaged in blockade running until the close of
the American War. This event over he went into business as provision
dealer in St. Lawrence Market of this city, where he has since remained.
He has two sisters living in Toronto and one in Dresden, Ont. Mr. Herson
married a daughter of George Lennon. Our subject does not take much
interest in municipal affairs, but has been a member of the Separate School
Board.

WILLIAM HEWITT, deceased, was born at Hazelen, Essex, England,
July 2ist, 1794. He came to Montreal in 1820, and remained one season,
at the end of which he returned home ; four years later he came to York
and located on King Street, near the Market, where he was engaged as a
manufacturer for five years. During his residence in Toronto, Mr. and
Mrs. Hewitt (Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Richardson, whom he married
on January 28th, 1819), were two of nine members who organized the first
Baptist Church in York (now the Jarvis Street Baptist Church); three years
later he removed to the Credit, where he remained a short time and then
settled at Charlotteville, where he remained until the time of his death on
August ist, 1883. He held the office of Clerk of Division Court for forty-
eight years, the duties of which office were punctually and satisfactorily
discharged by him. He was also a magistrate for many years ; in politics he
was a Baldwin Reformer. Although nearly ninety years of age his mental

City of Toronto. 67

faculties were clear and his mind seemed unimpaired up to the day of his
death. For over sixty years he honoured his profession as a Christian and
then passed away one of Ontario s oldest Baptists, well versed in the history
of the church, an original thinker, highly intelligent, a true Christian and a
gentleman. The high esteem in which he was held was evinced by the
attendance of a large number of the oldest and most influential citizens at
his funeral. He was a much-loved parent of eleven children, ten of whom
survived him: Joseph R. (in Springfield, Mass.); William, 31 Magill
Street; John, died in 1855; Thomas, carriage manufacturer, Templetoi^
Mass. ; Elizabeth, Sarah, David and George, twins, Toronto, Ont ; Mary,
living at Vittoria ; Ellen, married John Palmer, a builder, Chicago; Han
nah, married Joseph Pullan, Barrie, Ont. ; William, passed his early life at
Norfolk, Ont., until he was eighteen years of age ; he came to Toronto in
1839, and entered the service of the late Peter Paterson, hardware dealer,
with whom he served for eighteen years ; he then engaged in business for
himself, on the corner of Yonge and Adelaide Streets, for twenty-two years.
For some time past he has been representing various manufacturing firms
throughout Ontario. In 1846 he married Mary, daughter of James Skirrow,
of the Township of Trafalgar, who was one of the earliest settlers. There
are at the present time twenty-two grand and eighteen great-grandchildren ?
descendants of Mr. Wm. Hewitt, sen r.

ROBERT JOHN HILL, retired, was born in Buckinghamshire, England,
September loth, 1820, being the eldest of seven children. His parents,
James and Mary (Aris) Hill, came from England with their family in 1825,
and settled at Utica, N.Y. In 1829 they left there and came to Little
York by way of the Erie Canal, and across the lake from Lewiston in the
steamer Canada, commanded by Captain Hugh Richardson. For a while
they stayed at an hotel on Church Street, kept by a man named Secord ;
then they moved into a small house on Adelaide Street. James Hill was a
carpenter and worked at that trade until 1834 when he died of the cholera ;
his wife died in 1879. The subject of this sketch was educated at the old
central school of which Mr. Sprague, father of the late Chief Justice, was
the master. While still a boy he became apprenticed for six years to John
Esmond, that he might learn the tinsmith trade (Esmond s shop was on the
north side of King, between Bay and York Streets). He then worked for
Mr. William Musson for four years, after which he was in the employ of
Hiram Piper for five or six years, and subsequently in that of Henry Booth
for five years. Mr. Hill became a member of the fire brigade in 1839, before
his apprenticeship had expired ; at that time Hiram Piper was Captain of

68 Biographical Notices.

the hook-and- ladder company, while William Musson was Captain of Nos.
i and 2 hand engines, which were very primitive affairs. Mr. Hill was
Captain of the hook-and-ladder company for twelve years. He witnessed
many of the events of the Rebellion of 1837-8. He was one of the guards
placed over John Montgomery when the latter was arrested and confined in
the Parliament House. Mr. Hill has been twice married ; first to Jane,
daughter of John Wardrobe, of Cumberland, England ; his second wife
was Mrs. Salters, whose maiden name was Armstrong. He has a son living
in Woodstock. In politics Mr. Hill is a Conservative. He is still in the
Toronto Fire Brigade as engineer of the steamer " James B. Boustead,"
and his cry is " Ever ready."

WILLIAM HILL was born in England in 1832. He came to Canada in
1851, and the same year removed to the United States where he stayed
four years. In 1855 he again took up his residence in Toronto. He has
held the position of Inspector of Drains for the city the last five years. In
1853 he married Miss Jane Ripon who died in 1854, leaving one child. He
married again, his second wife being Miss Jane Smith, by whom he had
nine children, seven of whom are living.

WILLIAM HILL, jun r, 71 Cumberland Street, was born on lot 5, con
cession i, west of Yonge Street in 1816. His grandfather, Thomas Hill,
and his father, William Hill, emigrated from Somersetshire, England, in
1793, and landed at St. John, New Brunswick, with Governor Simcoe.
They arrived at Little York in 1794 and pitched their tents on the west
side of the River Don, the place being then marked by three Indian wig
wams. In 1803 his grandfather removed from Little York to lot 15, con
cession i, York Township, and afterwards located on lot 5, west of Yonge
Street, where his grandfather and father died. His father left at his
death six sons and six daughters. The subject of this sketch came to
Toronto in 1839 and worked at his trade of carpenter. He married in 1836,
Margaret Cathcart, daughter of the late Alexander Cathcart, of York
Township.

C. A. HIRSCHFELDER, U. S. Vice-Consul, Mail buildings, 52 and 54
Kin " Street West, is a native of Toronto, being the son of J. M. Hirsch-
felder, Professor of Oriental Languages, Toronto University. He was
appointed U. S. Vice-Consul on the retirement of Mr. D. Thurston. Mr.
Hirschfelder is a Canadian archaeologist, which he has made a life study,
whose lectures and writings on this and kindred topics, together with his
collection of Canadian archaeology, now in the Dominion Museum, Ottawa,

City of Toronto. 69

has given him a wide reputation. The collection is said to be one of the
finest in the world of Canadian archaeology. Mr. Hirschfelder is a member
of many learned societies in Europe and America.

JOHN HIRST was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. He emi
grated to Canada in 1854, an< ^ located at Toronto, where he followed his
trade of painter, working for the Grand Trunk Railway Company. He
remained at this occupation until 1863, entering then into the hotel
business, taking charge of the St. Lawrence Hotel, on King Street. He
then went to the corner of Berkeley and King Streets, subsequently to
Francis Street, afterwards to the Schiller House. He remained at the latter
place nine years, and previous to retiring from business was for some time
proprietor of the Russell House, on Yonge Street. He retired in 1883,
having conducted the hotel business uninterruptedly for twenty-two years.
Mr. Hirst married in 1854, previous to leaving England, Miss Sarah Graves
Cherry, of Yorkshire, England, by whom he has six daughters and one son
living. He is largely interested in real estate, owning fourteen houses in
the city.

JOHN G. HOWARD, Esq., the well-known Ranger of High Park, to
whose munificent liberality the people of Toronto owe the magnificent
stretch of woodland at the western city limits which bears that name, is not
only one of the oldest residents in the city, but has also, perhaps, from his
own professional point of view, been more closely identified with the city s
growth and improvement than any of his contemporaries. As will be seen
further on, Mr. Howard has had a hand in the construction of nearly all
the local public institutions and works that are not of recent date, and in
the pursuit of his profession he has been brought into contact with the
majority of the public men whose names figure prominently in the early
history of the city and county. The writer has had an opportunity of
examining Mr. Howard s notes of his impressions and experiences in York ;
and will, as occasion requires, freely draw in the following sketch upon
this fund of old time reminiscences. Mr. Howard was born on the ayth of
July, 1803, in a village twenty-one miles north of the old City of London.
At the age of nine he was sent to a boarding-school in the town of Hertford,
where he remained five years. When fifteen years old he went to sea as a
boy before the mast, and served for two years ; but was then compelled to
give up a sailor s life owing to an incurable liability to sea-sickness a
complaint to which he has ever since been a martyr when crossing the
ocean. The time he had spent at sea had not, however, been lost, as he

/o Biographical Notices.

had devoted considerable time to the study of navigation and practical
geometry and marine surveying. These mathematical studies probably
determined his future career, for on abandoning a seafaring life he turned
his attention to land surveying, engineering and architecture, and entered
the office of his uncle, a contractor, living at Kennington Cross. Subse
quently he studied under Mr. John Grayson, architect, Banner Street, St.
Luke s, London, and on leaving Mr. Grayson, went on a professional tour
through the County of Kent, where, for a short time, he was employed by
the architect in charge of the work of rebuilding Leeds Castle, near Maid-
stone. He then entered the office of the Cutbushes, contracting architects,
Maidstone ; but in 1824 he returned to London and was employed by Mr.
William Ford, architect, Mark Lane, London, England, who the following
year married Mr. Howard s sister. In 1827 Mr. Howard married Miss
Jemima Frances Meikle. He remained with Mr. Ford, who entrusted him
with several important undertakings, until 1831, when, the times being bad
and building operations being at a standstill, he began to look about for a
more profitable field of labour. Attracted by the glowing accounts given
by Mr, Cattermole, agent of the Canada Company, of the opportunities
offered by that country, he resolved to emigrate thither, intending to settle
at Goderich, where his wife had relatives. In the spring of 1832 he took
passage for Quebec, but missed his vessel, and was compelled to wait until
June, when he embarked on the Emperor Alexander, which, bound for the
same port, sailed on the 27th. The voyage was an eventful one. At the
outset, Mr. and Mrs. Howard, who had gone ashore at Gravesend to see
some relatives, found themselves left behind, but their vessel had only a
few minutes start and they were able to catch her. On the third day out,
the Emperor Alexander ran aground on the Spaniard Bank, off Herne Bay,
which involved a delay of ten hours. On the same day Mr. Howard was
all but knocked overboard by the boom suddenly jibbing, and was only just
saved in time by the captain. From this day out his daily record during
the voyage was one of sea-sickness and wretchedness. On the 2nd of July,
at Ryde, Isle of Wight, he was again left behind by the ship, but as the
captain was one of the derelict party the mistake was speedily rectified.
Two days later, another party, including Mr. Howard, left the ship in a
small boat to shoot, but a breeze springing up they were horrified to find
that the ship had outsailed them and was five miles away. The breeze
freshened, the boat sprung a leak, and the terrified occupants gave them
selves up for lost, for the ship was now fifteen miles off and they were a
hundred miles from land. Fortunately, the gale abated, and the ship,
observing their signals, put about and took them aboard just at nightfall-

City of Toronto. 71

Five days in bed was the penalty the sportsmen had to pay for their
venturesomeness. But for all this another party underwent an exactly
similar experience a few days later, and were only rescued after eighteen
hours exposure. On the twenty-eighth day out, a mutiny occurred, but was
promptly suppressed. On the loth of August the ship was all but run
ashore on the Bird Islands, owing to the drunken incapacity of the captain
and first mate, and on the I5th, during the absence of the captain ashore, a
mutiny on a small scale occurred among the steerage passengers. Finally
Quebec was reached on the agth of August, after a passage of nine weeks
and three days. Cholera was at this time prevalent at Quebec, and while
attending the funeral of a child, who had died on board on the day on
which the voyage terminated, Mr. Howard contracted the disease in a mild
form. His description of the scene in the cholera burying ground is not an
attractive one. " We were obliged, he says, " to wait several hours for a
priest. There was no less than seven or eight waggons with rough deal
coffins waiting in the hot sun for the said priest. The coffins were nailed
together, of unseasoned inch boards, the lids had shrunk and warped, so
that you could get your hand in, and the stench from them was dreadful."
On the 4th Mr. Howard started by steamboat for Montreal, where he
arrived the next day. The journey from Montreal to York was made by
coach as far as Cornwall, and the rest of the way by steamboat -the entire
trip taking six days, making eleven weeks and three days from London.
On the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Howard at York an incident occurred which
completely changed their plans. " Going up Church Street from the land
ing, I was very much astonished to see in a huckster s window a very
handsome carving-knife and fork for sale of which I had made my brother-
in-law a present before they left England. Going into the shop, judge
of my surprise to find my wife s sister, whom I believed to be in Goderich."
Mr. Howard had agreed to take apartments with a fellow-traveller, but as
they could not be secured until the spring, he and his wife had to content
themselves for the winter with an attic room and kitchen. And a very hard
winter they put in. Before taking possession of his new quarters, Mr.
Howard went with his brother-in-law to Hamilton, where he met a gentleman
who informed him that the Honourable Peter Robinson had requested that
the first architect who arrived at Hamilton should be sent to York. From
this gentleman Mr. Howard obtained a letter of introduction to Mr. Robin
son, but this letter was not delivered until the spring. From Hamilton Mr.
Howard started for Goderich, but did not succeed in getting any farther
than Paris. At this time there were only two houses in Paris, a tavern
and a large farm house, the latter belonging to a Mr. Capon. With this

72 Biographical Notices.

gentleman Mr. Howard agreed to lay out the land for a village, taking a
town lot of five acres in part payment for his professional services. But
the food and lodging proved to be so bad that he was compelled to throw
up the contract and to return to Hamilton, and thence to York. On the
advice of a friend Mr. Howard delayed presenting his letter of introduction
to Mr. Robinson until he should be able to submit some specimen of his
abilities as a draughtsman. Accordingly^ he set to work in a cheerless attic,
without any fire, and with only such light as was afforded by a sky-light,
which during the greater part of the time was covered with snow. One
can imagine what the sufferings of this heroic couple during the long winter
must have been. However, Mr. Howard worked on bravely, and produced
a series of designs for log houses, frame buildings, brick buildings, churches,
villas, hotels, and rows of stores. With these he waited on Mr. Robinson
about the middle of March ; but finding his expected patron engaged, he
left the drawings and the letter of introduction, and said he would call again
in a week. At the time appointed the luckless architect called once more,
only to find that the roll of drawings had not been opened. Then a scene
occurred, which Mr. Howard shall himself describe : " I told him (Mr.
Robinson) that I had been given to understand that a professional emigrant
visiting Canada would receive the kindest attention from the Government
employes, and that while drawing those plans I had sat in a garret for a
month, without any fire, and only lighted from a skylight in the roof, often
times covered with snow, and that my wife had read to me ; but I suppose
he had read the story of the Boy and the Frogs it was fun to him, but
death to us. He turned pale, and said : I am very sorry, Mr. Howard ;
but if you knew how I have been worried with business, you would not
blame me. That is quite sufficient, sir, and I am sorry for what I have
said, and we shook hands. He then wrote a letter to Col. Rowen, the
Governor s private secretary, asking him to lay the drawings on the
Governor s drawing-room table, as His Excellency was going to have a
party that night." This was done, and the result of the little stratagem
was that next morning Mr. Howard received a summons to the Government
House. He was most kindly received by Sir John Colborne, who compli
mented him upon the drawings, and asked permission to enter them in the
competition which was shortly to take place for the position* of drawing-
master at Upper Canada College, for which there were already six appli
cants. Mr. Howard consented, although he had not prepared the drawings
with the care he would have bestowed upon them had he known they were
to be entered for a competition, and the result justified his Excellency s
anticipations. Towards the latter end of March, Mr. Howard received a

City of Toronto. 73

notification that the appointment had been awarded to him, and that he
would be required to enter upon his new duties on the first day of April,
I ^33- The salary attached to the position was one hundred pounds sterling
per annum, and the hours of attendance were three hours a day for four
days in the week. Mr. Howard was permitted to carry on his professional
work at the college in order to give his pupils an opportunity of acquainting
themselves with the details of this particular branch of the art. In connec
tion with his position at Upper Canada College, Mr. Howard relates an
incident which is worth reproducing, as giving an insight into Sir John
Colborne s domestic relations. " I had," he says, " as pupils, three of his
Excellency s sons. His Excellency was very kind, and used to come to
my room to see the boys at work. He said he wished me not to make any
difference because they were the Governor s sons ; but to chastise them the
same as the other boys, if necessary. The eldest son began to show his
temper; but his father said he need not show his temper, for he meant what
he said. I told his Excellency that I felt sure there would be no necessity
for anything of the kind, as they were young gentlemen, and would always
be treated as such by me." But the drawing-mastership at Upper Canada
College was not the only benefit that accrued to the disheartened architect
from the exhibition of his designs at the Government House reception.
Several gentlemen who had seen them, among them Dr. Widmer, Mr.
James G. Chewett, and the Lord Bishop Stewart of Quebec, visited Mr.
Howard and gave him orders for designs for church buildings. The story
of the visit of the Bishop of Quebec is amusing : " His lordship called to
pay his respects to Mrs. Howard, who was busy washing in one corner of a
large kitchen. She took her hands out of the wash-tub, and the bishop
shook hands with her, remarking that her small hands had never been used
to that kind of work, and that if the ladies when they came to Canada
would unbend as she had done, and, when necessary, perform such work,
Canada would have a better name than she has now got." The tide had
now turned, and the despairing emigrant found himself on the high road to
prosperity. Orders came in rapidly, and during the remainder of this year
Mr. Howard had his hands full. He built Dr. Widmer s cottage on Front
Street, Thomas Mercer Jones villa on York and Front Streets, Chewett s
Buildings, and the British Coffee House the latter on the part of the
site now occupied by the Rossin House. He also erected the two lodges
at the Queen Street entrance to the College Avenue, one of which was
demolished in 1882. During the second year of Mr. Howard s residence in
Canada, 1834, tne Y ear f the incorporation of the City of Toronto, he was

74 Biographical Notices.

appointed by the Mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie, to the position of City
Surveyor, and in this capacity he laid down the first side-walks in the city,
consisting of two twelve-inch planks placed side by side longitudinally.
He also gained the premium of "30 for laying out the Market Block.
Having practised as a land surveyor in England, Mr. Howard was desirous
of adding that business to his practice as an architect, but found to his
disgust that he could not do so without a license, and such a license was
only obtainable after serving six months with a provincial land surveyor.
Accordingly he made an arrangement with Mr. James G. Chewett, head
draughtsman in the Crown Lands Department, under whom he was
employed to make a survey of the harbour and peninsula. Subsequently
he passed his examination, gave "500 security to the Government, and on
the a6th of January, 1836, received his license as a provincial land sur
veyor. In 1835 and 1836 Mr. Howard s business had increased rapidly, for
he drew plans and specifications, and let the contracts for twelve private
dwelling houses and a number of stores, besides the fire hall and bell tower
on Church Street. The following year he was in a position to build a
private residence for himself Colborne Lodge, High Park and this only
four years after he had despairingly worked in his fireless garret at the
designs which were to bring him name and fame. During this year, too,
in addition to work for private parties, he gained the premium of 45 for
the approved plan of the court-house and jail. This was the year of the
Rebellion, and on the celebrated Thursday, the yth of December, we find
Mr. Howard leading the right wing of the scouting party sent up Yonge
Street to reconnoitre the rebels congregated at Montgomery s tavern. With
the close of the year Mr. Howard retired upon his laurels, and removed, on
the 23rd December, from Chewett s Buildings to his new residence at High
Park. He records the fact that on the morning of Christmas Day he shot
a deer and some quail in the rear portion of the Park, near Bloor Street.
During 1838 Mr. Howard was engaged, as City Engineer, in superintending
the construction of various municipal works, and was also employed by
the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir George Arthur, to make alterations in and
additions to the Government House and to build a new ball-room. He
also received from Sir George his commission as Lieutenant in the Fourth
Regiment of West York Militia, in recognition of his services on the occa
sion of the Montgomery s tavern affair. After the fire of the following year
(1839), by which the church of St. James was destroyed, Mr. Howard was
called upon to report upon the condition of the ruins. But the crowning
triumph of his career was obtained in 1840, when he was awarded the

City of Toronto. 75

premium of 30 for the approved plan of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum.
This success doubtless had the effect of spreading his reputation throughout
the country, for during the next few years we find him superintending the
erection of the court-house and jail at Peterborough and a new church at
Chippewa ; designing the alterations in Niagara church ; building a new
court-house and jail at Brockville ; preparing plans for a jail and court
house for the Johnston district; erecting a new bridge his own patent at
Bronte; drawing plans, etc., for a new jail and court-house at Perth;
building a stone church for the Indians at Tyendinaga ; drawing plans for
houses for the Indians at Owen Sound ; receiving the first premium of 50
for the approved plan for Queen s College, Kingston ; preparing the designs
for Lennoxville College, for a large school-house at Quebec, and for
churches at Lloydtown and Streetsville ; building a church for the Indians
on Manitoulin Island ; making designs and estimates for and building
churches and school-houses on Snake and Walpole Islands ; building a
branch of the Commercial Bank of Toronto at Hamilton ; drawing plans
and specifications for a new church at Newmarket ; preparing several
designs for Brock s Monument, to be erected on Queenston Heights ; taking
the first prize and receiving instructions for the construction of a new
market-house at Kingston; building St. John s Church at York Mills;
drawing plans and specifications for a new court-house at Belleville ; for
houses for the Indians at Saugeen ; designing and erecting a branch bank
at Hamilton and numerous private residences in various provincial towns.
The vast extent of the business carried on at this time by Mr. Howard may
be judged from the fact that the above operations were merely those under
taken by him outside the city during a period of six years ; and that,
compared with his undertakings at Toronto, all this was little or nothing.
Yet, with this immense mass of business on his hands, he was in 1841 enabled
to extend his sphere of operations, having received a license to practise as
notary public. He was also engaged to some extent in arbitrations. Thus,
in the year last named, he went to Kingston to settle the Duffil-McLeod
building contracts, and the following year acted as arbitrator in settling
the dispute between the Farmers Bank and John Ritchey, builder. Among
the public works undertaken by Mr. Howard in Toronto at this period,
and carried to a successful completion, were the following : Erection of
the spire of St. Paul s Church, Yorkville, 1841 ; swing bridge at the Hum-
ber ; plans and specifications for the waterworks, Toronto ; laying out
St. James Cemetery ; plans for a theatre in rear of 103 and 105 King
Street, 1842 ; building a post-office on Wellington Street ; constructing

76 Biographical Notices.

a main sewer and macadamising York Street from King to Wellington
Street ; laying out the grounds in front of Osgoode Hall ; preparing
designs for the Commercial Bank building, 1843 ; designing a Masonic
hall and arcade from Wellington to Front Streets, 1844 ; designing and
building the Bank of British North America, on the corner of Yonge
and Wellington Streets ; drawing plans and specifications of main sewers
on King and Church Streets, 1845. And all this, it should be borne in mind,
was in addition to Mr. Howard s every-day duties as City Engineer
repairing streets, constructing new drains and culverts, levelling for side
paths, laying out building lots, giving the levels for city buildings and
settling accounts. Truly the man was indefatigable. It may be noted
here, before passing on any further, that it was about this time, namely in
1842, that the first white brick building in the city was erected, Mr. Howard
being the builder. The entry in his journal, date April the ist, 1842, is as
follows : " Built two stores on King Street, Nos. 103 and 105, with German
silver sashes and plate glass. No. 103 was built with the first white brick
that was used in the city. I gave the brick-maker 60 for twenty thousand.
They were made from the clay on Yonge Street, off Mr. Sheriff Jarvis s lot
at Rosedale, by a man named Craig, who had some trouble in keeping the
clay separate." In 1846 Mr. Howard was engaged in extensive surveys
of the peninsula the Island we call it now and the Harbour. It seems
strange to hear of the Island being laid out in streets, yet this was what
was done. Mr. Howard laid out two hundred and eighty-three acres in
fifty-seven two-acre lots " on Trafalgar Street, Marine Parade, on Fitzroy
Street, going north from the lighthouse, Vernon Street, at right angles to
it, and Rodney and Duncan Streets." It will be noticed that the names of
all these streets, with the exception of the first two, are those of celebrated
British admirals. Later on in the year, Mr. Howard made an accurate
survey of the sand ridges bounding Toronto Harbour and Ashbridge s Bay.
But a more important work in this connection was that which he undertook
in consequence of a communication from the Hon. F. Bonthillier, of the
Crown Lands Department, requesting him to make a survey and plan of
Toronto Harbour, showing the best method of constructing an esplanade
and docking on the north side thereof, and taking several lines of soundings
running out from the water s edge at the ends of the different streets and
wharves for a distance of ten chains into the bay, and from such other
points which might be deemed necessary to perfect the undertaking. The
work, was commenced on the 2nd of May and was completed on the 23rd of
the same month, one thousand six hundred and thirty-eight soundings in all

City of Toronto. 77

having been taken. In this year Mr. Howard, in addition to his usual
amount of private work within the city, prepared plans and specifications
for a large house, to cost 3,000, to be erected in Quebec, and for the
Toronto House of Industry, no charge being made in the latter case for the
work done. He also built for himself, on York Street, a white brick front
dwelling house, which he subsequently sold to the Rossin, which became
part of the Rossin House. During the following year Mr. Howard made
further surveys in connection with the harbour, viz. : of Ashbridge s Bay,
and built two bridges ; also of the eastern strip of land (now the marsh)
which divides it from Toronto Harbour ; of the northern side of the peninsula
to the western point opposite the Queen s Wharf ; and another survey of
the same from Knott s House to the lighthouse, and from thence to the
lake on the west side of the lighthouse. He also made a survey of the
River Don from the bridge on King Street to the rear of the first concession
of the Township of York. Another triumph of his constructive art was
achieved this year in the erection, on Front Street, of a large brewery and
malthouse, the principal walls of which were built of stone in caissons
sunk in six feet of water. About this time Mr. Howard became interested
in Lake Huron copper mines, becoming president of a company formed
for the purpose of working a mine on Serpent River. He made a survey
of the Island of St. Joseph in this district, and located the town of Hilton,
Thorough business man as he was, Mr. Howard yet found leisure to cultivate
the fine arts. In the " Catalogue of the First Exhibition of the Society of
Artists and Amateurs of Toronto, 1834," we find him mentioned as a mem
ber of the committee ; and on glancing through the pages of the brochure,
we came across his name again and again as the exhibitor of no less than
eighteen paintings and designs. Mrs. Howard, too, appears to have shared
her husband s artistic tastes, for appended to the catalogue is a copy of a
letter to that lady from the Honorary Secretary of the association, express
ing a hope that she might be induced to exhibit a few of her paintings or
drawings. In 1847 Mr. Howard was elected Vice-President and Treasurer
of the newly formed Toronto Society the successor of the Society of Artists
and Amateurs at whose first exhibition, in that year, he made over a score
of exhibits. During 1848 and the two following years Mr. Howard designed
a temporary Lunatic Asylum for use pending the completion of the struc
ture which exists at the present day, and the corner-stone of which had
been laid by Chief Justice Robinson on the 22nd of August, 1846. He also
designed St. George s Church, John Street, and constructed the spire of the
old St. Andrew s Church, on the corner of Church and Adelaide Streets.

78 Biographical Notices.

He received the contract for measuring the locks of the Welland Canal
and estimating the extra cost, above contract price, of the stone work in
the new locks. He surveyed and laid down an extra line of pipes for the
waterworks, extending from the engine-house up Peter Street to the Reser
voir, and surveyed and drew a plan of part of the city, showing the position
of the mains, hydrants and service pipes, for A. Furnes all this, as before,
in addition to work for private parties and to his duties as City Engineer.
In 1851 and 1852 our indefatigable architect and surveyor was, among his
other multifarious duties, engaged in surveying the Garrison Common for
the Ordnance Department, the latter having agreed to grant the city two
hundred and seventy-eight acres to be converted into a park, provided the
City Corporation would agree to clear and fence it. As City Engineer Mr.
Howard made a plan of the proposed park and drew up the estimate of
cost, 450 ; but owing to the unwillingness of the eastern members of the
Council to agree to this outlay, the scheme fell through. With the excep
tion of the survey of the Government Creek, this was the last public work
Mr. Howard was destined to undertake for some time. For twenty years
he had laboured incessantly with a success such as it has been given to few
men to achieve. But now the wearied brain cried out for rest, and Mr.
Howard s medical adviser ordered him off to Europe. On the, first of May,
1853, Mr. Howard, accompanied by his wife and a son of Mr. Rowsell, the
printer, sailed from New York on the Cunard steamship Arabia for Liver
pool. No sooner had the steamer got to sea than he was attacked by his
old enemy, sea-sickness. There was a touch of humour in the sufferer s
description of the manner in which he struggled with his foe. He says :
" Dr. Widmer had advised me to take gruel in case of sea-sickness ; but a
gentleman on board recommended champagne. The wine was the easiest
to get on board, and we all took it. It turned like pyroligneous acid on my
stomach and made me much worse. A Scotch gentleman Mr. Mackenzie
a passenger, recommended a glass of water with a teaspoonful of raw oat
meal in it three times a-day. This I took for eight days until we arrived at
Liverpool." The party arrived in London just seventeen days after leaving
Toronto ; rather a contrast to the eleven weeks and three days from London
to Little York twenty-one years before. While in the English metropolis
Mr, Howard was generally feted by the profession, dining with Sir Charles
Barry, the architect of the Parliament Houses at Westminster, and with
the Skinners Company. However, his physician soon ordered him away
from the gaieties of London, and after a brief stay in the Isle of Wight, he
visited Paris, and subsequently made a tour of some of the English counties.

City of Toronto. 79

On the yth September he sailed for New York, and reached Toronto on the
26th of the same month, his health having been greatly improved by his
holiday. Soon after his return, in October, Mr. Howard received instruc
tions from the City Council to survey and locate, in conjunction with the
Honourable Mr. Seymour, Engineer for the Northern Railway, the line of
that road along the Esplanade, and to take it up the Government Creek,
following the curves of the creek until the summit level should be gained.
It will be remembered that the manner in which this Esplanade contract
was subsequently let caused a great deal of dissatisfaction among the
citizens. In January, 1853, Mr. Howard was appointed Associate Judge,
as will be seen by the following letter :

SHERIFF S OFFICE :

UNITED COUNTIES YORK, ONTARIO AND PEEL,
2jth December, 1852.

SIR, I have the honour to inform you that your name is included in
the Commission of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery to be
holden at Toronto in and for the said United Counties, on Thursday, the
6th day of January, 1853, on which day said Commission will, be openly
read. I have the honour to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

W. B. JARVIS,
John G. Howard, Esq. Sheriff.

Mr. Howard attended the Sessions for four years, and sat on the Bench with
Chief Justice Robinson, and Judges McLean and Richards. On the 3oth of
May, 1855, tne Hon. Geo. W. Allan, Mayor, and the members of the Board
of Works appointed a Mr. Kingsford, of Quebec, a great politician, as City
Surveyor in Mr. Howard s place, after the latter had served the city faith
fully for eighteen years. However Mr. Kingsford was dismissed at the end
of the year. A majority of the aldermen and councilmen promised to
reinstate Mr. Howard as City Engineer in 1856, but he declined on account
of his health. On the 22nd of September, 1855, Mr. Howard made arrange
ments with Marquis Rossin to act as consulting architect and engineer,
and to thoroughly inspect the whole of the works as they progressed in the
erection of the Rossin House, and to certify all accounts as the works pro
gressed. In March, 1856, he resigned his situation as drawing-master at
Upper Canada College, after twenty-three years service. Since Mr.
Howard s retirement from city business, in 1857, he has amused himself by
collecting works of art, which he has since donated to the city of Toronto,
and has erected a gallery for their reception. There are one hundred and
twenty-seven pictures, all handsomely framed and glazed. He has also

8o Biographical Notices.

given to the Public Library a very handsome donation in the shape of some
hundreds of volumes, among which are the following :

61 Volumes Illustrated London News.

34 ii The Builder.

18 ti Canadian Illustrated News.

6 ii Ballou s Pictorial.

2 it Picturesque America.

4 ii Art Journal.

2 ii Illustrations of Piedmont and Italy.

2 ii ii Canadian Scenery.

2 H H American Scenery.

2 ii it Switzerland.

2 ii ii Scotland.

2 ii Finderis Ports and Harbours of Great Britain.

2 H Antiquities of Ireland.

2 ii History of Wales.

3 ii Claude s Liber Veritatis, folio, (a copy valued

in London at 50).
.3 ii Turner Gallery, folio.

3 H Allibone s Dictionary of Authors.

18 ii Graphic.

16 ii Illustrated Times.

34 H Scientific American.

4 n Weekly Globe.

222

As Forest Ranger for High Park for the last ten years, Mr. Howard has
been kept busy in laying out roads, underbushing the land, drawing plans
and specifications, and superintending the erection of pavilions and other
necessary buildings, for which services he receives one dollar per annum.
These buildings were necessary for the convenience of pic-nic parties visit
ing High Park. He has also made plans and specifications for a platform
and shelter for passengers visiting High Park by rail at the eastern entrance
of the park, and has paid one hundred dollars out of his own pocket towards
its erection in order to induce the Corporation to maintain it. He also has
plans and specifications prepared for a canal and wharf or pier, six hundred
feet long, into ten feet water, in front of the said eastern entrance. Mr.
Howard s tomb, of which we give a view, was erected in 1874 an ^ J 875, in
memory of his wife and in readiness for himself. The cairn is constructed
with granite boulders. Mrs. Howard was a Scotch lady, which accounts
for the cairn. Mr. Howard was a Masonic Knight Templar, therefore
the double pedestal terminating with the Maltese cross. The consecrated
ground on which it stands is enclosed with some of the old iron railing
which surrounded St. Paul s Cathedral, London, England, for one hundred

MR. HOWARD S TOMB.

City of Toronto. 81

and sixty years. The vicissitudes of the railing were curious. After its
removal from St. Paul s it was purchased by Mr. Robert Mountcastle, of
St. John s Wood, London, of Mr. J. B. Hogarth, iron merchant, London,
and shipped by him in good condition, on board the steamship Delta, for
Toronto, I4th October, 1874. The Delta went ashore five miles below
Cape Chat light, on 8th November. A portion of the railing was recovered
from the wreck, and sent to Montreal in a mutilated state by the salvage
men. Mr. Howard bought it and shipped it to Toronto, where it arrived
2ist August, 1875. After having been repaired by Messrs. W. Hamilton
& Son, of the St. Lawrence Foundry, it was finally fixed on the stone curb
where it now stands, on i8th November, 1875. The cost of erecting
the tomb, including vault and iron railing, amounted to $3,120. The
marble pedestal came from the Rutland quarries, Vermont, U.S., and
weighs over ten tons. Engraved on a brass plate which is fixed round
one of the gate-posts of the old iron railing is the following inscription :
" Sacred to the memory of John George Howard and Jemima Frances, his
wife. John George, born 27th July, 1803. Jemima Frances, born i8th
August, 1802 ; died ist September, 1877, aged seventy-five years." On
the other gate-post is a brass plate, bearing a characteristic inscription
having reference to the removal of the old iron railing from St. Paul s
Cathedral.

/

ELIJAH HULL was born in Somersetshire, England, and came to Canada
in 1855. He followed the vocation of a gardener, and has been seven years
engaged at the Horticultural Gardens. He is also sexton of St. Peter s
Church, and resides at the corner of Parliament and Amelia Streets.

SIMON HUMPHREY, builder, is the youngest son of Smith and Sarah
(Greenwood) Humphrey, and was born in the Township of York, in 1821.
His parents came from Providence, Rhode Island, at the conclusion of the
War of 1812, and settled in Canada, locating on a farm of four hundred
acres in the 3rd concession of York Township. The family consisted at that
time of six sons and one daughter, all of whom were born in Providence. Mr..
Humphrey, sen r, with the assistance of his sons, cleared the land, and in.
connection with his farming worked at his trade of carpenter, and in 1827
erected a saw mill on the River Don, which he operated until his death, in
1832. Previous to his demise he had removed to Toronto, and, renting a
house on the corner of Wellington and Bay Streets, worked at his trade, two-
of his sons occupying the farm. Simon, the subject of this notice, when
eight years of age commenced to attend a school at Toronto, kept by Mr.
7

82 Biographical Notices.

S. E. Taylor, and afterwards learned the trade of builder with his brother-
in-law, Robert James; and on completing his term of apprenticeship started
business for himself, which he has ever since continued.

ISAAC HUTCHINSON was born in York, February, 1824, being the son of
Isaac Hutchinson ; his mother was a daughter of John Charlton, of Cum
berland, England. Mr. Hutchinson s parents came to York in 1818, his
father opening a blacksmith s shop on the corner of Duke and Ontario
Streets, and also purchased a fifth of an acre of land of what is now 120 Duke
Street, which became the family residence, where our subject was born, in
1824. The old stone building, erected in 1819, is still standing, the walls of
which are two feet thick, the stone being brought from the lake shore, and is
mentioned in Dr. Scadding s " Toronto of Old/ Mr. Hutchinson s father
carried on blacksmithing until 1832, when he died, leaving three sons and
three daughters. Our subject was the youngest son, and the only one now
living of the family. He began his apprenticeship at the age of sixteen as a
blacksmith, served three years, and then five years as journeyman, after
which he kept a grocery store for five years on Yonge Street, near Adelaide.
He then moved out of Toronto for nine years, and on his return engaged in the
coal and wood business until 1880. He belongs to the Methodist Church.
In politics he is a Reformer. His wife was a daughter of John Barren,
from Cumberland, England, by whom he had seven sons and four daugh
ters. In 1835 Mr. Hutchinson and his brother were engaged in burning
charcoal for blacksmithing, on the present site of Carleton Street.

PETER HUTTY, deceased, was born at Cottingham, near Hull, Yorkshire,
England, in 1819, being the only son of a family of four children, born to
Joseph and Mary (Smith) Hutty. His father died in Montreal soon after
they arrived, and his mother then came to York. He went on the farm of
his maternal grandfather, Wm. Smith, who had emigrated from Yorkshire,
England, and settled near Brampton. I. A. Smith was a son of his, who
kept the Yorkshire House here for many years. He remained with his
grandfather until he was seventeen years of age. In 1836 he came to
Toronto, and engaged in a business in St. Lawrence Market, where he
remained many years, carrying on a large business, and engaging in Govern
ment contracts. In 1839 he married Margaret, second daughter of John
Gray, who was born in York in 1796. By his marriage he had a large
family of sons and daughters, most of them living at his death in 1882;
they were educated and brought up at the family residence, corner Yonge
and Cottingham Streets, which street he named after his native place. For

City of Toronto. 83

fourteen years Mr. Hutty held a seat in the Yorkville Council, two or three
of which he was reeve, during which he introduced, and carried against
much opposition, the erection of the Town Hall, the Public School, and
allowing the street railroad to cross Bloor Street, all of which proved of
great advantage to the people of Yorkville. He was a Justice of the Peace
for several years. In politics he was a Conservative. Of a noble, generous
disposition, he was respected by all who knew him.

PATRICK HYNES is the youngest son of Patrick Hynes and Frances
(Bergin) Hynes, who settled with his family in York (now Toronto) in 1831,
and was born in the County Tipper ary, Ireland, May ist, 1830. His father was
a contractor and builder and carried on that business in Toronto until his
death in 1857. The subject of this sketch was educated at St. Michael s
College, Clover Hill, Toronto, and in early life followed the business of his
father. The elaborate plaster work in Osgoode Hall is a tribute to his
skill and workmanship. In 1863 he was elected Alderman for St. David s
Ward, which then comprised St. David s and St. Thomas Wards of the
present day. He represented that ward for ten consecutive years, when he
resigned to accept the position of one of a special commission to value the
city. In 1864 he was appointed an officer in the Post-office Department of
the Civil Service, which position he has since held. He is the Captain
of No. 6 Company of the reserved Militia (east Toronto). Mr. Hynes
has been twice married ; in 1861 to Ellen Augusta, daughter of Cornelius
Spilling and Annie Skelly ; and in 1870 to Kate Jane, youngest daughter of
William Kingsley and Ellen Minelian. By the former wife he has had
three, and by the latter six, children, viz. : by the first, Michael Edward;
Ellen Augusta ; William Gilbert ; by the second, Katie Frances ; Charles
Patrick; Frank Kingsley; Florence ; Aileen and Mary Nora ; all of whom
still survive, except Ellen Augusta, who died in her first year. In politics
Mr. Hynes is a Conservative, and in religion a Roman Catholic. He is a
York Pioneer.

WILLIAM HYNES was born in Queen s County, Ireland, in 1827. In
1831 he came to Canada with his parents and family who settled in Toronto
(then Little York). William commenced to work at the age of ten years,
and in due time started business for himself as contractor, which he has
since continued. He married May Spilling, daughter of Cornelius Spilling,
by whom he had the following children, four daughters and three sons :
May Frances; Annie; Nellie and Lillie ; P.William; John Francis and
Alfred William Bergin. Mr. Hynes resides at 157 Wilton Avenue.

84 Biographical Notices.

JEREMIAH IREDALE was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1822. He came
to Toronto in 1832, with his father, who established himself in business as a
glazier and painter. After remaining with his father for some time he
entered the service of Ross, McLeod & Co., dry-goods merchants ; A. Lawrie
& Co., and others. He afterwards worked for Hon. J. H. Dunn, Receiver-
General, and for Shaw, Turnbull & Co., dry-goods merchants. For the past
fifteen years he has been in the employ of J. Fleming, 356 Yonge Street, and
is now engaged in the same place. Mr. Iredale was a member of the old
fire company, of which his brother John was captain.

SAMUEL IREDALE, retired, was born in Keswick, Cumberland, England,
in 1807, his parents being James and Jane (Shaw) Iredale; his grandfather
was Jeremiah Iredale, of Manningham, England. In 1819 his father came
to Canada with his family and settled in Toronto, at the corner of Queen and
Bay Streets, in a building which his son John had built on the lot, and which
is still standing. By trade he was a plumber and glazier ; after he came out
here he worked at tinsmithing, which business he carried on until his death,
December i8th, 1845. Ishmael Iredale came to Canada in 1825, and learned
the tin trade with his brother ; he then went to work for Hiram Piper, with
whom he stayed for twenty-three years. He then began tin business for
himself on Yonge Street, near Trinity Square, retiring about seven years ago
Mr. Iredale served in the fire brigade for thirty-eight years ; he is a Reformer
and a member of the Church of England. On July gth he married Elizabeth
Burns, fourth daughter of Thomas Burns, who had come from Yorkshire)
England; by her he had four sons and five daughters ; only two sons are now
living, one of whom keeps a tin shop on the corner of Queen and Bay
Streets. He has a sister living who is ninety-four years of age.

WILLIAM IREDALE, retired, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1826,
being the fourth son of William and Grace (Hollinrake) Iredale. In 1832
he came to Canada with his parents. His father, who had been a plumber
and glazier in England, engaged in the tin business when he settled in
Toronto, and continued in that line until his death in 1865. The subject
of this sketch was engaged in the last manufacturing business, up to March,
1879, then having lost an arm by being caught with a belt and thrown
round a shaft in his factory, on Sheppard Street, he retired ; his son now
attends to the business. In 1849 he married Rachael, daughter of William
Daniel. Mr. Iredale was a member of the old fire brigade. In religion he
is a Methodist, and in politics a Reformer.

City of Toronto. 85

ALDERMAN JOHN IRWIN was born in Ireland, between Vetrinam and
Leitrim, in 1824, and is the eldest son of William and Martha Irwin. In
1850 he sailed for New York, where he remained a short time, finally com
ing to Canada and locating in Toronto for a short period. After spending
four years in Quebec he returned to Toronto, where he has since resided.
For fifteen years he was proprietor of the General Wolfe Hotel, on the
corner of Church and King Streets, and was also engaged in farming eight
years, ten miles out of the city. He was the first man to hitch a horse to a
steam fire engine, having had a contract to furnish the horses for the fire-
engines for eighteen years. Mr. Irwin has been in the City Council the last
five years, and for the last eight years has been living retired. He is a
large property owner. In 1856 Mr. Irwin was married to Jane Henry,
daughter of John Henry, by whom he has had two children.

JOHN JACQUES, Beverley Street, one of the founders of the manufacturing
firm of Jacques & Hay, was born in Cumberland, England, in the year
1804. His father, Thomas Jacques, was educated for the Church, but
he entertained conscientious scruples about signing the Thirty-nine Articles
of Faith, and being possessed of remarkable skill in mathematics, he
became a teacher in Carlisle, and after a successful career retired to the
country, where he died, leaving six children. The subject of our memoir
was then but six years old. He learned the cabinet -making business in
Wigton, but early in life went to London and acquired a knowledge of his
trade which served him so well in after years. In 1831 he embarked for
New York with his mother and sisters, and after a short stay in that city-
moved to what was then York, the capital of Upper Canada. His first
employer failed and left him in debt. He was next employed by the late
Mr; Thomas Gilbert, who long resided on the corner of Bay and Adelaide
Streets, after which he entered the service of a Mr. Maxwell, who, after a
time, proposed that he should purchase his business. While on the way
home from the shop one night he met Mr. Robert Hay, and proposed the
partnership which was eventually accepted and the business taken in hand.
Subsequently they erected two stores west of the Telegram Office, which in
course of time proved to be too small for their large increase of business-
They moved jtheir shop to Front Street, its present site, in 1847. The
business gradually increased until they not only supplied all Canada but
built up a large trade with England and other foreign countries. In
1854 ar >d 1856 they suffered loss by fire of over two hundred thousand
dollars, almost all they possessed. They soon, however, rebuilt their works
upon a larger scale, and the business grew to its present great dimensions.

86 Biographical Notices.

The partnership continued from 1838 to 1872, when Mr. Jacques retired
with an ample fortune, which he has since considerably increased by judi
cious investments. In politics he has always been a strong Reformer, in
religion a member of St. Andrew s Church. He is a member of the St.
George s Society, and a Director of the National Investment Company. He
has only one child, the wife of Mr. John Stewart, of Hamilton, President of
the Bank of Hamilton, and of the Hamilton and North- Western Railway.
Since 1872, Mr. Jacques has lived a quiet life, enjoying the fruits of his toil.

ROBERT JAFFRAY was the third son of William and Margaret (Heugh)
J affray ; born at Bannockburn, Scotland, 1832, near which was his father s
farm, where he passed his early life. When twelve years of age, by the death
of his father, he was thrown upon his own resources. After attending
school at Stirling until the age of fifteen he entered the service, as an
apprentice, of J. R. Dymock, grocer and wine merchant, Edinburgh, Scot
land, where he remained for five years, at the expiration of which time he
came to Canada, arriving in Toronto in the fall of 1852, where he joined
his brother-in-law, Mr. J. B. Smith, grocer and wine dealer, being employed
as his manager. The establishment was situated on the site now occupied
by Jaffray & Ryan, corner of Yonge and Louisa Streets, then the most
northern establishment on Yonge Street. Three years later he became a
partner, the business being conducted under the name of Smith & Jaffray.
In 1858 a disastrous fire swept away Mr. Smith s lumber yard and sash
and door factor} , by which they sustained a great loss. Mr. Smith then retired
from the firm. With industry, combined with perseverance, which will
enable a man to overcome difficulties that actually seem insurmountable
(and these excellent qualities Mr. Jaffray possessed in an eminent degree),
he began to work with renewed energy to repair their commercial interests,
and was ultimately rewarded. Under his efficient management prosperity
crowned his efforts with brilliant success. Jn 1883 he retired upon a com
petency, and the business, which he laboured so long and faithfully to
establish, passed into the hands of the present firm of Mr. George Jaffray
& James Ryan. During the thirty years of Mr. Jaffray s residence in
Toronto, besides managing his mercantile interests, he has been identified
with many public enterprises of great magnitude. His indomitable energy,
untiring industry, exemplary character ; his devoted attention to every
minute detail in business, and abnegation of self in his studious zeal for the
interests of those whom he served caused his services to be eagerly sought.
Under the advice of the late Hon. George Brown, he was appointed by
the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie Director of the Northern Railroad, in

:? . . ; r - - ,

City of Toronto. 87

which capacity he served three years in looking after their interests, the
Government being large creditors of that corporation. From information
furnished by Mr. Jaffray, a Royal Commission was issued by the Govern
ment to look into the affairs of the company, which resulted in a satisfactory
settlement of the then existing claims. He was afterwards chosen a Director
of the Midland Railway, of which board he is at present an efficient member.
In 1874 he took an active part in organizing the Toronto House Building
Society (now the Land Security Company), of which he is Vice-President. He
is also Director of the Toronto Trust Company, Director of the Globe Printing
Company, Director of the Sovereign Insurance Company, Director of the
North America Life Insurance Company, Director of the Homewood Retreat,
or Private Asylum for Inebriates and Insane, at Guelph ; and Director of the
Midland and North Shore Lumber Company. He is a member of the Cale
donian and St. Andrew s Societies. In politics Mr. Jaffray has identified
himself with the Reform Party, and although solicited to accept nomination
for civic and parliamentary honours he has declined. In 1860 he married
Sarah, youngest daughter of John Bugg, by whom he has two sons
and two daughters. Immediately after the exciting political campaign
of 1879, one f the most bold and daring attempts on record was made to
kidnap several of the leading men of the Reform Party for the purpose of
extorting from them a large ransom. Among these were the late Hon.
George Brown, Hon. Oliver Mowat and the subject of this sketch. Through
a chain of circumstances the latter was drawn into the snare and taken
from his residence at night upon a pretended arrest, Mr. Jaffray giving
himself up to his captors on their producing a document purporting to be
signed by the Hon. Judge Wilson, acting for the Minister of Justice at
Ottawa, directing him to be immediately brought to his residence for
examination, relative to certain charges of a grave character. Our subject
went with his captors, having no suspicion of foul play ; but instead of being
taken to Judge Wilson s residence, he was driven to a lonely spot on the
east side of the Don and Danforth Road where it was intended to imprison
him in a cave on the bank, which his captors had previously prepared
for his reception. The cave was discovered by two detectives while
searching in the neighbourhood where the outrage was committed. They
found a cavity dug out of the hill on a farm owned by Mr. Playter, which
was capable of accommodating several persons, under the peculiar circum
stances in which they might have been induced to abide in it. Mr. Jaffray,
on alighting trom the carriage, and finding himself the victim of a nefarious
plot against his personal liberty, struggled with his captors and managed to
free himself from them, and awakened the inmates of a house a short

88 Biographical Notices.

distance away, when his abductors, made their escape. The officers of the
law at once made vigorous efforts to solve the mystery, and arrested two
young men, brothers, Thomas and Ross Deal, who were tried ; the former
was found guilty of committing the outrage, and was sentenced by Judge
Burton to be confined in the County Jail, at hard labour, for a period of two
years, and to give bonds for his future good behaviour. His accomplice was
discharged. And thus ended one of the boldest plots to deprive several
citizens of their liberty ever recorded in the Province.

SILAS JAMES, Provincial Land Surveyor, was born in the Township of
York in 1834, His father was William James, who was born in the County
of Tyrone, Ireland, in 1801 ; his mother was born in the Township of York>
and was a daughter of Thomas Johnson, a U. E. Loyalist. They had ten
children, Silas being the fourth. William James was a Justice of the Peace
and a member of the District Council ; in politics he was a Reformer and
in religion a Methodist ; he died in 1874, n ^ s w ^ e having died many years
previous (1855). Silas James came to Toronto in 1854 and began a course
of study with Dennison & Bolton, with whom he remained four years. For
the next five years he was in British Columbia engaged in the milling and
mining business, then he returned to Toronto. From 1867 till 1874 he was
County Engineer; he also had charge of the York Roads. From 1874 until
1880 he was a director of the Toronto House Building Association ; he is a
member of the York Pioneer Society. In 1867 Mr. James married the
fourth daughter of Richard Sully, of London, Ont., formerly of Notting
hamshire, England.

THOMAS R. JOHNSTONE, flour and feed merchant, was born in Little
York in 1829, on the present site of the Post-office, and is the seventh in a
family of nine children. His father, John Johnstone, came to Canada from
Scotland, about 1798, with his father s family. His father carried on the
business of a butcher and drover until his death in 1834. He ^ e ^ a ^ am ^y
of four daughters and two sons, as follows : John, living in the United
States; Thomas R., Almeria, Sarah, dead; Adeline; and Isabela, married
to T. W. Gosford, Aurora. Mr. Thomas R. Johnstone has been engaged
in the flour and feed business since 1882.

CAPTAIN JOHN KEMP, 6 Gerrard Street West, was born on the Canadian
side of the Niagara River, about three miles from the Town of Niagara, in
1802, and was the third son in a family of nine sons and four daughters-
His father, John Kemp, came from the State of New York in 1783, at the
close of the Revolutionary War ; he died in 1834. Captain Kemp remained

City of Toronto. 89

on his father s farm until 1826, when he came to Little York and commenced
sailing on the lakes. He first sailed as purser with Wm. Brecket, who ran
the packet between Kingston, Toronto and Niagara ; he afterwards bought
an interest in the vessel. He navigated the lakes from 1826 until 1873, the
last boat that he was on being the Paragon, a sailing vessel. He married
a daughter of George Laird, by whom he has three daughters and two
sons living.

JAMES KIDD, deceased, was born in Ireland about 1809, and came to
Canada in 1826, settling in Toronto, where he remained until his death in
1844. He was a volunteer during the Rebellion of 1837 ; and the exposure
to which he was subjected, acting on a constitution not physically strong
brought on a complaint from which he never recovered. His wife was Miss
Catherine Oliver, a native of Ireland also, by whom he had eight children,
only three of whom are now living. Mrs. Kidd died in 1844, in her eighty-
third year. John Kidd, the second son of the above, was born in Toronto.
At an early age he commenced to learn the painting and decorating trade*
which he still continues to follow. He has been a city tax collector for the
last six years, his residence being at 63 Seaton Street. In 1855 h,e married
Miss Rebecca, daughter of Robert Stanley, an early settler in Toronto.
They have a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, all of
whom are still living.

JOSIAH BROWN KING, Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ontario Inde
pendent Order of Oddfellows, was born in Hamilton, Ont., July 4th, 1836,
his father being Eleazar King, and his mother Adeline Corrinne Brown.
His father s people were Lower Canadian French. The early life of our
subject was spent in Niagara, where he learned the trade of carpenter with
his father. He afterwards worked at his trade in Brantford and Toronto,
and subsequently engaged in the hat, cap and fur business in Brantford,
Ont., which he carried on until his removal to Toronto in 1879, the Order
requiring his whole time and attention. He was elected to his present
position in August, 1876. He is a Reformer and a member of Bond Street
Congregational Church. His wife was Miss Brockington, of Plymouth,
England.

DR. JOHN S. KING, Toronto, was born at Georgetown, County of Halton,
Ontario, on April 26th, 1843. His father was Stephen King, who was born
in Doontown, Wiltshire, England, in 1813, being the second son in a family
of six sons and two daughters born to James and Alice (Taylor) King.
Stephen King came to Canada in 1833, visited Toronto and was joined, in

90 Biographical Notices.

1835, by his father and his family, who located in the Township of Bayham,
County of Elgin. Subsequent to the Canadian Rebellion he located in
Toronto, and was one of the few who formed the first class at the Congre
gational College, which was then located on Yonge Street. The building
(a frame one) stood, until last summer, where Edward s lumber yard now is.
In 1839 Stephen King went to Hamilton, and in 1842 married Margaret
Hess, of German extraction. Her father, Samuel Hess, came from Penn
sylvania, during the War of 1812, and settled in the Township of Barton,
County of Wentworth. Stephen King and wife are both still living with
their son, the Doctor, in Toronto. Dr. John S. King became a school
teacher when nineteen years of age, and rapidly rose, soon becoming
Principal of the Waterloo Central School ; during the first two years of its
existence, he was President of the Waterloo County Teachers Association.
Meanwhile he had become a valuable and paid contributor to various news-
papers and periodicals. He gave up teaching in 1869, and in 1872 became
a member of the Globe editorial staff, on which he continued for three years ;
he was also for three years Canadian correspondent of the Chicago Tribune,
as well as a writer for several other papers. While writing for the press he
began the, study of medicine, and abandoned the press to enter that profes
sion. In 1876 he became a member of the Ontario College of Physicians
and Surgeons. He subsequently received the degree of M.D. from the
University of Victoria College. In 1881, he was appointed medical officer
of the Mercer Reformatory. In addition to this he has a large and lucrative
practice in Toronto. In 1874 ne became a member of the Knights of
Pythias, in which society he rapidly rose. In 1876 he entered the Grand
Lodge, and at the same session was elected Grand Chancellor of the Order
of Ontario ; at the three following annual sessions he was re-elected to the
office. In 1877 he was elected a member of the Supreme Grand Lodge,
and is at this writing the Supreme Prelate, or third highest officer in that
society, numbering one hundred and sixty thousand members. He has
likewise held at various times official positions in the following societies,
viz., Freemasons, Oddfellows, A. O. U.W., Select Knights, Sons of Eng
land and Royal Arcanum. He is now one of the Vice-presidents of St.
George s Society.

SAMUEL LEE, a deceased York Pioneer, was the second son of William
Lee, of Blakefield, Ennescarthy, Wexford County, Ireland. He was born
on the 25th December, 1795, and received his education in Dublin. He
afterwards entered the artillery service of the Honourable East India Com
pany, and, in the companionship of his brother, sailed for Madras in the

City of Toronto. 91

year 1814. His battery (No. 3) was in active service continuously for six
years, and during that period Samuel Lee visited the greater portion of the
vast Indian peninsula. While stationed at Dum Dum, he occupied the Wor
shipful Master s chair in lodge " Courage with Humanity," A. F. and A. M.,
and was also a Companion of the Honourable and Ancient Order of Red
Cross Knights. He returned to England in 1827, and thence to his home
in Ireland, from which he had been absent thirteen years. After a stay
there of six years, he set sail for Canada, bringing with him his two sisters,
arriving in New York July, 1833. Two years after his advent he married
Jane Taylor, by whom they had six children, of whom are still living : P.
T. Lee, Newmarket ; Joseph R. Lee, Toronto ; and Mrs. E. C. Pomeroy,
Le Clare, Iowa. For thirty years Samuel Lee was manager and financier
for John Richey, Esq., builder, and under his management many of the
older churches of the city were erected ; as also the Provincial Lunatic
Asylum, Trinity College, Corn Exchange, Holy Trinity Church, St.
George s Church, Court House, New Fort buildings, the Widmer Hospital,
the original Upper Canada College, and Professor s dwelling the British
Coffee House and other public and private buildings. He was secretary
and treasurer of the Leader up to the time of its demise. At the time of
the troubles of 1837, he was the first to answer Colonel McLean s call for
volunteers to defend Toronto against William Lyon Mackenzie s irregulars.
Mr. Lee died at his residence, Vanauley Street, on January i8th, 1882, after
a short illness, in the eighty-seventh year of his age.

THOMAS H. LEE, importer of watches and jewellery, is the fourth son of
a family of nine sons and eight daughters, born to Joseph Lee by his two
wives, Mary Clark and Maria Shanks. Joseph Lee was born in London,
England, in 1794, and was a ship architect. In 1832 he came to Canada
and settled in Little York, where, after having held several offices, including
that of Alderman, he died August 2oth, 1861 ; his second wife, who was born
in London, England, in 1810, is still living. Joseph Lee s father was James
Lee ; he was an officer in the British army, and served in the Battle of
Waterloo. The subject of this sketch was born in Montreal in 1832, and
was educated at Toronto. In 1856 he began business in the jewellery line
with J. G. Joseph, in the Victoria Block, on King Street. He is a Con
servative in politics, and for twenty-seven years has been connected with
the Freemasons. He married a daughter of Thomas Bell.

JOHN LEYS, barrister, etc., was born January 27th, 1834, at Pickering,
Ont., and is a son of the late Francis Leys, of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

92 Biographical Notices.

He studied law with the late Angus Morrison, and in 1855 was admitted to
the bar. He was one of the projectors of the Narrow Gauge Railway, and
has always taken an active interest in railway matters. In politics he is a
Reformer. He twice contested the seat for East Toronto in the Local
Legislature, but was defeated, his opponent on each occasion being the
Hon. Alex. Morris. In 1865 Mr. Leys was married to Helen, only
daughter of the late William Arthurs.

WILLIAM LUMBERS, sen r, was born at Peterborough, County of North
ampton, England, in 1816, being the only son of James Lumbers. His
mother s maiden name was Maddison. Mr. Lumbers came to Quebec in
1837, then travelled through Ontario with a Cornish regiment, in which he
had enlisted for a life term, but he only remained in it about four years and
eight months. He returned to England, with the regiment, in 1841, and pur
chased his discharge. During the winter of 1837 the regiment was on duty in
Lower Canada, after which it came to Ontario on foot, one thousand strong,
commanded by Colonel Maitland, who later died at London (Ont.). Mr.
Lumbers participated in the Battle of Point DePlay, when ninety-three men
of his regiment defeated five hundred rebels, killing eighty of the enemy.
After he had procured his discharge he came to Toronto in June, 1842, and
engaged in different occupations, prominent among which was an immense
dairy, consisting of over four hundred cows, from which he supplied almost
the entire city with milk for a period of ten* 1 years. During nearly forty
years of his life he made the herbs and roots of the fields and forest almost
his constant study, until he acquired considerable knowledge of their use
and medicinal virtues. He prepared from these simples invaluable com
pounds , which he gave gratuitously to the poor, and all who applied for
them, for years. The demand becoming so great, he decided to bestow
on all his fellow-men the benefit of his years of study and experience.
Consequently, in 1881, taking to assist him his youngest son, Henry, he
embarked in the proprietary medicines business, which enables him to
place within the reach of all those invaluable preparations which cost him
years of labour and study to discover. His family consists of seven sons
(all of whom are engaged in different trades in Toronto, with the exception
of one who resides in Manitoba), and two daughters.

PATARICK McBRiNE was born in Ireland in 1820, and in 1838 emigrated
to Canada and settled in Toronto. He joined the first incorporated
Dragoons, then stationed in this city and commanded by Captain Magrath.
They were shortly afterwards ordered to Kingston, which was at that time
the seat of Government, and while there Mr. McBrine was appointed

City of Toronto. 93

mounted orderly to his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Sydenham.
The troop was discharged at Kingston, from further service, in 1842, and
Mr. McBrine returned to Toronto, settling on Maitland Street, at that time
enjoying the suggestive title of Wood s bush. Church Street was then
a deep ravine, difficult to cross from one bank to the other. Mr. McBrine
was employed in the Bank of Montreal for nearly thirty years, and now
receives a pension from that institution, having lived retired since -1878.
In 1865 he married Miss Catharine Guthrie, of Toronto, by whom he had
three sons and two daughters.

TIMOTHY MCCARTHY, 194 Sherbourne Street, was born near Killarney,
County Kerry, Ireland, in 1818, arrived in Quebec in May, 1841. After
reaching Kingston he went to Rochester, and returned to Toronto in May,
1842. He was teacher of the Separate School, Richmond Street East, about
three years, and afterwards kept a grocery store on King Street East. In
1 85 1, on a strong letter of recommendation from the Hon. Robert Baldwin, he
was appointed by the Hon. Francis Hincks manifest clerk in the long room
about loth April, the duties of which he performed about six weeks. He was
then transferred to one of the wharves and appointed landing waiter, receiv
ing his commission from Lord Elgin. On his first entrance into the Custom
House there was only Collector, Mundell. He was transferred to the port
of Belleville in 1857. Surveyor Scott and Chief Clerk Cameron, and two
landing waiters then comprised his staff. He is at present officiating under
his fourth collector, the Hon. James Patton, and will have been thirty-four
years in that department on loth April next, and the oldest Custom House
official in the port.

ALEXANDER MCCLELLAND, retired, is a native of Ireland, having been
born in County Tyrone in 1819. He came to Canada in 1844 and landed
in Toronto, where he first engaged in school teaching, following that occu
pation for twenty-two years ; after which he held the office of receiver for
the Street Railway Company, for several years. He next kept a grocery,
flour and feed store, etc., at 253 King Street East, from which he retired in
1873. He held the office of city assessor for three years. In 1844 he
married Miss E. McClelland, by whom he has a family of two sons and two
daughters. The Rev. Thomas J. McClelland is pastor of the First Reformed
Presbyterian Church at Brooklyn, N.Y. ; the Rev. Alexander McClelland
is located at Duncanville, Ont.

ANDREW TAYLOR McCoRD, jun r, was born in Toronto on the i4th April,
1848. His father, Andrew Taylor McCord, was born in Cookstown, in the

94 Biographical Notices.

North of Ireland, on the i2th July, 1808. He emigrated to Canada with
his father, Andrew McCord, who died in Toronto in the year 1851. Three
of Mr. McCord s sisters are still alive, viz. : Mrs. Peter Freeland, Miss
McCord and Mrs. John Rains. He held the office of city treasurer for
forty-five years, having been appointed in 1834. He was four years Presi
dent of the Irish Protestant Benevolent Society, which society chiefly owes
its existence to Mr. McCord, who was one of the originators. He was for
thirty years one of the Vice-Presidents of the Tract and Bible Society, and
also acted as its Secretary for many years. He was also connected with the
Home for Incurables, House of Industry, Newsboys .Home, as a director
or otherwise. Mr. McCord organized the first Baptist church here ; it was
situated on March Street, now Lombard Street. He was a Justice of the
Peace, appointed to that position by the Mowat administration ; in politics
he was a Reformer. For nearly thirty years he lived at the north-east corner
of Church and Gloucester Streets, when he died September 5th, 1881,
leaving a wife, six daughters and one son. Mrs. McCord, the wife of our
subject, is the daughter of the late Andrew Taylor, of Dublin, Ireland, a
large ship-owner. He ran the first line of steamers between Dublin and
Glasgow. She was born on the iyth of March, 1814, and resides with her
son, Mr. A. T. McCord, jun r, at the old family residence on the corner of
Gloucester and Church Streets.

S. EDWARD McCuLLY, M.D., Ontario Pulmonary Institute. The pro
prietor of this institute was born in the County of Kent, Province of Ontario,
in the year 1841. Dr. McCully received his education in Toronto, and his
degree of M.D. from the University of Victoria College in the year 1862.
His grandfather went to Nova Scotia from Scotland in the year 1776, and
was a Baptist minister well-known from one end of that Province to the
other, being one of the founders of the now large Baptist body there. He
raised a large family, some of whom became farmers, some lawyers and one
a Liverpool lumber merchant. Among the more notable of the family was
the Honourable Jonathan McCully, who for a quarter of a century served
his country in the positions, at various times, of Attorney-General of Nova
Scotia and Solicitor-General ;* also as one of the Confederation Delegates
from that Province to Quebec, and lastly to London, England. When
Confederation became a fait accompli, he was called to the Senate of Canada,
and lastly, was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of his Province,
holding that position till his death. He was taken ill while sitting on the

* He was appointed Puisne Judge before Confederation, but at the call of his party
resigned his seat and again entered active political life.

City of Toronto. 95

Bench, and died shortly afterwards in harness. Dr. McCully s mother was
born in Halifax, and had the honour, with her father, to be the first to
board the Shannon as she swung up to the dock at Halifax with the Chesa
peake in tow, and the old lady can yet give a vivid account of the scene of
blood and carnage that met her eye on that memorable occasion. In the
year 1834, the doctor s father and mother started from Cumberland, N.S.,
for Canada, and after an eventful voyage, first to Boston and then to
Buffalo, they arrived in the County of Kent, where they hewed out a home
from the then almost unbroken forest, and where the old gentleman died, a
few years ago, at the ripe age of seventy-two. Many were the vicissitudes
through which they passed during the earlier stages of their pioneer life ;
among others an attack by Indians set on by the U. E. Loyalists, when the
mother of the subject of this review upset a beehive just in front of the house,
causing the dusky warriors, amid howls of pain and terror, to beat a hasty
retreat before the foe. Dr. McCully is now practising as a specialist, and is
treating chronic, skin, blood and nervous diseases and deformities, as well as
throat and lung. He has a large and comfortable place on the corner of Jarvis
and Gerrard Streets, in this city, and is using electricity in all its forms
known to the medical profession. He takes his patients into the house, now
known all over Canada as the Ontario Pulmonary and Electric Institute,
and his is the only sanatorium of the kind in Canada. He is of the advanced
school of thought, using inhalations in lung diseases and removing cancers,
not only by the knife but also by the plaster and solution b,y electricity.
He has also discovered recently an absolute cure for rupture without using
knife or truss.

JOHN McGANN, hotel-keeper, Toronto, was born in Little York in 1829.
His father, Patrick McGann, was born in Sligo, Ireland, in 1782, and in
1816 came to Canada and located at Kingston, where he married Betsy
Wair, by whom he had the following children : Charles, dead ; Thomas,
dead ; Edward, a farmer in the Township of Scarboro ; and one daughter
who died in infancy. These children were all born in Little York, whither
the parents removed from Kingston in 1820. Patrick McGann engaged in
business on King Street, near Sherbourne, until 1832, when both he and his
wife died of cholera. After his father s death John McGann was kept
at school by his aunt and uncle. In 1849 he commenced sailing on the
lakes between Kingston and Chicago, and continued at that until 1869
when he engaged in business as ship-broker. He afterwards opened an
hotel and still carries on that business. In politics Mr. McGann is a strong
Conservative.

96 Biographical Notices.

THOMAS McGAW (of McGaw & Winnett), proprietors of the Queen s
Hotel, was born in the Township of Whitby, County of Ontario, in 1833.
His father, Thomas McGaw, was born in Cairn Regan, Wigtonshire, Scot
land, in 1792, and came to Canada in 1832; he settled in the Township
of Whitby where he resided until his death in 1878; his wife is living in
Toronto, and is ninety years of age. He was a Baldwin Reformer ; during
the Rebellion he was arrested but afterwards released. The subject of this
sketch lived on his father s farm until the year 1850, when he went into a
country store, subsequently in 1859 to the United States, where he remained
until the Trent affair, when he returned to Toronto and joined the Victoria
Rifles. In 1862 he came to Toronto and engaged in business at the
Queen s Hotel with the late Captain Dick, owner of the building. It was
at first intended for four private residences ; it afterwards became Knox
College, then Sword s Hotel, and lastly the Queen s. Mr. McGaw
married a daughter of Captain William Gordon, who ran the old lake
steamer Admiral, and who died of cholera in 1847.

JOHN MclNTOSH, lumber merchant, was born January 3oth, 1826, in
Little York. His father was John, son of John Mclntosh, who was born
in Scotland in 1754, and came to Canada in 1801 with his wife, whose
maiden name was Ann Ferguson, and his children, Nancy, John, Jane,
Robert and Jean, all of whom are now dead. His grandfather remained
at Quebec for two years, and in 1803 located at Little York, where, on the
corner of Duke and Princess Streets, he worked at his trade, that of a
blacksmith. He purchased from the Hon. John McGill a lot on the corner
of Yonge and Queen Streets, containing one and a-half acres, for which he
paid $400 ; on this he built a house, After coming to Canada there were
born to him six children, viz. : Isabel, Eliza, William, Charles, Jean and
David ; of these the only living ones are Isabel, now Mrs. Elliott, living at
Highland Creek ; and David, living in Fulton, Calvin County, Missouri.
He died January 2gth, 1830 ; his wife died in 1814. John Mclntosh, the
father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Scotland in 1796. After
coming to Toronto with his parents he went to school to the late Bishop
Strachan. He and his brothers married and sailed the lakes for many
years. A short time after the war of 1812, he and his brother James owned
a vessel called the Brothers ; Robert and William sailed with them until
they got a vessel of their own. In the fall of 1833, Charles built the steamer
Cobourg, which he ran between Toronto and Montreal ; he died of
cholera in 1834, and was followed by his brother James one week later.
John served in the war of 1812, and was present at the capitulation of

City of Toronto. 97

Detroit. He was also in the militia at the time York was taken by the
Americans. He was a Baldwin Reformer, and was chairman of the
Reform Committee at the time when William Lyon Mackenzie went to
England to lay the grievances of the people before the British Government.
For eight years he represented the North Riding of York in the Parlia
ment of Upper Canada. He was twice married. In 1823 he was married
to Catherine, daughter of Rev. Alexander Stewart, the first Baptist
minister in Little York ; she was born in Scotland, and came to Canada in
1813 with her father; she died February loth, 1832. By her Mr. Mclntosh
had five children, viz. : Catharine, John, Ann Jane, James, and another
who died in infancy. In the year 1833 he married a widow, named Ellen
Ferguson, by whom he had seven children : Isabel, Robert, Ellen, Eliza,
James, Charles and Margaret. In religion Mr. Mclntosh was a Protestant.
His first wife was a Baptist. He died in Toronto on July 3rd, 1853.
John Mclntosh, whose father and grandfather bore the same name, was
born in Little York, January 3oth, 1826. He was educated at the primary
schools and at Upper Canada College. In 1847 he began a three years
apprenticeship with Isaac White as builder. In 1849 he entered mercan
tile life by opening an agricultural implement and hardware store on Yonge
Street, in partnership with Samuel Walton. He continued this for five
years, when he entered Patterson s hardware store. In 1869 he engaged
in the lumber business, and has been at that ever since. On August i8th,
1853, he married Isabella Walton, youngest daughter of Matthew Walton,
by whom he has five children living, viz. : Anna, Isabella, Adele, Alice
and Lillian; he lost six children by death. In religion Mr. Mclntosh is
a Baptist, and in politics a Reformer.

ARCHIBALD McKiNLAY, 94 Gloucester Street, was born in the State of
South Carolina, in 1817, and is the son of John and Esther (Jackson)
McKinlay. In early life he had the advantage of a good education and was
the youngest son in a family of five children, none of whom except himself
came to Canada. He arrived here in 1856 and joined Mr. O. T. Bevan in
a general manufacturing business for four years, subsequently entering
largely into the lumber trade. In 1878 Mr. McKinlay purchased. a farm in
the Township of West York, part of lot 27, concession 2, and is at present
engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1857 he bought the property where he
resides, his residence having been erected by Lavens Newsome. He is a
member of the English Church, and was for many years treasurer of the
Temperance Society of Yorkville. In politics he is a Reformer. Mr.
McKinlay is the only surviving member of his father s family. He married
8

98 Biographical Notices.

before he came to Canada, and has only one son ; he is engaged in the
window shade manufacturing.

WILLIAM MCLAREN, D.D., Professor of Systematic Theology, Knox
College ; residence, 73 St. George Street. Dr. McLaren is a native of
Canada. He was born in the Township of Torbolton, in the County ot
Carleton, and is the fifth son of David McLaren, who was born at Drum-
lochey, Perthshire, Scotland, in 1789. His mother, Elizabeth Barnet, was
born at Auchterarder, Perthshire, in 1788. His parents were married on
6th January, 1817, and after residing some years in Glasgow, came to
Canada in 1822, and settled for a short time at Richmond, Ont. They then
removed to Torbolton, on the banks of the Ottawa, where William was
born. Subsequently Mr. David McLaren removed to Wakefield, Quebec,
where he died in 1869 ; his wife following him six years later. He was by
occupation a farmer, mill-owner and merchant, having been for a numbe r
of years associated" with two [of his sons in the well-known lumbering firm
of James McLaren & Co., Wakefield and Ottawa. William McLaren
received his preliminary education in the Grammar School, Ottawa, and in
the Toronto Academy, an institution which, owing to changes in the
educational system of the Province, was subsequently closed. His college
training was secured . in Knox College, which at that time gave both a
Theological and an Arts course. He also attended certain classes in the
University of Toronto, although it was not then on its present liberal basis.
On ist June, 1853, he was ordained by the Presbytery of London, in con
nection with the Presbyterian Church of Canada, and was inducted into the
charge of the church at Amherstburg, Ont. Here he entered upon his
responsible duties with zeal and earnestness, and met with an encouraging
measure of success. In 1857 he moved to Boston, Mass., having received a
call from Knox Church, Beacon Street, now known as Columbus Avenue
Presbyterian Church. The congregation was then in connection with the
Presbytery of Montreal. This connection having been found inconsistent,
it was, on his advice, dissolved, and the congregation was transferred to the
Presbyterian Church in the United States, and Mr. McLaren returned to
Canada. After receiving various invitations to important spheres of labour,
Mr. McLaren accepted a call to the John Street Presbyterian Church,
Belleville, where he laboured with success until 1870, when he was called
to the pastorate of Knox Church, Ottawa. During his residence in Ottawa
he held, by appointment of the General Assembly for the Session of 1872,
the position of Lecturer on Apologetics in the Presbyterian College, Mon
treal. In 1873 ne was appointed, by the same body, to the chair of System-

City of Toronto. 99

atic Theology in Knox College, and as a professor has achieved success in
his Alma Mater. In 1883 the University of Queen s College, Kingston, con
ferred on Prof. McLaren the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Dr. McLaren
has always taken an active interest in the missionary operations and iu
the general work of the Church, and was for sixteen years convener of its
Foreign Mission Committee. He is at present Moderator of the General
Assembly, that body having conferred on him the highest honour in its gift,
by electing him to that office in June, 1884. ^ n J 854 Dr. McLaren married
Miss Marjory Laing, third daughter of James R. Laing, of Middrie Park,
Melbourne, Quebec. He has living one son, David, a Licentiate of the
Presbyterian Church, and one daughter, Elizabeth Barnet, now Mrs.
Arthur Mowat.

COLONEL NEIL MCLEAN, late of .St. Andrews, in the County of Stor-
mont, Upper Canada, was born at Mingary, in the Island of Mull, in the
year 1759. At an early age he served as ensign and lieutenant in the
Royal Highland Emigrants, or 84th Regiment. The regiment was disbanded
after the American Revolution, and Mr. McLean placed on half-pay
on the 24th of June, 1784. In 1796 he was made Captain in the Royal
Canadian Volunteers and served in Montreal, Quebec and York, until that
corps was disbanded. He was then appointed Sheriff of the Eastern Dis
trict, and in 1812 he was again in active service as Colonel of the Stormont
Militia and Commandant of the District, taking part in the Battle of
Chrysler s Farm. After the war he was appointed Legislative Councillor of
Upper Canada. He married the youngest daughter of John McDonell, of
Leek, who, with his two brothers, McDonells of Coulaquhi and Aberholder,
emigrated from Scotland with a number of their dependents and clansmen
to the British possessions in America. When the Rebellion broke out the
brothers remained true to their country, and leaving their property on the
Mohawk River made their way through the wilderness to Canada. John
McDonell, of Leek, died in Montreal and was buried under the parish
church. Colonel McLean had three sons and five daughters, the sons were
John, Archibald and Alexander. John, the eldest, was at one time Sheriff
of Frontenac, and subsequently Registrar of the Counties of Glengarry,
Stormont and Dundas ; he served through the War of 1812. Alexander, the
third son, also served through the war, being severely wounded when lead
ing the attack at Ogdensburg. He was for some years member for Stor
mont and Commandant of the Eastern District ; he died at Cornwall in
1875, aged eighty-two years. Colonel McLean s second son, Archibald, was
born at St. Andrews, on the i5th of April, 1791, and was educated in Corn-

ioo Biographical Notices.

wall at the celebrated Dr. Strachan School. When sixteen years of age he
went to York and studied law with Mr. Firth, the then Attorney-General.
In 1812 he got a commission in the 3rd York Militia, and was wounded at
Queenston Heights while assisting Lieutenant-Colonel McDonell (Aide-de-
Camp to General Brock), who, when wounded, called to him, " Archy, help
me !" Owing to delay in extracting the ball, Mr. McLean s life was for a time
despaired of, and for several months he could not return to his duty. Mr. Mc
Lean was in York when it was taken by the Americans. He carried the
colours of the 3rd York Militia to a place of safety, burying them in the woods
behind Mr. McGill s house, the site where now stands the Metropolitan
Church ; he made good his escape and reported himself at Kingston. After
this he raised a company for the incorporated military from among the
Highlanders of Glengarry. He commanded this company at Lundy s Lane,
where he was taken prisoner, and was detained, part of the time in close
confinement, until the end of the war. After peace was proclaimed, declin
ing a commission offered him in the regular army, he resumed the study of
the law under Dr. Baldwin, father of the late Hon. Robert Baldwin, and
was called to the bar in 1815. He then established himself in Cornwall,
where he continued to reside until his appointment to the Bench, in 1837.
He married Miss Joan McPherson, a daughter of John McPherson, Esq., of
Three Rivers. In 1817 Mr. McLean was retained by the North- West
Company to take evidence relating to the difficulties between the North-
West Fur Company and the Hudson s Bay Company, which difficulties had
led to the killing of Governor Semple and his men. The long journey to
the Red River had to be made by canoe and the party suffered a good deal
of hardship, the scarcity of provisions compelling them to live for three
weeks entirely upon catfish. The object of this journey was, however,
accomplished. In 1820 he was elected to the Parliament of Upper Canada
from the County of Stormont, and continued a member of the House until
1837, when he was appointed to the Bench, having been twice Speaker of
the House. In 1825 he went to England to press the claims for pensions of
those who had served during the War of 1812 and succeeded in having these
claims allowed. On being called to the Bench in 1837 he came with his
family to Toronto, arriving here about a month before the breaking out of
the Rebellion. A few days before that event, in conversation with some of
his brother judges, he expressed his fears that there would be trouble.
" Oh," said one of them, " McLean, you are afraid." "Yes," he said, " I
am afraid we will be caught napping," and sure enough there was not a
soldier in the town when Mackenzie assembled his force at Montgomery s
Hill. When the bells rang out the alarm, he, with his eldest son, John, took

City of Toronto. 101

his horses, and going to the old fort, they got artillery harness, and, lumber
ing up a twelve-pounder, drove to the City Hall, where the loyal people were
assembling. As they drove up, the word went through the hall : " Here
come the rebels," and a hundred guns were levelled, when fortunately
they were recognized by Chief Justice Robinson, who told the men who
they were. In the attack on Montgomery s Hill, Judge (Colonel) McLean
commanded the left wing. He was afterwards sent to Washington with
despatches to the British Minister, and when en route would have been taken
as a hostage by the sympathizers (Mackenzie being then on Navy Island),
had it not been for the care of his warm personal friend, though political
adversary, Marshall S. Bidwell, who, with some of the leading people of
Rochester, kept watch to prevent any attempt to seize him. His career on
the Bench is one of the traditions of the Law Society. His judgment in
the celebrated Anderson case having excited more popular feeling and
gratitude than any judgment ever delivered in Canada. On the retirement
of Sir John Robinson, Judge McLean was appointed Chief Justice of Upper
Canada, and in 1863 he was made President of the Court of Appeal. He
died on the twenty-fourth day of October, 1865, in his seventy-fifth year.
At the request of the Law Society, and the profession generally, his funeral
was a public one. In commenting on his death, the Upper Canada Law
Journal wrote as follows: " The manner of the late President of the Court
of Appeal upon the Bench was dignified and courteous. Unsuspicious, and
utterly devoid of anything mean or petty in his own character, his conduct
to others was always what he expected from them. The profession gener
ally, the young student as well as the old practitioner, will long remember
with affection his courtesy and forbearance in Chambers and on the Bench ;
others will think of him as an entertaining and agreeable companion and a
true friend ; while others will] call to mind the stately form of the old Judge
as he approached and entered St. Andrew s Church, where he was a con
stant and devout attendant, rain or sunshine, until his last illness which
terminated in death. Archibald McLean was a man of remarkable and
commanding presence; tall, straight and well-formed in person, with a
pleasant, handsome face, and a kind and courteous manner, he looked and
was every inch a man and a gentleman. He belonged to a race, most of
whom have now passed away, the giants of Canada s early history. He
was one of those honest, brave, enduring, steadfast men, sent by Provi
dence to lay the foundation of a country s greatness. The funeral cortege
proceeded to the Necropolis, where amidst the sorrow of all who knew
him were deposited the mortal remains of the Honourable Archibald
McLean ; the brave soldier ; the upright judge ; and the Christian gentle-

IO2 Biographical Notices.

man." Mrs. McLean, who survived him, came of Highland descent, her
grandfather being the man who accompanied Dr. Cameron (brother of
Locheil), his first cousin, to Scotland after the forty-five. Dr. Cameron was
taken and was the last man executed. Her grandfather was pardoned and
offered a commission, which he declined. He emigrated to Canada and
assisted in the defence of Quebec, being one of the defenders of the Sault-aux-
Matelot, when Montgomery was killed ; one of his sons was killed during
the siege. He was offered payment for his services and for his house,
which was burned by a shell, but the old Highlander replied, "I take
nothing from the House of Hanover." Mrs. McLean died in the year 1870,
leaving seven children surviving her, four sons and three daughters ; of the
sons, John Neil, the eldest, died at Prescott, Ontario, in 1875 > Archibald
George is a barrister in Toronto; Thomas Alexander was an officer in the
Queen s Own at Ridgeway, and subsequently raised and commanded the
Toronto Garrison Battery. He is now Registrar of the Calgary District,
N. W. T., and the youngest, Neil, is manager of the Branch Bank of
Montreal, in Brockville, Ontario. The family still hold the old homestead
on Catharine Street, Toronto.

THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM MCMASTER, who to-day stands in the front
rank of Toronto s prominent citizens, was born in the County of Tyrone,
Ireland, on the 24th December, 1811. After receiving a sound education
at a private school, he bade farewell to home, friends and country and set
sail from Londonderry in 1833, bound for New York, leaving for Toronto
in the same year, and entered upon his brilliant business career as a clerk
in the wholesale and retail house of Robert Cathcart. His business tact
and great ability were not long in making themselves known to his employer,
and in 1834 Mr. Cathcart gave him a partnership in the business. This
continued for ten years, when Mr. McMaster decided to launch out into
business for himself. He accordingly opened out a wholesale dry goods
house, and, by his industry, extended his business so thoroughly that there
were few merchants in Western Ontario who were not his customers. The
business increasing he found it necessary to move to larger premises, which
he built adjoining the Bank of Montreal. The style of the firm was now
William McMaster & Nephews. After a few years it was again found
necessary to increase their premises. They accordingly erected the large
and commodious warehouse on Front Street, now occupied by A. R.
McMaster & Brother, the firm which succeeded the old one on the retire
ment of Mr. McMaster, who decided to turn his attention to financial affairs-
Since his retirement from the wholesale dry-goods trade, Mr. McMaster has

City of Toronto. 103

found a sphere in which his fine abilities have produced as good fruit as
they did in commercial life. He was foremost among those who organized
the Bank of Commerce, and is one of the principal stockholders. On the
incorporation of the Bank he was elected its first President, and has held
that position for more than twenty years. He has also held other responsible
positions. Among these are Director of the Bank of Montreal ; Director
of the Ontario Bank ; President of the Freehold Loan and Savings Com
pany ; Vice-president of the Confederation Life Association and Director
of the Isolated Risk and Farmers Insurance Company. For several years
Mr. McMaster was Chairman of the Canadian Board of the Great Western
Railway, and was the only member retained by the English Board upon the
Canadian Board being abolished. In politics Mr. McMaster is a Liberal,
but took no active part until 1862. In that year he was elected to repre
sent, in the Legislative Council, the Midland Division, comprising the
counties of South Simcoe and North York. Up to the year 1856 the mem
bers of the Legislative Council had received their appointments from the
Crown, but, by a change made in the Constitution in that year, the elective
system was introduced, the members to hold office for eight years. Mr.
McMaster was at first reluctant to contest the seat, but, when pressed by
his friends, yielded, and going into the contest with his usual vigour and
energy was returned by a large majority. Before the term for which he
was elected had elapsed Confederation took place and the Legislative
Council passed away, to be succeeded by the Senate. By Royal Proclama
tion in May, 1867, Mr. McMaster was one of the Senators called to repre
sent Ontario. In 1865 he was appointed a member of the Council of
Public Instruction, and until 1875 he continued to represent, at the Board,
the Baptist Church, of which he is a prominent member. In 1873 the
Lieutenant-Governor nominated him a member of the Senate of Toronto
University. The Canadian Literary and Theological Institute, originally
at Woodstock, owes its existence to Mr. McMaster. He contributed
$12,000 to the building fund, and constantly assisted the Institute by
generous donations. This valuable institution was afterwards removed to
Toronto, where a magnificent building, known as McMaster Hall, has been
built, Mr. McMaster contributing $60,000 toward its erection. The Jarvis
Street Baptist Church is another monument to the liberality of this great
friend of education and religion. The joint contribution of Mr. McMaster
and his wife to the building fund of this costly and handsome structure is
$60,000. Nor are these donations the extent of his generosity. The Upper
Canada Bible Society, a non-sectarian institution, of which he is Treasurer,
and the Superannuated Ministers Society of the Baptist Church of Ontario,

IO4 Biographical Notices.

enjoy his support, both by donations and personal services. Mr. McMaster
has been twice married; in 1851 to Mary Henderson, of New York City,
who died in 1868, and in 1871 to Susan Molton, widow of the late James
Fraser, of Newburgh, N.Y.

ALBERT A. MACDONALD, M.B., 202 Simcoe Street, is the son of the
late Judge Archibald Macdonald, of Guelph, and grandson of the late Cap
tain Macdonald of the 25th Regiment. He was born at Cobourg in 1851,
and was educated at Guelph and at Toronto University, where he
graduated in 1872. He then visited the medical schools of Great Britain,
chiefly those in London and Edinburgh. He was afterwards elected a
Fellow of the Obstetrical Society of London and became a Licentiate of the
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Edinburgh. In 1873 ne com
menced active practice in Guelph, continuing until 1878 when he removed
to Toronto where he has had extensive surgical experience. He is Surgeon
to the Orphans Home, Surgeon on the active staff of the General Hospital
and Consulting Surgeon to the. Infants Home. He is also examiner for a
number of insurance companies and is Medical Referee for Ontario for the
Equitable Life Insurance Company of New York. Dr. Macdonald received a
military training under the 2gth and 6oth Regiments, and took first class
certificates at both the infantry and artillery schools, under -Lieutenant-
Colonel Williams, R.A. In 1872 he was appointed Surgeon to the
Wellington Field Battery, and was afterwards transferred to a similar
position in the Toronto Field Battery which he now holds.

W. H. MACDONALD, M.D., M.R.C.S., England ; L.R.C.P. & S. , Edin
burgh, 422 Church Street, is a native of Inverness, Scotland. His father,
Graham Macdonald, was a farmer in that country, came to Canada in
1856, and took up land in the County of Halton, where he now resides.
Dr. Macdonald was educated at Trinity College, Toronto, and in 1883
graduated at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Edinburgh,
and the same year in the Royal College of Surgeons, England. In 1883 he
commenced practice in Toronto. He was one of the resident staff, Toronto
General Hospital, in 1881-2, and Gold Medallist, Trinity Medical College,
1882.

H. T. MACHELL, M.D., was born in Aurora, Ontario, 1850. He
was educated at Markham Grammar School. In 1873 he took his M.D.
degree at Toronto University, and afterwards attended the Bellevue
Hospital, New York, for some time. The years 1874-5 he spent in Great
Britain, attending the colleges and hospitals in England and Scotland.

City of Toronto. 105

Returning to Canada he settled down at his present address, No. 320
Spadina Avenue, where he has built up a very good practice. Dr. Machell
married Miss Emily Broughall, daughter of the Rev. A. J. Broughall,
Rector of St. Stephen s Church, Toronto.

JAMES G. MALCOLM was born in the Township of Scarboro , April 26th,
1840. His parents, Archibald and Elizabeth (Waddell) Malcolm, came to
Canada from Scotland with seven children in 1834; his father had been
three times married in Scotland. The family settled in the Township of
Scarboro , where the father bought two hundred acres of land in the 6th
concession, where he died in 1866. The subject of this sketch left home in
1865, after having learned the trade of a carpenter, and went to Sharon, Pa.,
where he worked at his trade and where, in 1868, he was married to Laura
A. Reeves, by whom he has two sons and one daughter. He was also
living in Chicago at the time of the great fire. In 1874 he returned to
Canada and settled at Toronto, where he shortly afterwards patented the
Climax refrigerator ; he sold the patent to Brice Bros., who are now
making a large amount of money out of it. Mr. Malcolm built three large
refrigerators for the new Canada Pacific Railway steamers, the Algoma,
the Alberta and the Athabaska. Mr. Malcolm is a member of the A.F. and
A.M. He has in his possession a very old Masonic emblem. It is a clasp
which belonged to Malcolm, third King of Scotland, 1057. Mr. Malcolm is
a great curler and belongs to the Toronto Curling Club.

ROBERT MALCOLM, saddle and harness-maker, was born in Glasgow,
Scotland, in 1832, being the seventh in a family of ten sons and five
daughters. He came to Canada with his parents in 1834. His father,
Archibald Malcolm, had been a farmer in Lanarkshire until he was twenty-
five ; he then spent his next twenty-five years in Harvey & Co. s wholesale
silk warehouse, Glasgow. After coming to Canada he engaged in farming
in the Township of Scarboro where he resided until the time of his death,
in 1 86 1, in his seventy-seventh year. His wife was a daughter of the late
William Waddel, of Boness, Scotland; she died in 1884 in her eighty-
seventh year. Robert Malcolm remained on his father s farm until 1848,
when he came to Toronto and learned his trade with the late William
Gibson in East Market Square. He then carried on business in Scarboro
for a short time, removing to Toronto in 1853, where he has continued in
business ever since. Mr. Malcolm is a Presbyterian, and a Liberal in
politics. In 1854 he married Ann, eldest daughter of the late George
Cummings. Mrs. Malcolm s mother is still hale and hearty at eighty-six, and

106 Biographical Notices.

can read the smallest print without glasses. Robert Malcolm is an
enthusiastic curler, and is connected with the Grand National Curling Club of
America, and also with the Ontario branch of the Caledonian Curling
Club of Scotland.

THOMAS MARA, retired, was born in the town of Carrick-on-Shannon,
Leitrim, Ireland, in 1808, and is the third in a family of four sons and two
daughters. His parents were Andrew and Mary (McMann) Mara ; they
died in Ireland; his father was a farrier. In 1832 Thomas Mara came
to Canada, and having learned shoemakingin Ireland worked at that trade
in Toronto, with Thomas Griffiths, for two or three years. He then opened
a shop for himself at 244 King Street West, which he continued for about
ten years. Then for thirty-five years he was engaged in buying real estate,
he has now retired from business. Two of his brothers, John and Andrew,
came out in 1842 ; both are now dead. John s family is living on Grange
Avenue. In 1835 Mr. Mara married the eldest daughter of Robert Stephens,
of the Township of Nelson, by whom he has the following children, viz. :
Susan, married J. Hollinrake, of Milton; William, lives in St. Louis, Mo.;
Thomas, lives in Milton ; Margaret, widow of J. Hickman, lives in Toronto;
Henry S., is a real estate broker on Toronto Street; Sarah, married
Alderman J. Brandon, Toronto; Mary Jane lives at home. Mr. Mara
served under Captain Ross in the Rebellion, and was a member of the old
fire brigade for fifteen years, and captain for seven years. He was a mem
ber of the City Council in 1845-6. In religion he is a Methodist, and in
politics a Conservative ; he is a member of the Irish Protestant Benevolent
Association.

WILLIAM P. MARSTON was born in the County of Kent, England, in
1820, and came to America in 1832. He remained in the States until 1851,
after which he removed to Toronto and located on Yonge Street, where he
conducted a gun business for twenty-eight years. He was the first in this
line of trade who carried on this business successfully for so long a period,
and was the only one who manufactured guns in Canada. He retired from
business in 1879, an d has since resided at 99 Alexander Street.

THEODORE HENRY AUGUSTUS MARTENS, professor of music, 37 Charles
Street, was born in Hamburg, Germany, where he received his first musical
education under Charles Kolling, and in 1864 went to the Royal Conserva
toire of Music in Leipsic to continue his studies under Moscheles, Car
Reinecke, Plaidy, etc., and the great canonicus, Dr. Hauptman. Here he
pursued his studies with such earnestness and diligence that he was

City of Toronto. 107

awarded the Mendelssohn Prize which he carried off out of one hundred
and fifty contestants, and graduated with honour and full diploma in
1867. At the end of 1868 he came to New York where he made his first
appearance in Steinway Hall, in one of Theodore Thomas symphony con
certs. Shortly afterwards he was engaged as Pianist by the great Violinist,
Ole Bull, to travel with him through the United States, and in 1869 came
to Canada. While in Halifax he had the honour o performing before His
Royal Highness Prince Arthur of England. He held the Professorship of
the Sackville Academy for three years, after which he was three years
organist of Holy Trinity at St. John, N. B. Returning to Germany for a
few months he came back to Canada and settled in Toronto, and has since
been a resident.

JOHN MARTIN was born in Simcoe County, Ontario, November 8th,
1840, and settled in Toronto in 1856, when he became a messenger boy for
the Exchange Bank, remaining there until its failure. He attended the
Military School where he received a first grade certificate in 1866. For
several years he was book-keeper for the late Robert Wilkes. In 1872 he
was admitted to the bar as an attorney and barrister and now practises his
profession at 46 Church Street.

JOHN M. MARTIN, machinist, Parkdale, was born in Toronto in 1849.
His parents, James and Mary (Moodie) Martin, were both born in Dundee
Scotland, and came to Canada in 1848, when he settled in Toronto. His
father became foreman in the mechanical shop of the Grand Trunk Rail
way and superintended the construction of the first engine run on that
road. John M. Martin was educated in the public schools. When he was
twelve years of age he began to learn his trade, at which he has ever since
worked. In 1871 he married Harriet Bright, who was born in Toronto,
April 22nd, 1853.

JAMES MATHEWS, proprietor of the Robinson House, and ship-owner,
was born in the Township of Pickering in 1823, being the second son in a
family of seven children. His parents, John and Hannah (Peak) Mathews,
came from St. John, N.B., and landed at Ashbridge s Bay, there being
only three small houses in Yprk then. They settled on two hundred acres
of land in Pickering, being lot 12 in the 2nd concession. He worked on
the farm until his death in 1878, aged eighty-five years. During the War
of 1812 he fought at Lundy s Lane, Queenston Heights, Detroit and Sand
wich, for which he received four medals ; he stood within six feet of
General Brock when he fell and assisted in carrying him off the field. At

io8 Biographical Notices.

his death he left iour children : William, Elizabeth, James and John.
James Mathews resided on his father s farm until 1847. He came to
Toronto in 1854, and opened the International Hotel. He spent a year in
Oil Springs, and returning to Toronto in 1861 engaged in his present
business. He is a Reformer and a Methodist, and takes an active part in
temperance work, being Vice-President of the Temperance Reformation
Society. In 1849 he married Charlotte C., eldest daughter of Samuel
Thorold, of Niagara, Ontario.

N. MAUGHAN, Assessment Commissioner for this city, is a native of
Northumberland, England, and came to Canada in 1832, with his people, at
the age of ten years. His parents died the year of their arrival here ; his
father on the journey at Lockport, New York. Our subject in his youth
learned the trade of carpenter, and resided at the surburban Village of
Eglinton. He followed building and contracting for many years in and
about Toronto, up to 1869, when he moved into the city, and in 1872 he
became identified with the Assessment Department. In 1877 he was
appointed Assessment Commissioner, which he has since retained. In 1843
he married Sophia Riley, a native of Prescott, Ontario, whose father was
formerly from the County of Cavan, Ireland, her mother being the daughter
of Colonel Drummond, an officer in the regular army, who was instrumental
in settling the Scotch Pioneers in that region. His family consists of three
sons and two daughters.

FRANCIS H. MEDCALF, deceased, son of William Medcalf, was born in
the County of Wicklow, Ireland, in 1803, being the eldest in a family of ten
children. In 1819 he came to Canada with his parents, who located on a
farm in the Bayham District, County of Elgin, where he resided for four
years. He then went to Philadelphia, Pa., where he learned the trade of a
millwright and worked for several years. He subsequently married Mary,
daughter of John Harrison. In 1839 ne cam e to Toronto and located on
Richmond Street, east of Church Street ; four years later he removed to
Queen Street, upon the present site of Good s foundry, opposite to which he
conducted business for several years as a manufacturer of agricultural imple
ments. In 1850, in order to afford better accommodation for his increasing
business, he removed to King Street East, near the Don, where he carried
on business as builder of steam engines, saw and grist mill machinery, and
threshing machines, until 1875, when he retired from business and rented his
place to Mr. Charles Livey, which was destroyed by fire in 1877. In 1879 he
purchased the foundry at 503 King Street East, then owned by the late

City of Toronto. 109

William Hamilton ; He conducted that until his death in 1880. Besides

attending to his large manufacturing interests, Mr. Medcalf sat in the City

Council for six years, representing St. Lawrence, St. John s and St. David s

Wards. For five years he was Mayor of the city, during which time he visited

London, England, and Ireland, at his own expense, at the invitation of the

Lord Mayor, to attend the grand banquet at the Guildhall, given in honour of

the mayors of the cities and towns throughout the colonies. He was a

Magistrate, and was brought out for parliamentary honours in East Toronto,

but was defeated by the Hon. M. C. Cameron. He was a prominent

member of the Orange Body, of which he was Grand Master, and was also

a member of the A.F. and A.M., and of the Church of England. At his

death he left six children, of whom Alfred, the third in order of birth,

succeeded him in business. Mr. F. H. Medcalf built the first threshing

machine and cleaner (combined) in Canada. He was very unfortunate by

fire, having had his place of business completely destroyed six times, four

on Queen Street and twice at the Don ; at the first four he lost everything

having no insurance, on the latter he had a small insurance but saved nothing.

ANDREW F. MERCER was born in Toronto in 1851. His father, Andrew
Mercer, sen r, was born in Sussex, England, 1778. In 1802 he came to
Canada with his father, whom he continued to live with up to the time of
his death, which occurred June 24th, 1824. In 1803 Andrew Mercer, sen r,
received from the Government a grant of two hundred acres of land, which
afterwards proved to be the most valuable property ; in the same year he
became a clerk in the Government Office. He was afterwards engaged in
business as a general merchant on King Street, and subsequently kept a
distillery at Hogg s Hollow, (York Mills). After giving up the distillery he
was appointed issuer of marriage licenses, which position he held until his
death in 1871. He had amassed a great fortune; he sold a portion of land
between King and Wellington Streets, west of the Parliament Buildings, to
the Rossin family for $20,000 ; at his death he held $90,000 stock in the
Merchants Bank ; he was offered $60,000 cash for the place where he lived,
near the south-east corner of Bay and Wellington Streets. He gave a great
deal for charitable purposes. After his death his estate reverted to the
Crown, and the Government of Ontario, acting for the Crown, erected out
of the estate an institution for the reclamation of fallen women known as
the Andrew Mercer Reformatory at a cost of $90,000 ; also an eye and
ear infirmary, known as the Andrew Mercer Eye and Ear Infirmary, in
connection with the Toronto General Hospital at a cost of $10,000, a small
portion of the estate being allotted to Andrew F. Mercer.

I io Biographical Notices.

THOMAS MEREDITH, retired, was born in the County Sligo, Ireland
August i5th, 1812. His father was John Meredith, a linen draper, and his
mother Mary McDonald. In 1829 he came out with his brother John and
located in Little York. He was first employed as a clerk in John Watkins
hardware store on King Street East. He was in partnership with Gooder-
ham & Worts for ten years, and dealt a great deal in grain which he
brought from several of the ports on Lake Ontario. He married Susannah
Ardagh, by whom he had the following children viz. : Arthur, Thomas
Richard, William, George, Sarah and Fanny. In religion Mr. Meredith is
a member of the Church of England.

HONOURABLE WILLIAM H. MERRITT, St. Catharines. A biography of
William Hamilton Merritt, of more than four hundred pages, has been
published by his eldest son living, J. P. Merritt, therefore we propose to
give only a brief sketch of his life in this work briefer than would other,
wise seem to answer our purpose. His father, Thomas Merritt, a Loyalist
of the Revolutionary time, and a Cornet in the regiment known as Simcoe s
Queen s Rangers, married Mary Hamilton, of South Carolina, left the
United States with other Loyalists for New Brunswick in 1783, removed
to Canada in 1793, and it was while on this journey that our subject was
born in the State of New York, on the 3rd of July, 1793. The family
settled on ,the Twelve-Mile Creek, in the old Niagara District. Here the
boy, then three years old, grew to manhood and made his history. He
commenced his education under Mr. Cockerell, at Burlington, now Ham
ilton, continuing his studies at Niagara, and receiving a slight classical
polishing at the hands of the Rev. John Burns. At fifteen years of age he
visited St. John, New Brunswick, where he had relatives, and where he
studied surveying, algebra, trigonometry and other useful branches. In
June, 1812, when the United States declared war against Great Britain, he
immediately drew his sword, having just received a Lieutenant s commission.
Three months later he was Major, and, at the Battle of Queenston Heights,
October I3th, 1812, holding the position of Commander of Militia Cavalry of
Upper Canada, he was deputed by General Sheafe to receive the swords of
the American officers captured. He was in other engagements, including
those at Detroit, for which he received a medal, at Stony Creek and
Lundy s Lane, and during the latter engagement was taken prisoner. At
the close of the war Mr. Merritt returned to St. Catharines, went into the
commercial trade, and continued in trade until 1819. In 1818 he had a
survey made of the land from the south branch of the Twelve-Mile Creek
now at Allenburgh, due south two miles to the Chippewa, in order to see if

City of Toronto. 1 1 1

it was feasible to supply his mills by means of a canal with a full supply of
water from the latter stream. This apparently trifling undertaking finally
suggested to Mr. Merritt the more gigantic enterprise of connecting the
waters of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, by means of a canal. This grand
idea the Welland Canal which he conceived, was commenced in November,
1824, and completed in November, 1829. ^ was the pioneer enterprise
of the kind in Upper Canada. But Mr. Merritt s spirit was indomitable;
he had noble coadjutors in the work, and it was done, giving Mr. Merritt a
red-letter page of unsurpassed brilliancy in the history of Canadian enter
prise. In 1832 Mr. Merritt was elected to Parliament for Haldimand ; was
placed on the Finance Committee, and served several years in that body,
becoming chairman of the committee just mentioned, in January, 1838.
He went into the Government as President of the Executive Council in
1848, and was Chief Commissioner of Public Works in 1850 ; sat for Hal
dimand and Lincoln until 1860, when he was elected to the Legislative
Council for the Counties of Lincoln and Welland. As a legislator he
looked well to the interests of the Welland Canal ; was a strong advocate
of internal improvements generally ; took broad and statesmanlike views
of all subjects coming up for consideration, and was one of the most
industrious and useful members of Parliament. He was a strong advocate
of the union of Upper and Lower Canada, a measure which was effected
in 1841. During the period of his legislative career, the Rebellion occurred
(1837-38), but Mr. Merritt entered into none of the military proceed
ings, designating the attempt at revolution as the Monkey War. In
1840, Mr. Merritt, who had long been a Director of the Welland Canal,
was again elected President of the company, and continued to work with
the utmost diligence for its interests. He was rightly regarded as the
father of that grand public work. He favoured the building of the Welland
Railway, which now runs along the side of the canal, knowing that both
would aid in the development of the country. He took a liberal and
comprehensive view of all such matters, and laboured untiringly to promote
the welfare of Canada until his death, which occurred on the 5th July,
1862. Thomas Rodman Merritt, the youngest of the three sons who grew
to manhood, was educated at Grantham Academy and Upper Canada
College ; was a merchant at St. Catharines from 1844 to 1846 ; a miller for
the next twenty-three years ; a Director of the Niagara District Bank for
more than twenty years and its President for several years ; a member of
the Dominion Parliament from 1868 to 1874, an d is now Managing-Director
of the Welland Railway, Vice-President of the Imperial Bank, and president
of two or three local corporations or societies. " Rodman Hall," his home
is one of the most elegant residences on the Niagara Peninsula.

1 1 2 Biographical Notices.

JAMES METCALF, 174 Bloor Street West, is a native of Cumberland,
England, and is the eldest son of James Metcalf, contractor. In 1842 the
subject of this sketch came to Toronto, and commenced business as con
tractor. Among the buildings erected by him, St. James Cathedral bears
testimony to his workmanship. He also built the old Post-office, Trinity
College, and other public buildings. He went to Australia in 1852, and
carried on business there for four years, and returning again to Toronto
retired into private life. In 1867 Mr. Metcalf was returned as a represen
tative in the House of Commons, and remained as such until 1878. He was
elected President of the Royal Canadian Bank in 1865, and appointed a
J.P. the year previous. In 1843 ne married Miss Ellen Howson, daughter
of John Howson, of Peterborough County, Ontario.

JAMES MICHIE, deceased. Prominent among those names which have
been associated with the progress and development of Toronto the one which
heads this sketch is especially worthy of mention. His death being of
comparatively recent occurrence, the citizens of Toronto will retain a
vivid remembrance of the munificence which distinguished his lifetime,
and the generous manner with which he caused his wealth to be disbursed
for the benefit of the city charities and other public institutions on his
demise. Mr. Michie was of Scotch birth and parentage, his home being
Corryhoul, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. He was born in 1828, and was the
youngest of a family of seven children, the issue of the union of James and
Sophia Michie. At the age of seventeen he came to Canada in company
with his elder brother Henry, and entered the service of A. Ogilvie & Co.,
wholesale and retail grocers, of Toronto, in which house his uncle, the late
Mr. George Michie, held a partnership, and to whose influence, doubtless,
our subject was indebted for his entrance on a business career which
eventually proved so strikingly successful. This business, with which the
name of Michie is now so prominently connected, was first established in
1836, with a branch in Montreal, the founders being Alexander Ogilvie and
Thomas Kay, under whose name it was conducted until 1852. In that
year Messrs. James Michie and A. T. Fulton were admitted into the firm,
and with the great increase of business it was decided also to separate
the wholesale department from the retail, which was accordingly done, the
former being conducted by Messrs. George Michie and A. T. Fulton, on
Yonge Street, and the retail business remaining on King Street, with the
firm name of Fulton, Michie & Co., under the management of Mr. James
Michie. The death of Mr. Kay in 1855 somewhat altered the position of
affairs, that event being signalized by the closing of the Montreal branch,

JAMES MICHIE,

DECEASED.

City of Toronto. u^

and transference of all his business to Toronto, which was continued by
the remaining partners until 1866 when Mr. George Michie died, the busi
ness being thereafter conducted by the two surviving members of the firm.
On Mr. Michie s death in 1883 this flourishing concern passed into the
hands of John F., George S., and Forbes Michie who compose the present
firm, and the business is still carried on under the old style of Fulton,
Michie & Co. Apart from his own particular business, which must of
necessity have occupied the greater portion of his time and attention, Mr.
Michie s business talents found scope in other departments where his
knowledge of finance proved of no little value. He held at stated periods
a directorship in the Bank of Commerce, the Western Assurance Com
pany and the Dominion Telegraph Company, in the latter of which he
combined also the position of treasurer ; the vice-presidency of the Free
hold Loan and Savings Company, and likewise was a member of the Board
of Trade. Before the Whitby, Port Perry, and Lindsay Railroad became
amalgamated with the "Midland, it had, for the preceding ten years, been
owned by Mr. Michie, his partner, Mr. Fulton, and two other gentlemen,
and was operated by them during that period, they having purchased it
from the original proprietors. It would naturally be conceived that one in
his position, and in whose competence his fellow-citizens had unbounded
faith should scarcely have failed to respond to the many earnest solicitations
with which he was assailed to accept municipal and political honours.
But no, his inclinations did not tend that way, and all temptations held
out to him of future distinction in that direction were modestly refused, to
the disadvantage, we cannot help but think, of the governing bodies generally,
where his habitual caution and knowledge of financial matters would have
been of great service. We have hitherto mentioned the success which
attended Mr. Michie s business career, it is now our pleasing duty to record
some of those benevolent actions which should keep his memory green in
the minds of our citizens, and which bear full testimony to the general
desire on his part to benefit the inhabitants of the city. One act may be
mentioned which of itself would show the generosity of his nature. His late-
uncle, George Michie, originated the Home for Incurables, leaving a legacy-
of $2,000 to found the institution, provided an equal amount should be
given by the public within three years. In case they failed to comply the
bequest was to revert to Mr. James Michie. The public failed to subscribe^
the amount necessary within the specified time. . The deceased (who was.
residuary legatee under the will) carried out his uncle s intentions and like
wise added the substantial sum of $4,000, and to him alone the foundation
of the Home is due. His charitable disposition on many a memorable;
9

j j a Biographical Notices.

occasion was put to the test, and never found wanting, but it was reserved
for Toronto to know, when she had lost him, of what sterling quality was
composed the mind of the man who had passed away. By his will he
bequeathed to the Toronto Hospital, $3,000 ; Lying-in-Hospital, $2,000 ; St.
Andrew s Church, $4,000; Queen s College, Kingston, $4,000 ; Widows and
Orphans $4,000 ; Temporalities Fund, $4,000 ; Tract Society, $500 ; Bible
Society, $1,000 ; Magdalen Asylum, $2,000; Girls Home, $2,000; Boys
Home, $2,000 ; House of Industry, $3,000, and the poor of the parish of
Cargaff, Scotland, $200. As a true friend of the Church, Mr. Michie never
neglected her interests, nay, he was profuse in his generosity in this respect ;
witness his magnificent contribution of $11,000 towards the building fund
of St. Andrew s Church (of which he was a devoted member), besides large
donations for missionary and other purposes. He was appointed a member
of the board of managers of his church in July, 1861, and was chairman of
the building committee, in both of which positions he rendered valuable
service. He was a member of the Council of Queen s College, Kingston,
and at his death a resolution of condolence with his family, was passed
by the college board. As one of Scotia s sons, he was ever true to the
memory of his native land, and was always a steadfast friend to his country
men. Year after year they urged him to accept the presidency of St.
Andrew s Society, of which he was a member, but his retiring disposition
was opposed to the gratification of their desires. It was not until the annual
meeting in 1881 that he was prevailed upon to allow his name to be used,
and at the annual meeting previous to his death he was re-elected. In
business circles he was respected for his integrity, and every reliance could
be placed upon his word. He* was alike remarkable for the simplicity of
his character, as he was unaffected by his prosperity and accumulated
wealth. What he gave, he gave freely, and his own happiness appeared
bound up in the prospect of making others so.

" Oh, heaven ! the good that some men do
That others leave to do." .

He passed away beloved by his fellow-countrymen, respected by all as a
gentleman and a citizen. His remains were followed to Mount Pleasant
Cemetery by thousands, both rich and poor, and buried beneath many floral
offerings of the most eminent men of the city and province, a just and fitting
tribute to the purity of his life.

ROBERT BELL MILLER, barrister, was born in 1814 and is the son of
George Miller, a surgeon, who was educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, and
who afterwards went to Ireland, where he married Mary Bell, third

City of Toronto. 1 1 5

daughter of Dr. Bell. In 1820, the parents of our subject settled at
Niagara with their family of five sons and two daughters, where Surgeon
Miller lived until his death, which occurred in 1829 ; his wife died in 1841.
Robert Bell Miller came to Toronto in 1829, and began business as a clerk
in the store of Thomas Bell on King Street, where he remained until 1834,
during which five years he had been studying law. In 1839, he was
admitted to the bar, and at once commenced the practice which he has
ever since continued. Mr. Miller served in the " Queen s Rangers " at the
time of the Rebellion, and witnessed the destruction of the Caroline. He is
a Conservative, an Episcopalian and an Oddfellow of many years standing.
He married Susannah, seventh child of the late Thomas Bell, of the Royal
Engineers, and one of the old residents of Toronto. Both of Mr. Miller s
sisters are still living; one in the Township of Ancaster, County of Went-
worth, and the other at Niagara.

FREDERICK MILLIGAN, deceased, was born in Chester, England, March
25th, 1820. His father, Arthur Milligan, was a soldier in her Majesty s
yist Regiment; he came to Canada with the regiment in 1824; his wife
and family came in 1830. He died here in 1861 ; his wife died in 1881. At
the latter s death she left the following children : Frederick, Fanny, Alex
ander, Joseph, William, Robert and George. Frederick Milligan was
married in 1842 to Margaret, daughter of John Bowman, by whom he had
nine children. For some years he was a tailor, but in 1848 he opened a
hotel called the Lord Roden and Colonel Verner. He died the i6th of
May, 1883. At his death he left three daughters.

JAMES MITCHELL, retired, was born in the County of Armagh, North of
Ireland, in 1811, being the fourth in a family of four sons and one daughter,
born to James and Sarah (Hamilton) Mitchell, of Scotch extraction. In
1832 he came to Canada and located in York Township, where he engaged
in lumbering and farming and also kept a store at Eglinton. He remained
there for over forty years and only a few years ago returned to the city,
where he now resides. Mr. Mitchell married a daughter of Jacob Snider,
Esq., by whom he has four sons and five daughters living. During the
Mackenzie Rebellion he was arrested and detained for two days; he boarded
at Montgomery s Hotel. Mr. Mitchell s elder brother, Robert, who came to
Canada in 1834, is now living retired in Harriston.

GEORGE MONRO, deceased, ex- Mayor of Toronto, was born in Scotland
in 1797. In 1800 his father emigrated to Canada, and settled at Niagara
where he resided until his death. After the close of the war of 1812,

j Z 5 Biographical Notices.

George Monro removed from Niagara to York, where he entered the
service of his brother John, who opened a general store between George
and Frederick Streets on King, afterwards on the corner of George and
King Streets. On the death of his brother in 1830, he assumed control of
the business which he continued until 1869, when he retired. From 1834
until 1841 he represented St. Lawrence Ward in^the City Council. In

1841 he was elected Mayor, which office he filled most satisfactorily. From

1842 until 1845 he again represented St. Lawrence Ward in the Council.
In 1844-5 he represented the third Riding of York, now East York, in the old
Parliament of Canada. During the Rebellion of 1837, he was commissioned
a captain of the York Volunteers. His wife was Christina Fisher of Mon
treal. Mr. Monro died in 1879, leaving two sons and four daughters,
some of whom reside in Toronto.

GEORGE MONRO, JUN R, son of the late ex-Mayor Monro, was born in
the building now known as the Black Horse Hotel in Toronto in 1831.
He spent some years in business with his father. He was subsequently
educated as a Civil Engineer, and was employed on the construction of the
Toronto and Guelph line of the Grand Trunk Railway. For the past
fourteen years he has been connected with Her Majesty s Customs at
Toronto.

JOHN M. MONRO, eldest son of the late ex-Mayor Monro, was born at
York in 1828. In 1862 he went to Australia, where he remained nine years.
In 1861 he went to England and Ireland, where he travelled for three years.
He then returned to Toronto, where he has since remained. He resides at
the Queen s Hotel.

ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY, carriage manufacturer, 838 Queen Street
West, was born in Markham Township, a little east of Yonge Street, near
Hogg s Hollow, now York Mills, November ist, 1835. His father, Richard
Montgomery, a brother of John Montgomery, who played such a prominent
part in the Rebellion of 1837, was born in February, 1807, east of York
Mills, and died August ^th, 1873. His wife was Hannah, daughter of
John smith, by whom he had the following children, all of whom survived
him: Jane, born December 6th, 1832; John S., March 4 th, 1834; Alex
ander, November ist, 1835 ; Nathan M., July 2 3 rd, 1837 ; Sarah Ann,
September loth, 1839; Martha, August 3 ist, 1841; Joseph, May nth,
1843; Nancy, June 2ist, 1845; David, May 25th, 1847; Mary E., July
22nd, 1849; Mahala, June 2oth, 1850; Jerusha, May 6th, 1853; Victoria,
May 2 3 rd, 1855 ; Charles A., August loth, 1857. The mother of these

City of Toronto. 117

children was born near Thornhill, April 28th, 1812, and died October i4th,
1883. Alexander Montgomery began to learn the trade of a carriage-
maker and general blacksmith when he was quite young ; he has been
manufacturing carriages for twenty-five years. In 1866, he married Mary
Anne, daughter of Joseph Peelar. The Peelars were U.E. Loyalists, and
settled west of the Hooton in 1800. Mary Ann Hooton, the great grand
mother of Mrs. Montgomery was drowned while crossing that river on
horseback. Mrs. Montgomery s grand-mother lived to be eighty-four years
of age. She had a narrow escape from being shot during the Battle of
York in 1812, while walking across Bloor Street with her son, then an
infant in her arms.

DR. JOHN W. MONTGOMERY, son of John and Mary Montgomery, was
born at Newtonbrook, Ontario, in 1827. Hence he was only ten years of
age when the Rebellion broke out, at which time he and his cousin
(Abraham Wilson) were the only persons in the old hotel, the " Sickle and
Sheaf," owned by his father, when the first cannon shot came through his
home, cutting down the three chimneys. These two lads stood viewing
the scene from one of the upper windows ; they thought it mere sport until a
second shot entered the wing, when they were removed by some of their
friends. After the Rebellion closed, and his father made his escape to the
United States, his family joined him at Rochester, N.Y. Here our subject
attended the Collegiate Institute until 1843, when the family returned to
Toronto. He entered the private medical school taught by the late
Dr. John Rolph ; where he graduated in 1847. During his medical course
he was offered, by a vote of his class, the position of Demonstrator of
Anatomy, which he accepted. After completing his education, he practised
at Sutton Village, Ontario, twenty-five years. In 1872, he removed to Bell
Ewart, Simcoe County, where he remained until 1877, when he received the
appointment of assistant superintendant in the Kingston Insane Asylum,
where he remained five years. In 1882 he was transferred to the Hamilton
Insane Asylum, where he at present resides. In politics he has always
been a strong Reformer. His first wife was Josephine Gorham, of the
city of New York; second, Elizabeth Anderson, of Hawick, Scotland;
his third, Charlotte, daughter of William Jones, Esq., of Kingston, Ontario.
He has four sons and three daughters.

EDWARD M. MORPHY, jeweller, was born in the North of Ireland in
1820, and emigrated to Canada in 1835, in company with his master, he
being at that time an apprentice. In 1837, his father, mother, six brothers

1 1 8 Biographical Notices.

and three sisters followed him, all of whom settled in Toronto. During the
Mackenzie Rebellion his father and elder brothers were among the first to
volunteer to support the loyal cause, the former being appointed captain of
a city corps. Three of his brothers entered the legal profession, one
entered the Civil Service and two besides himself became jewellers. Mr.
Morphy has been established at 141 Yonge Street for over forty years ; his
family consists of five children, two sons and three daughters ; the eldest
son, Mr. J. Morphy, is now in partnership with the father under the style
of Morphy, Sons & Co. The eldest daughter is married to Mr. E. J. Malone,
of the firm of Edgar & Malone, barristers. The family have built over
fifty first class houses in Toronto.

HUGH ANGUS MORRISON, railway conductor, was born in Toronto in
1830, being the youngest in a family of three daughters and one son. His
father was Hugh Morrison, who was born in Scotland in 1798, and who,
after resigning his captaincy in the " Black Watch " Highland regiment,
came to Canada in 1829 with Sir John Colborne. He was then a widower,
with five children, his first wife, Mary Curran, having died in Scotland.
The Honourable Justice Morrison is the eldest of his sons, by his first
marriage ; the others were Angus and Michael ; the daughters were Betsey
and Jeanette. After coming to Canada he married a daughter of Captain
Alexander Montgomery, by whom he had four children. He first engaged
in farming, and subsequently kept a hotel on Yonge Street. The subject of
this sketch has been engaged on railways for twenty-four years. He began
as baggage man and is now a conductor running between Toronto and
London. In 1863 he married Sarah Jane Ferris, of Toronto.

FREDERICK M. MORSON (of Bigelow & Morson, barristers) was born at
Chamby, Quebec, and is the only son of Frederick Morson, M.D., of Niagara,
Ontario, and a native of Rochester, Kent, England. In 1845, Mr. Morson,
senior, came to Canada and settled in Montreal, where he practised his
profession as M.D., removing in 1860 to Niagara, his present residence.
F. M. Morson was educated at Niagara Grammar School, and graduated
with honors at Trinity College, Toronto, in 1872. He was called to the
the bar in 1877, and in that year entered on the practice of his profession at
Hamilton, and in 1878 in Toronto. In 1878, he married Miss Catherine
Wyatt, eldest daughter of the late George Wyatt, Esq., of this city.

ALEXANDER MUIR was born in the Parish of Lesmahagow, Lanark
shire, Scotland. His father, John Muir, came to Canada in 1833, accom
panied by his wife and two sons, Alexander and John, arriving at Toronto

City of Toronto. 119

(then Little York), in the month of August of that year. Shortly after his
arrival, he took up his residence in the Township of Scarboro , where he
lived till his death in 1865. Alexander is now a resident of Toronto, being
Headmaster of one of the city public schools. His brother John is Treasurer
of the Chicago Academy of Music.

HECTOR MUNRO, deceased, father of L. H. R. Munro, was born at
Dornoch, Scotland, in 1796. He came to Canada in 1812 with the 4Qth
Regiment, being a brother officer of Sir Allan McNab. He participated in
the battles of Chrysler s Farm, Queenston Heights, and Lundy s Lane,
and carried the colours at Chrysler s Farm. After the war he retired on
half-pay ; and, when again placed on full pay, was stationed at St. John s,
Newfoundland, from which he removed to Toronto, having been transferred
to the Royal Canadian Rifles. He subsequently filled the position of
Collector of Customs at Gait, until 1854, when he died, leaving eight
children. His son, George T. Munro, who had been retired as a captain on
half pay on the disbanding of the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment with his
wife and child and youngest sister were lost at sea on one of the Allan
vessels the Haze/dean, in 1870.

RICHARD H. R. MUNRO, barrister, was born in 1840 at St. John s,
Newfoundland, where his father Hector Munro, an officer in the Royal
Newfoundland veteran companies, was stationed. He came to Toronto
with his parents, and after having studied law in the office of the Hon.
Edward Blake, graduated in 1867. He formed a partnership with Wm.
Proudfoot of Hamilton, which continued until 1870. Mr Munro married a
daughter of James Barnum, of Grafton, Ontario.

JOHN MURCHISON, deceased, was born in 1878 in Glengarry, (whither
his father, one of the U. . Loyalists, fled from New York (he was a
descendant of the Macdonalds of Glenco, Scotland). He went to Niagara
when only thirteen years old; from thence he came to York in 1800 in a
small boat, and started in business as a merchant tailor on King Street,
where the Clyde Hotel now stands. In 1808 he was married in the old
English Church to Frances E., daughter of Joseph Hunt, Commissary officer.
He served in the War of 1812, in the York Volunteers, and was appointed
sergeant-major ; he was in the Battle of Queenston Heights, after which
he was sent by the Governor with three of the prisoners from Niagara to
Kingston in a small boat, having only two assistants. His eldest son John
was among those who marched to quell the rebels at Montgomery s Farm in
1837. He represented St. Lawrence Ward in the City Council; he was a

I2O Biographical Notices.

Conservative and member of the Church of England. In 1838, he retired
from business and lived in the present homestead which he built in 1836 on
Cruickshank Lane, now Bathurst Street, being the only house on the street
except Mr. Cruickshank s farm-house. He died in 1870, leaving of nine
children only three living viz. : Sarah, now aged 72, Charlotte, aged 68 and
Richard Duncan, aged 62, who for several years was in business on Queen
Street. The latter, at his father s death, removed to the homestead where
he is now living; he had been married twice, first in 1847, and second in
1861 ; he had seven children by his first wife, five of whom are living, and
eight by the second, all living ; of the first children, the three eldest are
married in Toronto. In politics Mr. Murchison is a Conservative, and in
religion a member of the Church of England.

JAMES MURRAY was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1814. In early life
he acquired the trade of a tinsmith, and on coming to Toronto in 1842,
commenced a business which he conducted successfully until 1874. He
subsequently purchased property on Alexander Street, where he now lives
retired. He married Jane, daughter of Alexander Miller, by whom he has
two sons who have succeeded him in the business still carried on at 224
Yonge Street. Mr. Murray is a member of the Carlton Street Methodist
Church, and in politics sympathises with the Reform Party.

EDWARD J. MUSSON, of the firm of Mackenzie, Musson & Co., Toronto,
was born at Weston, June 24, 1834. His father, Edward Musson, was
born in London, England, and emigrated to Canada in 1820. He bought
up land in the Township of Etobicoke near Weston, where he and his
brother Thomas, engaged in farming, saw-mill and distillery business. In
1840 he removed to Islington and carried on farming, saw-milling and store-
keeping, he creditably filled the offices of Township Clerk, Councillor and
Reeve ; he died in 1871. His wife was Ann, daughter of John Smart, whom
he married in 1831, and by whom he had eight children. Edward J.
Musson was educated at Islington, Toronto Academy and Upper Canada
College. In 1853 he went to Brampton to learn store-keeping with the
late Mr. Peleg Howland. From 1855 to 1863 he kept a store at Thistleton ;
after which he was farming and store-keeping at Weston. In 1875 ne
came to Toronto. He is married to a Miss Taylor. He is a Conservative,
an Episcopalian, and a member of the York Pioneer Society.

WILLIAM MUSSON, deceased, was born in London, England, in the
year 1799. He came to Canada in the year 1820 with his wife (Mary Ann
Wordley), father, mother, and two brothers (Thomas and Edward). The

City of Toronto. 121

family settled at Weston, where the father died in the year 1832, aged
eighty-seven years, and the mother in the year 1846, aged seventy-seven
years. The father was a manufacturer of tin-plate in London, England,
and a member of the "Goldbeaters Guild" of that city. William, the
subject of our sketch, removed to Toronto (then Little York), and carried
on the business of tin-plate manufacturer and importer of hardware until
his death in 1844. He had twelve children, five of whom died in infancy,
the others being Mary Ann, William, Henry, Isabella, James W. George,
and Charles S. He was one of the founders of the Mechanics Institute,
and Captain of the old Fire Brigade. He was also one of the first Directors
of the British America Assurance Company. In politics he was a Baldwin
Reformer. His wife, Mary Ann Wordley, died at Toronto in the year 1872,
in the sixty-ninth year of her age.

GEORGE MUSSON, son of William and Mary Ann Musson, was born at
71 King Street East, on 3rd November, 1836. He was educated at the
Toronto Academy and the Upper Canada College, and with the exception
of two years (1867 to 1869), has always resided in Toronto. He married
Agnes, third daughter of John Balfour. He was for many years with the
well-known firm of Wakefield, Coate& Co., but since 1869 has been engaged
in business on his own account. His firm, Musson & Morrow, 50 Front
Street East, tea importers and commission merchants, doing a very large
business, their principal connections being with China, Brazil and the
West Indies. In 1883, Mr. Musson was appointed Vice-Consul for Brazil.
In politics he is a Conservative.

GEORGE MUSSON, deceased, 37 Carlton Street, whose grandfather was
a manufacturer of tin-plate in London, England, and came to Canada with
his wife and sons (William, Thomas and Edward), in 1820. There was a
daughter who married in England, and who came out a iew years after
wards. The family settled on some land near Weston, where the father
and mother died. The father of our subject had learned the tin-plating
trade in England, and began business in that line in York soon after he
came out ; he continued it until 1844, when he died. He was connected
with the old Fire Brigade, and was one of the founders of the Mechanics
Institute. He was one of the first stock-holders in the British America
Insurance Company.

MUNGO NASMITH, tax collector for St. James s Ward, residing at 16
Maitland Street, was born in Greenock, Scotland, and is a son of the late
John Nasmith, who came to Canada in 1844 and for many years conducted

122 Biographical Notices.

a bakery in Toronto. Mungo early learned his father s trade, and carried
on business for himself at the corner of Yonge and Gerrard Streets from
1860 to 1872. Retiring from business on account of his health he received
the appointment of collector for St. James s Ward, a position he still retains.
Following in the footsteps of his father, he early took an active part in
temperance work, and was a charter member of the Cadets of Temperance
when first introduced into Canada. For five years he held the position of
Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars ; he was also one of the
Vice-Presidents of the Dominion Alliance. At the organization of the
World s Good Templars he was appointed the Deputy of the R. W. G. T.
Mallins, and is still an earnest total abstainer.

RICHARD NORTHCOTE, retired, was born in Devonshire, England, in
1804, and is now the only one living of a family of sixteen. His father was
Henry Northcote, a farmer. In 1826, he came to Canada as a butler in
the service of Sir John Colborne. After which he engaged in the grocery
business on King Street, and subsequently in making ginger beer ; he sold
the latter business to the Hon. Robert Baldwin. After the Rebellion, he
opened a grocery store on King Street, where Thompson & Son s dry-goods
house now is ; by two fires which occurred while he was there he lost
2,000. He then commenced a wholesale pork business, which he con
tinued until his retirement in 1849. In politics he is a Conservative, and
in religion a member of the Church of England. He married a Miss
Taylor, who also came out with Sir John Colborne. His son, Henry
Northcote, a civil engineer, was born in York, November 4, 1833. He
received his education at Upper Canada College. He married Julia, third
daughter of Richard Hackin.

THOMAS NORTHEY, of the firm of Northey & Co., manufacturers of
steam-pumps, was born in Cornwall, England, in 1816, being the eldest of
a family of five sons and five daughters born to George and Mary (Black)
Northey. About 1826, he came to Canada with his parents, who settled
on Prince Edward Island, where they remained for six years. Then he
went to Pittsburg, Pa., where he learned the trade of a mechanical
engineer. In 1838, the term of his apprenticeship having expired, he
returned to Canada, and after working ten years at Wellington Square and
Simcoe located at Hamilton, where, until 1880, he was engaged in building
stationary steam-engines and subsequently in making steam-pumps. In
1882, he removed to Toronto, where, at the corner of Front and Parlia
ment Streets, the firm of which he is a member is doing a prosperous

City of Toronto. 123

business. In 1876, he patented a steam-pump, which has proved a great
success. In 1846, he married Matilda Williams, daughter of Mr. Williams,
of Seneca township, who subsequently died. In 1856, he married Julia
Henrietta Pell, daughter of J. E. Pell. Mr. Northey s parents died in
Hamilton ; he has three brothers living, one in Melbourne, Australia, and
two in Hamilton. He is a Conservative in politics.

RICHARD H. GATES, deceased, the founder of the " York Pioneers
Society," was the son of Captain Gates, a commander in the merchant
service, trading between England and the West Indies. Shortly after his
marriage, Captain Gates made a voyage to the West Indies. On the return
royage he was compelled to put into Belfast, instead of London, whither
they were bound. This occurred on July the 27th, 1809, on which date
Richard H. Gates. was born. His early life was, if not romantic, at least
very eventful. While accompanying his parents to Malta in his father s
vessel the America, and when Richard was scarce a year old, they were
captured in the Mediterranean by a French privateer and carried as prison
ers of war to Algiers. Fortunately, the British consul of that place happened
to be an old school-mate of Captain Gates ; and by visiting the prisoners
relieved the monotony of their captivity until, by an exchange of prisoners,
they regained their freedom. Captain Gates, being in the Commissariat
Department, was ordered to Oporto, where his son Richard, then two years
of age, was carried off and concealed for some weeks by a Portuguese
nobleman, who had taken a fancy to him ; he was found, however, in good
health and spirits, and could prattle somewhat in Portuguese. In 1812
and 1813, he travelled with his father through France and Spain, and, in
1814, returned with him to England. Captain Gates was then ordered to
Quebec ; and while in Canada visited Little York, when his cousin, Miss
Russell, sister of President Russell, prevailed upon him to return to Eng
land for his family and to settle in Canada, which he did in 1817. He
afterwards became prominent in connection with the packet Richmond,
which he built and sailed between Niagara and Toronto. As Richard
Gates was but eight years of age when he came to Canada, he was sent to
school to the late Dr. Strachan. He also attended school at Niagara, St.
Catharines and Brockville, after which he returned to Toronto and served
two years as an apprentice to the drug business. In 1828, he went to
England, where he finished his studies for his profession. Returning to
Toronto he opened a drug store ; but finding it not as profitable as he
could wish he invested his capital in a foundry with Christopher Elliot.
He afterwards went into the mill-stone business and built a mill at Brad-

124 Biographical Notices.

ford, by which he lost $18,000. The mill-stone business occupied his
attention until his death, which occurred on March 2, 1881. At the
beginning of this sketch reference has been made to Mr. Gates as being the
founder of the " York Pioneers Society." It is to his efforts that the Society
owes its existence. It was organized for the purpose of collecting and
preserving relics and historical momentoes of old times. The membership
was confined to those who had lived in Toronto before March 6, 1834,
on which date Little York became Toronto ; subsequently those descend
ants of pioneers who had reached forty years of age were admitted. The
society has been a certain success, much of which is due to Mr. Gates.
In politics Mr. Gates was a Conservative, and in religion a Unitarian. He
was President of the United Canadian Association for five years, and in
January, 1880, was elected to a seat in the City Council as Alderman for
St. James s Ward.

DANIEL O BROOK, retired, was born on the corner of King and Church
Streets in this city, September 15, 1825. His father, whose name was
also Daniel, came out to Canada some years before 1800 with his father,
who was a merchant in Norwich, England. The grandfather of our subject
afterwards became a captain in the 41 st Regiment, and fought at the battle
of Queenston Heights. Daniel O Brook, sen r, married a daughter of John
Playter, by whom he had three sons, George, John Edward and Daniel. He
purchased a lot at the corner of King and Church Streets, and on it built a
house. He died in 1872, aged eighty years. George O Brook lives in
Toronto, while John Edward resides in Chatham.

DR. OLDRIGHT is descended from military ancestors. His grand
father was a burgher of the ancient German free city of Frankfort-on-
the-Main. He having contracted a second marriage, his son left home
and joined the British army, when Napoleon Bonaparte s military genius
was contributing to the overthrow of the ancient dynasties of Europe.
The father of Dr. Oldright was born in London, England. His mother
was Elizabeth Clucas, whose father was from the Isle of Man. Dr.
Oldright s father, when very young, joined His Majesty s 8ist Regiment of
Foot, the Loyal Lincoln Volunteers. This corps, like other regiments of
the line, has, in consequence of the extent of the British possessions, seen a
great deal of foreign service. Major Oldright was forty-two years in the
army, and travelled over a large portion of the globe. Soon after the great
battle of Waterloo he served with his corps in the Army of Occupation in
France, pending the complete restoration of peace and the return of the

City of Toronto. 125

Bourbons. He afterwards accompanied his regiment to different stations
in the West India Islands and British North America, besides having done
duty in Great Britain, and in the Mediterranean and Ireland. He finally
retired upon full pay with the rank of major. His son, Dr. William Old-
right, was born at St. Kitt s, West Indies, in 1842. During the early part
of his life he accompanied his father to different countries with the regi
ment. In 1854, after his father s retirement, he resided a short time in
London, England, and in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and for a couple of years
upon a small farm formerly belonging to the old warrior Brant, adjoining
the old Mohawk Church near Brantford. He attended the Brantford High
School until seventeen years of age, when he entered University College,
and graduated at the University in modern languages in 1863, and in
medicine in 1865. He began practice at Walkerton, Ontario, remaining
two years ; after which he returned to Toronto in 1867, where he has since
been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He became a
member of the Medical Council, and in 1869, when he retired from that
body, became Lecturer on Sanitary Science in the Toronto School of
Medicine. In 1873 ne was elected a member of the Senate of the Toronto
University. In 1882 he was appointed Chairman of the Provincial Board
of Health. His term of office as Chairman expired in April, 1884, when
he was re-appointed a member of the Board. In 1865 he married Sarah
Ellen, daughter of Charles Durand, Esq., of this city.

WILLIAM T. O REILLY, M.D., was born at Niagara Falls in 1834, being
the eldest in a family of two sons and one daughter. His father was
William O Reilly, the youngest son of a family of six sons and five
daughters, and was born in the same place and the same house as his
son. In the year 1800, he married a daughter of Stiles Stevens, a U. E.
Loyalist, who came to Canada from Boston ; by her he had two sons and
one daughter, viz. : William T., Helen and Hamilton ; he died in Oakville
in 1846. The grandfather of our subject, John O Reilly, came from Bal-
trasna, in the County of Cavan, Ireland, in 1745, to Philadelphia, where
he became the President of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1786 he
came to Canada and settled at Niagara Falls, where as a U.E. Loyalist he
drew land for himself and sons, and where he died in 1815. He and five
of his sons, served during the War of 1812, and fought at Queenston
Heights and Lundy s Lane. Dr. O Reilly attended Upper Canada
College in 1847-8-9, and graduated in medicine in 1856. He then practised
in St. Mary s for a short time, but returned to Toronto in 1859, and now
occupies the position of Inspector of Prisons and Public Charities for the
Province of Ontario.

126 Biographical Notices,

PETER PATERSON, hardware merchant, ijwas born in Toronto, May 30,
1834. His parents were David and Sarah (Bishop) Paterson. His grand
father, Peter Paterson, came to Canada from Blantyre, Scotland, in 1819,
with his sons David, John, and Peter. He settled at once in Toronto,
and started in the hardware business the same year in the old Market
Square, which he continued, with his son David as partner, until his death
in 1846. David continued the business until 1856, when he died, and
was succeeded by his sons Peter and John. Peter, since his brother John s
death in 1880, has carried on the business alone. In 1861 he was married
to Jane W., eldest daughter of David Paterson, of St. John, N.B.

R. G. A. PATON, cashier in the Toronto Custom House, was born at

St. Andrews, Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1830. His father, Alexander Paton,
died in Scotland ; his mother was Violet Wilson. In 1833 his mother came
to Canada with her family, Jessie, Elizabeth, William and Robert. William
died in 1845. His mother died in 1872, aged eighty-two years. R. G. A.
Paton was educated in Toronto, at what was called the York Academy,
kept by Mr. James Hodgson. He was on the British Colonist newspaper
for ten years. For the last thirty years he has been in the Custom House.
In religion Mr. Paton is a Presbyterian.

JOHN PATRICK, Superintendent Water Works, Parkdale, is a native of
Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, being the second son of George Patrick, a
baker of that town, who married Jane Laidlaw. In 1868 John Patrick
came to Toronto, and was employed at the Soho Foundry as foreman, and
at the time the Water Works were established in Parkdale, took charge as
Superintendent.

ALEXANDER PATTERSON was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1834, and in
1849 emigrated to Canada, and was engaged in lumbering until 1855. He
then went to Oakville, and engaged in the grocery and dry goods business,
which he conducted for two years, afterwards continuing the grocery
business in Toronto. He remained at 295 Yonge Street about twenty-two
years, and then retired from business in 1879, since living in retirement.
In 1857 he married Miss Charlotte Hazelhurst, a daughter of Benjamin
Hazelhurst of Peterboro , the issue of the union being one son and two
daughters, all of whom reside in the city.

JOHN PATTERSON, retired, was born in Belfast, Ireland, and came to
Toronto with his parents when only two years of age. In his youth he
learned the trade of printer, which occupation he followed for twenty-five

City of Toronto. 127

years. In 1875 he took possession of the hotel at the corner of Agnes and
Elizabeth Streets, which he conducted with success for a period of seven years,
selling out to Mr. Taylor, the present proprietor, in 1882, He is a retired
Captain of the loth Royals, having joined at the time of the Fenian Raid.

THOMAS PATTERSON, retired, was born in Ireland in 1834; and at the
age of twenty he emigrated to Canada and took up his residence in Toronto.
On his arrival he joined the city police force, in which he remained four
years. He then entered the service of the Grand Trunk Railway, and was
stationed at Belleville in the capacity of policeman. On his return to
Toronto some time afterwards, he again joined the city police, but subse
quently returned to the employment of the Grand Trunk, and was stationed
at the Union Station, where he continued until 1861. About this time he
engaged in the grocery and liquor business at 230 Queen Street East, but
stayed only a short time, opening a hotel and feed store on the corner of
Queen and Ontario Streets. He continued this, business until 1879, ar >d
then built the Prospect House, 266 Queen Street East, since which time he
has lived retired at No. 81 Ontario Street. In 1859 Mr. Patterson married
Miss Jane Byers, of Toronto, by whom he has three children living ; she
died in 1873. He was married a second time, his wife being Miss Beatty of
Toronto, by whom he has one daughter living.

BENJAMIN PEARSALL, silversmith, is the son of Samuel and Amelia
(Lewis) Pearsall, who came to Canada from Bristol, England, in 1800, and
located in Little York, where they took a house on Duke Street. His father,
who was a blacksmith and engineer by trade, was one of the first black
smiths in the town. For two years he was employed by the Corporation
as an engineer. He met his death by drowning in 1853, with his two sons
named Louis Haliburton and Leurx, while the three were returning from a
shooting excursion to the Island. He left three sons and three daughters.
Benjamin Pearsall was born in 1847, in a house on King Street, east of
Parliament Street. He married Isabella, third daughter of Frank Woods,
of this city. His first wife dying he married Henrietta, daughter of John
Smith, of Toronto.

GEORGE PEARSALL, locksmith, son of Samuel and Amelia Pearsall, was
born in Toronto in 1840. He learned his trade with J. J. Taylor & Co.,
and began business for himself at 41 7 Yonge Street, repairing locks and
filing saws, in February, 1871, and is now carrying on the hardware busi
ness in connection with the jobbing department. He married Isabella
Maysonholder, of German extraction, who was born in the Province of
Quebec.

I2 8 Biographical Notices.

ELIHU PEASE, deceased. The Pease family are of English origin, their
name having been common in England for the past three hundred years.
A work published there as early as 1472, mentions the name of John Pease,
L.L.D. ; persons of this name were found in all ranks of society, ministers
bankers, members of Parliament, etc. An English historian ascribes to
them a German origin, and by a coat of arms we find the English Pease in
Germany as early as A.D. 971. The great-grandfather of our subject,
Samuel Pease, was born at Enfield, Conn., his ancestors having emigrated
to America from Ipswich, England, with the Puritans, in the ship Francis,
which landed at Boston, April, 1634, from which place they subsequently
removed to Enfield, Conn., where our subject was born, June 29, 1781.
He was educated for a civil engineer and land surveyor. In 1810 he came
to York County, and settled at Thornhill, where he soon after began
teaching school in a. log building erected in 1811, which is still standing, it
being the first school-house in the County of York. During the War of
1812, all aliens were compelled to take the oath of allegiance or leave the
country, hence Mr Pease returned to Buffalo, where he served in the Post-
office and Custom House until the war closed, after which he returned to
York, and assisted in re-building the old garrison. He later followed
school teaching at Newtonbrooke until 1821, when he returned to Buffalo,
and he was employed as manager in a tannery for the late Jesse Ketchum
for a period of two years. He then returned to York and located opposite
the Golden Lion Hotel, Yonge Street, and took the oath of allegiance. He
purchased fifteen acres of land and erected a tannery which he conducted
until his death in 1854. In 1820 he married Catharine, daughter of Jacob
Cummer (a pioneer of York who emigrated from Reading, Penn.), by whom
he left four children. Edward, the second child of Elihu Pease, was born
at York, September 15, 1824, and entered his father s tannery at the age
of fifteen, remaining until 1847, afterwards removing to the Township of
King, where he purchased fifteen acres of land on lot 6, concession 5. A
year later he erected the second tannery in the Township of King, which
he conducted eight years, and then returned to Lansing, and lived on the old
home where he was eight years farming. He subsequently went to Aurora,
where he was again engaged in the tanning business for sixteen years. He
came to Toronto in 1880, and is at present located at 25 Front Street East,
where he and his two sons are engaged as leather merchants. While Mr.
Edward Pease was a resident of the Township of King he sat three years
in Township Council, also three years in the Town Council of Aurora. In
politics he is a Reformer ; in religion a member of the Methodist Church.
In 1846 he married Sarah, eldest daughter of Samuel Castle, from Her-

City of Toronto. 129

kimer County, N.Y., who had settled in the Township of Vaughan ; by
whom he has four sons and three daughters. Two of his sons, Joseph and
Elihu are engaged with him in business.

K. W. PHIPPS, son of Thomas Phipps, jun r, whose father settled
in Toronto in 1817, is a gentleman well-known throughout the Dominion
as a writer on Political Economy and other subjects. His writings in
favour of the National Policy were largely circulated by the Conserva
tive Party prior to the election of 1878, and aided in determining the
result of that contest. He however left the party on the ground that the
old Cabinet should not have been brought into power without an inter
mixture of the men who had been associated with the new ideas which had
gained them the victory. In Provincial matters Mr. Phipps has been a
supporter of the Mowat Administration. He is now employed by the
Ontario Government on the subject of forest preservation, his first report
on which has been received with remarkable favour by the Canadian and
American press, and has attracted attention in Great Britain. Mr. Phipps s
writings in prose and poetry have been contributed principally to news
papers, magazines and pamphlets.

THOMAS PHIPPS, deceased, one of the early settlers of Little York,
emigrated to Canada from London, England, in 1817. For some years he
cultivated a farm a few miles north of Toronto ; but, having been a merchant
in England and unused to such a rough life, he took no active part in
clearing the land. He did not succeed as a farmer, and went back to
England ; but, again returning to Canada, died here. He was twice married,
having by his first marriage one son, Thomas, who died in 1859. By his
second marriage he had four sons and several daughters. Of the sons, the
eldest, William, a well-known banker and broker, died a few years ago ; the
other sons, Frederick, George and John, are still living, the two last being
citizens of Toronto.

WILLIAM PICKARD is a native of Beverly, Yorkshire, England, and
was born in 1827. He came to Canada in 1856, locating in Toronto, where
he has resided ever since. He was by trade a cooper, which occupation he
followed for some three years, after which he engaged in the milk business,
from which he retired in 1883. Mr. Pickard commenced with but one cow^
and his success may be noted from the fact that on giving up business he
had twenty-five head of cattle. In 1856 he married Miss Isabella Tait, of
Aberdeenshire, Scotland, by whom he has two sons and two daughters,,
three of whom are living in this city, and one in Chicago.
10

I jo Biographical Notices.

NOAH L. PIPER, deceased, was born in Berlin, Connecticut, U.S., in
1815. His father, Luther Piper, was of English extraction, and was a
cooper by trade. In 1831 he and his eldest brother, Hiram, came to
Canada and settled in Little York. He spent five years in learning the tin
smith trade with his brother, and was afterwards manager of the business.
Eight years later he entered into partnership with his brother and continued
business with him until 1863, when he formed a partnership in the house-
furnishing business with his son, Edward. He retired from business in
1875, and died i2th January, 1884. His brother, Hiram, was born in 1805,
and died in 1866. On January 3, 1838, Noah L. Piper married Sarah,
second daughter of Robert Spencer, by whom he had three sons, Henry,
Edward and Hiram, and one daughter Emeline Elizabeth, who married
M. A. Thomas, of this city. In politics he was a Conservative, and in
religion a Unitarian. Edward Piper, second son of Noah L. Piper, was
born in Toronto in. 1842. In 1875 he succeeded to his father s business
which he still carries on. In 1866 he married Elizabeth Morgan, daughter
of John Morgan, of Scarboro .

JOHN PLATT was born in the County of Armagh, Ireland, in 1815, and
came to Canada with his father, Richard Platt, in 1827. He spent several
years in hotel keeping, his first venture being on Colborne Street. After
remaining here about five years, he built a hotel on Jarvis Street, which was
burnt down on the 7th of April, 1849, at the time of the destruction of old
St. James s Cathedral, the Market, City Hall and other buildings. He
rebuilt, and successfully conducted, a hotel until 1864, when he retired. He
has accumulated a large amount of city property, owning three hotels, fifty
acres in Leslieville, twelve near High Park, and five at the mouth of the
Humber. In addition, he holds many stores and dwelling-houses through
out the city. In 1841 he married Elizabeth Carter, by whom he had eleven
children, six of whom are still living. He now resides a.t 33 Wilton Avenue.

SAMUEL PLATT, M.P., was born in the north of Ireland, in 1812, being
the fourth son of Richard Platt. He passed his early days upon his father s
farm. In 1827 the family emigrated to Canada and settled temporarily
at Kingston, where the Government was engaged in building a roadway
from the mainland to the New Fort. Here Richard Platt secured employ
ment for himself and son. In 1829 his father removed to Toronto, and
located on King Street, near the Market, where he rented a house from John
Baldwin. He soon after died. His wife survived him only a few years,
when the family was broken up. Our subject was early thrown upon his
own resources, and the first winter he spent chopping cord-wood on what

City of Toronto. 131

is now known as Sherbourne Street (then covered with a good growth of
basswood and other timber). He was to receive three York shillings per
cord ; but, after working some time and his employer failing to pay him, he
abandoned the business and entered the employment of Enoch Turner, whose
brewery was then upon the present site of the gas works, as a clerk. With
Mr. Turner he served four years, at the expiration of which time he erected
a distillery upon the same site ; the distillery was conducted by Mr. Platt
in connection with the brewery for fourteen years, when he retired. In
1837 Mr. Platt married the only daughter of Mr. George Lockett, of
Staffordshire, England. During the Rebellion of 1837, he was a volunteer
in- Colonel Ridout s Company, and had charge of two companies of Militia.
He sat in the City Council for St. Lawrence Ward for eight years, and for
St. David s Ward for two years. When the City Water Works were being
constructed he was chosen commissioner, with Hon. George Allan, to
superintend the erection. During the political contest of 1873 Mr. Platt
was nominated by the Conservative Party to represent East Toronto in
the Dominion House ; he was elected and sat for five years, at the expira
tion of which time he was returned by a handsome majority for the House
of Commons. In 1850 he was commissioned a magistrate for the County
of York. For the last ten years he has been a director of the Western
Canada Loan Co., and also of the Gas Company. He is now living a
quiet, retired life, a portion of his time being spent in travelling with his
wife through the different countries of Europe.

JAMES W. POTTER is a native of Thetford, England. When sixteen years
of age he entered the University of Cambridge (being the youngest but one
who gained admittance that year), and graduated with a B.A. degree. On
leaving college he enlisted in the British Army, and served in the Crimea ;
after which he received an appointment as Inspector of Artillery Stores.
Subsequently he entered the police force, in which he remained five years,
and resigning his position in 1868, he came to Canada and was employed
on the Ottawa Railway as baggage-master. In 1870 he came to Toronto,
and was appointed inspector and foreman of the Board of Health, which
office he filled for seven years. Mr. Potter is now a reporter on the Mail
staff for the eastern part of the city. He was two years on the School
Board, and was elected during the present year to represent the new -Ward
of St. Matthew s.

JAMES PRICE, who has been a resident of Toronto for many years, was
born at Hampstead, Middlesex, England, on March 13, 1810. He left his
home, June i, 1832, and came to Canada, arriving at Peterboro , Sep.

Biographical Notices.

tember i of the same year ; after remaining a little over a year, he came to
Toronto, and, while there, engaged with W. H. Patterson, of Streetsville,
with whom he served as clerk in the store till the spring of 1834, when he
again went to Peterboro , and worked at his trade as bricklayer and
builder. In 1837 he was engaged on the Lock Works at Crooks Rapids,
from whence he came back to Toronto, in July, 1838. He was married on
January 8, 1839. His eldest son, Mr. James Price, jun r, is manager of
the Queen Street Branch of the Dominion Bank. Mr. Price, sen r, after
wards engaged in contracting lor himself. He built the Commercial Bank,
a wholesale warehouse for the Hon. Wm. McMaster, and one for Mr.
McMurrich. Mr. Price then worked for the Government, and was clerk of
the works in the erection of many buildings, among which may be mentioned
a portion of Upper Canada College, Normal School and the New Garrison,
the whole of the New Jail and the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Belleville.
He represented St. James s Ward in the City Council, and was a member
of the old fire brigade, No. 3. He was School Trustee for two years for
St. Patrick s Ward. He has been for many years employed by the Cor
poration as assessor and inspector of works, and, in connection with Mr.
John Harper, made the valuation of all the city property upon which the
Council borrowed money from England, Mr. Price has been a resident of
St. John s Ward for over thirty years, and still continues to reside there.

JOSEPH PRICE, deceased, was born in Hertfordshire, England, in 1790,
and came to Canada at the close of the war in 1814. When he first came
to America he settled in the State of New York, and while there engaged
in the iron and brass trade. He was a U. E. Loyalist, and, on arriving in
Canada, settled first in the Township of Toronto, where he purchased a
farm. He afterwards removed to York Township, where he resided ten
years, then moved to Toronto. A few years later he purchased two hundred
acres of the Elmsley Estate, lot 18, east of Yonge Street, and erected
a saw-mill on the creek which still bears his name. He engaged in the
lumber trade for twenty years until his death in 1846. He left two sons
and one daughter ; the latter is still living. He was a member of the Free
mason body, and also belonged to the St. George s Society. He was
Captain in the First Militia of York, and took an active part in the Rebellion
of 1837 ; he was a strong Conservative and a follower of the English Church.
Mr. Price married Maria, daughter of Thomas Kimberly, who died in 1849.

CAPTAIN JOHN QUINN was born in St. Andaire, Spain, June 2, 1815,
his father being a soldier in the British Army, which was then fighting in

City of Toronto. 133

the Peninsular War. In 1832 his father, with his family, came to Canada
and took up land in the Township of Emily, Victoria County; he died the
same year. At the death of his father, which occurred so shortly after his
arrival in Canada, the subject of this sketch sold the farm and accepted
the life of a lake mariner. He began on the steamer Great Britain, which
used to make eight-day trips around the lake, calling at Canadian and
American ports. After four years he became bartender in a hotel in
Toronto, and then went back to the Great Britain as steward. In 1835 he
worked on the Iroqnois, the first steamer that went down the Rapids.
Among other boats that he worked on were the United Kingdom, Burling
ton, Britannia, Transit, City of Toronto, Eclipse, West, Maple Leaf and Peerless.
In 1853 he built, and ran between the Island and the city, a ferry boat
called the Citizen. He served during the Rebellion. In 1838 he married
a daughter of John Hesson.

WILLIAM RAWLIN, retired, 54 Elm Street, was born January 24, 1812,
in Kirbygrindle, Yorkshire, England, being the second eldest in a family of
four sons and four daughters. His father was William Rawlin, and his
mother a daughter of John Harper. He came to Canada in 1832, and
worked on a farm near Woodstock until 1837, when he came to Toronto
and commenced teaming for Charles Cooper, with whom he lived for nine
years. For six years he was hostler at the Green Heifer, a hotel kept by
Henry Fuljames, at the corner of Queen and Yonge Streets. In 1859 he
went to England, and on his return took the contracts for the street cross
ings. In 1852 Mr. Rawlin married Mary Ann Clayton, who is of English
descent. He has no children. He is a Reformer in politics, and in religion
is a Methodist. He is also a member of the St. George s Society.

D. B. READ, Q.C., was born on the I3th of June, 1823, in the Town
ship of Augusta, a short distance from Brockville ; his grandfather Read was
a U. E. Loyalist, and drew land as such; he came to Canada from Con
necticut. D. B. Read s father was John Landon Read, who served in the
War of 1812. Mr. "Read s maternal grandfather was David Breakenridge,
also a U. E. Loyalist, and an officer in the British Colonial Army during
the American Revolution. Mr. Breakenridge resided below Brockville on
the St. Lawrence, near Maitland, and was for some time Chairman of the
Quarter Sessions at Brockville. The subject of this sketch was in his early
youth a pupil ot Mr. Elms, a well-known district school teacher of that day,
noted as well for his learning as for his school teaching. Mr. Read went to
Upper Canada College in 1836 to finish his education ; he passed through

134 Biographical Notices.

all the forms in the College, and then entered the law office of the Hon.
George Sherwood, at Brockville ; in 1842 he removed to Belleville, and
entered the law office of the Hon. John Ross ; and in 1845 he removed to
Toronto, where he completed his studies with John Crawford, afterwards
Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. Mr. Read was called to the Bar in 1845 ;
elected a Bencher of the Law Society in 1855 ; was created a Queen s
Counsel in 1858 ; made Mayor of Toronto in 1858 ; and Commissioner for
consolidating the Statutes of Upper Canada. Mr. Read has practised his
profession in Toronto from his first entry to the Bar down to the present time.

HON. DAVID REESOR is the descendant of a German family, his great
grandfather, Christian Reesor, a Mennonite Minister, emigrated from
Mannheim to Pennsylvania about 1737, having under his charge a small
colony, and settled in Lancaster County, where some of the family still
reside, the original homestead, a splendid farm of three hundred acres,
being in their hands. The first settlement of this family in the Township
of M arkham took place as early in its history as 1801, when the grandfather
of our subject, Christian Reesor, jun r, his father, Abraham Reesor, together
with three uncles, located in that section of the country. Here David
Reesor was born on the i8th January, 1823. His mother was Anna Detti-
wiler, who was also from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; she died in
Markham in 1857, the father having died many years before, in 1832. The
early education of Senator Reesor was only that obtained from the common
schools ; but, previous to being put to any business, he received three
years private training under a competent instructor with beneficial results.
His father s farm was the first stage on which he enacted his part in the
drama of life, thence from agricultural pursuits he went to those of merchant
and manufacturer, conducting business in the last named branches for five
years. In 1856 he published the first copy of the Markham Economist, a
journal of strong Reform proclivities, which he edited and conducted with
considerable skill for several years, selling out about 1868. He has been a
Magistrate since 1848 ; a Notary Public since 1862, and for a longtime was
Secretary-Treasurer of the Markham Agricultural Society. When York,
Ontario and Peel were united in 1850, he became a member of the County
Council, and served several years, being Warden in 1860. His career as a
school trustee will not soon be forgotten, as it was upon his motion that
Markham secured a Grammar School. He has long been connected with
the Militia, and has held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of the Reserve
since 1866. He was appointed Returning-officer for the East Riding of
York, July, 1854. In the more extensive region of politics, Senator Reesor

City of Toronto. 135

v

has not been less true to his principles, or less active as a general advocate
of measures that tend to the public good, than when in the limited sphere
of Township Councillor he supported and directed local improvements.
He represented Kings Division in the Legislative Council of Canada, from
1860 until the Confederation of the Provinces, when he was called to the
Senate by Royal Proclamation, October 23, 1867. At the time when the
Confederation measure was under discussion in the Legislative Council he
moved a resolution, which had it been passed would have made the office
of Senator elective ; it was however defeated on a division. He is a Liberal
in politics. Our subject is a member of the Methodist Church, and every
good cause obtains from him a hearty and willing support ; he was for
many years President of the Markham Bible Society. In February, 1848, he
married Emily, eldest daughter of Daniel McDougall, Esq., of St. Marys,
Ontario, and sister of the Hon. William McDougall, C.B., M.P, ; they have
five children, four daughters and one son, two of the former being married.
Marion Augusta, the eldest daughter, is the wife of Dr. Colburn of Oshawa,
and Jessie Adelaide is the wife of John Holmes of Toronto. The Senator s
residence is at Rosedale, North Toronto, where he has lived since 1876,
enjoying that retirement which has been well earned by a long official
career. He is highly esteemed by the many friends he has made, both in
public and private life, all of whom trust that for years to come he may be
spared to remain in our midst.

WILLIAM REID was born in the County of Tyrone, Ireland, in 1844,
being the youngest of nine children born to Samuel and Sarah (Lackie)
Reid. He came to Canada in 1847 with his parents, who located on the lot
where Mr. Reid now resides, 147 Elzabeth Street, Toronto. In 1882 he
entered the Toronto Custom House, where he is employed in the examining
warehouse. In 1865 he married Margaret, second daughter of James
Spence, an old resident of Toronto, by whom he has seven children, four
sons and three daughters.

WILLIAM REYNOLDS, Yorkville. In the biography of Mr. John Smith,
of Toronto, which has a place in these pages, allusion is made to William
Peak, the first white settler of York County, Ontario. The subject of this
sketch is the grandson of William Peak on the maternal side, and can there
fore claim hereditary descent from the original founders of York. His
grandfather, on his father s side, was W. H. Reynolds, who was from the
North of Ireland. He emigrated to Canada in 1795 an d settled in the gth
concession of Markham Township, York County, where he lived until his

136 Biographical Notices.

death at the age of ninety-seven years. He left a family of four children
besides the father of our subject. The latter married a daughter of William
Peak. Mr. Peak received from Governor Simcoe, for services rendered,
two hundred acres of land at Duffin s Creek. William Reynolds was
born in Toronto, March 9, 1818, and, when he was seven years of age,
his parents went to reside at Niagara, and after staying there three years
removed to St. Catharines. They subsequently returned to Little York,
where William has since remained. Mr. Reynolds may be classed amongst
the oldest residents of the city, and few events in connection with its
history have escaped his recollection.

DR. RICHARDSON, Professor of Anatomy at the Toronto School of
Medicine. His grandfather served in the British Navy under Lord Rodney,
and came to Canada in 1785, when he received an appointment in the
Canadian Marine. Dr. Richardson s father was James Richardson, who
was born January 29, 1791. He married Rebecca, second daughter of John
Dennis, a U.E. Loyalist who came to Canada from Philadelphia, where
the family owned considerable property. The subject of this sketch began
his studies in 1841, in Rochester, N.Y., with Dr. Rolph, remaining there two
years. In 1844 he went to England, where he studied for three years in
Guy s Hospital, London, and about a year in Bristol. He then returned
to Canada and took his diploma. He afterwards was appointed Professor
of Practical Anatomy at Kingston College, which position he maintained
until the abolition of the Medical Faculty in 1853. He then practised his
profession until his acceptance of his present position in the Toronto
School of Medicine.

JOHN KNIGHT RIDDALL, M.D., now practising at Parkdale, in the City
of Toronto, is the eldest son of the late John Riddall, M.D., L.R.C.S.,
Edinburgh ; M.D. University College, L. S.A.I., and nephew of Dr. Alex
ander Knight, Medical Inspector-General, P.L.B., Ireland. The subject of
this memoir was born at Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland, on the 3ist
October, 1837, and after pasing his matriculation examination, was appren
ticed to the celebrated Dr. Wyse of Dublin, and at a very early age entered
upon the arduous studies of his profession under the able tuition of Professor
Graves, Sir W. W. Wylde, Sir Philip Crampton, Sir H. Marsh, William
Stokes, Sir D. Corrigan ; all eminent physicians and surgeons of the day
The Crimean War breaking out, Dr. Riddall having placed his name for
service abroad, was drafted twice, the last time accepting. He was attached
to the Army Hospital Corps, on active service in the East, and did duty

City of Toronto. 137

both at Scutari and Balaclava in 1855, and was present at the evacuation of
Sebastapol, seeing much active service, at the age of eighteen. On his
return from the East he completed his studies, becoming a Licentiate of
the Apothecaries Hall, Dublin, in 1854, and Licentiate in Surgery and
Midwifery, Dublin, in 1857. Owing to exposure and hard work, he was, for
many months, laid up with inflammatory rheumatism, which, by the advice
of his medical confreres, necessitated his removal to Canada, where he
obtained the degree of M.D., Victoria College, in 1864, and was appointed
Coroner for the Counties of Peel and Simcoe. He married Margaret,
second daughter of the late Joseph Griffith, Esq., Weston, Ontario. In 1863,
the period of the Trent affair, he raised the Caledon Infantry" Company, of
which he was Captain, doing duty throughout the Campaign of 1866. He
was appointed to the Surgeoncy of the 36th Regiment of Peel Infantry in
1867, which post he still retains, and did duty with his regiment at Toronto
in camp, during Toronto s Semi-Centennia] Celebration.

THE RIDOUT FAMILY. The first mention made of this family is from
" Hutchin s Visitation of Somerset," England, in the College of Arms,
London, where a Coat of Arms was granted in 1531 to Thomas Ridout, of
the Parish of Hensbridge, in Somerset. The Ridouts have been princi
pally located in Blandford and Sherborne, Dorset, England, after which
Sherbourne Street (should be Sherborne), Toronto, was named by the
Honourable Thomas Ridout, the Surveyor-General, in commemoration of his
birthplace. The first mention by Hutchin of the family residing in Bristol,
is the marriage, in 1674, f Susannah, daughter and heiress of John Ridout,
of Bristol, to Thomas Strangways of Melbury, County of Dorset, whose
grand-daughter (Elizabeth), married Stephen Fox who was created Earl of
Ilchester in 1741. George Ridout, he father of our subjects, and his wife
Mary Ann (Wright) Ridout settled in York in 1826, having come out from
England in 1820, to the United States. After residing in Philadelphia a
short time, upon the recommendation of his uncle, the Honourable Thomas
Ridout (Surveyor-General of Upper Canada), he removed his family to
Toronto, with the exception of the eldest sons (George Perceval and
Joseph D.) who remained at New York and Philadelphia. He subsequently
received a Government appointment which he held until the time of his
death, September 3, 1835; his wife dying October 3 of the same year.
George Ridout was born at Bristol, England, on the 22nd of February,
1783 ; his father Nicodemus Ridout, being an elder brother of the Honour
able Thomas Ridout (the Surveyor-General of Upper Canada.) The two
elder sons, George Perceval and Joseph D., of the above mentioned George

138 Biographical Notices.

Ridout, have been for the last fifty years intimately connected with the
history of Toronto. George Perceval Ridout was born at Bristol, England,
August 21, 1807. He came to America with his father in 1820 and resided
in Philadelphia and New York, where he formed a partnership with his
brother and the Messrs. Tarratt, of Wolverhampton, England, in the hard
ware business in 1832 which he continued in until 1866, when he severed
his connection with the firm, his brother continuing to carry on the business.
During the Rebellion of 1837, Mr. George Perceval Ridout took an active
part and was Captain of the 7th Battalion of the Regiment of York Volun
teers, from which he retired some years later with the rank of Colonel.
He represented Toronto in the Dominion Parliament in 1851-2-3, and was
also requested to stand for Toronto in the election of 1844, but fearing a
defeat to the Conservative cause, on account of more than two of the party
being in the field, he retired, notwithstanding he was first nominated, for
which action he received the personal thanks of Sir P. Metcalfe, Governor-
General of Canada, as will be seen by the following :

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

QUEBEC, October 22, 1844.

DEAR SIR, The public spirited and honourable course you pursued
during the late election for the City of Toronto has attracted the Governor-
General s attention, and has won his warm admiration. His Excellency
considers that you have conferred a signal service upon Her Majesty s
Government and the constitutional cause by voluntarily withdrawing from
the contest, rather than create division among the ranks of its supporters,
and his Excellency feels that he is in no small degree indebted to your
genuine patriotism for the great triumph gained by the issue of the election.
I am desired to say that the Governor-General would have hailed your
return to Parliament with high satisfaction, and that his Excellency hopes
that the country is only temporarily deprived of your services in the Legis
lature, which , he believes, would be aS valuable as your devotion to the
public weal has proved sincere.

I have the honour to be, dear sir,

Your faithful servant,

J. M. HIGGINSON, Secretary.

George Perceval Ridout was one of the original founders and President, for
the years 1850-1 of the Toronto Board of Trade, and President of St.
George s Society, 1845-6-7 ; was Governor of the British American Assur
ance Company from the 2nd August, 1853, untu " tne tmie f ms death which
occurred on June 28, 1873. He was never married. Joseph D. Ridout
the second son, was born at Bristol, England, gth of June, 1809, and came
to America with his parents in 1820. His first start in business was in the
New York branch of the Messrs. Tarratt, of Wolverhampton, England,

City of Toronto. 139

from which place he was shortly afterwards sent to Boston, to open a
branch for the same firm. At this time he was only nineteen years of age,
and the confidence placed in him by his employers, who at that time were
one of the leading iron firms of England, was only the forerunner of the
trust and confidence placed in him during the rest of his business career.
He came to Little York in 1831, and one year later entered into partner
ship with his brother and the Messrs. Tarratt. After his brother s retire
ment he took into the partnership James Aikenhead and Alexander Crombie.
Both of these gentlemen had been connected with the firm for many years.
Joseph D. Ridout retired from the firm in 1876, leaving the business in the
hands of the present firm, Messrs. Aikenhead & Crombie, in whom he has
always had the greatest confidence. Joseph D. Ridout was one of the
founders of the Toronto Board of Trade, which was established in 1834 m
Toronto. He was one of the founders of the St, George s Society and w&s
four times honoured with the Presidency (1851-2-3-4). He was the Vice-
President of the Farmers and Mechanics Building Society, which success
fully closed its business in 1853, and from which originated the present
Canada Permanent Loan and Savings Company, of which he was President
from its organization, until January, 1884, when he resigned on account
of failing health. His skilful management and constant, laborious
supervision helped materially in bringing that great financial institution
to the high point of credit and prosperity which it now enjoys, it being one
of the foremost institutions of the kind in America. He was also for some
time Grand Master of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, and was one
of the original founders, and President for some time, of the Mechanics
Institute. He was an officer in the East York Militia from 1833 unt il it
was disbanded under new legislation in 1867, when he retired with the
rank of Major. He was in active service during the Rebellion of 1837 and
1838. He was twice married, first to Julia Elizabeth Gold (widow), sister
of Mrs. F. W. Cumberland and the late Mrs. T. G. Ridout; and secondly
to Caroline Cumberland, sister of the late Colonel F. W. Cumberland, by
whom he had two sons, Perceval F. and Walter, both residents of Toronto-
Mr. Joseph D. Ridout died on the 4th of June, 1884.

RIGGS & IVORY, dentists, South-east corner of King and Yonge Streets,
established themselves on Queen Street West in 1882, from which place
they moved to their present rooms in the early part of 1885, and are now
doing an extensive practice in plate-work, gold-filling, and extensive use of
anaesthetics, including vitalized air specialities. The establishment is large,
light, commodious, handsomely furnished, and situated on the most pro
minent corner in the city.

Biographical Notices.

ISAAC ROBINSON, retired, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1809. His
father was John Robinson, who had three daughters and two sons ; Isaac
being the eldest of the family. He learned the tailoring trade in England,
and came to Canada in 1831. He worked in Little York for William
Lawson, a tailor, until 1833, when he commenced business for himself on
Yonge Street. In about two years he removed to King Street near Yonge,
where he remained two years. His next location was further east on King
Street ; he was there for eleven years. Then he bought a farm four miles
out of town on Yonge Street, and resided there for fifteen years, when he
returned to the city to live. At the time of the Rebellion he was taken
prisoner by Dr. Rolph. He is a Methodist and a Conservative. In September,
1882, he married Ruth Walker, who is still living. By his marriage he had
the following children, viz. : Mary Ann, died in infancy; Margaret, married
E, Snider, and living in Manitoba ; Mary Jane, married Rev. W. Hunter ;
Sarah Ann, married Irving Walker ; Eliza, married B. Fitch ; Edgerton
W., living in London; Clara, married Rev. W. J. Joliffe ; Hannah, dead;
and Amelia.

ROBERT HUNTER ROBINSON, M.D., was born in West Gwillimbury,
Simcoe County, being the youngest son of Gilbert Robinson, Esq., J.P.,
who was born in 1807, and emigrated from King s County, Ireland, in 1829.
His mother came from County Antrim, Ireland, in 1834. Dr. Robinson is
one of a family of seven children. He received his preliminary education in
Bradford High School, afterwards attending the Toronto School of
Medicine, and graduated at Toronto University in 1873, and in 1874 as
M.C.P.S.O. In 1872 Dr. Robinson was assistant-physician at the Toronto
General Hospital, and to the Small-pox Hospital in 1873. He married on
May 20, 1874, Nellie Van Allen, a native of Detroit. There is no issue.
Dr. Robinson is a Conservative in politics, and in religion a member of the
Methodist Church. Gilbert Robinson, J.P., the father of Dr. Robinson,
may be classed as among the first settlers of the Township or West Gwil
limbury. He came to this country in 1829, and arrived at Little York, now
Toronto, from which place he walked next day to West Gwillimbury, where
his father, William Robinson, then lived, whose house was at that time the
only one on the Penetanguishene Road. William Robinson married a
daughter of the Rev. John Connell, an Episcopal Minister of King s County,
Ireland ; he was a brother to the late Captain Gilbert Robinson of the 4th
Battallion, Royal Artillery, Woolwich, England. Gilbert Robinson and his
wife are still living, and have recently celebrated their golden wedding,
surrounded by their family and friends.

City of Toronto. 141

THOMAS ROBINSON, deceased, was born in Yorkshire, England, 1815,
and came to Toronto in 1830. He married Ann, the eldest daughter of
William Jackson, who had settled in Toronto in 1831. His wife attended
the Central School which was taught at one time by Bishop Strachan.
During the Cholera of 1832 Mr. Robinson attended the death-beds of
several neighbours. Mr. Robinson continued the tailoring business after
his father-in-law removed to Eglinton. In 1850 he was burnt out by the
great fire, after which he opened a temporary shop on Yonge Street,
opposite Edward Street, until he rebuilt on the old site 127 Yonge Street,
and carried on business there until 1871, when he retired and built 616
Yonge Street, to which place he removed. He died in 1877.

SAMUEL ROGERS, deceased, was born in Coleraine, Ireland, in 1809,
being the sixth of a family of eight children. His parents were William and
Mary (Rodden) Rogers. In 1830 he came to Canada with John Duncan,
with whom he had learned his trade. In 1831 he opened a shop on the
north-east corner of King and Bay Streets, and in 1838 he removed to his
late premises, which he bought. Mr. Rogers was a member of the old fire
brigade, and represented St. Andrew s W T ard in the City Council for one
year. He was a Reformer in politics, and in religion a member of the
Methodist Church. In 1833 he married Elizabeth Knott. He died 7th
October, 1884.

WILLIAM ROMAIN was born in Quebec, July 15, 1818, and is one of a
family of eight children born of Pere and Elizabeth (McDonald) Romain.
His father was born in Quebec in 1777, and his mother was the eldest
daughter of Major McDonald, who was on active service in 1812. Pe re
Romain also served in that war as lieutenant. William Francis Romain
came to Little York in May, 1830, and entered the service of Sir W. P.
Howland & Brother, of Toronto Township, as clerk. Two years later he
became manager for the pioneer store and grain dealer in the present town
of Brampton, and was the first post-master of that place. He married
Ann, eldest daughter of the late Colonel Wm. Chisholm, and settled in
Oakville, Halton County, where he at present resides. Mr. Romain was
Reeve of the Township of Trafalgar for two years ; and when Oakville was
incorporated as a town he served for many years as Councillor, and was
twice elected unanimously as Mayor. The Romain Buildings on King
Street West were built by himself and brother.

DR. JAMES Ross was born in York Township in 1832. His father,
James Ross, sen r, was born at sea in the Cove of Cork, off the coast of

142 Biographical Notices.

Ireland, January 26, 1786, and in 1796 came to Canada with his parents, and
brothers and sister, John, Mary, Robert, George and Thomas. James Ross,
sen r, began business as a tailor, which he continued until the War of 1812.
He was taken prisoner at the capitulation of York. He afterwards settled
on a farm in York Township, where he remained until 1858, and then moved
into the city. He died at Newmarket in 1868. Until he was seventeen,
the subject of this sketch spent his life on his father s farm. In 1847, he
ploughed at Hamilton, Ont., in the Junior Class (under sixteen years) and
won the first prize (a purse and a diploma) ; the latter now adorns the wall
of his study. In 1848 he entered the Toronto School of Medicine under
Dr. Rolph. In 1851 he obtained his license from the Provincial Board, and
subsequently graduated at Jefferson College, Philadelphia, in 1852. The
same year he returned to Toronto, where he has since carried on the
practice of his profession. In 1854 ne married Ann Jane, second daughter
of John Mclntosh, of Toronto. Dr. Ross does not take an active part in
politics ; in religion he is a Presbyterian. He is now President of the
Ontario branch of the Caledonian Curling Club.

GEORGE G. ROWE, M.D. The subject of this sketch was born in 1854,
at Churchville, Peel County, in which place he commenced his education,
attending Public Schools until his removal to Georgetown Academy, and
subsequently to the Canadian Literary Institute at Woodstock, where he
finished his elementary studies. He matriculated in Toronto University
in 1875, graduating four years after, and has been in the active practice of
his profession since. He took up his residence in Parkdale in 1881, and
since his advent there has gathered together a large and profitable practice.
Dr. Rowe holds numerous offices, being medical attendant for the Grand
Trunk Railway Company, as well as for several benevolent societies. He
is the Medical Health Officer for the municipality of Parkdale, and is on
the staff of physicians attached to the Home for Incurables. Dr. Rowe
married, in 1880, Jeanie E., eldest daughter of Thos. Clark, of Georgetown.

REV. ALEXANDER SANSON, Rector of Trinity Church, Toronto, was born
in Edinburgh, Scotland, January 6, 1819. His father, James Sanson, was
born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1791, and died in Orillia, Ontario, April
13/1874. His mother Mary Laing, daughter of William Laing, of Edin
burgh, Scotland, was born in 1790, and died in Orillia on the same day
that her husband died. Our subject was educated in his native city, and
was ordained a clergyman of the Church of England May 8, 1842. He
was Rector of York Mills until 1852, since when he has been connected
with Trinity Church, Toronto.

City of Toronto. 143

ROBERT SARGEANT was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1813, and
emigrated to Canada in 1834, taking up his residence in Toronto the same
year. He engaged in contracting and building, and in 1837 erected the
first brick house in the " City Block " for Mr. Atkinson. He continued in
this business until 1850, when he opened a general store under the name of
Robert Sargeant & Co., No. 2 St. Lawrence Block, which he conducted
until 1862, afterwards commencing gardening, east of the Don. After
spending seven years in this business he retired, subsequently receiving
the appointment of City Inspector, an office which he held for seven
years ; retiring from the same into private life. In 1837 he married Miss
Eunice Hutchinson, who died in 1858, leaving four children.

RICHARD SCORE, tailor, and importer of fine woollens, Toronto, was
born in Devonshire, England, in 1807. His parents were John and Johanna
Score. He spent his early life in England, where he learned the tailoring
business with his father. In 1832 he married Harriett, youngest daughter
of John Courtice, and in the following year came to Canada with his wife
and one child. He settled in Toronto, and commenced business in 1845,
on King Street West, in what was called Chewett s Buildings, a few doors
west of his present place of business. Mr. Score has four surviving
children (three daughters and one son). His son is a member of the present
firm of R. Score & Son. In politics Mr. Score is a Conservative, and in
religion a Methodist.

FRANCIS H. SEFTON, dentist, was born in the City of Worcester, Ens -

J o

land, and is one of a family of nine children born of H. F. and Martha
(Brown) Sefton. Francis was educated at the Ontario Dental College, and
began practice on receiving his diploma. He married in 1833 Amy Firlde
of Prescott, Ontario, of English extraction.

JOHN SHAW, builder, 102^- Euclid Avenue, a York Pioneer, was born
at Newmarket, Ontario, in 1822, being the son of William Shaw, a native
of Queen s County, Ireland, who settled in Little York in 1800. His mother
was a daughter of William Hunter, a blacksmith and farrier, who emigrated
from England with his family to the United States, and settled for a short
time in Albany, N.Y. He came to Little York about 1797 with his six
daughters, where he was employed by Governor Simcoe for some time as
blacksmith and veterinary surgeon for mounted troops. He then moved a
little north of Thornhill on Yonge Street, where he established himself in
business. He was the first blacksmith established in this county. During
the War of 1812, Mr. Shaw s father belonged to the York Militia, and

144 Biographical Notices.

participated in the battle of York and some others. After the surrender of
the town to the Americans the troops were billetted on the inhabitants.
During their stay in the town, a portion of the flour, provisions, stores, etc.,
which had been sent out from England for the supply of the garrison and
other purposes, was distributed by the American officers among the citizens.
The Government issued a proclamation after the Americans left the town
calling for the people to return the provisions, which was done in nearly
every case. Among the other members of this family who emigrated to this
continent may be mentioned George Shaw, who died at Niagara ; John
Shaw, sen r, who settled in New York ; and Joseph Shaw, who had a brewery
at Little York, and subsequently died at Hogg s Hollow ; these were uncles
of the subject of this sketch. The father of our subject, William Shaw,
soon after his arrival in York, was appointed clerk in the Parliament
Buildings, during the regime of Governor Simcoe, also under the adminis
tration of Governor Hunter, and subsequently died in New York while
visiting some friends there. John passed the first ten years of his life in
York, and then removed with his parents to Thornhill, where he resided
until 1845, and there learned the trade of cabinet-maker, which business he
continued until 1845, when he removed to Whitby, Ont., where he resided
until 1873. He then removed to Toronto, and has since been engaged in
business there as a builder. He was married in Whitby to Margaret,
daughter of William Flint, by whom he has two sons and two daughters,
viz. : William, Arthur, Margaretta and Louisa. He had four brothers and
one sister, his eldest brother William, at Aurora, being the only one now
living.

JOHN SHAW was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1809. He came to
Toronto in 1857, and remained until 1870, when he removed to St. Louis,
Missouri. After an absence of six years he returned to Toronto, where he
has since continued to reside. In 1839 he married Jane, daughter of John
Place, Esq., of Ballyfermot House, County of Dublin, Ireland, the result of
the union being six children, four of whom are still living.

CHARLES SHEPPARD, No. 237^- Yonge Street, was born in England, 1819,
and came to Toronto, Canada, in 1821 with his father, Thomas Sheppard,
who built and kept the "Golden Lion " Hotel, seven miles north of Toronto.
In 1855 he married Eliza Cousins, by whom he had four children. Mr.
Sheppard had been living in Toronto since 1864. He is one of the best
shots in Canada, having won $8,000 in prizes with the rifle. He was noted
as a great deer hunter, having with a comrade, Mr. John Perry, of King
Township, killed fourteen in one day. About 1881 he lost the sight of his

City of Toronto. 145

right eye from a cataract, and one year after he was afflicted in the same
way in the left eye, but fortunately had an operation performed by Dr.
Rosebrugh which saved the sight of both eyes.

JOHN SMALL, deceased, the first of the name in Canada, is a member
of an old Gloucestershire family. He was born in Gloucestershire, England,
in 1746, and came to Canada with Governor Simcoe, and settled in the
then Town of York (now Toronto) in 1793. He left in England his younger
brother, Joseph Atwell Small, D.D., Prebend of the Cathedrals of Gloucester
and Bristol, and one of the Chaplains of the King. His house (Berkeley
House) in York was built near the present corner of King and Berkeley
streets, and is now occupied by his grandson, John Small, M.P. Mr. Small
was appointed by the Imperial Government as Clerk of the Crown and
Clerk of the first Executive Council in Upper Canada. This position he
held until the time of his death, on the loth of July, 1831, at the age of
eighty-five years. James Edward, the eldest son living at the time of the
death of John Small above named, was born in 1798, and is said to have
been the third white child born in York. He served as a midshipman on
the ship St. Lawrence, seventy-four guns, during the War of 1812. Mr.
Small was elected as a member of Parliament twice for the City of Toronto,
and in the year 1842 for the Third Riding of York. In 1843 ne took the
portfolio of Solicitor-General in the Baldwin-Lafontaine Cabinet. He was
one of the representatives of Canada who proceeded to England for the
purpose of negotiating with the Home Government for a representative
Government. Subsequently he was appointed Judge of the County of
Middlesex, which position he held until his death, which occurred in
London, Ontario, on the 23rd of May, 1869, at the age of seventy-one.
John T. Small, M.D., the eldest son of James Edward, was born at York in
1823. He was one of the pupils of the late Bishop Bethune at the rectory
at Cobourg. He afterwards went to the Upper Canada College, and thence
to the University of King s College, which was then situated where the
present Parliament Buildings are. Having decided upon adopting the
medical profession, he went to the Old Country in 1845. After studying for
several years in Guy s Hospital, and in the hospitals of Paris, Edinburgh
and Dublin, he took the degree of M.D. at the University of St. Andrew s,
and became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons for England in
1851. In the following year he returned to Toronto and commenced the
practice of medicine. Dr. Small was married in Scotland in 1852, to
Catherine Frances, the daughter of Alexander Herriot, of the Law House,
in Berwickshire, Dr. Small is a. Mason, having been initiated in the
ii

146 Biographical Notices.

Order of A.F/and A.M. in 1845; and is a member of St. George s Society.
He is a Presbyterian, being a member of St. Andrew s, the church of the
Rev. D. J. Macdonnell.

ANDREW SMITH, founder and present Principal of the Ontario Veterinary
College, is a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, and received his professional
education in the Edinburgh Veterinary College, and graduated in 1861 with
the highest honors. The staff of Professors and the subjects taught are as
follow: Prof. Smith, V.S., Edinburgh, M.R.C.V.S., and Honorary Asso
ciate, R.C.V.S. (Principal), Diseases of Domesticated Animals ; J. Thorburn,
M.D., Edinburgh, Veterinary Materia Medica; M. B,arrett, M.D., Animal
Physiology ; Prof. Smith, V.S*., and assistants, Clinical Instructors; Dr.
Ellis, University, Chemistry ; George Buckland, The History, Breeding and
Management of Domestic Animals; J. T. Duncan, M.D., V.S., Demonstrator
of Anatomy ; J. T. Duncan, M.D., V.S., Histology.

HON. FRANK SMITH was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1822, and
settled near Toronto in 1832. In 1849 he went to London, Ont., and
engaged in business until 1866, when he made Toronto his home. The
business which he has established in Toronto is that of an importer and
wholesale dealer in groceries, wines and liquors. He for the space of nine
years imported teas direct from China to New York, doing a very large
business in this line. In 1881 he purchased a controlling interest in the
Toronto Street Railway. Since then he has trebled its work, until, now it
employs over six hundred horses and traverses the principal streets of the
city. While living in London he was an alderman for some years and
subsequently mayor. In 1871 he was called to the Senate, and in 1882 to
a seat in the Dominion Cabinet. He is also President of the Home Savings
and Loan Company, President of the London and Ontario Company,
President of the Street Railway Company, President of the Northern
Railway Company, Vice-President of the Dominion Bank,,Director in the
Gas Company, and Director in the Dominion Telegraph Company.

FRANK SMITH, late Bursar of the Toronto General Hospital, was born
on the 22nd day of April, 1809. He is the second son of Francis and
Elizabeth Smith, of the County of Kent, England, both born in January,
1777. In the year 1832 their sons, Frank and Joseph, emigrated to Canada,
and settled on land in the Township of March, Ottawa River, where they
remained two years, removing to Guelph Township in 1834, where they
took up seven hundred acres of wild land. In 1835 Frank married the fifth
daughter of George Davis, Esq., of Guelph, by whom he had thirteen children.

WILLIAM SMITH, SEN.
GRANDFATHER.

WILLIAM SMITH, JUN.
FATHER,

JOHN SMITH.

Sow.

City of Toronto. 147

In 1851 he removed to St. Catharines, and was engaged in farming there until
1875, when he removed to Toronto, accepting the appointment of Bursar
to the Toronto General Hospital, which he held for ten years. During the
Rebellion in 1837-8 he served under Sir Allan McNab as Lieutenant in the
6th Gore District Militia. In politics he is Conservative, and in religion a
staunch member of the Church of England.

FRED. SMITH, dentist, Queen and Berkeley Streets, was born in Liver
pool, England, in 1852. In 1875 he passed the final examination at the
London College of Dentistry, after which he practised his profession in
Wales. In 1879 he came to Toronto; and established himself on Queen
Street East. He now occupies a fine suite of rooms at the above address.

JAMES SMITH was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1820, and emigrated
to Canada when eighteen years of age. On his arrival in Toronto he joined
the Volunteers, and served about six months, during the close of the " Mac
kenzie Rebellion." He then entered the employment of Mr. T. D. Harris,
a King Street merchant, with whom he remained two years. He afterwards
followed steamboating for fourteen years, and then took charge of the
Restaurant at the Union Station, which he conducted for twenty-one years,
having previously had some experience in hotel-keeping. Mr. Smith retired
from business in 1879, his present residence being 389 Queen Street West.
He was one of the originators of the " Queen s Own Rifles," in which
corps he held the rank of captain. In 1840 he married Rebecca Armstrong,
who "died in 1858, leaving two children, three having died before their
mother. Mr. Smith married a second time, his wife being Christina Byers,
by whom he had nine children, five of whom are living. In politics he is a
Conservative. He belongs to the Orangemen and Masons.

JOHN SMITH. Instructive and interesting as a perusal of the lives and
antecedents of the various characters connected with Toronto s rise and
growth may prove, it is without undue precipitation that we pronounce the
opinion that the family of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch
have the claim of possessing a peculiar interest in matters relating to the
early history of the city. Proud they have a right to be, who, tracing
their descent to the early pioneer, feel that they are in possession of a
heritage which will not depreciate in value in the hands of successive
generations. Individually or collectively, however, they must all give
way, in point of interest, to the family to whose record this space is
devoted. At the commencement of the reign of George III. was born in

148 Biographical Notices.

Nottinghamshire, England, one William Smith, who in early life acquired
a knowledge of architecture and engineering, and who was employed on
account of his skill in these branches by the monarch upon one of his royal
palaces. In the year 1774 he was sent by the British Government to
superintend the construction of works at Cape Breton. Upon his arrival
he drew a large tract of land, which proved a valuable coal mine. This he
developed, and in 1792 freighted a vessel with coal and sailed for New York
where he disposed of his cargo and made his way to Newark (now Niagara).
The following year (1793) he joined General Simcoe, and came with him to
explore that section of the country of which Toronto is now the capital.
He found three Indian wigwams east of the Don on the river banks
(lot 15), one of which contained the Chief Kashago ; the only white settlers
then being William Peak and his family. The latter had been settled there
some time, and knew the locality well, and often accompanied General
Simcoe on hunting and fishing expeditions, that being Peak s principal
occupation. The Governor gave Mr. Smith choice of land, and he selected
one-fifth of an acre a town lot being what is now the corner of King and
Sherbourne Streets. In the fall of 1793 he returned to Niagara to be with
his family during the winter, and in the spring of 1794 brought them to
Little York, and having erected a log hut upon lot 15, settled there. He
assisted Governor Simcoe in drawing plans for the building of " Castle
Frank," the old summer house on the heights west of the Don, and in
various ways brought his knowledge to bear in planning, surveying and
laying out the future city, He followed his business of builder and con
tractor for many years, during which time he constructed many public and
private buildings. He erected the first English church ; also the residence
of Secretary Jarvis on the corner of Sherbourne and Duke Streets ; and
subsequently, in company with his son-in-law, John Thompson, laid the
foundation of and erected the lighthouse on the Island. He was a volunteer
in the War of 1813, and was taken prisoner at the capitulation of York in
April, 1813. He died in the year 1819, at his residence on the corner of
King and Sherbourne Streets, and was buried in the old churchyard of the
English church, now St. James cathedral. His life was a long and useful
one, as well as eventful, and he lived long enough to see the muddy little
York, at whose birth it may be said he presided, growing into life and
vitality, with a prospect of future greatness which it has more than realized.
Mr. Smith had a family of six children, viz : Thomas, William, Mary,
Betsy, Sally and Samuel. Thomas was killed at the Battle of Queenston
Heights. William, who was born in England in 1781, succeeded his father
in the business. In 1814 he purchased the adjoining lot (14) two hundred

if

City of Toronto, 149

and seventy acres, from George Cook for $5,000. In the year 1819 he
purchased the Governor Simcoe property, lot 15, east of the Don, from
John Scadding. He erected a tannery at the Don in 1820, and shortly
afterwards opened a store adjoining the old family residence on King and
Sherbourne Streets, which he conducted until 1832. In taking to his father s
business he branched out into the mercantile line, and accumulated a quantity
of real estate. He purchased the Helliwell property, where the brewery now
stands. He was the first Assessor and Collector of York and Markham town
ships. He was likewise a volunteer in the War of 1812, and was taken
prisoner at the battle of York. He died in 1839, leaving six children. His
life-long cherished sport was hunting, and, as game of all kinds was then
abundant, sport in plenty was to be had. John, whose name appears at the
head of this sketch, is the oldest son of the late William Smith, and was
born in 1811, at the old home at the corner of King and Sherbourne Streets.
He is the only male survivor of the family, and now resides on the old Simcoe
property. Only a few years since he presented to the York Pioneers that
time-honoured old log cabin which was removed to the Exhibition Grounds
with appropriate ceremony, and which continues to be an object of historic
interest to visitors, as well as to the inhabitants of the city. John, when a
boy, received his first schooling in Michael Doyle s house on Duke Street,
Mr. Blair being the teacher ; then at the old yellow school-house at the corner
of Ontario and King Streets, at which Mr. Cassells was teacher ; and later
at the Masonic Hall, which opened in 1824 under the tutorship of Thomas
Appleton, after which he attended James Padfield s school Secretary
Jarvis s old house corner of Sherbourne and Duke Streets. Mr. Smith s
mother (Julia Ann Lewis) died when he was sixteen years of age. He suc
ceeded his father in business, and in 1846 married Mary Magarham, by
whom he had nine children. He was present at the skirmish near the Don
Bridge during the Mackenzie Rebellion. Mr. Smith is in politics a Con
servative, although he has ever resisted the pressure brought to bear upon
him by friends whose desire was that he should accept office, municipal
and political. In concluding this family record, it should be stated that
Mr. Smith has in his possession an old clock made by the late Jordan Post,
one of the first clockmakers in York, which ticks just as merrily as it did
three-score and ten years ago when the old man constructed it, and which
can scarce be excelled as a time-piece at the present day. Mr. Smith is still
hale and hearty, and, possessing, as he does, a retentive memory, adds to
the pleasure, as well as the profit, of the present generation by recounting
the strange events and appearances . which in the old days surrounded
" Little York."

150 Biographical Notices,

JOHN T. SMITH, deceased, was born in London, England, 1805. In
1826 he emigrated to Canada, and soon after his arrival in Toronto served
the public in the capacity of mine host at the Masonic Arms Hotel, West
Market Square, where his genial manner won for him hosts of friends, who
later elected him to a seat in the Council Board for St. Lawrence Ward,
which he held for several years. He was one of the first to assist in
organizing the present Gas Company, in which he was a stockholder, and
a Director until his death, September 10, 1877, aged seventy-two years.
During the Rebellion of 1837 he served as a volunteer. He was twice
married, first to a Miss Moore, of Quebec, and on her demise, he married
in 1857 a daughter of Frederick East, an old English naval officer. Mr.
Smith was for many years a member of the Ancient, Free and Accepted
Masons, he was also a member of the English Church.

WILLIAM SMITH, waggon-maker, was born in Oxfordshire, England,
in 1821, being the eldest of a family of two sons and two daughters. In
1832, his parents, John and Mary (Mason) Smith, came to Canada with
their children. On the voyage out, on the ship Alexander, the smallpox
and cholera broke out among the passengers, and Mr. Smith lost, a sister
two years old by the former, and while waiting at Prescott for a boat to
take them to York, the mother died of cholera, in a shop there, leaving the
father to look after three young children. Mr. Smith s uncle and grand
father died at Montreal of the cholera. After reaching York his father
rented two rooms on Yonge Street, and obtained work as a mason s clerk.
He afterwards became a labourer in Helli well s Brewery, and died in 1849.
His second son, Alfred, is a cooper in Drayton, Ontario. William Smith
learned his trade with Reuben Parkinson, with whom he was for seven
years. He began business for himself in 1843, and in 1847 purchased the
property where his business now is, and on which he erected a waggon
shop. He now gives employment to eight men. In religion Mr. Smith is
a Methodist ; he belongs to no political party, but votes on principle. In
1845 he married Edith, daughter of William Dellamore, a farmer in York
Township.

JOSHUA GRAFTON SNIDER, livery, etc., was born in the Township of
York, December 29, 1833. His grandfather, Martin Snider, was born in
Germany ; he lived in the United States until the close of the Revolu
tionary War, when he removed to New Brunswick; he afterwards came to
York Township, his son, Thomas, the father of Joshua, being only eighteen
months old. Thomas Snider was eighteen years of age at his father s death.

City of Toronto. 151

I

He resided on the old farm until he came of age, when he moved to a farm
of his own in the rear of the old homestead, where he lived until his death
in 1856. On January 3, 1833, he married Catharine Grafton, daughter of
Stewart Grafton, by whom he had seven children. Joshua Snider was
working on a farm of his own until his father s death, when he went on the
old homestead farm which he worked for about ten years. He then went
to York Mills, where he remained for three years. His wife, a daughter
of Thomas Lackie, whom he had married in 1857, died there. He then
went to Cincinnati. In 1871 he came to Toronto, where he has been ever
since. In 1873 he married a Miss McCallum. In politics he is a Reformer.
George S. Snider, the second son of Thomas Snider, was born in 1836. In
1861 he married Elizabeth M. Walker.

MARTIN EDWARD SNIDER, dentist, Bay Street, Toronto, was born in
the Township of York in 1845. His father, Thomas Snider, was born in
New Brunswick in 1810, and came to Little York about the same year
with his father, Martin Snider, a U.E. Loyalist, who took up land in the
Township of York, where he died. The wife of the elder Martin Snider
died in York Township at the age of one hundred and three. The father
of our subject lived in York Township from 1810 until his death, which
occurred in 1856. In 1849 he was commissioned a Lieutenant of the York
Militia ; two commissions signed by Lord Elgin and one by Sir Edmund
W. Head. At his death he left a widow and five sons, as follow : Joshua
Grafton lives in Toronto ; George Stewart lives in Toronto ; Thomas
Albert lives in Cincinnati, O. ; Martin Edward, and John Elgin live in
Toronto. Martin Snider received his first education at the old Grammar
School, and began his studies at Upper Canada College in 1857, being then
twelve years of age. In 1861 he began to study his profession in Toronto ;
he spent one year in the United States: In 1867 he returned to Toronto,
where he has been ever since. His wife is Hannah Wilkinson, daughter
of one of the oldest settlers in the town of Muddy York. He has been
Returning-officer for St. George s Ward for thirteen years. In politics he
is a Reformer.

ALBERT W. SPAULDING, dentist, 51 King Street East, was born in
Durham County in 1848. His father was Joseph Lovell Spaulding and his
mother Sarah Hepinstall. Mr. Spaulding taught school for five years, in
Huron County, after which he studied dentistry with Mr. W. C. Adams, in
Toronto. In 1878 he graduated at the Toronto Dental College, where he
afterwards taught, during the sessions of 1880-1 and 1881-2.

152 Biographical Notices.

JAMES SPENCE, carpenter and builder, was born in County Armagh,
Ireland, in 1808, and was the eldest in a family of four sons and four
daughters. His parents were Thomas and Margaret (Whitten) Spence,
both of whom were born in the County of Armagh. While he was still a
boy he came to Canada, ^nd located at Kingston where he served three
years learning the carpenter trade. Then he came to Little York, and for
a few years worked with John Harper. For many years he did work for
Judge Hagerman and Chief Justice Robinson. In 1835 he built the house
in which he now resides at 99 Elizabeth Street. He bought the lot from
Judge Hagerman, and paid $300 for it. Mr. Spence has held several
public offices. In April, 1856, he was appointed License Inspector for St.
John s Ward, and has in his possession a watch which was presented to him
by the hotel-keepers as a mark of their esteem. For twelve years he was
Assessor in different Wards, St. James s, St. Andrew s and St. John s. He
was collector for St. John s Ward for three years, and represented that
Ward in the City Council for the same length of time. He has made
considerable money in real estate transactions. Mr. Spence married Eliza
Lockie, born in Tyrone, Ireland, by whom he has had one son and three
daughters. The son, Thomas, is dead. He was in the Toronto Custom
House for eight years. His daughters are married, the eldest is Mrs.
Foster ; the second to William Reid, who is in the Custom House ; the
third to James Carruthers, a bootmaker on Teraulay Street. In politics
Mr. Spence is a Conservative, in religion he is a member of the Church of
England. During the Mackenzie Rebellion Mr. Spence went out to find
Dr. Rolph, whom he wanted to attend his wife who was ill. As he made
very anxious enquiries after the doctor, and refused to tell his business, he
was arrested by his own party on suspicion of being a rebel, and was taken
before a magistrate (John Armstrong), who sent two volunteers to accom
pany him in his search for the doctor. He was afterwards released, and
served with the volunteers under Captain Powell, and was on Yonge Street
at the dispersion of the rebels.

CHARLES SPROAT, City Engineer, is the youngest son of the late Alder
man Henry Sproat, who died in 1875. Mr. Sproat, sen r, was a native of
Cumberland, England, and came to Canada in the year 1821. He settled
in York and devoted his attention to farming, but in 1844 he relinquished
his agricultural pursuits and commenced business in the city as a merchant./
He took an active part in municipal affairs, and in 1856 was elected Coun
cillor, and, three years later, Alderman, for St. Andrew s Ward. During his
term of office, which extended over a period of seven years, he occupied

City of Toronto. 153

the position of Chairman of the Fire, Water and Gas Committee, and also
of the Board of Works, and was a genuine mover in affecting the introduc
tion of the new fire system. In 1863 he withdrew from active participation
in municipal affairs, and shortly afterwards purchased the brewery on Queen
Street West, known as Cosgrave & Sproat s ; but a few years later he sold
his interest in the concern and retired from business altogether. His son,
Charles, the present city engineer, was born in Toronto in 1836, and
received his education at Upper Canada and Knox Colleges. He selected
the profession of engineer as his future career in life, and became a pupil of
the late Frank Shanley, C.E., with whom he was engaged in the survey of
the Toronto and Guelph Railway, afterwards amalgamated with the Grand
Trunk, and, on the completion of this undertaking, on the Midland Railwa}
survey. He was afterwards employed as Government Surveyor in the
districts north-east of Toronto, and subsequently as District Engineer on the
Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway, and in connection with the latter road
he was later on promoted to the position of Resident Engineer. When Mr.
Shanley entered upon the duties of City Engineer of Toronto, Mr. Sproat
received the appointment of Deputy Surveyor, and it was under his super
intendence, while holding that office, that the present sewage system of the
city was constructed. Mr. Sproat next connected himself with the Georgian
Bay and Wellington Railway, connecting Palmerston and Durham, in the
capacity of Chief Engineer, and was afterwards engaged in the Canadian
Pacific Railway survey in the Rocky Mountains, where he remained until
his appointment as City Engineer of Toronto, on the 24th of September,
1883. In 1863 Mr. Sproat married Miss Frances Jane Lawrence, daughter
of Mr. Joseph Lawrence, formerly of Toronto, but now a resident of
Collingwood.

WILLIAM STANLEY, deceased, was born in Toronto in 1836. He was a
painter by trade, and conducted a large and successful business in fresco-
painting, graining and decorating, which he commenced in 1859. He was
a Unitarian, and a member of the Oddfellows Society. He was also con
nected with the Tenth Royals and Queen s Own for many years ; and was
an active member of the Ontario Rifle Association. Mr. Stanley married in
1856 Elizabeth James, and at his death left a widow, two sons and four
daughters.

RICHARD GEORGE STAPELLS, professor of music, 263 Berkeley Street,
was born at Rochester, Kent, England, and came to Canada in 1873, locat
ing in Toronto, where he has since remained. He studied under Thomas

154 Biographical Notices.

Harcourt, Esq., the choir-master of Rochester Cathedral, and George
Newsome, Esq., a professor also of that city. Mr. Stapells is organist of
Grace Church, and also gives vocal and instrumental instruction to pupils.

THOMAS H. STARK, M.D., 97 Bond Street, is a native of Beauharnors,
Quebec, being the son of William Stark, school-teacher. He is a graduate
of Trinity University and Trinity School, and was for some years Resident
Assistant Surgeon at Toronto General Hospital, and in 1882 commenced
practice in this city.

N. L. STEINER, marble dealer, Toronto, was born in Bohemia, Austria,
in 1832, being the eleventh in a family of fourteen children. His father,
Wolfgang Steiner, was a Government contractor. Mr. Steiner was educated
in Vienna, and in 1848 left his home and went to New York, where he spent
three years learning sculpturing. After having learned the business he was
for a few months located in Buffalo. In 1852 he came to Toronto, and
commenced business on Parliament Street, afterwards removing to King
Street. His next location was at the corner of Yonge Street and Wilton
Avenue, where he carried on a large business for twenty-four years,
employing over thirty men. In 1880 he removed to his present place on
the corner of Wilton Avenue and Victoria Streets. In 1876 Mr. Steiner
married a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Leon Sternberger of New York. In
1880 he was elected to represent St. James s Ward in the City Council,
obtaining the largest vote ever polled. He sat for two years, and then
retired. He was elected in 1883, being once more at the head of the poll
and in 1884 by acclamation. In 1870. he was commissioned a J.P. In
politics he is a Reformer. Mr. Steiner is Past-Master of the A. F. and A.M.
of Toronto, and also President of the German Society.

W. ST. CROIX, 7 North Street, Toronto. Among the many who have
settled in Toronto in the past thirty years, and added to its substantial
growth and prosperity, there are few who have overcome greater diffi
culties in achieving an honourable success in business than the subject of
this sketch. Mr. St. Croix was born on the Island of Jersey in 1834, of
Huguenot extraction. In early life he learned the trade of bricklayer and
plasterer, and later travelled through France, England, and a portion of
the United States, arriving in Toronto in 1854 w ^ on ty one York shilling,
which constituted his entire wealth. He not only struggled with poverty,
but, being in a strange country, was wholly unable to comprehend the
language of the people. For the first year after his arrival he worked as a
journeyman, during which time he improved his leisure hours in the study

City of Toronto. 155

of the English language. He soon after began business for himself in a
small way, which gradually increased until it assumed vast proportions ;
with honesty, industry and frugality for his motto, his labours have been
crowned with success. During the past thirty years he has erected many
public and private buildings, among which were the present Police Station
and Court House, near the Post Office, Phoenix Block on Front Street, and
several warehouse blocks on Yonge Street. In 1880 he purchased a portion
of the Elmsley Estate, west of Yonge Street, consisting of one thousand
feet frontage on Bloor Street North and St. Mary Street, upon which he
has erected about forty handsome two-storey brick residences, a portion of
which he has sold and rented, besides many other private residences in
various parts of the city. He has annually employed from sixty to seventy-
five men. As an instance of the amount of labour performed in one branch
of his business plastering in one year, his contracts amounted to thirty-
five thousand dollars. The average wages he has paid his men during a
period of thirty years has been one dollar and twenty-five cents to two
dollars per day. More recently he has enlarged his business, and now
contracts for the construction of buildings from the digging of the cellar to
the finishing and turn of the key. At the present time he owns over fifty
beautiful residences and stores in various parts of the city. In politics he
is a Reformer ; in religion, a member of the Bond Street Congregational
Church, where he has acted in the capacity of a deacon for many years.
In 1860 he married a daughter of James Kerr, an old resident of Toronto,
of Scottish extraction.

QUETTON ST. GEORGE. In 1791, when the French Revolution was
raging, a British Legion was raised in England for the purpose of rescuing
Louis XVI., then a prisoner in the Tuileries, and restoring him to the throne
of his ancestors. Two brothers, Laurent and Etienne Quetton, went over
to England and enlisted. The Republicans were then a cruel race, the
guillotine and confiscation of property being the order of the day. They
were particularly hard on those families which were known to have some
member fighting for the King. On that account the Due d Angouleme,
who was then in London taking a great interest in the organization of the
said Legion, advised all Frenchmen who enlisted in it to change their
names, and assume for a time a nom de guerre. The brothers Quetton were
therefore enrolled in the army list as Laurent and Etienne St. George.
They went over to France in October, 1791, and from that year they were
engaged in active and hard service. Etienne was shot and died on the field
of honour at Brestien, the 8th of December, 1798. Laurent was more fortu-

156 Biographical Notices.

nate, and rose rapidly. He was born at Verrazses, near Montpelier, in
the .Province of Languedoc, June 4th, 1771. He was barely twenty when he
joined the British Legion. The official record of his campaigns shows that
he distinguished himself in many engagements, and was gradually promoted.
In April, 1796, we find him Lieutenant-Colonel, and in June the same
year he was made Chevalier of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis.
In 1798, the Royalist armies being completely routed and all but annihi
lated by the Republicans, some of the survivors ;were fortunate enough to
escape to England, where those who belonged to the British Legion were
treated as retired British officers, and received grants of land in Canada.
Among them was Colonel St. George, who then resumed his proper name
of Quetton St. George ; his descendants still retaining the two names. His
grant of land was on the Oak Ridges, at the corner of the four townships of
Vaughan, Markham, Whitchurch and King. Several other French officers,
General de Puisaye, Count and Viscount de Chalus, and others were also
located at Oak Ridges, in what is known to this day as the French settle
ment. Their first attempt to examine their location was not made by rail,
nor even by stage or waggon. Having left York on horseback, when
they came to Hogg s Hollow they found the river so swollen that any
attempt at wading through it, the only way of getting across in those days,
was out of the question. They left their horses at a farm, and were directed
to an Indian path where a pine tree felled across the stream did duty as a
bridge for foot passengers. They went up to the Ridges on foot. Some of
them actually settled on their lots ; but the Chevalier de St. George very
soon came to the conclusion that a man who had not been brought up to it
was more likely to break his back than to make a fortune by felling trees
and piling them into log heaps to clear the land. He returned to York,
and started as a merchant at the corner of King and Frederick Streets. He
became very popular with the farmers at Markham, then the best settled
township north of York. He traded also with the Indians, and a few years ago
an old house fire-place was to be seen in Rama Island, Lake Simcoe, which
was known to have been a fort, as they called it in those days, where he
met the Indians every year. His business prospered, and he built the
first brick house in York, still a very good and substantial one, now occupied
by the Canada Company. He entered into partnership with Julius Quesnel
and John Spread Baldwin, under the name and style of Quetton St. George
& Co. Some curious documents of Custom-house entries of those days are
still preserved, and may be seen in the house of the same, name founded by
his son, and now situated on King Street, a few doors west of Yonge Street.
After the legitimate Kings of France had been restored to their throne,

City of Toronto. 157

Quetton St. George, then an independent man, very naturally wished to
revisit his native land and relatives. He was received with great distinc
tion by King Louis XVIII. His title of Chevalier, which had been given
him in an informal sort of way when King and Princes were prisoners or
exiles, was duly confirmed and registered, and he was given besides the
decoration of the Lys, a distinction specially reserved for those who had
remained true to their legitimate King during those troublous times. He
was about returning to Canada when he died, at the comparatively early age
of fifty, after a most eventful and honourable life. A son of his is still living
at Oak Ridges, and some grandchildren in the Province of Quebec.

HENRY STONE, undertaker, 239 Yonge Street, was born in Queen s
County, Ireland, in 1830, being the second eldest and only surviving one
in a family of nine children. In 1831, his father Daniel Stone came to
Canada and settled in Montreal, removing to Toronto in 1840, where he
carried on business as a chandler on Wellington and Edward Streets, until
his death in 1855. Henry Stone was educated in Toronto, and when
twenty years of age began business as a chandler on Edward Street. In
1854 he was married to Susannah, second daughter of William Reid, who
died 22nd November, 1880, in her forty-seventh year, by whom he has had
fourteen children, four of whom are dead. In 1869 he bought out Chad-
wick Fawkes, undertaker, and has carried on that business ever since. In
politics he is a Conservative, and in religion a Methodist.

ISAAC STONEHOUSE, retired, was born in England in 1812. His father,
Joseph Stonehouse, was a carpenter by trade, and was born in Yorkshire.
He came to Canada in 1819, with one of his sons, and settled on a farm in
Etobicoke Township ; the rest of his family followed him a year later.
About 1 854 he moved into Toronto, where he remained until his death,
which occurred in 1858 ; his wife was Martha Rushforth. Isaac Stone-
house was farming in Etobicoke until 1854, when he came to Toronto. He
is now living retired, and has been so for some few years. He has one son
and five daughters. In politics Mr. Stonehouse is a Reformer ; in religion
a Methodist. He has been a member of the Fruit Growers Association for
ten years.

WILLIAM THEOPHILUS STUART, M.D., is a son of the Rev. James Stuart,
and was born in Markham Township in 1853. He received his early
education at Brantford, and later attended the Upper Canada College and
Trinity Medical School, graduated in 1877 as M.B. In 1877 his acquire
ments gained for him a gold medal at Trinity University, as well as the

158 Biographical Notices.

University gold medal, and Star gold medal at Toronto University. He
commenced the practice of his profession in this city, where he remained
one year, afterwards visiting the hospitals of Great Britain, and returning
again to Toronto, has since continued a resident, having an extensive and
increasing patronage. In 1877 Mr. Stuart became connected with the
Central College as Lecturer on Anatomy and Physiology. In 1878 he was
appointed Practical Chemist to Trinity Medical School. He is one of the
visiting physicians to the Home of Incurables. He devotes much time to the
study of Chemistry and Mineralogy. In 1881 he was married to Miss Maggie
B. Gibson, of Lachine, by whom he has two children, a son and a daughter.

LESLIE M. SWEETNAM, M.D., is the eldest son of Mr. Matthew Sweet-
nam, Post-office Inspector, of Toronto, and was born in Kingston, Ontario,
on the ist of August, 1859. He was educated at the Grammar School, King
ston, the Model School, Collegiate Institute, and Upper Canada College,
Toronto. He attended the Toronto School of Medicine, and graduated
M.B. at Toronto University in 1881 ; and M.D., Ch;M. at Victoria Univer
sity, Cobourg, in the same year. He was Resident Physician and Assistant
House Surgeon on the staff of the General Hospital, Toronto, in 1881.
Dr. Sweetnam commenced the regular practice of his profession in Toronto
in 1882. He is a medical man of more than ordinary promise, and has a
large and steadily increasing practice. He is on the medical staff of the
House of Providence.

ANDREW TINGLE, carpenter, was born in the Township of Scarboro in
1820, being the eldest in a family of thirteen children. His father was
John Tingle, who was born near Leeds, England. He was a farmer. In
1818 he came to Canada and, two years later, married Ellen, daughter of
Andrew Thompson, who came to Canada from Scotland. He cleared a
farm in the Township of Scarboro , and lived there until his death in 1877.
He survived his wife two or three years. He served during the Rebellion
of 1837, under Captain McLean ; he was stationed in the city for two
weeks, and then spent the winter on the Kingston Road. In 1841 Andrew
Tingle married Agnes, daughter of John Reeve, of the Township of Clarke;
she died about 1853, in the County of Oxford. His second wife was Mary,
daughter of James Patton, of Scarboro Township. By his first wife he
had one son and two daughters, and by his second wife two sons and one
daughter. In 1845 Mr. Tingle removed to the County of Oxford ; he
remained there until 1853, when he returned to Scarboro . In 1857 he
came to Toronto and engaged in the trade of a carpenter. In politics he
is a Reformer, and in religion a Presbyterian.

City of Toronto. 159

JOHN TINNING, retired, third son of Richard Tinning, sen r, was born
at Brampton, October, 1832. In 1864 he married Jane Donley, daughter
of Patrick Donley, by whom he has two sons and one daughter.

RICHARD TINNING, deceased, was born in Cumberland, England, in
1801, and about 1824 married Ann Tiffin, who was born at Durham, Eng
land, and died at Toronto, July 6, 1874, I n I ^3 2 ne came to Canada with
his wife and two children and settled in Toronto, locating himself at the
foot of Bay Street on the shore of the Bay, where he established a timber
and lumber business. His stock was cut principally at Oakville and Port
Credit, and after being thrown into the Lake was towed along the shore to
his saw-mill, which was the first erected in Toronto. In 1840 he removed
to the foot of York Street, and in 1846 erected a steam saw-mill where the
St. James Hotel now stands, and which was then the shore of the Bay.
He leased for forty-two years the. tract of land extending north from the
Bay along York Street to Front Street ; upon this he erected several build
ings, one a house, in which he resided. In 1834 he contracted with the
University authorities to clear College Avenue of the heavy growth of trees
and brushwood which covered it. Mr. Tinning continued to run his saw
mill, and did a prosperous business, until his death in 1858. He was a
member of the old fire company, and for six years was Alderman for St.
Andrew s Ward. At his death he left a family of three sons and one
daughter.

RICHARD TINNING, jun r, eldest son of Richard Tinning, sen r, was
born in Cumberland, England, in 1825, and in 1832 came to Canada with
his father, with whom he was for years associated in the lumber business.
He married the eldest daughter of W. B. Hornibrook, by whom he has one
son. For twelve or thirteen years he has represented St. George s Ward
in the City Council.

THOMAS TINNING, 39 Front Street West, the second son of Richard
and Ann (Tiffin) Tinning, was born in Carlisle, England, in the year 1832.
His father was born in 1801, at the same place ; his mother was a native of
Durham, England, and died in Toronto, July 6th, 1874. Mr. Tinning,
sen r, married in 1824, and in the spring of 1832 emigrated to Canada with
his wife and f two sons, Richard and Thomas. He landed in Quebec, and
at once proceeded to Montreal, and from thence he came to Toronto, the
journey being accomplished by Durham boats drawn by oxen. On their
arrival here, the head of the family went to Brampton, leaving his wife and
children in the city, but subsequently returned after a short absence and

160 Biographical Notices.

located at the foot of Bay Street, on the shore of the bay. He established
himself in the lumber trade, and for twenty years employed a large force of
men cutting lumber by means of whip-saws. In 1840 he moved to the foot
of York Street, and in 1846 erected a steam saw-mill upon the site of the
present St. James Hotel. The mill was a frame building eighty feet in
length, and would cut forty feet lengths of square lumber. He leased from
the city for forty-two years a tract of land extending from the water s edge
along York to Front Street upon which he erected buildings, and where
he himself resided. In 1834 the contract was given Mr. Tinning to clear
what is called College Avenue, which was then covered with a good growth
of black ash, basswood and oak, together with a variety of other timber.
In this work he employed a staff of forty men, and he himself cut down the
first tree. All the timber felled in connection with this clearing was given
to Mr. Tinning, and in addition a handsome recompense. It was subse
quently cut for firewood and sold to the citizens. While the work was
being performed, an incident happened one day which created a slight
sensation and, although it may appear paradoxical, will in truth call up
startling reflections on the immense progress made by Toronto since that
time. The incident referred to was a deer which ran across the avenue
from the direction of Rosedale and darted into the bush in a south-westerly
direction. All the men gave chase, but the fleetness of the animal soon
distanced the pursuers. Mr. Tinning continued to run his saw-mill until
his death in 1858. He was a member of the old Fire Company; also a
member of the A.F. and A.M. He was Alderman for St. Andrew s Ward six
years. In political matters he was strongly Conservative, and in religion a
member of the Church of England. At his death he left a family of three
sons, Richard, Thomas, and John. Thomas Tinning, whose name appears
at the commencement of this family record, was only an infant when his
parents located in Toronto. Brought up beside that element on which
he was destined to play thereafter many a gallant part, he imbibed
that affection for aquatics which afterwards secured for him the Cham
pionship of Toronto Bay, which he maintained for so long a period.
He assisted his father in the lumber business, which he has continued to
carry on ; but it is especially by those deeds of daring inspired by a desire
to rescue human life from shipwrecked vessels that Mr. Thomas Tinning
has earned the gratitude of the citizens of Toronto. He has during the last
twenty years been the means of saving the lives of two hundred human beings
from drowning in the lake and bay. The following examples bear testimony
to the courage and endurance displayed on two memorable occasions in which
Mr. Tinning was the principal actor. In the month of December, 1856, a

City of Toronto.

schooner, named J. G. Beard, went ashore on the south side of the Island
during a furious gale. The crew had taken refuge in the rigging ; and,
observing the wreck by the aid of his glass, together with the perilous
. position of the crew, Mr. Tinning immediately launched his skiff and rowed
over the bay and, hauling his boat across the Island, succeeded in pulling
off to the wreck in the face of a tremendous sea. This feat was not easily
accomplished, and he was thrice upset while attempting it, but on the
fourth trial he reached with his skiff the unfortunate crew, who were
eventually rescued. The weather was bitterly cold, and during the long
hours that passed while undertaking this meritorious action his clothes
became coated with ice. In December, 1861, the schooner Pacific, while
attempting to make the Queen s Wharf during a violent gale was driven
ashore in the Humber Bay. The position of the vessel, and the probable
fate of the crew caused Mr. Howard of High Park to hasten to Toronto,
and, if possible, bring back a relief party with him to make the attempt to
save the shipwrecked crew. He called upon Mr. Thomas Tinning, who
got together some volunteers, and taking with him one of the life boats of
the steamer Zimmerman, proceeded at once on a sleigh to the scene of the
wreck. After considerable difficulty and much danger, they succeeded in
rescuing the crew, and as the success was in a great measure the result of
Mr. Tinning s individual exertions, in which he displayed great promptitude,
coolness and daring, he was shortly after the event presented by the
citizens of Toronto with a handsome trophy in recognition of his valuable
services. The presentation took the form of a splendid piece of silver rock-
work, surrounding a representation of water in glass, with an appropriate
mermaid figure in the centre holding a nautilus shell of frosted cut-glass
made to contain flowers. The following inscription is engraved on a
silver shield : " Presented to Thomas Tinning by a few of his friends
and fellow-citizens for his gallant behaviour in rescuing the crew of the
schooner Pacific, wrecked in the Humber Bay, December, 1861 : Toronto,
May, 1862." These two instances we have given will be proof sufficient of
what benefit his long residence in Toronto has been to the saving of life
from the dangers of the Lake, and will serve to impress the toilers of the
deep with the conviction that Toronto is not behind other ports in possess
ing brave hearts and willing hands, ready to risk their own lives in the
prospect of saving others. Among the list of vessels which he has been at
different times the means of saving from entire destruction and consequent
loss of valuable cargoes, we may mention the Rapid, Echo, Olive Branch,
and the crew of the Fearless, in Ashbridge s Bay. On the 3rd August, 1870,
he was presented with a silver tea service for his great and successful

12

1 62 Biographical Notices.

exertion in recovering the bodies after the deplorable and heart-rending
catastrophe in the Bay of Hamilton that year. Mr. Buchanan made the
presentation, and expressed to Mr. Tinning the views, in regard to him, of
the citizens of Hamilton. " He had not only been the instrument of allevi- .
ating the distressed feelings of a family, but also of a community." The
silver tea service bears the following inscription : " Presented by a few of
the citizens of Hamilton to Thomas Tinning, as a mark of their high
appreciation of his services in recovering the bodies of the daughters of
Thomas Swinyard, Esq., June 27, 1870." In 1870, Mr. Tinning was
appointed by the Government Captain of the Life Saving Station at
Toronto, which position he held for some years, finally relinquishing it on
account of the small allowance made for the support of crew, boats, etc.
Mr. Tinning is a well-built man of about six feet two inches in height, and
a frame which proves him to be possessed of great muscular power. He
married Miss Summer, the daughter of the late Bernal Summer, a pro
minent Niagara merchant, and grand-daughter of Dr. Cyrus, of Beamsville,
an old U. E. Loyalist. Mr. Tinning has two sons; Frank, the eldest, is
fast following in the footsteps of his father, having in 1882 saved two young
men from drowning in Georgian Bay. William, the other son, is in the
Custom House.

JOHN M. TINSLEY, retired, 81 Agnes Street, was born in Richmond,
Virginia, in 1783. His grandfather, Thomas Tinsley, came to America
from Ireland during the time of Oliver Cromwell, and located at Hanover-
town, twenty-one miles from Richmond. He had four sons, Thomas,
Peter, John and Samuel. The father of our subject was Samuel Tinsley,
who was born in Ireland, and who married Elizabeth Merrywether, who
was born in Virginia. He was a Captain in the Revolutionary War, and
was in many of the battles. He died in Virginia in 1815. The early boy
hood of our subject was spent in Richmond, where he went to school. In
1800 he began to learn the trade of a carpenter, and in 1807 he was a
journeyman. He married Douglas Dailey in 1811. In 1831 he paid a visit
to Canada, spending some weeks at Toronto, and at the Wilberforce settle
ment near London. He returned to Richmond where he remained until
1837, in which year he removed to Cincinnati. In 1842 he came to Toronto
and opened a grocery store on the corner of Albert and Elizabeth Streets,
which business he continued for one year ; his wife died in 1842. He then
worked at the carpenter trade for John Harper and for J. George Joseph.
Mr. Tinsley has long since ceased to work. He has not been able to read
for the last ten years, but he can see things at a distance. When he was

City of Toronto. 163

fifteen years old he saw George Washington, who used to visit some families
in Richmond. His family were very long-lived. A sister, Polly, who was
born in 1775, was living in New Orleans in 1870 when Mr. Tinsley last heard
from her. Mr. Tinsley is a Reformer in politics and a Baptist in religion.

ROBERT TROTTER was born in the County Cavan, Ireland. He spent
the early part of his life in County Louth, from which place he emigrated to
Canada in 1837, and at once took up his residence in this city. He was for
a time connected with the police force, and was clerk of the market for
some years. He has for many years been a successful speculator in real
estate, and now owns a large amount of property in this city.

The career of MRS. JENNY K. TROUT, M.D., of Toronto, furnishes an
excellent illustration of what a woman possessing pluck and perseverance
may accomplish. Dr. Trout was born in the year 1840, in the pretty town
of Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland. Her parents, Andrew and Elizabeth
Gowanlock, emigrated to Canada when she was but seven years old, and
at the age of seventeen we find her still living with them in a sparsely
populated district near Stratford, Ontario. Her education was only of an
imperfect rudimentary nature, but books were her close companions and
she read them with a fixed determination to acquire knowledge. About
this time she commenced attending the little country schools with a view to
qualifying as a teacher. When nineteen years old she graduated from the
Toronto Normal School, and was shortly afterwards placed in charge of a
school in the northern part of her own township. Labouring in this
capacity and neighbourhood for nearly five years, she was able, by industry
and good husbandry, to accumulate a considerable sum of money. It was
during her fifth teaching year, 1864, that she married Mr. Ewart Trout, of
Toronto, and subsequently removed to that city. One of her youthful
ambitions was to become a physician. Loss of health intensified this
ambition and having made good use of her spare hours she succeeded in
matriculating in 1870. Her health at this time was so poor as to excite
the serious apprehension of her medical adviser and friends, but notwith
standing she attended during 1871-72 a full course of lectures at the
Toronto School of Medicine. An account of the trials and tribulations
which she underwent would prove as instructive as interesting, but our
space will not permit of it. Dr. Trout was one of the first to apply for
admission to the lectures in the University, this being the place where the
students of the Toronto School assembled for Chemistry lectures, but the
Faculty denying admittance to women, she was, with others, compelled to

164 Biographical Notices.

forego for a time the study of this branch of medicine. After a three years
course of the Women s Medical College, Philadelphia, she received the
degree of M.D., and immediately upon her return to Canada, successfully
passed the examinations before the Council of Physicians and Surgeons of
Ontario. Dr. Trout has the honour of being the first woman who passed
the Ontario Council, and also held the position for many years of being the
only lady member of the college. She now entered upon the duties of her
new profession in Toronto, being joined by Dr. E. Amelia Tifft, a graduate
of the same school and class in Philadelphia. It was not long before they
opened a woman s dispensary, in the eastern part of the city, which, how
ever, they were, owing to the demands made upon them as physicians,
compelled to abandon. Dr. Trout was, for a time, one of the two visiting
physicians connected with the Infants Home in its early days. The
lady doctors have made popular a comparatively new agent in the practice
of medicine in Canada, i.e., Electricity. In order to successfully develop
the capabilities of this curative power, they founded what proved to be one
of the best institutions of its kind in the Dominion, occupying a handsome
white-brick structure on the corner of Jarvis and Gerrard Streets, and facing
the Baptist Church. Dr. Trout s health, never robust, improved slightly for a
time, but ultimately gave way under the heavy strain of her large and
increasing practice, until utterly worn out, she was compelled in 1883 to
retire from the laborious duties of the Institution. Dr. Trout has ever
taken a lively interest in the education and advancement of the younger
members of her sex. She has, wholly or in part, aided more than one young
woman to obtain the degree of M.D. In thorough sympathy with the
objection to mixed classes in the schoolroom, she was anxious to see a
Women s Medical College in Canada and, in 1883, offered to liberally endow
such an establishment in Toronto ; but the promoters hampered it with
such conditions that she transferred her support and influence to Kingston,
where a college had been opened, which is in a flourishing condition.
She has also been an earnest and successful worker in the cause of Temper
ance, having filled, at sundry times, the office of President, Vice-President^
and Secretary of the Woman s Christian Temperance Union. The subject
of our sketch is to-day Vice-President for Canada of the Association for the
Advancement of Women. She is a member of the Jarvis Street Baptist
Church, is liberal in her principles and tolerant in her religious views.

. W. W. TURNER, M.D., was born at Millbrook, Ontario, 1849, and is
the eldest son of Charles Turner of that place. In early life he attended
the Public and Grammar Schools at Brighton, Ontario, afterwards study-

--S>>- ^--^-.-

PROFESSOR S. VERNOY.

City of Toronto, 165

ing at Victoria University, receiving a diploma in 1867. He attended
various hospitals in New York, and graduated from Bellevue Hospital
College. Dr. Turner first commenced practice in Winnipeg in 1876, where
he remained five years and during his residence performed some very
skilful surgical operations which made him quite a celebrity. He settled
in Parkdale in 1882, and has already a large and lucrative practice. He
is on the medical staff of the Home for Incurables, and during the present
year read a paper before the Ontario Medical Association which was
received and commented on with favour. Dr. Turner married, in 1872,
Julia Laughton, of Hamilton, by whom he has one daughter.

CHARLES K. UNWIN, Deputy Registrar of the County of York, is the
son of Charles and Elizabeth Unwin, the former a native of England and
the latter of Irish descent. His father married after he came here in 1835.
He was employed in the office of Mr. Samuel Ridout for about fifteen years,
afterwards being connected with the Beaver Mutual Insurance Company.
Charles K. was born in 1853 ^ n this cr ty, an d has been connected with the
Registry Office about six years.

PROFESSOR VERNOY, the founder and proprietor of the Electro-Thera
peutic Institution, 197 Jarvis Street, Toronto, is a native of New York. He
commenced the practice of electro-therapeutics in Pennsylvania in 1869,
according to the new theory, as discovered and promulgated in that branch
of science, proving it to be a success. In 1876 Professor Vernoy was
induced to leave Philadelphia for Canada ; he accordingly settled on Jarvis
Street, Toronto, where he established himself as an electro-therapeutist.
Since his arrival here the success attending the exercise of his profession
in the new and wide field of the Dominion has been marvellous, and has
won for him a wide reputation in the cure of nervous diseases and those
not successfully dealt with by other means. This new system of treatment
by the application of electricity is becoming more popular and interesting
year by year, from the fact that well-attested evidence has shown that
wonderful cures have been effected by its use when all other means have
failed. In his paper, The Electric Age, Professor Vernoy records numerous
testimonials (given for the purpose by individuals of unquestionable reputa
tion in our midst) as to the saving of life and restoration to health by his
new system of electro-therapeutic treatment. Many of those who have
been thus benefited by him have expressed their willingness and desire to
aid him in his endeavours to relieve suffering humanity ; hence, in order to
satisfy the enquiries of those who desire proof of his great success (by
direct communication), a list of many important cases is recorded in his

1 66 Biographical Notices.

paper. Professor Vernoy s Electro-Therapeutic Institution is situated on
one of the finest and most beautiful streets in the city, within five minutes
walk of the Post-office and the business centre, and can accommodate a
limited number of patients, who are made to feel pleasantly at home, their
comfort and convenience being consulted. In connection with his large
experience and practice in the use of electricity, Professor Vernoy has
devoted his attention to the production of a superior Electro-Medical
Battery suited to all varieties of human temperament and the various
classes of disease. This delicate instrument is so nicely arranged that
individuals who cannot conveniently enter the Institution for treatment
may, by obtaining one of them, take treatment at home successfully by
following the instructions given.

JOHN JOSEPH VICKERS, proprietor of the celebrated Express Company
of that name, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1818, being the second son of
John and Hannah (Leeson) Vickers of that city. His father held a govern
ment position in the Treasury Department for many years, and his death
occurred when John Joseph was but six years old. Our subject s early
education was acquired in Dublin, and when a young man he entered the
service of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, and remained with
them several years. In 1849 he went to New York, bearing introductory
letters from James McHenry, Esq., of Liverpool, and entering the service of
the Howard Steamship Company, he continued in their employ two years.
In the meantime, having heard of the splendid agricultural prospects of
Canada, young Vickers, who lacked neither energy nor ambition, determined
to try his hand at farming, and, putting his resolution into effect, moved to
the Bay of Quinte district and settled upon a farm in Prince Edward s
County. Two years practice as an amateur farmer convinced Mr. Vickers
that rolling logs and growing buckwheat was more of a reality than he antici
pated, hence he abandoned agriculture and left for Toronto. In 1852 he
engaged with the American Express Company and continued in their
service two years. On the completion of the Northern Railroad, he
embarked in the express business on his own account, and by strict atten
tion and great exertions he has developed his present extensive connection,
a statistical account of which is given elsewhere in this volume. In 1859,
in conjunction with others, Mr. Vickers visited the Lake Superior district
in the first steamer (The Rescue) to Thunder Bay. He then noticed that
the mouth of the Kaministiquia River would in the near future be a great
harbour, and, acting on his own prophetic instincts, he purchased all the
land obtainable in that region after its survey by the Government, and now

City of Toronto. 167

owns nearly half of the navigable portion of the river frontage on the north
side, the Canadian Pacific Railway running through the greater portion of
his property. He owns about seven thousand acres, upon which are valu
able mines of silver, slate and large quantities of fine sandstone. Since
his settlement in Toronto he has taken an active interest in all that concerns
the city s welfare, and was elected alderman to represent St. George s
Ward in 1864, and remained in the Council until 1870. During the time
he was a member of that body he proposed the resolution to construct the
New Water Works, which was carried October 10, 1870. He is captain
in the Sedentary Militia, having held a commission for many years. M-r.
Yickers political opinions are strongly Conservative. In 1855 he married
Catharine Mary, eldest daughte r of the late John W. Dunbar Moodie, first
Sheriff of Hastings County (her mother being Susanna Moodie, the eminent
authoress, whose " Roughing it in the Bush " and other publications have
contributed not a little to our national literature). The issue of this marriage
are four sons and six daughters, all living; the eldest son, John A. D. Vick-
ers, being active superintendent of the Express Company. William W. is
a student at the University. Victor Gillmor Ridgeway is supposed to be
the only boy born in Toronto the morning the Queen s Own Rifles left for
the frontier on the memorable First of June, 1866, at the time of the Fenian
raid ; the Civic Council choosing the name in honour of the event and
Colonel Gillmor acting as godfather.

W. J. WAGNER, M.D., 7 Gerrard Street, was educated at Toronto
Grammar School and Upper Canada College, and studied medicine at
Toronto School of Medicine. He graduated at Toronto University in 1870
and commenced practice the same year on Queen Street.

JAMES WALLIS, 104 Cumberland Street, York ville, was born in Cumber
land, England, July 29, 1807, and came to Toronto in February, 1828. He
worked two years for Jacob Hutchinson on Front Street, and then began
business for himself as blacksmith on King Street East. He removed to
Yorkville in 1831 and has been in business there about fifty years. Mr.
Wallis was one of the first members of the Yorkville Council and remained
in that body two years, afterwards for several years occupying the respon
sible position of Treasurer to the Council. He belonged to the old fire
brigade, and took part on the loyalist side during the Rebellion of 1837-38.
He is a member of Bloor Street Methodist Church. In May, 1828, he was
married to Ann Greenwell, of Cumberland, England, who died May 5, 1837.
Mr. Wallis was married a second time to Esther Hodgson, who is also a
member of the same church as himself.

1 68 Biographical Notices.

JAMES JOHN WALSH was born in Cheshire, England, in 1833, and came
to Canada in 1861, taking up his residence in Toronto, where he has since
remained. He was for many years engaged in the live cattle export trade,
and carried on successfully the largest wholesale butchering business for one
man in the city. In 1880 he retired from business ; since which time he has
lived at his fine private residence on Kingston Road, called Cheshire Villa.

JAMES WALSH is a native of the City of Cork, Ireland, where he was
born in 1839, and when ten years of age emigrated to Canada and located
first at Belleville, where he remained until 1859, after which he came to
Toronto. Subsequently he removed to London, Ont., and after a residence
of five years there he returned to this city, where he has since lived. He
engaged in the manufacture of soda and mineral waters, which business he
conducted from 1868 to 1883, retiring from trade in the latter year. In
1871 he married Mary Jane, daughter of David Slee. Mr. Walsh built the
Berkeley Terrace from Nos. 122 to 134, and also owned the soda water
factory and house No. 220 Berkeley Street.

BENJAMIN WALTON was born at Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England,
1819, youngest son of Jonathan and Sarah (Wood) Walton. His father
was a cloth merchant. Mr. Walton in early life had very good advantages
for an education, which he diligently improved, and subsequently learned
the trade of a stone-mason and builder. In 1844 ne came to Toronto and
worked as a journeyman until 1848, when he embarked in the building
business for himself; his first contract was for the construction of the stone
work for Osgoode Hall, for which he received $50,000. After its comple
tion he laid the basement of Toronto University, and subsequently erected
the Mechanics Institute (now the Public Library), Bank of British North
Amerjca, Custom House, Examining Warehouses, and many other build
ings. He purchased one thousand five hundred acres of land on the Grand
Trunk Railway, at Melbourne, P.Q., where he expended a large sum of
money in opening a slate quarry ; one year later he shipped the first car
load of Canadian slate that was ever brought into Toronto. He continued
his slate industry until he had expended nearly $80,000, when, in 1883,
with a view of meeting the demands of their largely- increasing trade, he
organized a joint stock company (under the Mining Act) called the " Domin
ion Mining Company," with a capital of $100,000 (he being one of the
largest stock-holders), since which time his business has materially increased ;
they now employ over sixty men. The demand for their slate, which is of
very superior quality, has steadily increased, and they are now exporting
large quantities to England, Australia, Cape of Good Hope and United

City of Toronto. 169

States. Notwithstanding there is a duty imposed of twenty per cent, they
are doing a large business in exporting to the North-West. The quarry is
situated six miles from Richmond station, on the Grand Trunk Railway,
where quite a little village is springing up. In 1848 Mr. Walton married
Eliza, daughter of Thomas Glasco, by whom he had one son and four
daughters. Mr. Walton died 3rd January, 1885.

JOHN WALZ was born in Germany in 1830 and came to Canada in
1857, locating first at Preston, near Gait, where he remained one year. He
then came to Toronto and started as brewer in 1858, which business he
carried on up to 1882, since which time he has been living retired. In 1859
he married Miss Josephine Bandel, by whom he has three daughters and
two sons. The property of Mr. Walz has a frontage of two hundred and
five feet on Sherbourne Street and three hundred on Duchess Street, on
which he has erected fifteen houses.

A. J. M. WATKINS, Superintendent of the Horticultural Gardens, is a
native of the City of Hereford, England, his father being a florist and seed
merchant in that city. During his father s life-time our subject was
thoroughly grounded in the business, and his whole life has been spent in
the care of flowers, shrubs, trees and lawns. He came to Canada in 1870,
and was foreman with Fleming, the propagator and seedsman, for two years.
He was for a time engaged in market gardening, and in 1875 accepted his
present position. He took the gardens when the ground was a swamp and
waste, and then made it to blossom with roses.

JOHN WATSON was born in the village of Bedford, Missisque County,
Quebec, and is the third of a family of four children born to John and
Sarah (Botham) Watson who, removing from Quebec Province, settled
in York County in 1849. John was born in the year 1840, and was conse
quently but nine years of age when the family took up their residence here.
His father was a carpenter and carried on business for many years and was
eighty-four years of age when his death occurred in 1879. John early
learned his father s business, and for ten years worked as a journeyman,
susequently, in 1860, commencing business for himself as builder and con
tractor, which he has since conducted, employing about fifteen men. He
has, however, confined his share of the work to building wood work, letting
out contracts for the brick and other work ; he owns all the property he has
put up, which now amounts to sixty-three houses scattered through four
Wards of the city. Mr. Watson is a member of the Methodist Church ;
also, he takes an active part in the Salvation Army in Toronto and other
towns ; he was the means, assisted by two friends, of securing that valuable
lot on the corner of James and Albert Streets, at a cost of $7,000, on which

170 Biographical Notices.

the Salvatioh Army Temple is being erected. His father and mother are
from England and came out about the year 1818; his father returned to
England and came back to Canada a second time ; he served in the Rebel
lion of 1837, and took up arms to defend the Government round Missisque
Bay, on the Vermont frontier.

TOM WEBB, baker and confectioner, corner of Yongeand Agnes Streets,
is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Parker) Webb, who came to Canada
from England in 1842. His father carried on the business of a baker and
confectioner in the stand now occupied by Tom, from 1842 until 1875, when
he retired and removed to Deer Park, where he now resides. Mr. Webb,
sen r, had three sons, Edward, a lawyer in London, England, who died
December, 1884; Harry and Tom who are both in the bakery business :
and one daughter, Mrs. John Wightman. Tom was born in Toronto in
1849, and succeeded to his father s business in 1875. In 1873 ne married a
daughter of Henry James Clark,

HENRY G. WHITE is a native of New Hartford, Conn., and came to
Canada in 1854. He was a builder, sash, door and frame manufacturer,
having served his time in Connecticut. On his arrival here he entered the
service of Alexander Manning as foreman, after which he spent some time
in Vaughan Township, where he built and fitted up several saw-mills, from
thence he again came to Toronto and was foreman of the first exhibition
building there. He then went to Bothwell and was manager for the oil
works there two years, subsequently becoming manager for the Des Moines
Valley Oil Company. From there he went to Muskegon as engineer in a
large mill, from which place he returned to Toronto, and engaged in car
building about two years. After spending a short time in Bradford, in
1875 ne took charge of the wood-working machinery in the Northern Rail
way shops, which position he still retains.

ISAAC WHITE, deceased, was born at Rutland, Vermont, April 9, 1792.
His ancestors emigrated from England to America previous to the Ameri
can Revolution, and settled in the above named State, where they were at
one time slave-holders and tillers of the soil. In 1796 Mr. White, sen n
died, and left a family of five children, of whom our subject was the eldest.
His mother came to Canada in the same year, bringing with her a faithful
slave called " Mammy Long," to whose care Isaac was especially entrusted.
She died in Toronto at the age of one hundred years. When Mr. White
was seven years of age he was sent to Bond Head, Simcoe County, where
he was bound as an apprentice, and a few years later drove Thomas
Rouche s stage between York and Niagara until 1810. His advantages of
education, like the youth of that day, were very limited. He never attended

City of Toronto. 171

school but one day, and on that day fell into a dispute with his school-mate,
Allan McNab (afterwards Sir Allan McNab), and gave him a severe
thrashing ; for fear of being chastised by his teacher he failed to return.
This circumstance caused the two juvenile pugilists to become fast friends,
and whenever, in after years, Sir Allan was in York he never failed to call
upon his friend White. As Mr. White advanced in life he saw the benefits
to be derived from an education, and from his meagre earnings purchased
some school books ; with industry and great perseverance he mastered the
common English branches, which fitted him for a useful and eventful life. He
served at the taking of Detroit and the Battle of Queenston Heights. He was
present at the battle of York, where he was taken prisoner of war with the
York Militia. When brought before the American Commander, Major
General Dearborn, his American accent was at once detected ; Major-
General Dearborn enquired, " What are you doing here, young man, fight
ing against your country ? " Mr. White replied, " General, I will not deny
my nationality, nor am I fighting against my country ; if a country is worth
living in it is worth fighting for ; I am fighting for my home and my family
who reside here." " That s right, my boy, you are a brave fellow," said
the General, who immediately paroled him. After serving until the close
of the war he received, in 1848, from the Crown for his bravery a silver
medal. Previous to the war he married Nancy, eldest daughter of Jacob
Snider, of Eglinton, York County, by whom he had one daughter. He
subsequently kept the old Red Lion Hotel in Yorkville, and afterwards
located at the corner of James and Albert Streets, where he lived many
years. He early acquired the trade of mason and bricklayer, and was
concerned in the erection of many fine and substantial buildings in the city,
among which were St. James s Cathedral, and Osgoode Hall. The first
fire company that was organized in York counted him among its members.
At the time of his death, 1878, he was one of the oldest members of the
York Pioneers, being eighty-six years of age. He earned for himself a
reputation, second to none, for intelligence, honesty and an undivided
application to business. His second marriage was in 1838, to Jane, the
widow of Thomas Carroll, and a daughter of the late John Mclntosh, by
whom there was no issue.

JAMES WICKSON, deceased, was born at Walworth, near London, Eng
land, in 1794, and in 1834 emigrated to Canada, and settled in Toronto.
He engaged in the butcher business, and occupied a store in the Market,
which he carried on until a little previous to his death. He married Miss
Jane Tuesman, by whom he had ten children, eight of whom are still living,
and three of them residing in this city. John Wickson, the second son, was

172 Biographical Notices.

born in England in 1817, and came to Canada with his father. He also
engaged in butchering, and had a stall in the Market until 1870, after
which he became interested in real estate. In 1836 Mr. Wickson married
Miss Eliza Chilver, daughter of Joseph Chilver, who emigrated to this
country in 1833. He had eleven children, nine of whom are still living.

HON. CHRISTOPHER WIDMER. (From the Weekly Globe, May 5, 1858.)
The venerable gentleman whose name heads this paragraph died on
Monday morning at four o clock. On Sunday at noon he had gone to visit
the grave of an only son, recently deceased, to whom he was deeply
attached, when he was. seized with a fit, was conveyed home, and notwith
standing all the efforts of the medical men, expired on the following
morning. Dr. Widner was a member of the Royal College of Surgeons,
and was formerly Staff Surgeon attached to the Fourteenth Light Dragoons.
He served through nearly the whole of the Peninsular War, for which he
held the medal with five clasps for Vittoria, Salamanca,. Fuentes d Onoro,
Busaco and Talavera. He came to this country before the close ot the
American War, and resided in Toronto until his death ; he was consequently
one of the oldest inhabitants of the city. In 1849 Dr. Widmer was
appointed a member of the Legislative Council. For many years he
occupied the first rank in his profession in Toronto, being constantly in
every important and critical case, and was highly valued for his courage,
promptitude and skill. He was at times somewhat rough, retaining a little
the manner of the army, but he was essentially kind-hearted, and many
grieved for the loss of their frank and reliable medical adviser. In his long
and successful practice he accumulated a large fortune. He left two
daughters, one unmarried, the other the wife of George M. Hawke, Esq.
He was within a few days of the seventy-eighth year of his age.

JOHN WIGHTMAN, retired, was born in Brampton, Cumberland, England,
in 1806. His parents were Robert and Mary (Davidson) Wightman ; his
mother died in England in 1818. In 1834 he came to Canada with his
father, who was a manufacturer of worsted goods. His father died in
Toronto in 1860. After he came out here John Wightman and his brother
George opened a dry goods store and straw bonnet manufactory on King
Street, near Yonge ; at the end of three months they removed to where
Catto s store now is, on King Street, which they held until 1874, when they
sold the business to Mr. Catto ; they were in business there for sixteen
years. Mr. Wightman is now retired from business. In 1838 he married
a daughter of Captain Jago, from .Plymouth, England, by whom he had one
son, who is now living at Deer Park ; she died in 1849. In 1850 he married
Elizabeth Hayward, who was born in Hampshire, England, in 1802; she

City of Toronto. 173

died in 1877. Mr. Wightman had no children by his second marriage. He
is a reformer in politics, and a Congregationalist in religion ; he is a deacon
in his church. Mr. Wightman had three sisters, the eldest Mrs. Burns, who
died in Yorkville, 1846 ; the second, Margaret Wightman, who died in
Toronto, 1875 5 an( ^ * ne youngest, Mrs. Evans, who died in Cobourg, 1869.

ROBERT WILKES, deceased. In the records of Toronto many names
occur to a long resident which fail not, when recalled, to stir some cherished
memory of departed years. The subject of our present brief memoir is one
of those, and consequently deserving of more than ordinary notice. Of
Irish birth, he displayed all those qualities ability, energy and quicksight-
edness, traits of character common among his countrymen which assist
materially that success which is generally their lot when free from the
political evils that do so much to retard progress on their native soil.
Robert Wilkes was born in Tulleham, County Leitrim, Ireland, June 24.
1832. He came to Toronto with his mother in 1848, and was one of a
family of seven children, his father having died in Ireland. On the settle
ment of the family here, Robert was immediately placed in the mercantile
house of his maternal uncle, Mr. R. H. Brett. In 1852 he engaged as clerk
with Rossin Bros., Jewellers, with whom he remained until their retirement
from business in 1858. Mr. Wilkes then commenced business on his own
account and, four years later, secured premises on Yonge Street, Nos. 48 and
50. Encouraged by his success in Toronto, he opened a branch house in
Montreal. From this time forward his success was assured, and the
honours afterwards falling to his lot were not less earned than deserved.
In the year 1871 he became Director of the Bank of Commerce, and two
years later he was elected a member of the Dominion Parliament, as repre
sentative of Central Toronto, In religious matters Mr. Wilkes was an
example, his own body (the Methodists) having during his lifetime received
from him material assistance. He was a Trustee of Bloor Street Methodist
Church, and was instrumental in procuring the extensive alterations and
improvements recently made in that edifice. He was for many years
Treasurer of the Irish Protestant Benevolent Society, and was also a
member of the Board of Trade. Mr. Wilkes lost his life in a noble and
praiseworthy endeavour to save his son and daughter from death by drown
ing off Sturgeon Point and, ere assistance could be rendered, he and those
he attempted to rescue found a watery grave. Thus perished one of those
citizens whose name is connected with the rise and progress of the city ;
enterprising, honourable and courageous, his life is a guidance to the rising
generation, and his success exemplifies what may be the result of a laudable

174 Biographical Notices.

and unselfish ambition. Mr. Wilkes married on July 23, 1863, Martha,
daughter of Dr. Cooke, of London, England.

WILLIAM WILKINS was born in County Cork, Ireland. In 1834 he came
to Canada, and locating in Toronto, opened a store, and engaged in the
mercantile business. He first commenced on King Street, but shortly
afterwards removed to where the house of Gooderham now stands. He
remained here twenty years, and then returned to King Street, and after
spending two years in the latter thoroughfare he retired from the business.
He has since been largely engaged in the erection of houses and, in con
nection with his son, has built over one hundred houses in the eastern
portion of the city. He married, in 1840, Miss Margaret May, of Queen s
County, Ireland, by whom he had nine children, six of whom are yet living,
four sons and two daughters.

JAMES M. WILLIAMS, Gas Company Lamp Inspector, is a native of
Sittingbourne, Kent, England, and is the youngest son of Captain William
Williams, of the Mediterranean Steamship Line, who married Miss
Matilda Love, also of Sittingbourne. Mr. Williams came to Toronto in
1869, and in 1882 took his present position. In 1867 he married Elizabeth
M. Etall, of Dover, Kent, England.

JAMES A. WILLIAMSON, barrister, 18 St. Mary s Street, is a native of
Gait, Ontario, the eldest son of Robert Williamson, merchant, born in
Ross-shire, Scotland, who married Jessie Bethune, of the same county, and
came to Canada about 1864. Mr. Williamson received his primary educa
tion at the Central School, Gait, and afterwards under Dr. Isaac. He was
articled to W. H. Beatty, and in 1879 passed his final examination, and
was called to the Bar.

THOMAS P. WORTHY, Yorkville, was born in Yorkshire, England, in
1810. He came to York in 1831, and having no trade he went out on to
the Huron track and worked three years at farming. He then returned to
Toronto, and on August 4, 1834, married Ann Scaling, the wedding being
solemnized in Upper Canada College. After this event he was engaged in
the making of soda water and ginger beer, for thirty years. He was in the
Rebellion of 1837. He is a Conservative in politics, and in religion a
member of the English Church. His eldest son is employed with George
Pearse, coffee and spice manufacturer, corner of Yonge and Maitland Streets.

J. W. WONCH, general agent, 270 Parliament Street, Toronto, was
born in Markham Township, August 10, 1837. His father was John
R. Wonch, a native of Prussia, who, with his parents settled on lot 20,
Concession 4, in Markham Township, on ist January, 1794, the said

City of Toronto. 175

John R. Wonch then being only five years old. The mother of John
W. Wonch was Ann Amelia Shoults, who, it is stated, was the first Euro
pean child born in Little York (now Toronto), she was born, October 20,
1794. There were born to John and Anne Wonch four sons and two
daughters, who all lived to years of maturity, the subject of this sketch
being the youngest. J. W. Wonch received a common and High School
education. Having finished his studies he followed the vocation of a
teacher for fourteen years. He then tried farming for two years, when he
entered the employment of the Massey Manufacturing Company, with which
Company he has been for over twelve years. He married Miss H. M.
Verro, daughter of Augustus and Sophia (Reynolds) Verro, of Stouffville,
October 22, 1854, by whom he has four daughters and one son. Mr.
Wonch has always been a staunch Reformer.

GEORGE H. WRIGHT, M.D., M.A., M.B., was born in Brampton, Ontario,
1838. He received his early education at Streetsville, removing afterwards
to Victoria College, Cobourg, where he received B.A. in 1862, and M.A.
in 1867; in the same year he graduated at Toronto University, M.B., and
at once commenced practice in this city, where he has since remained, and
succeeded in establishing an excellent connection. He was Demonstrator
of Anatomy in the Toronto School of Medicine for twelve sessions, and is
at present Assistant Lecturer on Materia Medica and Therapeutics. He
is a member of the staff of the Toronto General Hospital, and also the
Hospital for Sick Children. He is a lecturer on the Practice of Medicine
in the Women s Medical College, Visiting Physician to the Home of
Incurables, was a member of the School Board for eight years, during two
of which he filled the position of Chairman, and is at present a member of
Toronto Free Library Committee. Dr. Wright married Miss N. Wrong,
by whom he has one son, George N. B. In politics he is a Conservative.

City of Toronto.

[The following sketch was received too late for insertion in its proper order.]
THE LATE PAUL KANE, Canadian artist. In the earlier numbers of the
new series of the Canadian Journal, several papers on various Indian tribes
of the North-West, from the pen of Paul Kane, attracted considerable
attention, as the results of travel and personal observation in the remote
Hudson s Bay Territory and beyond the Rocky Mountains. Their author
had long been known in Canada as a self-taught artist of great promise,
who had devoted himself to the study of the native Indian tribes of British
North America ; and the contributions to that journal were the first pub
lished results of explorations, the fruits of which were afterwards set forth
in more comprehensive form in his " Wanderings of an Artist among the
Indians of North America," published by Messrs. Longman & Co., of London,
in 1859. His father, Mr. Michael Kane, was originally in the British Army,
and served latterly, we believe, in the small force which accompanied
Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe when he removed to the selected site of the
future capital of Western Canada, in 1794. On his leaving the army, he
settled in the newly-founded city, where his son was born in 1810. Toronto
was then and long afterwards a very humble little backwoods settlement.
The Indians, whose wigwams occupied the cleared ground near the
mouth of the Don when Colonel Bouchette made his first survey in 1793,
long continued to haunt this favourite spot ; while an Indian trail through
the partially cleared pine forest to the old French fort and another
northward to Holland Landing were the precursors of the long lines of
costly stores, hotels and public buildings which now extend for miles along
King and Yonge Streets. In the midst of this conflict between the artless
rudeness of savage life and the progressive energy of the Anglo-Saxon
colonist young Paul grew up from boyhood, with few external influences
calculated in the slightest degree to stimulate artistic tastes, or to direct
his attention to the study of Indian manners and customs ; for the Indian,
as seen in his worst debasement, haunting the centres of new civilization,
is little calculated to attract the eye of the artist or ethnical observer.
Nevertheless, Mr. Kane remarks, in the preface to his " Travels," when
referring to his resolution to devote himself to painting a series of studies
of North American scenery and Indian life : " The subject was one in which
I felt a deep interest in my boyhood. I had been accustomed to see hun
dreds of Indians about my native village, then Little York, muddy and
dirty, just struggling into existence, now the City of Toronto, bursting forth
in all its energy and commercial strength." The youth of the future artist
and traveller was passed amid all the disadvantages pertaining to the
infancy of the embryo city. What little education he had was mainly

Biographical Notices.

received at the District Grammar School. There also he obtained what
ever instruction he received in the art to which he was to devote his life
from Mr. Drury, a clever but eccentric teacher of drawing. But his early
manifestations of an artistic bias were regarded as the mere purposeless
amusements of a boy ; and his disinclination for the ordinary trading pur
suits, which alone promised profitable occupation in the young settlement,
seemed to unappreciative seniors only a further proof of his distaste for the
restraints of steady industry. The circumstances of the community were
indeed too frequently inimical to the fostering of settled habits among its
youth. Dr. Scadding has remarked, when describing the first years of the
District Grammar School, that " during the time of the early settlements
in this country, the sons of even the most respectable families were brought
into contact with semi-barbarous characters. A sporting ramble through
the woods, a fishing excursion on the waters, could not be undertaken
without communication with Indians and Half-breeds, and bad specimens
of the French voyageur. It was from such sources that a certain idea
was derived, which, as we remember, was in great vogue among the more
t fractious of the lads at the school at York. The proposition circulated
about, whenever anything went counter to their notions, always was to run
away to the Nor -West. What that process really involved, or what the
Nor -West precisely was, were things vaguely realized. A sort of savage
land of Cocaigne, a region of perfect freedom among the Indians, was
imagined, and to reach it Lakes Huron and Superior were to be traversed."
In this way young Kane s mind was early familiarized with the idea of that
expedition across the continent, to ocean shores beyond the Rocky Moun
tains, of which he has left so many memorials by means of his facile pencil
and pen. The first industrial pursuits of the boy appear to have been
carried on in the employment of Mr. Conger, subsequently Sheriff of Peter
borough, but then engaged in the manufacture of household furniture. In
this occupation his latent talent found expression in the ornamentation of
various pieces of furniture, till he began to be recognized as one whose
artistic abilities deserved encouragement. But in his native village no
works of art existed to furnish the slightest hint to the aspiring boy. and no
teacher could be found to supply adequate instruction. He was thus a
purely self-taught artist. ^ Some of his crude efforts at portraiture would
probably have amused himself at a later date. But his early patrons were,
fortunately, not too critical ; and thus he was enabled to overcome the first
difficulties of his artistic career, and to save a little money for making an
independent start in life. His first scene of artistic labour after leaving
Toronto was Cobourg, where portraits of Sheriff and Mrs. Conger, her

City of Toronto.

sister, Mrs. Perry, Sheriff Ruttan, and others of his early patrons were
executed. By this means he acquired sufficient funds to enable him to set
off for the neighbouring States, there to try his fortune as a portrait
painter, in the hope of accumulating the requisite means for the bold
project he had already formed of visiting Europe and perfecting himself
in his favourite art by studying the works of the great masters. A letter
from his father, addressed to him at Detroit, in 1836, speaks of difficulties
that " will probably prevent your Italian excursion." Thereafter he is
found, at various dates between that and the year 1841, at Mobile, St.
Louis, and other American cities, closing with New Orleans, whence he
set sail, in June of the latter year, for Marseilles. The following four
years were spent by Paul Kane in some of the great cities of Europe,
studying and copying the works of the Italian masters. Unfortunately,
a journal which he kept during this period has perished ; so that
the details of his continental sojourn are no longer recoverable. But
we trace him, by means of his passports and other evidence, at Paris,
Genoa, Milan, Verona, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples.
While in the latter city, he availed himself of an offered passage in a
Levantine cruder, and visited the coasts both of Asia and Africa. He
joined a party of Syrian explorers, and was already on his way to Jerusa
lem, when they were deserted by their Arab guides, and, after being
exposed to great danger, were compelled to return to the coast, and
abandon the attempt. This failure to accomplish a visit to the most sacred
scenes of the ancient historic world was always a subject of mortifying
reflection to him. It was on his return -from this unsuccessful pilgrimage
that he landed on some part of the African shore ; and so was able to say,
on regaining his Canadian home, that he had been in every quarter of the
globe. Mr. Kane brought back with him, as the fruits of his four years
professional tour, copies of famous pictures in the galleries of Venice,
Florence and Rome. His mind had been enlarged by observation, and by
intimate intercourse with artists trained in the best schools of Europe. A
letter of introduction, given to him by an Irish artist, whose friendship he
had acquired while in Rome, is addressed to the Right Rev. Dr. Purcell,
Bishop of Cincinnati, in which the latter is urged by no means to miss the
opportunity of seeing Mr. Kane s " admirable copy of Raffaelle s portrait of
Pope Paul II." He also copied some of the most prized pictures in the
Palazzo Pitti, at Florence ; and on his return, brought with him well-
executed paintings from Raffaelle s Madonna in the Pitti Palace, and his
portrait of Pope Julius II. ; Leonardo da Vinci s and Rembrandt s fine
portraits of themselves, in the Florentine gallery ; Murillo s Madonna,in

Biographical Notices.

the Orsini Palace at Rome, and other favourite artistic studies ; along
with a highly finished copy of Busato s portrait of Pope Gregory XVI.
Stewart Watson, a well-known Scottish artist, appears to have been one of
his special friends while in Italy. They returned together from Italy to
London, and there for a time shared the same lodgings and studio, " at
Mr. Martin s, Russell Street." Another of his brother artists, and fellow-
travellers while in Italy, Mr. Hope James Stewart, thus writes to him from
Edinburgh : " After London, this place looks like a dead city, and reminds
me much of the way you and I felt the quietness of Rome, after our trip to
that noisy and favourite place, Naples." In 1844, Mr. Kane returned to
Canada, with all the prestige of a skilled artist, who by his own unaided
energy had overcome every obstacle, and achieved for himself opportunities
of studying the works of the great masters in the most famous galleries of
Europe. He was now to display the same indomitable energy and self-
reliance in widely different scenes. In the preface to his " Wanderings of
an Artist among the Indians of North America," he remarks : " On my
return to Canada from the continent of Europe, I determined to devote
whatever talents and proficiency I possessed to the painting of a series of
pictures illustrative of the North American Indians and* scenery." On
applying to Sir George Simpson, the Governor of the Hudson s Bay Com
pany, and showing him studies of Indians he had already made, Sir George
entered cordially into his plan ; furnished him with letters of introduction
to the chief factors of the Company s posts, and ordered him a passage in
the brigade of canoes which was to start for Lake Superior in the spring of
1846. But before his arrangements could be completed including all the
miscellaneous supplies required for an artistic tour through regions where
it would be vain to seek for the most simple appliances of his art the
voyageurs had set out, and he only succeeded in joining them, after much
toil and hardship, before the party reached the mountain pass, forty miles
above the Hudson s Bay Fort on the Kaministiquia River, at the head of
Lake Superior. Mr. Kane s romantic experiences and adventures during
the next four years are detailed with graphic truthfulness in the volume
published by him in 1859. He crossed the continent in canoe and on foot,
made his way up the valley of the Saskatchewan, and over the vast prairies
beyond it, stretching westward to the Rocky Mountains. Crossing them,
he navigated the Columbia River to Oregon, visited and explored Puget s
Sound, Vancouver s Island, and other regions of the then savage west :
Avhich, though now rapidly filling up with European settlers, are described
by him as " those wild scenes, amongst which I strayed almost alone, and
scarcely meeting a white man, or hearing the sound of my own language."

City of Toronto.

Everywhere his pencil was busily employed on portraits of chiefs, warriors,
an.d medicine-men of the Indian tribes ; and on hunting scenes, games,
dances, and other characteristic native rites and customs. He pictured
various of the Flathead Indians, of the Cowlitz, Chinook, Newatee, and
other tribes ; had opportunities of studying the Crees,- Blackfeet, Chimp-
seyabs, Clalams and others, including even the Esquimaux ; and was
everywhere received among them with mingled respect and apprehension,
as a great medicine-man, whose reproduction of their likenesses by his
mysterious art was supposed to give him some strange power over them.
Among the most striking of the Indian portraits executed by him, is one of
Kea-keke-Sacowaw, head chief of the Crees, whom he met when travelling
on the Saskatchewan, engaged in raising a war-party against the Black-
feet. He had with him eleven decorated pipe-stems, ten of which were the
pledges of as many chiefs engaged to join him in the proposed expedition.
On learning that the artist was a great medicine-man, he agreed to exhibit
to him the pipe-stems, in the belief that his sketching them would greatly
increase their efficiency when opened on the war-path. A pipe-bowl was
accordingly filled with tobacco and some aromatic weed ; the chief chaunted
a war-song ; and then inserting one of the stems into the bowl, he lighted
it, inhaled the smoke, and blew a long cloud upwards. This was his
offering to the Great Spirit, whom he invoked to confer success on their
expedition. Another prolonged puff, directed eastward, was followed
by an appeal to the earth to produce an abundant supply of roots and
buffalo for the coming season. The third was directed to Kane himself,
with a request for his influence on their behalf. He had then to smoke
all the eleven pipes ; and thus enlisted in the cause, the portrait he
then painted of the grim old chief, adorned with his war-paint, and holding
in his hand his own pipe-stem, decorated with the head and plumage of
an eagle, was esteemed a great medicine, calculated to contribute materially
to the success of the war-party. At length, after many wild adventures
and hair-breadth escapes, Mr. Kane returned to Toronto in 1848 with a
valuable portfolio of studies of Indians and scenery of the great North-
West. While still at the Saskatchewan he received from Sir George
Simpson a commission for a dozen paintings of " buffalo hunts, Indian
camps, councils, feasts, conjuring matches, dances, warlike exhibitions, or
any other pieces of savage life you may consider to be most attractive or
interesting." Other commissions followed ; and in 1851, by a vote of the
Legislature of the Province of Canada, he was authorized to execute a
series of Indian pictures which now hang in the Parliamentary library at
Ottawa. But his most liberal patron was the Hon. G. W. Allan, to whom

Biographical Notices.

he subsequently dedicated the narrative of his travels, " as a token of
gratitude for the kind and generous interest he has always taken in the
author s labours ; as well as a sincere expression of admiration of the
liberality with which, as a native Canadian, he is ever ready to foster
Canadian talent and enterprise." In 1853 Mr. Kane married Miss Harriet
Clench, of Cobourg, a lady who, among other attractions, had a skill with
her pencil and brush akin to his own. Thus happily domesticated with a
companion able to sympathize with him in his artistic labours, Mr. Kane
devoted himself to the execution of an extensive series of oil paintings,
including one hundred pictures of Indian scenes, landscapes, portraits and
groups, now in the Hon. G. W. Allan s collection at Moss Park. There
also a very curious collection of Indian implements, weapons, masks,
drums, carvings and other specimens of native art, obtained by Mr. Kane,
during his travels in the North-West, is now preserved. In 1857 he
re-visited Europe, and superintended the execution of- the chromo-litho-
graphic illustrations of his travels. On his return to Toronto in the follow
ing year, he resumed his pencil, and indulged in the long cherished hope of
being able to follow up that volume by a more extensive work, illustrative
of the characteristics, habits and tribal peculiarities of the Indians of British
North America, and the scenery of the regions they occupy. But soon after
his return to Canada his eyesight began to fail, and he had scarcely comple ted
the liberal commission of Mr. Allan, when he was compelled entirely to
abandon the favourite art, which till then he had pursued with such energetic
zeal in defiance of every impediment. Mr. Kane had, at least in his later years,
somewhat of the quiet unimpressible manner of the Indians, among whom
he had spent some of the most eventful years of his life. A reviewer in the
Athenceum, in noticing the published narrative of his travels, described him
as " an American artist, who had studied in Europe, and apparently unites
the refinement of the Old World with the Indian energy of the New." His
memory was singularly retentive ; and, in spite of his reserved manner, his
descriptive powers were great when he could be induced to give them
free scope. In the company of those who did not sympathize with his
favourite pursuits, his words were few and abrupt ; but he was a man of
acute observation, and, when questioned by an intelligent inquirer, abounded
with curious information in reference to the native tribes among whom he
had sojourned. His published narrative is a modest, but interesting and
vivid description of novel scenes and incidents of travel ; and his career is
a creditable instance of the pursuits of a favourite art, by a self-taught
artist, in spite of the most discouraging impediments to success.

TOWNSHIP OF YORK

TOWNSHIP OF YORK (EAST).

HOMAS WINSLOW ANDERSON, retired, was born in the
Township of York in 1809, being the son of Cornelius and
Mary (Snider) Anderson. His father was born in Scotland,
and came to America in 1754, when only two years old, in
company with his mother and two brothers. In the year 1776
he joined the British Army under Colonel Allen and served
through the whole campaign of the Revolutionary War, in
which service he remained until disbanded in New Brunswick. He then
came to York County in 1804, accompanied by his wife and family, consist
ing of nine children. He located on lot n, concession i, York Township,
where he resided until about 1835. During the War of 1812 he lost a horse
which the Government had pressed into service, and it was not until some
years afterwards that he received any compensation, and then only to the
amount of $13. He died in 1848, aged ninety-six years, leaving a family
of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. The subject of this sketch
learned the watchmaking business with James McKenzie, with whom he
served for four years. In 1832 he began business for himself, and continued
it until 1854. In 1835 he married Jane Drummond, daughter of Colin
Drummond, a native of Scotland and a member of the first corporation of
York, by whom he had ten children. In 1869 he removed to a farm in the
Township of York, where he now resides. Mr. Anderson is a Reformer in
politics, and a Presbyterian in religion.

W. C. ALISON was born at Pickering, Ontario, and came to York
County in 1880, having accepted the position of foreman in the saw-mill of
Mr. J. H. Taylor, the working capacity of which is twelve thousand feet of
lumber per day, and gives employment to fourteen hands.

180 Biographical Notices.

JOSEPH ARMSTRONG, lot 3, concession 4, the eldest son of Edward
Armstrong of this township, was born in 1837 on the old homestead, where
he remained until 1868. He then settled on a farm which had previously
been purchased by his father on lot 3, concession 4, containing sixty-two
acres, which he has greatly improved and continues to cultivate. In 1861
he married Miss Eliza Porter, of York Township, who die d in 1874, leaving
six children.

SAMUEL ARNOLD, proprietor of the brick works, Doncaster, is a native
of Northamptonshire, England, and came to Canada in 1871. He learned
his trade in England and afterwards worked about nine years in the English
metropolis. On his arrival in Canada he worked for Pears, of Toronto,
taking charge of the brick-machine. In 1877 he commenced to manufac
ture bricks on his own account near his present location. He employs ten
hands and turns out about eight hundred thousand bricks per annum.

THE ASHBRIDGE FAMILY were originally " Penn Quakers" and emigrated
from England before the War of Independence, and settled in Philadelphia.
After the close of the war, the father being dead, the mother and two sons,
John and Jonathan, came to Canada. This was in 1793, an< ^ on arriving
at York they stayed the first night in the old French fort, subsequently
making their way to what is now known as " Ashbridge s Bay." Being
(J.E. Loyalists they drew land from the Crown and settled on lot 8, con
cession i, broken front east of the Don. John and Jonathan participated
in the War of 1812 and the Rebellion of 1837-8, and died on the homestead
on the shore of the Bay. Isaac Ashbridge, farmer, is the son of Jonathan
mentioned above, and was born at the bay, February 17, 1811. When
eight years of age he attended school in the old Simcoe house east of the
Don, the teacher being Mr. Stark. Isaac remained at home with his
parents until he was thirty-two years of age, his father dying two years
later, in 1845. He married, in 1850, Ruth Auburn, a native of Northum
berland, England. Mr. Ashbridge has been in the York Township Council
two years. He is a Reformer in politics and was commissioned a Justice
of the Peace, but did not qualify. He is a member of the Methodist
Church. Jesse Ashbridge, deceased, youngest brother of Isaac, was born
on the old home farm in 1825. He married, in 1864, Elizabeth, daughter
of Thomas Rooney. His death occurred in 1874.

MARK BARKER, deceased, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1801,
and in 1830 came to Canada and located in Little York, and engaged in
farming. In 1834 he purchased one hundred acres on lot 5, concession 3,

Township of York (East), 181

which he cleared and continued to cultivate until his death in 1869. He
married Miss Ann Jaffrays, also from Lincolnshire, England, the result of
this union being six children, four of whom are living and reside in the
county. Mark, the eldest son living, was born on the old farm in 1843,
where he has always remained, and which he is now in possession of.

THOMAS BEATTY, retired, was born in New Brunswick in 1825, being
the youngest in a family of five sons and two daughters, born to James and
Margaret (Potter) Beatty. His father who was a farmer, came out to
Canada in 1824 ; his mother was a native of Glasgow, Scotland. Both his
parents returned to Ireland, where they died. Thomas Beatty came to
Toronto in 1840, and worked on Jonathan Ashbridge s farm for ten years.
He then kept the Commercial Hotel on Jarvis Street for four years, and
the Prospect Hotel for fourteen years, after which he retired. In 1865 he
married Ella Winnett, by whom he had two sons and three daughters. Mr.
Beatty is a generous and consistent member of the Methodist Church.

JAMES BELL, deceased, was born in the County Fermanagh, Ireland, in
1814, and at the age of twenty emigrated to Canada and settled in the
Township of York. In 1833 he bought eighty acres of land on lots 23 and
24, concession 4, east of Yonge Street, which he cleared, improved and
remained on until his death in 1860. He married in 1843 Miss Martha
Cherry, by whom he had four children. John, the only surviving son, was
born on the old homestead, which is now known as Clydesdale Farm,
where he has always remained, and now owns, having added since his
father s death sixty acres on lot 25, concession 4; forty-five acres on lot 23,
concession 3, and ninety acres in Markham Township, lot 16, concession 5 ;
owning two hundred and seventy-five acres in all. In 1883 he married
Miss Hannah Morgan, daughter of John Morgan, of Scarboro .

JAMES BEST was born in Berkshire, England, in 1807, where he learned
the trade of carpenter, which he worked at until coming to Canada in 1850,
and which he has also followed since his settlement here. In 1852 he
purchased five acres on the Kingston Road, which he has continued to
cultivate up to the present time. In 1842 he married Miss Helen Mills, of
Surrey, England, by whom he has five children.

ROBERT BOND, deceased, was born in Suffolk, England, in 1778, where
he remained until 1829. He then emigrated to Canada, and first located
in the Township of East York. In 1826 he purchased one hundred acres
of unenclosed land which he fenced and improved until his death in 1852-

1 82 Biographical Notices.

Mr. Bond married Miss Mary Palmer, a native of the same place, by whom
he had six children. Thomas Bond was born in England in 1817, and
came to Canada with his father, and has always remained on the old home
stead, which he now owns. In 1854 ne married Miss Mary Manning, by
whom he had four children, three of whom are living in the county.

FRANK BOSTON was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1847, and came to
Canada in the spring of 1869. He has been a resident of Ben Lamond since
1871, and was first in the employment of the Toronto Gravel and Concrete
Company as manager, in which capacity he superintended the construction
of the tramway. In 1872 he married Miss Maggie Flynn, of Portland,
Maine, by whom he had four children. In 1877 he erected a store and
boarding establishment on his present location, which was burned down in
the beginning of 1884. He now does a large bakery trade.

THOMAS BOTHAN was born in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England,
in 1809, and in 1836 emigrated to Canada, and first settled near Brampton.
In 1874 ne purchased fifty acres of land in McGillivray Township, Middle
sex County, and afterwards two hundred acres near Mimico Station, which
eventually was bought by the Government. In 1872 he purchased his
present property containing one hundred acres on lot 12, concession i,
where he continues to reside. In 1833 he married Miss Eliza Stott, who is
a native of Yorkshire, England, by whom he has five children, four of whom
are living in this county. George, the youngest son was born in 1857, and
lives on the old homestead with his father. In 1878 he married Miss
Catharine Smith, daughter of William Smith, by whom he has one son.

JOSEPH BRAUN, proprietor of the Woodbine Hotel, his occupancy of
which commenced with the beginning of 1884, came from England in 1883.
The hotel is beautifully situated, and commands a fine view of Toronto and
Lake Ontario, and comfortably accommodates upwards of thirty guests. A
tram car passes every half hour, by means of which passengers may reach
the city in twenty minutes. Mr. Braun is well acquainted with the hotel
business, his wife having had charge of four refreshment rooms on the
London and North-Western Railway, England.

WILLIAM H. BROTHERSTON is the only son of William Brotherston,
deceased, who was born in Scotland in 1813, and came to Canada in 1832.
He settled in Toronto, and engaged in the trade of a blacksmith, his shop
being located at the foot of Church Street, where he conducted one of the
largest establishments of that kind in the city up to 1879. He married

Township of York (East). 183

Miss Isabel Murray, of Caithness, Scotland, by whom he had four children,
two sons and two daughters, of whom only three are living, one daughter
having died. William H. was born in Toronto in 1848, and has always
been a resident of the county. Having learned the trade of blacksmith
from his father he opened a shop at Little York, where he carries on a
general trade including carriage-making. In 1878 he married Miss Emily
Newman, of St. Catharines, who died three years afterwards. His second

wife was Miss Ellen McGill, daughter of William McGill, of Toronto
Township.

JAMES BROWN, deceased, was born in Cumberland, England, in 1801.
In 1819 he enlisted in the 34th Light Infantry, which came to Canada in
1834, an d took part in the Rebellion three years later. In 1843 Mr. Brown
received his discharge, and commenced working at his trade of tailor,
which he followed until his death. His wife was Amelia Batchelor, to
whom he was married in 1823, and who still survives him. James, the
youngest son by the marriage, was born in 1846, on the old homestead in
Eglinton, which he now owns, and where he still resides. Mr. Brown has
held the office of County Constable since 1869. In 1874 ne married Miss
Lottie Ely, daughter of John Ely, of Ingersoll, by whom he has one son and
one daughter.

WILLIAM BRUNSKILL, proprietor of the Davisville Hotel, was born in
York County, his father, John Brunskill, being a native of England who
emigrated to Canada at an early day. He settled in Thornhill, and carried
on the business of merchant, miller and farmer, to the time of his death,
which occurred in 1870. William followed his father s business of farmer,
and in addition ran a line of busses from Eglinton to Toronto, he being
the first to commence running on that route. In 1877 he leased and took
possession of his present place of business, since purchasing the same,
which in his hands loses nothing as a suitable suburban resort.

THOMAS BURKE, deceased, was born in the County of Wexford,
Ireland, in 1780. In 1817 he emigrated to Canada and first located in
Perth, Lanark County, where he remained seven years, subsequently
coming to York and settling on one hundred acres of land, which he had
purchased, together with an additional one hundred acres given him by his
father, on lots 3 and 5, concession 3, which he cleared and continued to
cultivate until his death in 1841, About the year 1800 he married Miss
Ann Wheelock, of County Wexford, Ireland, by whom he had six children,
four of whom are living. John, the eldest son, was born in Wexford in

184 Biographical Notices.

1811, and came to this country with his parents, since which time he has
been a resident of York, and owns one hundred acres on lot 2, and one
hundred acres on lot 3, concession 2.

HENRY CALANDER, the subject of this sketch, was born in Scarboro
Township, and has always been a resident of the county. He has been
proprietor of the Calander Hotel, Leslieville, for twelve years, previous to
which he was engaged in farming at Scarboro . Mr. Calander is the son
of the late John Calander, who came to Canada in 1812. In 1862 he married
Miss Jane Weaymouth, of Willmouth, by whom he has seven children.
His hotel property has a frontage of one hundred and fifty feet by five
hundred feet, and has accommodation for forty guests, and has one ot the
best stables on the Kingston Road.

GEORGE COOPER, deceased, was born in England in 1841. In 1846 he
came to Canada, and in 1861 began gardening, purchasing seven acres on
Pape s Avenue, where he remained until his death in 1878, since which time
his business has been carried on by his widow. In 1861 he married Miss
Catharine Manus, by whom he had seven children.

RICHARD C. COSBURN is a native of London, England, where he was
born in 1834. In 1857 he emigrated to Canada, and first located on King
ston Road, York Township, where he followed the trade of carpenter, also
gardener. In 1872 he purchased twelve acres on lot 8, concession 2, which
he has very much improved, and at the present time does a considerable
trade in market gardening, and growing small fruits. He married in 1857
Miss Louisa Palmer.

GEORGE COULSON is the third son of John Coulson, an old resident of
this township, and was born on the old homestead in 1850, where he
remained until 1878, afterwards settling on lot 3, concession 3, his farm
consisting of one hundred acres. In 1878 he married Elizabeth, daughter
of Jesse Henry, of Scarboro , by whom he has two daughters and one son.

GEORGE CUDMORE, deceased, was born in Devonshire, England, in
1806, and in 1842 emigrated to Canada and took up his residence in the
Township of East York, where he remained until his death in 1883. Soon
after his arrival he commenced gardening in a small way, subsequently
buying a farm on lot n, concession 3, where he carried on that business
until his death. In 1835 he married Miss Eleanor Rudd, of England, by
whom he had twelve children, three of whom are living. John Cudmore, the

Township of York (East). 185

second son, was born in England in 1839, and came to Canada with his
parents. In 1860 he purchased a farm on lot 15, concession 2, on which he
has carried on a successful gardening business, cultivating upwards of forty
acres in vegetables, etc. In 1860 Mr. Cudmore married Miss Elizabeth
Brown, daughter of John Brown, of York Township, by whom he had seven
children, six of whom are living.

GEORGE DIGBY, harness manufacturer and proprietor of the Coleman
Hotel, Little York. Mr. Digby has been engaged in the manufacture of
harness in York County for the last twenty years. He was born in Dublin,
Ireland, and came to Canada in 1852 and located in Toronto, subsequently
removing to Markham, where he stayed fifteen years. He again returned
to the city and, after a prolonged residence there, came to his present loca
tion in 1884. In 1868 he married Miss Mary Jane Wilson, by whom he
has five children.

JOHN DOEL, deceased, was born in Wiltshire, England, in 1790, where
he remained until 1817. He then determined to seek his fortune in the
New World, and accordingly sailed for Philadelphia, U.S., in which city he
remained about one year. He then decided to come to Canada, a journey
which took him above a month, landing in Little York, November 5, 1818.
Soon after his arrival here he engaged in the brewing business on Sher-
bourne Street, then known as Caroline Street ; subsequently conducting his
trade on Adelaide and Bay Streets until the burning of his brewery in
1847, when he retired into private life ; his death occurred in 1871, his wife
following him a year later. From 1825 to 1830 Mr. Doel was the only
letter carrier in Little York. He was a Justice of the Peace for many
years. In 1815 he married Miss Huntly, of Wiltshire, England, by whom
he had six children four of whom are still living, viz., the Rev. John Doel,
of Yorkville ; Hester Ann, the widow of the late John W. Drummond, J.P.
Elizabeth, widow of the late Rev. William Price, and William Henry. In
religion Mr. Doel was an active and prominent member of the Wesleyan
Methodist Church. In politics he was a Reformer, and during the troubles
of 1837 suffered with many others for his political principles, he having
been twice imprisoned during that memorable winter. William Henry
Doel was born in Little York in 1827, being the second son of the above.
He was educated at Upper Canada College, and served his apprenticeship
as an apothecary under Francis Richardson, after which he carried on the
drug business both in Toronto and Whitby. On the commencement of the
Civil War in the States Mr. Doel entered the service of the United States

1 86 Biographical Notices.

Government in connection with the Medical Department, and continued
until the close of the war, then taking up his residence in Philadelphia,
where he remained until 1870. He returned to Toronto and resided in the
city two years, afterwards removing to his present residence on Broadview
Avenue. In 1852 Mr. Doel married Miss Jane Huntly, of Philadelphia, by
whom he has three children living. Mr. Doel has filled various public
positions, having been a License Commissioner for East York a number of
years. He was President of the Reform Association for his district, and
has been a Justice of the Peace since 1877. He was one of the promoters
of the Industrial Exhibition Association of Toronto, of which society he
has been an active director since its inception.

DOUGHTY BROS., proprietors of brick-yard, Doncaster. This firm is
composed of I. H. and R. A. Doughty, natives of Toronto and sons of
Richard Doughty, an Englishman by birth, who came to Canada at an
early day. During his lifetime he carried on the business of builder and
contractor. Previous to 1881 the brothers were engaged in a different
business, I. H. following his father s trade, and R. A. conducting a pork-
packing business. The present business was established in 1881, and now
employs about ten men, and the annual output is from seven hundred
thousand to one million machine stock. They use a Fowmley machine.

JOHN DOUGLAS, deceased, was born in Ireland in 1804 and came to
Canada in 1831, and settled in Toronto, where he resided up to the time of
his death in 1869. He had six children, four of whom are living. William,
the eldest son, was born on York Street, Toronto, in 1834, and remained in
the city up to 1855. He then moved to Eglinton and engaged in the car
riage business, which he still continues to carry on. In 1855 he married
Miss Eliza Gillespie, of Yorkville, by whom he has four children.

DAVID DUNCAN is the third son of Wm. Duncan, and was born on the
old homestead in 1837. In 1864 he settled on a farm which had been pre
viously purchased by his father, being lot n, concession 3, where he
owns two hundred and fifty acres. In 1873 ne married Miss Anne Laird,
daughter of Hugh and Ellen Laird, by whom he has two sons and one
daughter.

HENRY DUNCAN, Reeve of the Township of York, is the eldest son of
William Duncan. He was born on the old homestead in 1833, where he
remained until twenty-seven years of age, afterwards settling on a farm
previously purchased by his father, containing two hundred acres, being

Township of York (East). 187

lot 10, concession 3, which he has very much improved and still resides on.
In 1861 Mr. Duncan married Miss Betsy J. McGinn, daughter of Charles
McGinn, who came to the Township of York in 1812. Mr. Duncan s
family consists of six children. He has always taken a deep interest in the
affairs of the township and was elected to the Council in 1870, and from
1871 to 1878 was Deputy-Reeve, and in 1879 was elected Reeve, being in
the Township Council fourteen years.

JUSTUS DUNN is a native of the State of New Jersey, where he was
born in 1813. In 1862 he came to Toronto and first engaged in the whole
sale fruit trade, being one of the first engaged in that industry, which he
carried on for nine years. He purchased twelve acres on Queen Street
East extension, where he engaged largely in the growth of small fruits. In
1836 Mr. Dunn married Miss Barbara Ann Mackie, of Niagara County,
New York State, by whom he had seven children, three of whom are living
in Canada. Mr. Dunn is now cultivating six acres, growing small fruits.

THOMAS ELGIE, deceased, was born in Durham, England, in 1816, and
emigrated to Canada in 1841, taking up his abode in Toronto. He engaged
in farming for about four months, after which he opened the celebrated
Bay Horse Hotel, conducting the same for about seven years. He then
gave up the hotel business and purchased about two hundred acres of land
on lot 15, concession 2, which he improved and cultivated up to the time
of his death in 1880. In 1842 he married Miss Elizabeth Cook, who died
in 1848, taking for his second wife Miss Elizabeth Beckwith, daughter of
George Beckwith, by whom he had ten children, only four of whom are
living.

G. EMPRINGHAM, of Little York, was born in England in 1837, where
he remained until 1851, in which year he came to Canada with his father,
Wm. Empringham, and settled in the Township of York, where he was
engaged in farming until 1881. Since that time he has been engaged in
the hotel business. In 1862 he married Miss Mary Ormerod, of Scar
borough.

DANIEL FITZGERALD, deceased, was born in Waterford, Ireland, in
1804. In 1825 he emigrated to New York State and settled in Cape Vin
cent, where he remained until 1843. He then came to Canada and settled
in the Township of York, on lot 5, concession 2, having purchased one
hundred acres of land, on which he lived until his death in 1844. His wife
was Rebecca Noble, a native of New York State, by whom he had four

1 88 Biographical Notices.

children. Joseph, the youngest, was born in New York State in 1839 and
came to Toronto with his parents. In 1864 he went to Lambton County,
where he stayed until 1871, and returning to York purchased the old home
stead, which he now owns. In 1861 he married Miss Catharine Gorman,
by whom he has ten children. Lewis F., the eldest son of Daniel Fitz
gerald, was born in 1837 in the State of New York, and came to Canada
with his father and lived on the old homestead. He purchased fifteen
acres on lot 8, concession 2, to which he has since added ten acres, which
is devoted to gardening and fruit growing. In 1856 he married Miss Ellen
Daily, of York Township, by whom he has eight children.

WILLIAM GALLOW, deceased, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in
1807, and in 1857 emigrated to Canada, settling in Toronto, where he
engaged in gardening, which industry he has continuously carried on. In
1861 he purchased a farm on the Don and Danforth Road, which he cleared
and cultivated, doing the largest gardening business in the district, until
the time of his death, which occurred January 8, 1885. In 1833 he married
Miss Grace Reid, by whom he had nine children, six of whom are living.

ROBERT GOODINGS, proprietor of brick-yard, Doncaster, was born at
Windermere, a village in the Lake District of England, being on the shores
of a romantically situated lake from which the village takes its name. He
came to Canada in 1873, an d having previously learned brick-making he
followed the same occupation on his arrival here. In 1870 he commenced
on his own account at his present location, where he does an extensive
trade, manufacturing between eight hundred thousand and one million
bricks annually and employs from eight to ten workmen.

ALEXANDER GRAY was born in Scotland in 1804 and came to Canada
in 1820, locating with his brothers William and James on lot 19, concession
3, where they erected a grist and saw-mills, the property now belonging to
the subject of this sketch. Mr. Gray married, in 1835, Miss Marion
McLean, daughter of John McLean, of Wellington County, who died
during 1883, leaving a family of six children. James Gray, the only son of
James, deceased brother of Alexander Gray, was born on the old homestead
and now owns the west half of lot 9.

THOMAS S. GRAY, the eldest son of Alexander Gray, was born on the
old homestead in 1836. In 1863 he settled on lot 10, concession 2, where
he has eighty-six acres. In 1873 ne married Miss Mary N. Bonoby, by
whom he has four children.

Township of York (East). 189

WILLIAM GRAY was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in 1802, and in
1823 emigrated to Canada, and in conjunction with his brother located on
lot 9, concession 3, Township of York, erecting thereon a saw and grist
mill. Since 1854 Mr. Gray has had exclusive control of the grist-mill
property, where he still carries on a good custom trade. In 1840 Mr. Gray
married Miss Phoebe Street, a daughter of Timothy Street ; she died in
1878, leaving six sons and four daughters.

R. GREENWOOD, fruit-grower, Kingston Road, is a native of England
and came to Canada in 1874. He has now under cultivation some thirty
acres of land devoted to the growth of strawberries, raspberries, apples
currants and other fruits, all of which find a ready sale in the Toronto
market.

HALLAT BROTHERS, glue and oil manufacturers, Doncaster. This firm
consists of Vincent and J. S. Hallat, who are the sons of Joseph E. Hallat,
a native of Cornwall, England, who emigrated to Canada in 1851, and was
engaged in the wool business for many years. Messrs. Hallat Brothers
built their extensive manufactory in 1879-80; the dimensions of the main
building being 42 x 22 feet and four storeys high, with the annexes
one of two storeys, 36 x 16 feet; one of one storey, 72 x 14 feet; one of
two storeys, 42 x 60 feet, and boiler-room, 30 x 12 feet, with an engine
fifteen horse-power, the boilers having a capacity of fifty horse-power.
The business turn-over is annually from fifty thousand to sixty thousand
dollars.

W. HARRIS & Co. This firm is composed of William and John B.
Harris, who established their business in 1870 on Kingston Road, after
wards removing to Pape s Avenue, where they are now engaged in the
manufacture of sausage and bologna casings, fertilizers and fertilizer
materials, animal oils, etc. They also do an extensive trade as stock
dealers, handling horses, cattle, milch cows, hogs, etc. William Harris
was born in England in 1848 and came to Canada in 1870. John B. was
born in 1856 and came to Canada in 1872, and was engaged in business in
London, Ontario, until 1882.

WILLIAM HARRISON, deceased, was born in Nova Scotia in 1784, and
came to Canada and settled in the County of York in 1797. He took up
lots 12 and 13, concession 2, East York, consisting of three hundred
acres, which he partially cleared before his death, in 1838. In 1813 he
married Miss Elizabeth Wright, daughter of Archibald Wright, of this

190 Biographical Notices.

township, by whom he had eleven children, seven of whom are yet living.
In the War of 1812 Mr. Harrison took a prominent part, and received a
medal for services rendered at Queenston Heights. William Harrison, the
third son of the above, was born on the old homestead in 1820, where he
has always remained ; he now owns one hundred acres on lot 13, fifty acres
on lot 12 and sixty on lot n. In 1848 he married Miss Susan Brooks,
daughter of Edward Brooks, of Scarboro Township, by whom he has four
children. Christopher, the youngest son of William Harrison, deceased,
was born on the old homestead in 1829, where he has continued to live and
of which he now owns two hundred acres. In 1860 he married Miss Cath
arine, daughter of Thomas Shepherd, by whom he has six children.

THOMAS HASTINGS, retired, was born in the Township of Whitchurch
in 1808. His father, Nathaniel Hastings, came from Massachusetts in
1796. He drew two hundred acres of land at Hogg s Hollow, but finally
settled on Yonge Street, in Whitchurch Township, on a farm of two
hundred acres, where Thomas was born. He afterwards removed to lot
10, concession i from the bay, Township of York, where he died in 1833,
leaving a family of twelve children, of whom four are now living. He
served in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner at the capitulation of
York. Thomas Hastings mother was a Miss Webster, of English descent ;
she died in 1847. The subject of this sketch learned the trade of an axe-
maker in Toronto, serving three years. He afterwards worked in Rochester,
New York, for one year, at the end of which time he returned to Canada
and engaged in business for himself at Cobourg. In 1832 he commenced
farming in the Township of York. He next went to Orleans County, New
York, where he engaged in farming for four years, and to Cleveland, where
for six years he worked at his trade. In 1847 he returned to Canada and
settled in the Township of York. In 1834 Mr. Hastings was married to
Elizabeth, second daughter of John Becket. He has one son now living
in Toronto and engaged in the brewing business.

THOMAS HELLIWELL, deceased, was born in Yorkshire, England, in
1796, and emigrated to Canada in 1818, first settling near Niagara Falls,
and coming to Toronto two years later. He engaged in the brewing and
milling business on the Don at Todmorden, afterwards devoting his time to
improving his property in that section. He died in 1862. Mr. Helliwell
married Miss Mary Wilson, who died in 1832. He married a second time,
his wife being Miss Ann Ashworth, of Lincolnshire, England. He had six
children by his first wife, and seven by his second. W. P. Helliwell, the

Township of York (East). 191

youngest son of his first wife, was born in Toronto in 1831, and has continued
a resident of the county. In 1866 Mr. Helliwell removed to his present
home on lot 12, concession 2, where he has been largely engaged in farming.
In 1865 he married Miss Sophia Wood, by whom he has nine children.

SAMUEL HILL, farmer, was born in the County of Wexford, Ireland, in
1815. His parents were John and Ann (Wright) Hill. In 1840 having
learned the trade of a tanner and currier, he came to Canada and located at
St. David s, near Niagara, where he worked at his trade. In the following
year he came to Toronto and worked at Smith s tannery ; he afterwards
carried on a tanning business for himself, finally giving it up to engage in
farming on lot 2, concession i, York Township. He has also been largely
interested in the ice business, having been proprietor of the Ontario Ice
Company for several years. In 1850, he married a daughter of John Ash-
bridge, who settled near the bay, which now bears his name, in 1794. I n
religion Mr. Hill is an active member of the Methodist Church ; in politics
he is a Conservative.

JOHN HOGG, deceased, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1795
and in 1835 emigrated to Canada and located on lot 7, concession 3, East
York, where he purchased fifty acres of bush land, subsequently adding fifty
acres more, on which he lived until his death in 1879. In 1820 he married
Miss Janet Hogg, of Scotland, by whom he had eleven children, six of whom
are still living. Robert, the youngest but one, was born on Yonge Street
in 1835, and has always lived on the old homestead, half of which he now
owns. In 1866 he married Miss Margaret Thompson Young, daughter of
James Young, by whom he has nine children.

THOMAS HUMBERSTONE, sen r, deceased, was the only child of Samuel
Humberstone, an Englishman, who learned his trade, the manufacture of
pottery, in Staffordshire, and came to America with his wife, and settled in
the British Province of Pennsylvia, now called Pennsylvania, where their
son, Thomas, was born in 1766, at Philadelphia. After the war by which
the Americans gained their Independence they, with other U. E. Loyalists,
left the United States and came to Montreal, where they resided for some
time, having received a grant of one thousand acres of land for services
rendered to the British during the American Revolution. Subsequently
they removed to Swagorche, near Brockville, on the St. Lawrence,
where the father carried on the manufacture of pottery, Thomas acquiring
a knowledge of the trade. In 1798 he came to York, and located on lot 14,

1 92 Biographical Notices.

west of Yonge Street, taking up two hundred acres of land, which he cleared
and fenced, erecting a pottery thereon, the first of its kind in York County.
In 1800 he married Miss Harrison, by whom he had ten children, one of
whom met with a tragical death. The following is an extract from the paper
published at that time : " Died, on Saturday, 22nd February, 1822, Elizabeth
Humberstone, aged fifteen years, from the effects of a mortal wound received
by using an old gun-barrel to turn the back-log in the house of her uncle,
Francis Lee, at Talbot Settlement, in the Township of Oxford." It was an
old gun-barrel found in the field, the wood having rotted away. For his
services in the War of 1812, he drew a pension, a captain s half-pay, also
five hundred acres of land in Tecumseth, when Sir Peregine Maitland,
K.C.B., was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, and he also received
a medal in memory of the capture of Detroit. He belonged to the Third
Regiment of Incorporated Militia, and was taken prisoner of war by the
Americans and sent to Greenbush, October n, 1813, where he was let out
on parole until exchanged after being kept as hostage. He served under
General Brock, and when the latter fell mortally wounded at the Battle of
Queenston Heights, he helped to carry him off the battle field, and the
General s words to the others were " If I die, remember Humberstone,
remember Humberstone." He was a Freemason, and helped to build the
first Masonic Hall in Toronto. Morgan and his wife boarded at his house
when they first came to Canada. Some time after leaving there Morgan pub
lished an exposition of Freemasonry. Mr. Humberstone, sen r, died in 1849,
on lot 24, West York, aged seventy-three years. Thomas Humberstone, jun r,
the second son of the above, was born in 1811, on the old homestead, where
he remained until 1833, following the same trade as his father and grand
father, subsequently carrying on a pottery at York Mills. He then returned
to the northern part of the township and established a pottery, which, with
the house and barn, was reduced to ashes by fire ; he rebuilt, suffered from
fire again, rebuilt a second time ; moved to the other side of Yonge Street,
and built again, which was also destroyed by fire, again he rebuilt and con
tinued in the business until he retired in favour of his second son, Simon
Thomas, who now carries on the trade of his forefathers, having erected a
large pottery on the site of the place where his father was first burnt out.
There was no insurance whatever on any of the buildings that were
destroyed by fire. After various properties passing through his hands, he
moved to lot 8, East York, where he is now engaged in farming. On the ist
January, 1835, he was married by the Rev. Mr. Jenkins, Markham, to Miss
Sarah Wilson, second daughter of John Wilson, of Markham Township,
formerly of Tyrone, Ireland, by whom he has eight children. Two of his

Toivnskip of York (East). 193

children are in the North-West, one died in the States, the other five are at
present in York County. Last New Year s day, 1885, was the fiftieth
anniversary of his wedded life.

JAMES HUNTER, deceased, was born in Ireland, 1790, and in 1815
emigrated to New York, where he stayed two years previous to taking up
his residence in this city. He was a tailor by trade, and conducted a
merchant tailoring establishment on Yonge Street up to 1835. He then
purchased three hundred acres of land on lots n, 12 and 13, concession 3,
and carried on a general lumbering business up to the time of his death, in
1876. He married Miss Mary Nail, of England, who died in 1844, leaving
a family of eight children, five of whom are still living. Alexander, the
second son, was born in Toronto in 1824, and early learned the trade of a
carpenter, and for many years carried on a building business in that city.
He retired in 1865, and now lives on the old homestead. He married
Margaret Elliott, of York, by whom he has three children. Edward was
born on the old homestead in 1826, and carried on the lumbering business
established by his father.

ROBERT ARCHIBALD HUNTER was born in Scotland in 1833, and in
1852 emigrated to the United States, remaining there two years, afterwards
coming to Canada and locating in the Township of Scarboro , where he
engaged in farming. In 1857 he purchased twenty-five acres on lot 2,
concession 4, East York, to which he subsequently added another fifty
acres, his farm being one of the finest in the township. In 1880 he bought
one hundred acres in the Township of Scarboro , which" he still owns and
which is attended to by his son. In 1855 he married Maria, daughter of
Mark Parker, by whom he has eight children.

JOSHUA INGHAM was born in Lancashire, England, in 1833, where he
remained until 1862. He then emigrated to Canada and settled in Toronto,
where he has since been a resident. He first opened a market on Yonge
Street, which he continued for a short time, after which he engaged in
buying and exporting largely both cattle and sheep. He was one of the
well-known firm of Crawford & Company, cattle dealers, looking after the
company s interests in England, and doing all the receiving and selling of
stock. This firm exported over six hundred head of cattle monthly. In
1855 Mr. Ingham married Miss Harriet Axon, of Cheshire, England, by
whom he had seven children. Mr. Ingham resides on the Don Mill Road,
Chester Village.

14

194 Biographical Notices.

WILLIAM JACKES, Eglinton, was born in little York in 1827. His
parents (Franklin Jackes and Catharine Gibson) came from England in 1824,
and were married the following year. Franklin Jackes, who was a baker
by trade, carried on his business in York until 1836, when he removed to
Eglinton where he died in 1852, aged forty-eight years. His mother is still
living and is seventy-seven years of age. Mr. Jackes, sen r, was one of the
Aldermen of Toronto, and after he removed to Eglinton became Reeve of
York Township and Warden of the county. He was commissioned a
Justice of the Peace in 1837. William Jackes spent his early life in Toronto,
and in 1835 went to Eglinton with his father. He now owns the farm, lot 2,
concession i, which his father purchased. He was for some years a member
of the Township Council, and is now Treasurer of the Township. In 1869
he was commissioned a magistrate, He is also a member of the Agricul
tural Society. In politics he is a Reformer. Mr. Jackes was married in
1857 to Henrietta, daughter of Robert Jones.

HUGH LAIRD, deceased, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1803 and
when eleven years of age came to Canada with his father. The latter
settled in Halton County and Hugh, the subject of this sketch, came to
York where he lived with Mr. Alexander Milne for some time. In 1835 he
bought one hundred acres of land on lot 7, concession 2, which he cleared,
fenced and continued to cultivate until his death in 1884. He married
Miss Milne, daughter of Alexander Milne, his former employer, by whom
he had six children. Hugh Laird., the only son, was born in 1844, and now
has possession of the old homestead.

T. LAMBERT is a native of Yorkshire, England, and was born in 1840,
emigrating to Canada in 1872, and was first employed by Jacques & Hay,
with whom he stayed three years. He then purchased five acres on lot 5,
concession 2, where he erected a dwelling and hot houses, and has gone
largely into market gardening and the growth of small fruits. In 1861 he
married Miss Mary Farrar Boyes, by whom he has six children.

ROBERT LAWRENCE was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1814,
and in 1854 emigrated to Canada, and settled in the Township of York. In
1868 he purchased his present home on lot 18, concession 3, where he is
largely engaged in market-gardening. In 1844 he married Miss Mary Case
Townsend, Gloucestershire, England, by whom he had twelve children, six
of whom are living.

JOHN LEA, the subject of this sketch, was the second son of John Lea,
deceased, who came to Canada in 1818, and took up two hundred acres of

Township of York (East). 195

land on lot 13, concession 3. He was born in 1823, and has always
remained on the old homestead, of which he owns a part, owning one
hundred and ten acres on lot 12 and fifty acres on lot 24, his farm contain
ing in all one hundred and eighty acres, devoted principally to farming,
stock-raising and fruit-growing. In 1870 Mr. Lea married Miss Mary,
daughter of James Charles, who was a long time engaged in the wholesale
dry goods in Toronto ; he has two sons and one daughter.

WILLIAM LEA, the subject of this sketch, was born in Lancashire,
England, on the 28th of May, in the year 1814, and came to America with
his father and mother in 1818. John Lea, his father, was born in Lanca
shire in 1773; Mary, his mother, was born in Cumberland. They sailed
from Liverpool in the spring of 1818, in a barque commanded by one
Captain Birkett, and after tossing about on the Atlantic three months
arrived in Philadelphia, where they remained only a short time ; then
travelled in a stage coach over the Alleghany mountains to Pittsburg,
where they remained a year. Not liking the country or people of the
United States, the father went to Canada in search of a suitable place to
settle in. William, with his mother, coming on to Niagara, travelled along
the shore of Lake Erie, crossed the Niagara River at Black Rock and on
past the Falls, the sound of which he remembered hearing. The first
thing that gave his mother courage was seeing the British soldiers in their
scarlet uniforms at Niagara, which was in 1819. When his father had
found a place to his liking, in the Township of York, he informed his wife
of his purchase of lot 13, concession 3 from the bay. She, with her son,
crossed Lake Ontario in a schooner belonging to one Garside (the only
steamboat at that time being the Frontenac), and on arriving at York they
went to the farm, which consisted of a small log-house and a few acres
cleared, the rest of the two hundred acre lot being heavily timbered. In
the course of time they bought cows and kept a dairy, and planted an
orchard. In 1829 his father built a brick-house, the only one then in the
township, in which his brother, John Lea, now lives. John Lea, sen r,
died December, 1854, aged eighty-one years. He left his son William ninety
acres of the old homestead, and John one hundred and ten, including the
house, orchard and all the out-buildings. William, in 1841, purchased
part of lot 12, concession 3 from the bay, containing one hundred and
thirty acres, on which he and his family reside. In 1841 he married Mary
Ann, second daughter of James Taylor, from Tadington, Derbyshire, Eng
land, by whom he had two daughters, both dying in infancy. Their mother
soon followed, dying within three years of her marriage. In 1848 he mar-

1 96 Biographical Notices.

ried Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Charles Kendrick Davids, a gentle
man from Dartford, Kent, England, by whom he had three sons and four
daughters, who are all living; their mother died in 1867. In 1870 he
married his present wife, Sophia, relict of John Samuel Blogg, of Canter
bury, England, and fourth daughter of Charles Kendrick Davids, of Dart-
ford, Kent, England, now deceased. He, with two of his sons, carries on
farming, fruit-growing and farm gardening. In 1850 he was elected to the
office of Township Councillor in the place of John Eastwood, who died
during the latter part of that year. He held the office for seven successive
years thereafter. During the administration of Government by Lord Elgin
he was appointed a Justice of the Peace, which position he still holds,
having been reappointed as each commission was issued. He also wrote
(being a member of the York Pioneers Society) a history of the early settle
ment of the River Don, with the business and milling industries carried on
up to the present time, extracts from which appear in the first volume of
this work.

GEORGE LESLIE, of Leslieville. William Leslie, the father of our
subject, was of Scottish origin, his birth-place and that of his family being
in the Parish of Roquart, Sutherlandshire, Scotland. He was reared upon
a farm, and when a young man joined the Rothshire Militia, and served in
the County of Tyrone, Ireland, where he married Catharine, eldest daughter
of James Beatty, and sister of the Rev. John Beatty, of Cobourg. After his
regiment was disbanded he returned home and engaged in agricultural
pursuits until October, 1826, when he emigrated to Canada with a family
of eight children, and joined the Rev. John Beatty at Streetsville. He
settled upon two hundred acres, lot 14, concession 12, of York Town
ship, a portion of which he cleared and improved. In 1837 he com
manded a company of York Militia, and served during the campaign. Many
years later he drew a pension from the Crown for his services in Ireland.
He died in 1877 at Streetsville, leaving a family of eight children. He
was a strong Conservative in politics. George Leslie, of Leslieville,
was the second son in his father s family. He was born in Sutherland-
shire in 1804, and was twenty-one years of age when he left home and
came to York, where he entered the service of the late Hon. George
Crookshanks, Commissary General. He remained with him one season, and
then for several years acted in the capacity of gardener and florist to the
Hon. William Allen, and the Hon. John Henry Dunne, Receiver General.
In 1830 he purchased from the Rev. James Beatty, at Streetsville, the old
homestead previously occupied by his father, a portion of which he cleared

Township of York (East). 197

and improved. In 1837 he removed to Toronto, and took up his residence
in an old frame house on King Street East, it being the place where he and
Caroline, eldest daughter of Calvin Davis, passed the first nine years of
their wedded life, w r hich began in 1836. He soon after established him
self in business as a grocer and seed merchant. His first stock of seeds
was brought from London, England. Seven years later he transferred his
business to the corner of Yonge and Colborne Streets, upon the present
site of the Bank of Commerce,. where he remained until 1845, when the city
purchased the property for $5,000. He then leased from Mr. Charles Small
twenty acres of land east of the Don, for a period of twenty-one years ; he
purchased the land two years later, and, by subsequent purchases, added
to it until he now has two hundred acres in a good state of cultivation.
Upon this land he began business as a nurseryman, florist, and gardener.
The business has increased rapidly until his nursery is now the largest in
the Dominion. A portion of his land was surveyed into lots and sold to
settlers, thus forming the nucleus of a village. In 1851 he was commissioned
Post-master of Leslieville Post-office, which office he still holds. Two
years later he was commissioned a magistrate by the Hon. Robert Baldwin,
the duties of which office he has ever since discharged with fidelity. When
the first fire company was formed in York he became a member. Our sub
ject is at the present time one of the oldest horticulturists in the Dominion,
and has been an active member of the Agricultural Society for many years.
Although a strong Reformer, he has never neglected his business to engage
in political strife. He has two sons and two daughters. His eldest
daughter, Caroline, married the eldest son of the Rev. Dr. Jennings, now in
charge of the Bank of Commerce at Paris. His second daughter, Esther,
married Alexander McDonald Allan, son of the Rev. Mr. Allan, of Goderich,
who formerly published the Signal at that place. The eldest son, George,
is in partnership with his father in the nursery business, and also a magis
trate and Commissioner for taking Affidavits. He has been Reeve for the
Township of York for five years, and represented St. Lawrence Ward in
the City Council for two years. John Knox, the second son, is Clerk of the
Township of York, and resides at Eglinton.

JAMES LESSLIE. The events embodied in that portion of Canadian
history which occupied the period immediately preceding, and that which
followed, the Rebellion of 1837-8 had the effect of bringing many men into
publicity who, but for the extreme display of faction which those events
created, would most likely have desired to keep aloof from public affairs.
To this class of men the subject of this brief memoir belonged, and having

198 Biographical Notices.

in early life formed an intimate acquaintance with the leader of that
Rebellion, it would be strange indeed if he had failed to imbibe some of the
strong political principles that lay then undeveloped in the mind of William
Lyon Mackenzie. James Lesslie was born at Dundee, Scotland, in 1802,
being the son of Edward and Grace (Watson) Lesslie. His father was a
bookseller and stationer, and being what is known as well-provisioned in
life gave his family a good education, of which, as results proved, James
took no small advantage. In the year 1820 Mr. Lesslie, sen r, decided on
emigration, and chartered a vessel which was to convey himself and large
family, numbering twelve souls in all, together with household effects and
his goods, to the New World. Owing to the illness of the mother, however,
they were detained some months ; but, in the meantime, the second eldest
son, John, in company with William Lyon Mackenzie who had previously
been in the employ of Mr. Lesslie, sen r, as book-keeper sailed for Canada,
and by the time the remainder of the family arrived, he was already engaged
in business in York, now Toronto. After a prolonged voyage of seventy
days James, with a younger brother and sister, arrived at Kingston, where
he remained. The rest of the family came out next year, going forward to
York. Our subject commenced business in Kingston in the book and
stationery line, which he conducted there for four years, removing from
thence to York, John going to Dundas, where a branch of the business was
opened. This was in 1826, and in 1833 the firm, Lesslie & Sons, purchased
property near the locality of the Globe office, and thereon erected their
business premises. The causes which contributed to the Rebellion were
at this time shaping themselves, and thinking men admitted the approach
of a great crisis. Mr. Lesslie s sympathies were undoubtedly with the
Reformers, though no evidence is apparent that he gave any active assist
ance to the rebels ; but this fact did not prevent him from being subjected
to persecution by the parties in power during the week of the Rebellion.
His premises were taken possession of by the Government, and he himself
arrested and imprisoned, with his brother William. They were released
after an incarceration of a fortnight and enabled to return to their business.
A few weeks after William, going on business by stage to Montreal, was
again arrested and imprisoned in Kingston Jail without any charge against
him and treated as a criminal for about ten days. About the period of the
arrival of Lord Durham as Governor-General, the publication of the Exam
iner commenced by Sir Francis Hincks, which afterwards came into the
hands of Mr. Lesslie in 1844, an d was conducted by him for ten years,
until the settlement of the question of the Clergy Reserves. He was also
connected with the Peoples Bank the first Bank on the Scotch principle

Township of York (East). 199

in Upper Canada and for five years held the position of President. He
was commissioned a Justice of the Peace, and was an Alderman of the first
City Council. In 1858 he retired from business, and took up his residence at
his rural retreat in Eglinton, and now, in his eighty-second year, he devotes
his well-earned leisure to books and the management of a small farm.

JAMES LONG, deceased, was born in the County Armagh, Ireland, in
1809, and when ten years of age came to Canada with his father. Some
years later he bought land on lot 19, concession 4, which he improved and
cultivated until his death in 1871. A few years before his death he added
one hundred and twenty-five acres on lots 18 and 20, concession 4. He
married Miss Harriet Hough, by whom he had eight children. George
H., the youngest son, was born on the homestead in 1840, which he now
owns. He married in 1875 Miss Hannah Haron, daughter of Robert
Haron, of Scarboro , by whom he has six children.

JOHN McLATCHiE was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1848. In 1858
he went to Ireland, and remained some years, then emigrated to Canada,
and first located in the Township of Scarboro , where he worked at his
trade of blacksmith for two years. He afterwards came to Toronto where
he has resided ever since. In 1879 ne purchased his present property in
Leslieville where he carries on a large carriage-making and blacksmith busi
ness, his buildings occupying sixty-five feet by five hundred feet in depth.

THOMAS MERCER, deceased, was born in County Down, Ireland, in
1744, and came to the United States at an early day. He settled in Phila
delphia, where he remained until 1793, and then coming to Canada, he, in
1796, took up two hundred acres of land on lot 10, concession i, East York.
The journey from Philadelphia was made overland, Mr. Mercer bringing
with him a cow from his old settlement. He remained on his farm in York
until his death in 1829. He married Susan Jordan, of Hillsborough, County
Down, Ireland, the union resulting in seven children. Thomas, his second
son, was born in Philadelphia in 1792, and came with his parents to Canada,
always remaining on the old farm, which he cleared and considerably
improved. He died in 1873. His wife was Catharine, daughter of John
O Reilly, of Drummondsville, near Niagara, who died in 1868, leaving five
children. Thomas Hamilton, the eldest son, was born on the old home
stead in 1822, where he has always resided, and which he now owns, and
to which he has since added fifty acres. In 1863 he married Jane, daughter
of William Graham, who came from Nova Scotia to Ontario in 1853. They
had six children, five of whom are now living, viz. : Minnie A., Ada S.,
Alfred E. E., Bertha E. M., Wilfred H. O.

2OO Biographical Notices.

JOHN MILLS was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1825, and emigrated
to Canada in 1848. He first settled in Thornhill, where he remained two
years, subsequently removing to Toronto, and, taking charge of the Clyde
Hotel, conducted that establishment from 1856 to 1878. After giving up
the hotel business, he went to his farm known as the Clyde Cottage, on the
Don and Danforth Road, where he cultivated one hundred acres of land.
In 1854 he married Mrs. Arnitt, a widow, who died four years later. He
married again, his second wife being Priscilla, daughter of George Lambert,
by whom he had eleven children, nine still living.

ALEXANDER MILNE, deceased, was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in
1777, and on emigrating to the United States in 1801 settled at Oyster Bay,
Long Island, where he followed weaving, having at one time ten hand-
looms in operation, from which place the family removed to Duchess
County, N.Y., where he had taken charge of a woollen mill, and in 1813
moved to New Jersey, and engaged in the cotton-bleaching business, having
got out a patent for that process, He remained there four years, and on
the recommendation of the British Consul at New York he came to Canada
1817, locating on the east half of lot 5, concession 2, East York, where he
took up five hundred acres of land. He erected a saw-mill in 1827, which
he carried on for five years, but for want of power, he afterwards built
another saw-mill on the east branch of the River Don in 1832, which was
in successful operation until after his death in 1877. In 1800 he married
Miss Jane Gibson, also a native of Forfarshire, Scotland, who died in 1835
leaving seven children. Mr. Milne again married, his second wife being
Mrs. Ann Kirk. William Milne, his eldest son, was born in Scotland in 1801,
and always assisted his father to carry on the business ; his wife was Jane
Weatherstone, a native of Berwick-on-Tweed, by whom he had five sons
and four daughters, eight of whom are now living. Alexander W. Milne,
the eldest son of William Milne, was born on the old homestead in
1837, and was always interested in the business established by his grand
father, after whose death he, in company with his father, erected a large
brick woollen mill on the same site, and adopted more improved machinery.
Mr. William Milne s death, which occurred in 1881, left the business in the
hands of his son Alexander W. Milne, who is engaged in the business at
this time. He was married in 1867 to Miss Harriet Margaret Heron,
daughter of Richard Heron, by whom he has three sons and one daughter.

JOSEPH H. MITCHELL is a native of London, England, where he was
born in 1822. He early came to Canada, and for thirty-two years was

Tozvnship of York (East). 201

foreman of a department in the establishment of Hay & Co. In 1859 he
purchased five acres on lot 9, on which he grows fruit of every description.
In 1850 he married Elizabeth Spence, sister of the Hon. Robert Spence,
ex-Postmaster-General.

THOMAS MITCHELL is a native of Devonshire, England, where he was
born in 1822, and emigrating to Canada in 1849, located first in London,
Middlesex County, where he was employed by Judge Allen. The Judge
removing to Toronto after Mr. Mitchell had been in his service six months,
he removed with him and continued in his employment for three years. He
subsequently engaged with Mr. John Cull, as foreman in the Starch
Factory, with whom he remained eight years. He then began business for
himself as grocer on Kingston Road, and built the first brick store east of
the Don (1858). This was on the corner of Kingston Road and Scadding
Street, and was known as " Mitchell s Corner." In 1861 he purchased a lot
on Market Square, Barrie, Ontario, and built thereon the Victoria Hotel,
which he afterwards sold. In 1871 Mr. Mitchell retired from business
which is now carried on by his son. He purchased a private residence
known as Rose Lawn, in St. Matthew s Ward, where he now lives in ease
and comfort. Mr. Mitchell married in 1852 Miss Mary Ann Joslin, of
Devonshire, England, by whom he has one son and four daughters. Once
only since leaving it has Mr. Mitchell revisited his beautiful native county
which, with pardonable pride, he maintains is the " Garden of the World."
This trip he made in 1874.

JOHN MYERS, deceased, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1807, and
in 1830 emigrated to Canada, locating in the Township of East York, on
lot 21, concession 4, which was then bush ; this he cleared, fenced and made
his home until his death in 1868. Mr. Myers also worked at his trade of
shoemakmg. He married Miss Jane Hopper, a native of Yorkshire, Eng
land, by whom he had thirteen children, four of whom are now living.
Robert, the youngest son, resides in the county. He was born on the old
homestead, which he now owns. In 1877 he married Miss Caroline,
daughter of Robert Heron of Scarboro , the issue of this union being three
daughters.

FRANK NICHOLSON, deceased, was born on the old homestead in 1850,
and is the son of John Nicholson, deceased. He remained at home up to
the time of his death in 1882, carrying on the same business as his father
before him, viz. : fruits and gardening. In 1837 he married Miss Susan
Felstend, of the same township, by whom he had five children.

2O2 Biographical Notices.

GEORGE NICHOLSON, the youngest son of John Nicholson, deceased,
was born on the old homestead in 1841. He has always resided in the
township, and has been engaged in gardening on his own account for the
past ten years. He owns sixty acres and cultivates ten acres. In 1874 ne
married Miss Elizabeth Collins, of Don Mills, by whom he has three
children.

JOHN NICHOLSON, deceased, is a native of Sheffield, England, where he
was born in 1810. When ten years of age he came to Canada, and
engaged in gardening, and subsequently taking up ten acres on Pape s
Avenue, which he cleared and otherwise improved, he lived there until his
death in 1866. He married Miss Mary Hartley, also a native of Sheffield,
by whom he had six children, three of whom are yet living. John, the
eldest son, was born in Toronto in 1843. He remained at home on his
father s place until he reached his twenty-first year, after which he engaged
in gardening on his own account, and has always continued in that industry,
cultivating at present eleven acres. In 1864 he married Miss Caroline
Cooper, who died in 1877, leaving four children. He married again, his
second wife being Miss Hannah E. Lester, who died in 1879. He then
married a third time, on this occasion to Elizabeth Bolton,by whom he has
one child.

JAMES PAPE is the second son of Joseph Pape, who came to Canada at
an early day. He was born in Toronto in 1845, and has always continued
a resident in or near the city, and is at present engaged in business as a
florist at No. 12 Carlaw Avenue, his premises and land having a frontage
of eight hundred and fifty feet by one hundred and thirty-five feet. He
proposes extending his greenhouse arrangements, which will necessitate the
using of about ten thousand square feet of glass. Mr. Pape was a represen
tative of St. Lawrence Ward in the City Council, and occupied that
position two years. He married in 1856 Miss Agnes Patterson, by whom
he has seven children.

GEORGE PHILIPS was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1856. He emi
grated to Canada in 1876, and settled in Toronto, remaining in the city
until 1884, when he removed east of the Don, having under cultivation for
fruit-growing twenty acres of land. Mr. Philips is married and has a
family of three children.

HENRY PHILIPS, proprietor of the Brick Works, Doncaster, was born in
Rochester, Kent, England, and coming to Canada in 1872, worked at his

Township of York (East), 203

trade up to 1875, after which he started the manufacture of bricks at Rose-
dale, continuing one year. He then commenced near his present locations
his yard giving employment to about ten hands, with a yearly out-put of
six hundred thousand to eight hundred thousand.

JONATHAN PRESTON was born in England in 1826. He came to Canada
in 1857, and located first in Halton County, where he stayed about six
years, afterwards coming to York and locating on lot n, East York, where
he remained about eight years. He then purchased thirty-four acres on
lot 7, concession 2 from the Bay, and in 1874 moved on to lot 6, where he
has since resided. Of late years he has been engaged in the milk business,
which he still carries on. In 1849 he married Miss Sarah H. Wilson, a
native of England.

GEORGE ROBSON was born at Lockington, Yorkshire, England, in 1826.
In 1847 he emigrated to Canada and located in York Township, where he
engaged in farming up to 1877, since which time he has been living retired
at Eglinton. In 1853 he married Miss Elizabeth White, of York Township.

J. McCRAE Ross was born in Rothshire, Scotland, in 1800, being the
eldest in a family of two sons and two daughters. His father, Andrew Ross,
married a Miss McCrae. Both parents died in Scotland. His only brother
was a great botanist ; he visited the mountains of Siberia, being sent there
by the managers of the Botanical Gardens, London, England; while there
he contracted a disease of which he died on his return to Scotland. Mr.
Ross came to Canada in 1833, and remained for one year at Picton. Then,
having learned engineering in Scotland, he superintended the construction
of the first railroad in Nova Scotia. In 1846 he settled in Toronto. For
a year he was clerk in the office of John Eastwood, a publisher. For about
the next fourteen years he was bookkeeper and clerk in various offices. In
1862 he settled on thirteen acres of land on lot 10, concession i, of the
Township of York, and engaged in farming ; this is his present residence.
In 1845 he married Hannah, only daughter of William Stabler. He has no
children. Mr. Ross is a Reformer in politics, and a Presbyterian in
religion.

A. RUDD is a native of Devonshire, England, where he was born in
1833. I R I ^ > 53 ne emigrated to Canada, and took up his residence in
Quebec, where he stayed two years, afterwards coming to Toronto and
entering into the employment of the Bank of Upper Canada. He remained
two years at the bank, and then settled on what is now Logan s Lane, where

204 Biographical Notices.

he acquired nine acres of land, and commenced the gardening business, in
which he has been successfully engaged for over twenty-eight years. In
1828 he married Miss Elizabeth Tulford, of Cumberland, England, the
marriage being productive of only one child, a daughter.

NATHANIEL RUDD was born in Devonshire, England, in 1828, and in
1862 came with his brother to Canada, since which time he has been
engaged in market-gardening. In 1864 ne purchased his present home on
the Don and Danforth Road, and in 1853 ne married Miss Mary McGrath,
who died in 1866, leaving him one daughter.

WILLIAM SAMMON was born in the County of Kent, England, in 1841,
and came to Canada in 1871. He settled in the County of York in 1872,
bought twenty acres, lot 7, concession 2, of bush land, which he has very
much improved, erecting a large house and out-buildings. He is engaged
in market-gardening and the fruit-growing trade. In 1863 he married Miss
Mary Ann Inward.

SCHMIDT BROS., grocers, 241 Kingston Road, established this business
in 1883. They carry general groceries, flour and feed, with a trade equally
divided between city and country, which amounts to about $6,000 annually.
The store has a frontage of 25 x 50 feet, is constructed of brick, and is
two storeys high. The firm is composed of Albert and Frederick Schmidt,
who are Canadians by birth.

HENRY SCRACE, deceased, was born in the County of Sussex, England,
in 1801. In 1829 he came to Canada, and in 1832 purchased one hundred
acres of uncleared land on lot 17, concession 4, East York, where he
remained until 1850, afterwards removing to lot 20, concession 4, where
he lived until his death in 1876. In 1833 he married Miss Jane Long, by
whom he had seven children, three of whom are living. William, the eldest,
was born on the old homestead in 1836, and now owns one hundred acres
of the same. George, the youngest son, was born in 1842, and married
Mary Jane Sheppard of Scarborough Township, daughter of Paul Sheppard,
by whom he has had two sons and two daughters. He owns and resides
on lot 17, concession 3, East York.

ALBERT SEDGWICK is a native of Toronto, and was born in 1860. He
has been, and is still, engaged in market-gardening, at present cultivating
sixteen acres of land, and is the owner of two acres of land on Pape s
Avenue. He employs about four hands, and trades principally with dealers

Township of York (East). 205

in the city. George, his eldest brother, was born in Toronto in 1852, and
since 1872 has been engaged cultivating nine acres for himself. Mr. Sedg-
wick married Miss Mary Kennedy, by whom he has four children.

THOMAS SHEPARD was born on Yonge Street in 1804, and is the eldest
son of Joseph Shepard, who came to Canada about the year 1774, and
settled in York County at an early day. He (Joseph Shepard) was an
Indian trader, and travelled all through the country, and in connection
with the settlement of Toronto assisted to build the first shanty. Thomas,
the subject of this sketch, remained at home until 1837, and then commenced
the milling business, which he carried on until 1860. Since that time he has
lived retired with his daughter, Mrs. Christopher Harrison. Mr. Shepard
took an active part in the Rebellion of 1837, and was one of the historical
fifteen who escaped from Kingston Penitentiary. In 1830 he married Miss
Nancy Woolcut, by whom he had seven children.

N. SHEPHERD was born in the County of Norfolk, England, in 1814,
where he remained until 1836, emigrating in that year to Canada. He
came direct to York County, and settled in the township of the same name
where he has since continued a prominent resident. He was a miller by
trade, and located at different places, at different periods of his life. He
has held the office of Assessor and Collector for the township for the past
twenty years, and for a like period has been a resident of Eglington. In
1837 he married Miss Ruth Wilson, of York Township, who died in 1871.

BERNARD SOMERS, deceased, was born in the County of Cavan, Ireland,
in 1808, and remained there until 1832. He then emigrated to America,
and after remaining some time in New York he went to Connecticut, where
he lived until 1856, afterwards coming to Canada, and settling near
Toronto on the Kingston Road. Subsequently he purchased twenty acres
of land on the Don and Danforth Road, lot n, concession 2, which he
cleared and lived on until his death in 1879. Mr. Somers married Miss
Mary Caffray, of Ireland, by whom he had nine children, five of whom are
living. Hugh, the second son, was born in Ireland, and came to this
country with his parents, and at present resides on the old homestead.

CUBETT SPARKHALL was born in Norfolk, England, in 1821, and is the
youngest son of Cubett Sparkhall, deceased, who died in 1821. In 1832
our subject came to Canada in company with his mother and family, and
in 1839 started in the butchering business, occupying a stall in the old and
new markets up to 1870, when he retired from retail business, but continued

206 Biographical Notices.

to do something in the wholesale trade. In 1845 he purchased a farm on
Logan s Lane, where he has resided ever since. In 1840 he married Miss
Eliza Moore, daughter of James Moore, of Toronto, by whom he had six
children, five of whom are living.

JAMES B. SQUARES was born in Devonshire, England, in 1821, and in
1854 emigrated to York County, Canada, where he carried on market-
gardening ever since. In 1857 he purchased the place where he now resides,
on Logan s Lane. In 1851 he married Miss Ann Nash, of London, Eng
land, by whom he has four children.

JOHN STRADER is a Canadian by birth, and has been a resident of East
York for the past twenty years, eighteen of which he has been engaged in
cultivating small fruits, flower-growing, etc. Since 1869 he has occupied
his present home, having two acres of land on Pape s Avenue. In 1866 he
married Miss Margaret Sedgwick, by whom he has four children.

JAMES TAYLOR, deceased, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in
1833. In 1832 he emigrated to Canada and engaged in farming in York
Township. In 1871 he purchased two hundred acres of land on lot 3,
concession 3, which he very much improved and on which he erected
buildings. He married Ann, daughter of John Armstrong, of Scarboro ,
who died in 1862, leaving two sons and two daughters. He married a
second time, to Mary Watson, daughter of John Watson, by whom he had
one daughter, who died in 1877. John Taylor, the eldest son of the above,
was born on the old homestead in 1862, where he remained until 1880,
going from thence to the United States, and, after residing there about
three years, returned to Canada. In 1881 he married Emily Hawkins,
daughter of Henry Hawkins. Mary Ann is the eldest daughter of James
Taylor, and lives at home; Joseph lives on Yonge Street ; Annie, Jane and
Bella are also members of this family.

J. H. TAYLOR is the eldest son of John Taylor, deceased, and was born
at the Don Mills in 1853. He remained on the old homestead until 1879,
when he removed to his present large farm, which contains five hundred
acres, on lot 10, concession 3, where he devotes his time principally to the
breeding of cattle. In 1879 he married Miss Matilda McLean, daughter of
Daniel McLean, by whom he has three sons, viz. : John, Charles McLean
and Morton.

THOMAS S. THORN was born in the County of Kent, England, in 1809.
His father, accompanied by his eldest son, came to Canada in 1816, being

Township of York (East). 207

followed two years later by his wife and family, which included Thomas.
His father settled in Durham County; but Thomas learned in Toronto the
trade of brickmaker, which he followed for many years. He was engaged
in the erection of many of the earlier buildings of the city, notably the first
Roman Catholic Church in 1821. He married Miss Catharine Hanan, by
whom he had six children, two of whom are dead; his wife died in 1883.
Mr. Thorn has held the office of County Constable for the last thirty-two years.

JOSEPH TREBELCOCK, grocer, Norway, established his business in 1881,
and located first at Leslieville, removing to his present premises a little
later. He has built a large brick store and residence, having a frontage of
thirty by forty-five feet, where he does a large and increasing trade. Mr.
Trebelcock was born in Norway, East York, where he has always resided.
His wife was a Miss Fox, a native of Leslieville.

JOHN WALMSLEY, deceased, was born in Lancashire, England, in 1804,
and in 1825 emigrated to Canada and settled in the Township of York,
where he resided up to the time of his death in 1847. He married Miss
Mary Cunningham, who came to Canada at an early day. James, the
eldest son, was born in 1830 on the old homestead, where he remained until
1844. He then went to Simcoe County and attended school for eighteen
months, after which he learned the waggon-making trade. In 1864 he
purchased one hundred acres of land on lot 14, concession 3, which he has
improved and on which he still resides. For the last twenty years he has
been engaged in gardening and growing small fruits. In 1855 ne married
Miss Eleanor Langrill, of Eagleton, by whom he has nine children, seven
of whom are living.

JOHN WEBBER, florist, Kingston Road, was born in Devonshire, Eng
land, and came to Canada in 1870. Previous to his settlement in Toronto
he had located in London and Barrie, and was in the employment of Chief
Justice Harrison and Mr. C. W. Howland. His property has a frontage of
two hundred and forty by three hundred feet.

STEPHEN WEBSTER was born in Northamptonshire, England, in 1830,
and came to Canada in 1842; he first settled in the Township of King,
where he remained for several years. In 1854 ne married Miss Huldah
Doan, of the same township, by whom he had two children ; his first wife
having died, he married Miss Isabella Williams, of Picton, Prince Edward
County, in 1859, by whom he has six children. In 1869 he took up his
residence in Toronto ; the following year he engaged in the manufacture

208 Biographical Notices.

and sale of machine oils, in which business he continued up to 1880 ; subse
quently purchasing eleven acres on the Don and Danforth Road, on lot n,
concession 2, of East York, where he and his son cultivate garden produce;
they are also largely interested in bee culture.

HUGH WILSON is the eldest son of William Wilson and was born in
Ireland in 1812. He came to Canada with his parents, and his principal
occupation has been that of farming, although at one time he navigated
the lakes. During the Mackenzie Rebellion he took an active part, and
was present at the burning of Montgomery s Hotel and the skirmish on
Yonge Street, and was on the side of the Government. Mr. Wilson is one
of the oldest residents in the township and a general authority in all matters
relating to township lore. He married Miss Mary Cawley, of Wexford,
Ireland, who died in 1883, leaving one son and one daughter. He married
again, his second wife being Miss Ann Brown, of Lincolnshire, England,
by whom he has five children, four of whom are living.

JAMES YOUNG, postmaster and merchant, Doncaster, was born in
Berwick-on-Tweed, Scotland, in 1824, and came to Canada in 1853, settled
at once in Doncaster, where he has resided ever since, and is one of the
settlers in this locality. He carried on hotel and store for over twenty years
and has been postmaster for fifteen years. He was twice married, first in
Scotland, and a second time in Doncaster, to Anne Hogg, daughter of
John Hogg, a York pioneer. He has two sons and six daughters, married
and settled in the vicinity.

TOWNSHIP OF YORK

Si 1 ),

TOWNSHIP OF YORK (WEST).

,HILIP ARMSTRONG, deceased, was born in Cumberland,
England, in 1810, and in 1830 came to York, where he began
business as a butcher and farmer. Soon after the incorporation
of the city he engaged extensively in market-gardening, on
Yonge Street and Rose Hill. In later years, as the County
of York became more densely settled, the divisions existing at
present were made, and the City of Toronto Electoral Division
Society was formed, in which he held various offices. He was instrumental
in inaugurating the first Exhibition of 1852. He lived to see the result of
his labour crowned by the Provincial Exhibition, in which, with the desire
to promote and advance agriculture, he took a great interest. Although an
active worker in the above society, he continued his connection with the
West York Association, of which he was President for many years. In
early life he was a strong Baldwin Reformer, but later was identified with
the Conservative Party. He was a Justice of the Peace for the County of
York, which office he held for many years, and a member of the County
Council, also of the Agricultural and Horticultural Societies, and the Art
Association. He was President of the Electoral Division Society. He
was connected with various churches, and was instrumental in organizing
the present Philharmonic Society. Few men were better known throughout
the County of York. His connection with the various industries added to
his great popularity. Although three-score and ten years of age, he was
still active and retained his mental faculties in a great degree. The York
Pioneers and Electoral Division Society, and other associations to which
he belonged, attended his funeral in a body. He was twice married, first
to a Miss Calvert, of England, in 1837 ; at Toronto he married Mary,
eldest daughter of James Wickson, by whom he left one son. Dr. Thomas
Armstrong, only son of the above, was born at Yorkville in 1838, where he

212 Biographical Notices,

first attended school. He passed three years at the Toronto Academy,
after which he was engaged upon his father s farm until 1858, when he began
his medical studies at the Toronto School of Medicine, where he graduated
in 1862. He then removed to Whitby, Ontario, where he practised for five
years. In 1867 he returned to Yorkville, where he has since built up a
large and lucrative practice. In politics he is a Conservative. He is a
member of the A.F. and A.M., and A.O.U.W. In 1863 he married the eldest
daughter of Nicholas Maughan, Assessment Commissioner of Toronto.

J. BARNES is the proprietor of the general store at the newly-built
portion of the rapidly increasing village of Carlton West Junction. He
operated a business that extended through the Township of Markham and
Vaughan, establishing the Edgeley Post-office, which he conducted in con
junction with a general store for twelve years, afterwards selling out and
moving into the Township of Markham, where he continued in business for
eight years. In the autumn of 1882 he disposed of this, and in the spring
of the following year accepted the position of buyer for the Parry Sound
Lumber Company. He returned to York County in December of the
same year, and established his present satisfactory, and largely increasing
business.

EDWARD BESCOBY, of Eglinton, retired, is a native of London, England,
and came out to Canada in 1834, in company with his brother-in-law who
died some years ago. Mr. Bescoby settled first on the Huron Track, and
remained there a few years, subsequently removing to a farm on the Dun-
das Road. Shortly after this we find him a resident of Toronto, and in the
lime business, his firm burning the lime required for the erection of the
Asylum, in which trade he continued until 1857. He was married in 1830
to Miss Priscilla Thwaites, of London, England, who died in 1857, while
on a visit to her native land. He then purchased some property consisting
of mills, lime and freestone quarries at Limehouse in Halton County, which
business he conducted until 1871. There he manufactured the first Port
land cement produced in Canada. On his retirement from business he paid
a lengthened visit to the Old Country, and on his return to Canada took
possession of his handsome private residence in Eglinton. Mr. Bescoby
served during Mackenzie s Rebellion as Captain under Colonel Dunlop.
He was married in 1864 to Miss Helen Ashbough, of Hamilton, Ontario.

JOHN BOAKE, one of the early settlers of York, is a native of County
Tipperary, Ireland, and came out in 1821, settling soon after on the farm
he at present owns and lives on. He bought one hundred acres first and

Township of York ( West). 213

afterwards owned five hundred acres, dividing the same among his children.
He married Rebecca Boake in 1832, also a native of Ireland, who came
eight years after and died in 1865 ; five sons and one daughter survive her.
He married Margaret Bell, of Woodstock in 1870.

JOHN BOLER, farmer, is a native of Mansfield, England. He came out
in 1859 and settled upon the place where he still lives; he leased this first
in 1875 an d bought the same. In 1860 he married Sarah J. Shipman, also
a native of Mansfield ; they have one son.

WILLIAM BOURKE, hotel proprietor, Weston, was born in Ireland in
1840, and came to Canada with the 2nd Battalion of Her Majesty s i7th Regi
ment in 1862. The regiment was stationed at Halifax, N.S., for four years,
and afterwards moved to Montreal, where it was after a short stay of two
months, transferred to Toronto, when Mr. Bourke left the service. Soon
after his retirement from the army he married Rose Ann Hagan, a native
of Ireland, by whom he has two children, a boy and a girl. After his
marriage he moved to Lambton Mills, where he did military detective duty
for nearly two years and then embarked in the hotel business ; subsequently
he conducted a hotel known as Morgan s Corner, in concession 2, West
York. After spending four years here he migrated to Thistledown and
kept a hotel there for eight years and a-half. In 1881 he purchased the
hotel which he at present conducts, called the Russel House, where he does
a good business, and where the travelling public receive every considerate
attention. Mr. Bourke has the two following children, viz. : William
Joseph and Mary Ellen.

EDWARD BROWN, proprietor of grocery and provision store, corner of
Davenport Road and Bathurst Street, is a native of London, England, and
came to America in 1844. He landed at Philadelphia, and after spending
a few months in the States came to Toronto. He followed the occupation
of painter and grainer for a while, having learned that trade in England,
but subsequently commenced in the grocery and provision trade. He con
tinued in that trade until 1883, on Yonge Street, finally relinquishing the
active part of the business in favour of his son, who is established at the
address above mentioned. Mr.. Brown married in 1858, Miss Margaret
Thompson, a native of Gloucestershire, England, by whom he has a family
of four children, two sons and one daughter living in Toronto.

JOSEPH BROWN, proprietor of Black Creek Brick Yard, was born in
Durham, England, and came to Canada with his father, John Brown, in

214 Biographical Notices,

1849. The latter was a potter by trade, and carried on the business here
which he had learned in the old country, and in conjunction with his
partner received 100 for making the first draining tile in this Province.
The family have been potters and brick-makers for generations. This yard
was established by J. Wellington in 1856, and was leased to Mr. Brown
in 1860. He commenced the manufacture of brick in 1 88 1, and employs
eight hands, turning out about one million bricks annually.

JOHN A. BULL, proprietor of the Carlton Carriage and Waggon Works,
was born in Carlton Village, being the son of the late William Bull. His
grandfather John Bull, settled with his family one mile east of the village,
on the farm now owned and occupied by J. R. Bull. William Bull, the
father of the subject of this sketch, was a waggon-maker by trade, and
followed that occupation to within ten years of his death, which occurred
in 1883. John A., learning the trade of his father, succeeded to the business
in 1880, which he has since conducted with ability, and bears a good
reputation in city and country for producing first-class work. He turns out
a large number of carriages and substantial waggons yearly.

JOHN EDWARD BULL, lot 7, concession 4, was born on the concession
on which he now lives in West York. He was the son of Edward Bull,
a native of Tipperary, Ireland, who emigrated to Canada in 1819, finally
settling near the Davenport Road in this township, and who died in 1876.
His mother was Margaret McKay, a native of West York, who died in
1873. John Edward is one of a family of four children who survive their
parents, and with the exception of about ten years continued to reside on
the farm he now occupies. He married in 1861 Susan Bunt, a native of
Vaughan Township, by whom he has seven children.

J. P. BULL, Davenport Post-office, lots 29 and 30, concession 2, West
York Township, is a son of the late Bartholomew Bull, a native of Tippe
rary, Ireland, who came to Canada in 1818, and settled soon after on the
farm, which the subject of this sketch, jointly with his two brothers, now
owns and occupies. He lived at home until the death of his wife in 1871,
and took up his residence with a son who was located at Yorkville, and
with whom he lived until his death in 1878, at the advanced age of eighty-
seven years. His family consists of three sons and two daughters, who
survive him. The sons are, Dr. Bull of Toronto, T. H. Bull, Clerk of the
Peace for the County ,of York ; and J. P. Bull, on the old homestead. One
daughter is the wife of Dr. Pattalls, of Brampton, and the other the wife of
James Good, iron-founder, Toronto. Mr. J. P. Bull was born on the home

Township of York ( West). 215

farm, and married in 1849 Harriet Bishop, who came to Canada in 1844.
On coming of age he received from his father two hundred acres of land in
the Township of West York, on which he lived for forty years, during that
period doing much building, and making vast improvements. As a man
of considerable influence, he has held several offices, and taken an active
interest in all that concerns the municipality. He has been a Justice of
the Peace for thirty-five years, and was Deputy-Reeve for the township
several years. As a member of the Methodist Church he has manifested
a more than ordinary concern in its welfare, and the Agricultural Society
of the county recognizes heartily the share he has taken during the last forty
years in promoting the advantages which it now enjoys. He has held office
in connection with it continuously during the period of his membership,
and for seven years presided over its deliberations, being at the present
time Vice-President. Mr. Bull has a family of two sons and four daughters,
one son being settled in the Township of York, and the other near Brampton.
Mr. Bull was one of the founders of the Dominion Grange and remains
Treasurer of the society at the present time. His address is Davenport
Post-office.

WALTER J. BULL, lot 8, concession 4, the son of J. P. Bull, elsewhere
noticed, commenced farming for himself near Brampton in 1876. The
following year, his father being desirous of retiring from farming, Walter
rented the old homestead " Downsview Farm," after which the post-office,
church, etc., of that name were called. He still resides on the old farm,
which contains two hundred acres of land. His wife was the second
daughter of Thomas Holtby, Esq., of Brampton.

ROBERT CARRUTHERS, deceased, was a native of the County Cumber
land, England, and came to Canada with his people in 1810, the family
settling upon the farm now in the occupation and ownership of his son
George Carruthers. The father of Robert was James Carruthers, one of
the oldest settlers in the township, they having no neighbours nearer than
three miles for a long time after their settlement. Robert resided on the
old homestead until his marriage, when he moved to Carlton, and lived
there six years, afterwards moving to Toronto Gore, where he spent eight
years. In 1856 he returned to the old homestead and died there. The
surviving family consists of three sons and five daughters, all of whom are
settled in the county. George Carruthers has resided at the old homestead
since the family returned from Toronto Gore ; he received the old place by
will from his father, which contains fifty acres. He married in 1873 Mary
A. Watson, daughter of Francis Watson, of this township.

216 Biographical Notices.

EDMOND JOHN CLARK, located on Yonge Street, in the Township of
West York, was born in East York, being the son of John Clark, a native
of Essex, England, who came to Canada at an early day. His mother was
Charlotte Shuttleworth, daughter of the late Henry Shuttleworth, a York
County pioneer, who settled at Mount Albert, being a native of Lincoln
shire, England. Edmond John Clark in 1879 married a daughter of
Robert Leslie, of East York.

W. J. CONRON, Weston, cattle dealer and exporter ; commenced his
calling in early youth with his father, who has been engaged in the same
line since 1845. He has been engaged in the export trade since 1881 ; at
present, however, he does a local trade. He has also been Clerk and
Treasurer of Weston Village since its incorporation.

WILLIAM CORNISH, proprietor of the planing-mill and lumber business
recently established in the thriving Village of West Toronto Junction, is a
native of Exeter, Devonshire, England, and came to Canada in 1876. He
settled first in Coaticook, Quebec, remaining there six years, subsequently
coming to Toronto, where he was engaged with Mr. Fletcher until 1884.
He commenced the erection of the building, and having now established
his business, we may add that it is likely to prove of great advantage to the
village and its surroundings.

JOHN COTTRELL, florist and gardener, Deer Park, is the son of the late
Samuel and Margaret Cottrell, who came from Shropshire, England, in
1869 ; his father was a farmer in the Mother Country, and on his arrival
here. He was variously engaged to 1871, when he commenced market-
gardening, following that occupation until his death in the spring of 1883.
John, his son, succeeded him in the business, and is at present entering
more extensively into the cultivation of flowers and shrubs.

JAMES COULTER, born in the County Down, Ireland, in 1821, was ten
months old when his parents settled in the Township of Etobicoke. His
father, besides farming, engaged extensively in sawing lumber, being the
owner of three saw-mills. Since 1841 Mr. Coulter has carried on the busi
ness of erecting mills. He owns the Weston Foundry and machine shop,
which he erected in 1856. It contains all the machinery necessary for the
construction of the different parts of mill machinery. The motive power is
furnished by two steam-engines, twenty-five and six horse-power respec
tively, while eight men are employed. On February 8, 1854, Mr. Coulter
married Abigail Card, who was born in 1826. They have eleven children

Township of York (West). 217

living and one dead. The former are Andrew, Eleanor, Martha, Eliza,
Levi, Mercie, James, Louisa, Eustace, George and Ida.

RICHARD Cox, proprietor of the market garden on lot 22, concession 2,
is a native of Norfolk, England, and came to Canada in 1873. I n J 878 he
bought eleven acres of land, which he reduced by sale to six acres, where
he cultivates garden produce, having reclaimed his land from the bush. He
married before he came to Canada Miss Elizabeth Middlestock. Mr. Cox
expects in the future to give his attention especially to fruit-growing.

JOSEPH CROSSON, lot 22, concession 5, was born in 1826, on the farm he
now occupies and owns, and is the son of John Crosson, of German extrac
tion, a native of Pennsylvania, United States, who settled in Canada in
1805. The elder Crosson had previously paid a visit to this country in
1801, but had returned to Pennsylvania; and, perhaps, impressed with the
prospect of Canada, he returned four years later, having in the interim
married Elizabeth Gower, who accompanied him. We are told that the
journey was made with only a colt two years old, on the back of which their
household effects were placed ; the distance covered, and the slow pace at
which they of necessity moved, must have occupied a great length of time.
Mr. Crosson was a pioneer in the true sense of the word, for, apart from the
physical endurance required to perform such a journey, in which innumer
able hardships were their unpleasant lot, the prospect on their arrival at
their destination would be the reverse of exhilarating, in a sparsely settled,
unbroken wilderness, with a home to hew out of the forest with the wood
man s axe. He owned the first waggon in that part. Time, labour and
energy will do great things, and as improvements began to show themselves
in his new home, brought about by his unfailing industry, with his children
growing up around him, he passed serenely on through life, feeling only the
occasional sorrows which the loss of those we hold dear provoke and which
remain the common lot. His long and useful career was brought to a close
in 1868, at the venerable age of ninety-three years. He survived the
partner of his joys, toils and sorrows but eight years, and was laid in his
last rest by the surviving members of his family. Joseph, who owned the
old homestead, was married in 1846 to Ann Wild, a native of Nottingham
shire, England, who came out with her people in 1829, by whom he had
twelve children, only four of whom are now living. Of the other mem
bers of the family of twelve children which composed the original family of
the old people, only three remain besides the one whose name appears at
the head of this sketch, one being settled in Missouri, one in the County of
Peel, and William L. is in this township.

218 Biographical Notices.

THOMAS DANIELS, market gardener, Runnymede Estate, near Dundas
Road, is a native of Monmouthshire, England, and came out to Canada in
1873. He was variously engaged until 1876, when he leased the garden
he now cultivates, containing twelve acres. He married Susannah Bailey,
by whom he has six sons and two daughters.

JOHN DAVIDSON, retired, is a native of Scotland, and was born in 1818.
He came to Canada with his people in 1831, when they settled in King Town
ship, on lot 9, concession 2. Here John resided and, on the death of his
father, received the homestead by will, and owned the same until 1874,
having in the interim added to it, the total then reaching two hundred and
ninety acres. He then sold out, and has since resided with his sister on
the Indian Road, and owning property on Roncesvalles Avenue. Mr.
Davidson s father was the late Andrew Davidson, who died in 1856, at the
age of eighty-nine ; three sons and three daughters survive him.

J. F. DAVIDSON, lot 26, concession 3 from the Bay, is a native of
Chatham, Kent County, England, and came to Canada in 1858, and with
the exception of a short time spent in Buffalo and St. Louis, has resided
here ever since. He married in 1868 Mary Severn, daughter of the late
John Severn, a native of Derbyshire, England, who came to Canada at an
early day and engaged in the brewing business until his death, and was
President of the Brewer s Association some years ; he owned the farm for
many years where Mr. Davidson is now located. He died in 1880, having
spent a long and useful life devoted to mercantile and agricultural pursuits.

J. C. DEVINS, lot 20, concession 6, born in 1809 on the farm, a portion
of which he still resides upon, is the son of the late Isaac Devins, who with
his people, who were U.E. Loyalists, came to York County with Governor
Simcoe. The grandfather was Abraham Devins ; he and four sons settled
in the southern portion of York Township. One of the sons died in military
service under General Brock in 1813. Isaac bought and settled upon a
farm located in the north-west portion of York Township as above. He
married Miss Polly Chapman, of Genesee, N.Y., a native of New England,
before he came to Canada. The sister of the subject of this sketch
Elizabeth Devins, is thought to be the first white child born in Toronto.
Isaac and his brother-in-law, Nicholas Miller, erected the mill at Lambton.
John C. Devins received from his father one hundred acres of land, which
he cleared and brought into a flourishing state of cultivation, and which
he yet resides upon. He married in 1832 Jeanette Rodger, a native of
Scotland, the issue of their union being eleven children ; eight sons and one

Township of York (West). 219

daughter are still living, Mr. Devins in 1837 set off to join Mackenzie s
forces, but was intercepted and taken prisoner, the Loyalists being aware of
his sympathy with the Reform Party. Mr. Devins father, although a U.E.
Loyalist, never received the land from the Crown to which he was entitled.

JOHN DEW, farmer, lots 24 and 25, concession 3, was born in Deer Park
in 1843, being the son of John and Caroline Dew, of English birth, who
came to Toronto about 1830. Mr. Dew, sen r, was a machinist by trade,
and is credited with having made and set up the first steam engine in
Toronto. He at first carried on a foundry, but was afterwards interested
in Gooderham s Distillery. Caroline, his wife, was a governess before her
marriage, and educated several of the Gooderham family. Mr. Dew, sen r,
left Toronto and went to Prince Edward County, where he purchased a
large tract of land, subsequently selling out and removing to St. Catharines
where he died, in 1881, at the age of seventy-six years ; he was a Justice of
the Peace for many years. John Dew, his son, whose name appears at the
head of this sketch, married Ann, daughter of James Charles, merchant, of
Toronto.

JAMES DUNCAN, lots 18, 19 and 20, concession 5, born on lot 18, is the
son of the late James Duncan, sen r, a native of the County of Leitrim,
Ireland, who came to Canada about 1821 with his parents, who purchased
six hundred acres of land near the Humber, on which the family settled,
part of which is now owned by James Duncan. His father married in 1831
Ann Moore, who died in 1851, his demise occurring in 1877. Two sons and
two daughters survive them. James married in 1858, Elizabeth Jane
Griffith, a pioneer of this township; four sons and three daughters remain
of a family of ten children, the issue of this union.

W. A. DUNCAN, J.P., and License Commissioner for the Ontario
Government, resides on lot 23, concession 6 ; is a son of the late John
Duncan, a native of Ireland, who came out to Canada in 1821, and settled
on a portion of the six hundred acres purchased by his father. W. A.
Duncan was born on the farm he now owns and occupies, having resided
there all his life, with the solitary exception of about two years. He
received his property by will from his father, which consists of about eighty
acres. He married in 1869 Elizabeth, daughter of John C. Devins, of this
township, whose sketch appears elsewhere.

WILLIAM DUNCAN, lot 16, concession 3, one of the oldest residents of
the township, was born in the County of Leitrim, Ireland, on New Year s

22O Biographical Notices.

Day, 1801. He came to Canada in 1821, and in 1823 bought and settled
upon the farm where he now resides. An unbroken wilderness then faced
the hardy settler, and a lack of energy or strength of will would have
betrayed itself in any man whose destiny was cast in that labyrinth of
virgin forest. But William Duncan endowed with more than ordinary
perseverance and industry, commenced his life s labour in earnest, with the
result that youth around him have had a splendid example set them of
what may be made of early opportunities. The land originally occupied is
now divided amongst his sons, and the well-cultivated farms bear ample
testimony to the care bestowed upon them by their respective owners. Mr.
Duncan married in 1831 Sarah Mulholland, of Irish parentage, by whom
he has nine sons and three daughters. The mother died in 1883, two years
after the celebration by the old people of their golden wedding. Mr.
Duncan is still hale and hearty, although advanced in years, and is respected
far and wide for his urbanity and kindliness of disposition.

FRANK A. FLEMING, lot 6, concession 5, Park Farm, is the son of San-
ford Fleming, Esq., Civil Engineer. The farm has belonged to the family
since 1854, and came into the present owner s hands in 1880, and contains
about two hundred and ten acres. Mr. Fleming is extensively engaged in
the importation and breeding of Hereford Cattle, and has on hand about
forty head of the celebrated breed. This is one of the finest stock-breeding
farms in the county.

WALTER FOXWILL, lots 7 and 8, concession 3, was born in Gloucester
shire, England, in 1840, and emigrated to Canada in company with his
brother Albert, in 1864. They came direct to Weston and started farming
on land belonging to Mr. Henry Dennis. They purchased in 1874 the farm
on which they now live, and since that time have been doing well, and are
in possession of a very comfortable home. Mr. Walter Foxwill was married
in 1882, his wife s maiden name being Marian Kennedy.

JOHN GRAINGER, florist and gardener, St. Clare Avenue, Deer Park,
was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1811. In 1829 he came with his people
to Canada, and settled first in Montreal, from which city, after a stay of
three years, they removed to Toronto, They settled on Yonge Street, near
Bloor, where the father and son entered into the gardening business, which
was conducted by the former until his death in 1837. John continued the
business, and remained in the original locality until 1845, when the exten
sion of the city forced him further northward, to his present position, where
he has since conducted his business. He married in 1838 Laura Stibbard,

Township of York (West). 221

of Toronto, a native of Norfolk, England, the issue of the marriage being a
family of eleven children. Mr. Grainger was a volunteer during the time
of the Rebellion, and served under Captain Jarvis, also under Captain
Newbigen.

OLIVER GRAINGER, florist, Yonge Street, near Deer Park, is a native of
Toronto, being the son of John Grainger, noted elsewhere. He makes a
speciality of cut flowers for floral designs. He married Lavinia Crown,
daughter of David Crown, Yorkville ; he has a stall also at St. Lawrence
Market.

ALLEN GRAY, deceased, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1802, and
emigrated to Canada in 1820, settling in York, in which county, as well as
well as in that of Peel, he followed farming until his death, which occurred
on the 28th of March, 1880. During his lifetime he took an active interest
in all matters relating to the good of the community among which he moved,
having been President of the Agricultural Meetings, School Trustee, and
other more or less important offices. He was twice married, first to Mary
Eller, by whom he had three children, as follow : George, born January
i, 1826; Mary, born July 10, 1828; and Robert, born May 29, 1830, died
June 7, 1878. Mr. Gray s second marriage occurred July 4, 1830, his wife
being Mary Ann Lang, who was born in Cornwall, Lower Canada, Septem
ber 13, 1810; the issue of this union was nine children, viz. : Harriet, born
November i, 1832; married to William Watson, October 14, 1867; John
born September 30, 1834; Hannah, born April 5, 1837, and married to
William Crozier, February 26, 1857 ; Elizabeth Fleming, born August 23,
1859 ; Annie Bull, born March 31, 1841 ; Sarah Russell, born October 24,
1842; William, born May 24, 1851, and died April 22, 1872.

A. J. GRIFFITH, lot 14, concession 5, was born on the family homestead
on lot 13, and is the son of the late Joseph Griffith, noticed elsewhere. He
resided at the old homestead until 1870, when he bought and took posses
sion of his present farm of fifty acres and an adjoining lot of seventy-five
acres. He married in 1871 Eliza J. Livingston, of Peel County ; they have
one daughter, Maggie E., born in 1872. Mrs. Griffith is daughter of the
late Robert Livingstone, of Peel, a. native of Ireland, who came out in 1830.

JOSEPH GRIFFITH, lot 13, concession 5, was born on the lot upon which
he still lives, and is the son of the late Joseph Griffith, a native of County
Cavan, Ireland, who came out about 1823, and soon after settled on lot 13,
where he resided until his death in 1879. His wife was Judith Welch; tour

222 Biographical Notices.

sons and two daughters survive this union. Mr. Griffith married in 1881,
Eliza Griffith, daughter of the late Thomas Griffith, also a pioneer of this
township. Thomas Griffith, sen r, was with the loyal forces at the time of
the Rebellion. Abraham Welsh, brother-in-law of Joseph Griffith, sen r,
was taken prisoner by Mackenzie, held for some time, and afterwards
liberated.

WILLIAM GRIFFITH, lot 13, concession 5, was born on the farm he at
present owns, one hundred and fourteen acres, and which constituted the
family homestead, being another son of the late Joseph Griffith.

ROBERT HARRIS, deceased, proprietor of the West Toronto Junction
Hotel, was a native of Somersetshire, England, who came to Canada in
1857, and settled with his people in the Township of East York, his father
being the late John Harris. In 1870 Robert married Mary A. Lawton, a
native of Bridgewater, Somersetshire, England. In 1872 he commenced
business for himself by purchasing a farm on lot 23, concession 3, Et obi-
coke, where he resided until 1883. He then sold out, afterwards leasing
and taking possession of the above hotel, which he conducted until his
death on 28th December, 1884, when Mrs. Harris continued to manage the
business, furnishing good accommodation for the travelling public. This
is one of the oldest establishments in the district, being of forty years
standing.

MILES HAYDRICK was born in the County of Wexford, Ireland, and in
1856 came to Toronto. He was a coachman and butler, and acted in that
capacity in various places up to 1877, when he came to his present loca
tion on concession 3 from the Bay, and bought six and a-half acres,
which he cleared and commenced market-gardening. He has very much
improved the land, and has added to it, until he now owns eighteen acres,
valued at $12,000, and by honesty and industry he has accumulated con
siderable wealth.

FRANCIS HEYDON, proprietor of the old established Carlton Hotel, is a
son of James and Bridget Heydon, who came to Canada from Ireland in
1828, and settled in the Gore of Toronto, where they resided until their
death in 1859. Francis in early life followed the business of threshing for
five or six years. He then bought a saloon near the Grand Trunk Station,
in the township, where he continued some five years, afterwards being
employed by the Grand Trunk Railway Company. He then kept a hotel
in Vaughan Township about seven years, and in 1867 took possession of

Township of York (West). 223

his present premises, buying the same in 1882. He married in 1860 Isabella
Gracey, a native of Etobicoke Township in this county, by whom he had a
family of eight children, four sons and two daughters are still living.

JOSEPH HOLLEY was among the early settlers of York County; he was
born in Pennsylvania in 1780, coming to Canada and settling in this country
in 1794. He engaged in saw-milling and built up a considerable estate.
He was a most useful member of society, and assisted materially the growth
and prosperity of the locality in which he lived. He died in 1874, lacking
six years of being a centenarian. His son William, born in 1839, carried
on his father s saw-mill and farm until his death in 1882, when he in turn
was succeeded by his son O. P. Holley, who was born in 1861 and was
married November 14, 1883.

ABRAHAM HOOVER, lot 23, concession 4, was born in Markham Town
ship in 1821, being the son of the late Christopher Hoover, a native of
Pennsylvania, U.S. He, with his people, who were U.E. Loyalists, were
among the first to take up their residence in this county. The grandfather,
Martin Hoover, settled in Markham Township on land given him by the
Government. Christopher was for a short time in the States, and on his
return, in 1824, bought the farm now owned by Abraham, the subject of
this sketch. Christopher married Mary Troyer, who, with his two sons
and five daughters, survived him. His widow is now ninety-nine years of
age, and is living with a daughter in Markham Township. Abraham mar
ried in 1844 Elizabeth Cook, of Markham ; they have a family of six sons
and two daughters.

F. A. HOWLAND, proprietor of the store and mills at the Village of
Lambton, was born at Carlton Island in the St. Lawrence, New York, and
is a son of Jonathan and Lydia Howland, natives of Dutchess County, in that
State. The father died at Cape Vincent on the St. Lawrence in 1841 ; the
mother died in Toronto in 1880, at the advanced age of ninety-one years.
Their family consisted of ten children, of whom three sons and three
daughters are surviving members. Sir William and H. S. Howland, now
of Toronto, and the subject of this sketch constitute the male portion. The
late Peleg Howland, who was the first to come to Canada of this family,
and who was partner in the above business, died in 1882. Mr. F. A.
Howland came to Lambton Mills in 1843, being then fourteen years of age,
and engaged with his brother, Sir William Howland, in the store and mill.
At that time there was an old Government mill and store, erected about 1785,
which Sir William leased for forty-one years, subsequently buying out the

224 Biographical Notices.

" Cooper" heirs and becoming sole proprietor. The old buildings were then
taken down, and the present spacious and commodious buildings erected in
1845. They measure 120 x 44 feet, and are five stories in height, with a run
of six stones, with a yielding capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels per
diem. In 1855 Mr. Peleg Howland took a half-interest in the property and
business, which he continued to hold until his demise. Sir William retired in
favour of the present owner, and Peleg in 1868, and on the death of the latter
F. A. Howland became sole proprietor of the business. In 1883 he erected
the woollen mills of eight looms, where are employed about twenty-five hands.
Mr. Howland has been postmaster since 1856, the date the office was estab
lished at Lambton Mills. He married in 1855 Matilda Musson, of Weston,
who died in 1871, leaving four sons and one daughter. In 1873 ne married
again, his second partner being Jane Ford, of Toronto ; the issue of this
union is two sons and one daughter. Sir William Howland came to
Canada in 1831 ; Peleg, in 1829, and H. S., in 1840.

CHARLES JOHN HUNTLEY, market-gardener and florist, Bowood Cottage;
proprietor of the market garden, Carolan Street, which consists of six
acres. He is a native of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, and came out
to Canada in 1854. He followed the occupation of gardener in England,
and on his arrival here assisted in clearing the land at High Park and
remained there as gardener for twelve years. He has carried on business
at various places since, and it was not until 1881 that he settled on his
present acreage. Mr. Huntley married, in England, Miss Emma Walker,
from his own district, by whom he has four sons and six daughters.

GEORGE H. HUSBAND, dentist, Newtonbrook, was born in Welland
County, Ontario, being the son of the late James Husband, of Irish birth,
who came to Canada about 1820 and settled in Welland County, where he
resided until his death. The subject of this notice commenced the practice
of dentistry at Thornhill in 1857, where he remained two years, and after a
short time spent at Goderich, permanently settled in the Village of Newton-
brooke, where he now enjoys an extensive practice. He pays periodical
visits to Weston, Woodbridge, Union ville and Richmond Hill.

GEORGE JACKSON, lot 13, concession 4, was born upon the farm which
is at present in his occupancy. On commencing life for himself he settled
on an adjacent farm, where he resided seventeen years, and in 1879 took
possession of the old homestead, since which time he has rebuilt the
home and made other important improvements. He owns in all about
four hundred and twenty-three acres of land in concessions 3 and 4.

Township of York ( West). 225

Mr. Jackson was in the Township Council in 1868-69. In 1862 he married
Sarah James, daughter of the late John James, a native of Tyrone, Ireland,
and a pioneer of York County. They have two sons and one daughter.

WILLIAM JACKSON, lots 21, 22 and 23, concession 3, was born in West
York Township and has lived on his present farm since he was two years
of age. His father was George and his mother Ann H. Jackson, both
natives of Yorkshire, England, who came out to Canada about 1830. They
settled in York, subsequently purchasing the farm William now resides
upon, where the father lived until his death in 1876, the mother dying three
years previous. One son and three daughters still survive them. William
married, in 1860, Jane Danby, daughter of John Danby, of this township,
the fruit of the union being four sons and two daughters. The subject of
this notice commenced with one hundred acres, left to him by his father s
will, and now owns an improving estate of five hundred acres.

FREDERICK R. JAMES, lot 22, concession 2, is the son of Joseph James,
a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, who came to America with his people
in 1818. They settled first in Pennsylvania, and came to Canada in 1820.
After a period spent in East Gwillimbury Township they removed to West
York later on, the grandfather taking up the farm now in the occupancy of
Frederick, where he resided until his death in 1872, at the venerable age of
ninety-four years. The father, Joseph James, died in 1876, and the mother
whose maiden name was Frances Reesor, followed two years later. The
surviving family consists of four sons and five daughters, all of whom are
living in this county.

ROBERT JAMES, lots 23 and 24, concessions i and 2, is the son of
William James, who settled on the farm adjoining where William James,
jun r, now lives, afterwards purchasing the lots Robert at present resides
on. William James, sen r, was born in Ireland, and went first to Pennsyl
vania, U.S., with his father and family, and from thence came to Canada.
He married Rebecca Johnston, who died in 1856; the surviving family
consists of five sons and two daughters. Robert married in 1872 Miss
Carruthers, daughter of Robert Carruthers, an early settler in this Town
ship. He owns one hundred and forty-five acres.

WILLIAM JAMES, lot 24, concession 3, is the youngest son of William
James, sen r, deceased. He was born on the old homestead, where he has
always lived, and has received the same by will from his father, coming
into possession in 1874, tne f arm consisting of one hundred and forty-five
acres. He married in 1883 Agnes Ramsay of Yorkville.
16

226 Biographical Notices.

D. F. JESSOPP, lot 29, concession 3, is a native of Waltham Abbey,
Essex, England, and came to Canada in 1837 with his people. His father,
Captain Henry Jessopp, on the breaking out of the Rebellion received a
commission ; his death occurred in 1854. Mr. Jessopp has resided on his
present farm nearly all his life. He was connected with the Toronto
Battery of Artillery, and finally retired with a Captain s commission. Only
two sisters besides himself comprised his father s family. Captain Henry
Jessopp was much esteemed by his surrounding neighbours, and his popu
larity among the poor, which was the outcome of his benevolent disposi
tion, has passed into a proverb.

WILLIAM KEMP, County-constable, apiarian, proprietor of fruit and
market-garden, King Street, West Toronto Junction, was born in the State
of Illinois, and came with his people to Lambton County when a child,
where he resided until 1877. In that year he removed to York County,
locating on his present purchase, which he has since continued to cultivate.
Mr. Kemp s father, the late John Kemp, was of English birth, and emigrated
to the States, settling in Chicago when that large and flourishing city was
in its infancy, removing from thence to Lambton County, and settled on
land given him by the Government for services rendered when a soldier in
the British Army, where he lived until his death. He left a family of four
sons and three daughters. The subject of this notice remained on the
homestead until twenty-five years of age, afterwards living at various places
in the county previous to taking up his residence here. He married in
1873 Elizabeth Munn, daughter of the late George Munn, of Trafalgar
Township, Halton County.

DAVID KENNEDY, retired. The parents of our subject, James and Diana
(Foster) Kennedy, were natives of the County Cumberland, England, from
which place they emigrated to York in 1832, and settled on Duke Street,
subsequently purchasing property on Queen Street West, where he was
extensively engaged in manufacturing carriages until his death in 1864.
David is the second eldest son in the family, and was born in the County
oi Cumberland, England, in 1819. He came to York with his parents
where he received such an education as the early schools of the city
afforded. At an early age he entered his father s shop, and although he never
learned a trade he soon became a skilful workman. In 1855 he succeeded
his father in business, and a few years later became extensively engaged in
the lumber business, which he conducted until 1874, when he removed to
the Township of West York, lots 36 and 37, where he purchased one

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Township of York ( West). 227

hundred and eight acres of land, upon which he erected a fine and com
modious house at a cost of about $5,000. This beautiful and picturesque
piece of property, Lake View Park, is situated five miles west of Yonge
Street, on Bloor ; here Mr. Kennedy has passed nearly twelve years of
hard labour, and expended about $20,000 in converting a wild and romantic
broken forest into a lovely quiet home, which is truly unsurpassed by any
in Ontario ; at considerable cost he has constructed three lovely artificial
lakes that are stocked with forty thousand brook trout. In 1837, during the
Rebellion, our subject was one of six soldiers stationed at the Old Fort
when the alarm bell for war rang; they remained two days without receiving
a supply of food, there being no commissioned officer in command. After
being relieved, Mr. Kennedy joined Captain Brown s company of volun
teers, which he accompanied to Montgomery s Farm, the scene of action,
where he participated in the engagement, also in the firing of the hotel.
After serving about thirty days he returned home. In politics he is a Liberal
Conservative, and in religion a member of the Church of England. In 1849
he was married to Marion Cullen, of New York, by whom he has six sons
and four daughters. His eldest son, David, is a great traveller, and is at
present scaling the Rocky Mountains for pleasure. Charles R. Kennedy,
his second son, was born in Toronto in 1852, where he was educated. He
has chosen the artist s profession, which he began about eight years since
under the direction of Mr. Leslie Judson, of this city; he is at present
located at 22 King Street East. Frederick Kennedy, third in order, was
born in Toronto in 1854, is at present situated at 452^ Queen Street West,
where he has been for several years engaged as a " jeweller and watch
maker. Three sons and three daughters remain at home and attend to the
farm duties ; one of his daughters married Walter Foxwill, a retired farmer
of West York.

RICHARD KERSLAKE, proprietor of market garden on the Shaw Estate
is a native of Devonshire, England, and came out to Canada in 1872 He
was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that occupation for two years after
his arrival here, commencing his present business at the above location in
1874, where he owns six acres and cultivates a variety of plants and
vegetables. Mr. Kerslake married in 1862, Mary Ann Pym, also a native

evon, England, the issue of the union is four sons and three daughters.

THOMAS KINGSLEY, proprietor of market-garden on Cinnamon Street
t 33, concession 2, West York, was born in County Wexford, Ireland
came to Toronto in 1840. He was for twenty-seven years employed in

228 Biographical Notices.

farming with George Cooper. He first bought two acres of land and after
wards added six more, making in all eight acres, and carried on a regular
market-garden. He married in 1851 Miss Helen Maloney, a native of
County Clare, Ireland ; they have one son and five daughters, all living,
viz. : Edward, Lizzie, Katie, Hellen, Mary and Annie.

PETER LAUGHTON, market -gardener, Carlton, is a native of Bedford,
England, and came to Canada in 1867. He was for two years in a city
store, afterwards taking charge of a private garden. At the expiration of
that time he leased a part of the Davison Estate, where he carried on
market-gardening for eleven years, purchasing in 1881, twenty-seven acres
at his present location, where he has one of the most extensive gardens
about the city.

EDWARD LINDNER, of Carlton Village, is of German extraction, his
father, John Lindner, emigrating from that country to Canada in 1854, an ^
settling in Newmarket, where the subject of this notice was born. The
family remained four years at Newmarket, removing afterwards to West
Carlton where the father still resides. Edward learned the trade of carpen
ter, and in 1879 established himself as a builder, and during his compara
tively short business career has erected more than forty houses, and has
twelve under construction at the present time, all of which have been built
on speculation at his own risk. In addition he has done a considerable
amount of contract work, and has also bxiilt on his own account, the large
and commodious block known as Lindner s Hall. This handsome struc
ture is three stories high, measuring 28 x 120 feet, and contains besides
a general store, barns, etc., two public halls and a capacious dining room
for the use of lodgers. One of the halls is occupied by the Independent
Order of Good Templars. The size of the lower hall is 28 x 96 feet, the
upper hall is the same size but includes the dining-room. We may say
that it is due largely to the enterprise of Mr. Lindner that the Village of
Carlton has assumed its present proportions, and the inhabitants will appre
ciate at its proper value his residence in their midst.

CHARLES McBRiDE, hotel proprietor, Eglinton, was born in the Town
ship of York (East) in 1832. The family first settled in Canada in 1793, the
grandfather having emigrated from the North of Ireland to Pennsylvania
some years before that date. He was one of the original pioneers and
assisted to clear the land which now forms the centre portion of the City of
Toronto. He sold two lots, one of four acres and one lot of one acre, for a
few dollars which, had he kept, would probably have left his grandchildren

Township of York ( West). 229

millionaires. After selling his city property he moved on to lot 17, conces
sion i, on Yonge Street, where John McBride, the father of Charles, was
born in 1802, who also resided on the old homestead until his death in 1865.
Charles McBride commenced the hotel business at Prospect House, Eglin-
ton, and kept the same for fourteen years, and in 1872 bought the farm of
fifty acres that he now owns, and erected his present hotel.

FRANCIS MCFARLANE, proprietor of the York and Vaughan Hotel, is a
native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to Canada in 1850. He was
engaged in the lumbering up to 1867, after which he leased and took
possession of his present premises, where he remained six years. He then
removed to a hotel a little south of this locality, and after spending nine
years there, returned to his former place of business where he has since
continued. Mr. McFarlane is district agent for the following agricultural
implement manufacturers, viz. : Fleury Estate, Aurora ; Wilson & Company,
Hamilton ; Coulthard, Scott & Company, Oshawa ; and keeps in stock a
full line of binders, reapers, mowers, drills, rakes, ploughs, fanning mills,
harrows, etc. ; he also repairs for any of the above, and conducts an exten
sive trade with the farmers of the country.

KENNETH MCLENNAN, Brockton, proprietor of market-garden, Bloor
Street, is a native of the Isle of Skye, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, and came
out to Canada in 1852. A shoemaker by trade, he followed the business for
about six years after his arrival, and then changed his occupation to that
of market-gardening, and commenced on his own account on Argyle Street,
afterwards removing to the corner of Dundas and Queen Streets. In 1871
he bought fourteen and a-half acres and moved to his present location, but
has since disposed of some, and now cultivates about thirty acres. He has
built on and improved his place considerably. He married in the Isle of
Skye, Catharine McKay, and out of a family of twelve children, two
daughters only are living.

JOHN MCNAMARA, farmer and market-gardener, was born near Galway,
Ireland. He came out to Canada in 1848, and settled in this county, where
he has been engaged in the above business since his advent. He cultivates
about thirty acres of land, and employs, according to the season, from five
to twenty hands, and markets his goods fresh in the city daily. He married
in 1864 Elizabeth Clarke, a native of England, who came out in 1858, the
issue of this union was ten children of whom four sons and four daughters
are living.

230 Biographical Notices.

P. MCNAMARA, proprietor of the market-garden on Caroline Street, is a
native of Ireland and came out to Canada at an early date. In 1868 he
bought the ten acres of valuable garden land which he still retains, and two
years later commenced the business he continues to conduct.

HENRY MASON, lot 6, concession i, is a native of Mossingham, Lanca
shire, England, and came to America with his people in 1833. His father,
the late William Mason, lived in Rochester five years, and on coming to
Canada m 1838 settled in Scarboro , where he died. Mr. Mason first
started on the farm in that township belonging to his father, afterwards
becoming possessed of the same by purchase, which he exchanged for
another in the same municipality. In 1877 he bought the farm where he
now resides, but only moved into it in the spring of 1883. He married in
1852 Fanny Palmer, who died in 1882, by whom he had a family of five
sons and five daughters.

GEORGE C. MOORE was born in the Township of West York, and is
the son of the late William Moore, a native of Ireland, who was born in
1795 and came to Canada in 1809. His father, on his arrival, remained
some time in Montreal, and about 1811 commenced to bring goods to
Toronto by team, which he lost in the St. Lawrence River by breaking
through the ice. He was in the War of 1812, and at the Battle of Queens-
ton Heights was wounded in the face by a musket ball. He received a
medal for his services, was commissioned a Lieutenant and afterwards
Captain in the militia. He married Sarah, daughter of William Harrison,
a U. E. Loyalist ; his surviving family consisting of three sons and one
daughter, viz. : Joseph, James and the one whose name heads this sketch ;
the daughter is Mrs. James Dobson, of Yorkville. George C., on leaving
the homestead, moved to Yorkville, where he resided about nine years,
ultimately removing to Davenport, and in the spring of 1844 settled at his
present location. He married in 1863 Fanny, daughter of John Charlton,
of London, Ontario; the latter, in company with two sons, was at the
burning of Montgomery s Tavern during the Mackenzie Rebellion.

THOMAS MULHOLLAND, lots 6 and 7, concession 2, was born in this
township in 1816, and is the son of Henry Mulholland, a native of Ireland,
who emigrated to Canada and settled in York County in 1806; he was in
the War of 1812, and participated in the Battles of York, Stony Creek and
Lundy s Lane, and lost his life on the Atlantic Ocean through the founder
ing of a vessel, The Lady of the Lake, Thomas Mulholland has always

Township of York (West). 231

resided at the old homestead, and during the Rebellion of 1837 took part
in the skirmish on Yonge Street as a volunteer in loyal troops and witnessed
the burning of Montgomery s Tavern. He married in 1847 Mary A. Con-
land ; the family consists of five sons and six daughters. Mr. Mulholland
owns large tracts of land which are in the Townships of West York, King
and Innisfil (Simcoe County). The family are of German descent.

B. W. MURRAY (Blair Athol), lot i, concession 4, West York, is a
native of Scotland and came to Canada in 1857 ; he held a position in the
North of Scotland Bank for six years, and on his arrival here became con
nected with the Bank of British North America. He subsequently accepted
a position in the Commercial Bank until 1860 ; he then went to the States
to take a position there, but returned to Canada in 1872, and in 1876 was
appointed to the charge of the Accountant s Office of the Court of Chancery
(now Supreme Court), which position he still holds. He married in 1858
Julia, only daughter of William Henry, of Montreal, and grand-daughter
of Alexander Henry, a famous North-West traveller, who coming to
Canada with General Amhurst in 1760, in conjunction with two brother
officers, purchased large tracts of land in the North-West ; this gentleman
was the only one who escaped at the capture of Fort Michilimackinac, and
it was to a female slave he owed his life.

JAMES ORR, lot 16, concession 6, is a native of County Antrim, Ireland,
and came out in 1867, since which time he has followed farming, an occu
pation he had previously been accustomed to. He married in 1873
Elizabeth McLean, daughter of Laughlin McLean, an old settler of the
township, native also of County Antrim, Ireland, who came out in 1827
and settled soon after at Black Creek. In 1840 he settled on the farm now
owned by our subject.

MATTHEW PARSONS, farmer, lot 3, concession 3, was born in Wiltshire,
England, and came out to little York with his parents in 1820. His father
settled on lot 22, concession 6, West York in 1821, which was then bush,
which he cleared, cultivated and lived upon until his death in 1864, at the
advanced age of ninety-one years. The surviving family consists of the
subject of this notice and three sisters, viz. : Mrs. Joseph Smith, of Etobi-
coke ; Mrs. Daniel Maybee, of Albion Township, and Mrs. Jacob Mattice,
Jarvis, Ontario. Matthew married in 1841 Elizabeth McKay, daughter of
Jacob McKay ; the issue of the union being two sons and five daughters ;
one son and three daughters living, all of whom are married and settled in

232 Biographical Notices.

the county. The son, William Albert, is now living on the west part of the
McKay homestead, lot 3, concession 3. After his marriage Matthew
Parsons remained for some time on the old homestead, removing to his
present locality in 1851.

JOHN PAUL, Weston. Among the most esteemed citizens of York
County may be mentioned the name of John Paul. He was born in Aber-
deenshire, Scotland, November 21, 1802, and landed at Toronto in 1823.
Being a teacher by profession he resided in different localities for about
fourteen years ; since which he has always lived in the vicinity of Weston.
He has been Major of militia, and was Captain during the Rebellion of
1837. He also has been Deputy Returning-officer for twenty years. In
1827 he married Jane Miller, who was born in Etobicoke Township, York
County, in 1811, and who died in 1864, by whom he had eight children, all
living, viz. : George O., John, James, Isabella A. McDougall, Mary B.
Warbrick, Jane A. Curtis, Catharine and Harriet Denison.

REMBLER PAUL is the son of Thomas and Sarah Paul, natives of Nor
folk, England, who landed in Quebec in 1832, where, shortly afterwards,
the subject of this sketch was born. They spent four years in Quebec, and
a subsequent eight years in Kingston, from which place they removed to
Toronto, where Mr. Paul, sen r, died in 1855. He was a veterinary surgeon
by profession, and when in Toronto formed a partnership with Mr. Capriol r
who was the first to open a repository for the sale of horses and carriages
in the city. Rembler learned the profession of veterinary surgeon from
his father, previous to which he had spent some time in the office of the
British Whig, where he learned to set type, but apparently did not follow
up this occupation. He practised as veterinary surgeon for about twenty
years, but only carried on the repository about a year after his father s
demise, although he still owns the property where Grand & Louis do
business. He retired from his profession in 1879, and engaged in real
estate speculations, mostly in the North- West, where he now owns three
thousand acres of land eleven miles south of Regina, stocked with horses,
cattle, etc. In 1883 he cultivated three hundred acres of grain. He also
owns a silver mine in Thunder Bay and a coal mine near Bancroft. Mr,
Paul married in 1852 Elizabeth H., daughter of the late Calvin Davis, of
Toronto, by whom he has one son.

JOHN PAXTON, florist and market-gardener, lot 29, concession 3 from
the bay, is a native of Alloa, Scotland, and came to Canada in 1858, land
ing at Quebec, where he remained and had charge of a gentleman s garden

Township of York (West). 233

for thirteen years. In 1870 he came to Toronto, and after two years spent
in the service of the Hon. D. L. Macpherson, he leased a place at Carlton,
and at the end of five years bought the ten acres he at present cultivates,
and by industry and thrift has succeeded in establishing a large and flourish
ing business. He keeps on sale a choice variety of flowers, plants and
vegetables. He married in 1858, while in Quebec, Jane Young, of Langley,
Buckinghamshire, England.

WILLIAM PEARS, Manager for Booth & Pears (or Y. & C. Brick
Manufacturing Company), brick manufacturers, Carlton West, is the son of
Leonard Pears, a native of Yorkshire, England, who came to Canada in
1851. This yard employs about twent} -three men and turns out about two
million bricks annually. They manufacture both common and pressed
brick by steam, their yard containing all modern appliances. The firm
was established in 1880, the business having previously been entirely in the
hands of Mr. Pears, who conducted it for thirty years.

PHILLIPS & BERRY, Lambton Mills, manufacturers of all kinds of
flannels. The business was established in 1884, both members of the firm
being young men from Yorkshire, England. They imported their machinery
from Thornton Brothers, Yorkshire, England, who are represented in this
county by Mr. A. Jackson, of Lambton Mills.

WILLIAM PLANT is a native of Staffordshire, England, where he learned
the trade of brick and sewer-pipe making, and for several years had the
management of a yard there. He came to Canada in 1860, and worked
about two years for Mr. Nightengale, afterwards establishing himself in the
business of sewer-pipe making at Yorkville, removing from thence to the
west end where he remained until 1874, m which year he came to his
present location where he has carried on a large and extensive brick
business, and having recently sold out, is on the eve of retiring into private
life. He was married in England to Sarah Whitehouse, of Staffordshire ;
out of a family of seven children, one son and two daughters only are living.
His son, Stephen J. Plant, is a patentee of the best brick-making machines
in use, together with a patent kiln for the baking of bricks. Mr. Plant,
sen r, made for Mr. Nightengale the first kiln for baking sewer-pipes in this
part of Canada. In 1882 he received a diploma for the best building
materials at the Exhibition,

JOSEPH PRATT, farmer, lots 17 and 18, concession 2, was born in War
wickshire, England, and came to America in 1852, taking up his residence

234 Biographical Notices.

in Ohio, U.S., where he stayed two years and then returned to England.
In 1859 he came out to Canada and settled in Toronto, where he conducted
a flour and feed store on Bloor Street West up to 1867. He then bought
one hundred and fifty acres of land at the above location, and in 1877
another farm of one hundred acres, which he continues to cultivate. He
married Susan Killey, of Warwickshire, by whom he had six sons and two
daughters.

W. H. RAY, proprietor of the Peacock Hotel, Dundas Road. This old
established hotel has been in existence since 1820, and is now one of the
oldest houses in the Province. The present proprietor is a native of
London, England, and came to Canada in 1870. He was engaged in the
butchering business for some time, and in 1881 took possession of this
hotel, since which time he has received steady support from the travelling
public.

DR. SAMUEL RICHARDSON, Eglington, was born in York County, being
a son of the late John Richardson, a native of Ireland, who came to Canada
in 1823 and resided in Scarboro Township until his death in 1874. Dr.
Richardson obtained his professional education at the Victoria School of
Medicine and the Toronto University, entering the former institution in
1867, where he spent two years, and graduating at the latter in 1871. He
practised in Toronto five years, holding at the same time the Professorship
of Materia Medica and Lecturer on Insanity at the Victoria School to the
end of 1874. He practised in Scarboro three years, and in 1879 settled at
Eglington, where he enjoys an extensive practice.

JOHN ROACH, farmer, lot 27, concession 2, was born in Cornwall, Eng
land, and came to Canada when twenty-five years of age. He settled first
in Oshawa, and after a residence of nine years, part of which time he kept
hotel, he removed to Toronto and conducted hotels in different localities in
the city. In 1874 he removed to the farm on which he at present resides,
having purchased the same eight years previous. He married in 1848 Mrs.
S. Lukes ; they have one son and one daughter. We may add that the
farm of Mr. Roach is considered one of the finest in the district, being
composed of two hundred acres ; he is also largely engaged in the milk
business, and keeps about twenty-five cows. In politics he is a Reformer.

v

RICHARD ROBERTS, proprietor of Covertdale Mills, was born in Ireland
and came to Canada, taking up his residence at the above locality in
August 1883. He leased and took possession of the mills, where he is

Township of York (West). 235

doing a thriving business buying wheat from the farmers in the adjacent
district, and selling the produce at wholesale in the city, besides doing a
retail trade on his own premises. He is a man of large experience in his
business, his father having conducted a mill in County Cork, Ireland.

GEORGE Ross, proprietor of the well-known and popular Eagle Hotel,
Weston Village, is a native of Toronto, and for seventeen years followed
the vocation of commercial traveller. He took possession of the above
hotel in June, 1884, and hopes, by strict attention to the comfort and con
venience of his patrons, to merit that share of custom hitherto awarded
his predecessor.

DAVID ROWNTREE, butcher, Weston, was born at Carlton, York Town
ship, in 1845, being the third son of Mr. D. Rowntree, of Carlton, mentioned
elsewhere. David lived with his father until twenty-one years of age, and
then commenced business for himself as butcher in 1866. He has been
very successful, and last year built a splendid brick store in a prominent
part of Weston, where he conducts a general store in connection with his
butchering business. Mr. Rowntree was married in the year 1865, his
wife s maiden name being Isabella Campbell, who is of Scotch parentage.
They have a family of eight children. Our subject is a member of the
Village Council since its formation. The family are adherents of the
Methodist Church.

DAVID ROWNTREE, lot 35, concession 3 from the Bay, was born in
Cumberland County, England, and came to Canada in 1832 with his
parents, with whom he remained eight years. He then rented a farm in
Toronto Township for four years, subsequently purchasing and taking
possession of the farm which constitutes his present home. He married in
1840 Sarah Lee, of English birth, who died in 1864, leaving nine sons and
two daughters, He married again in 1866, his second wife being Sarah
Rossiter, also a native of England ; five sons and four daughters are the
issue of this union. Mr. Rowntree owns ninety acres.

JAMES ROWNTREE, lots 22, 23 and 24, concession 7, was born on the farm
adjoining that which he now owns, and is the son of the late Joseph Rown
tree, a native of Cumberland, England, who came to Canada about 1834,
and worked for a time as journeyman miller, afterwards settling upon a
farm near the Humber. His wife was Ann McGee, a native of Scotland.
James married Caroline M. Crosson, daughter of William Crosson, of this
township.

236 Biographical Notices.

ALFRED H. ST. GERMAIN, lots 7 and 8, on the west side of Yonge
Street, Township of York. The retirement of a once prominent man from
the ranks of journalism (although particularly noticed and commented on
at the time) is not one of the events which leave a lasting impression on
the memory, and is perhaps forgotten by the many, yet the few who still
retain a recollection of the subject of this notice will not forget that
Toronto is indebted to him for being the first to publish a One Cent Daily
Newspaper. Mr. St. Germain was born at Kingston, in the Province of
Upper Canada, in the year 1827, being the son of Hyacinth LeMere St.
Germain, a lineal descendant of Rudolph St. Germain, who was a com
panion of Jacques Cartier in the exploration of the Canadas. Mr. St.
Germain spent his early life in Kingston, and before leaving there, in 1849,
was one of the proprietors of The Herald, one of the oldest papers in Canada.
The California gold fever, which was raging at that time, attracted him from
the editorial chair; but, after tempting fortune on the Pacific coast for a
time, he returned to Canada, and taking up his residence in Toronto, com
menced the publication of The Toronto Evening Journal, the first one cent
daily newspaper in Canada. He also was the originator of the cheap
advertising rates which now prevail in Toronto newspapers. His connec
tion with the printing and publishing business came to a close in 1882, when
he retired to his Yonge Street farm, consisting of one hundred and eighty-
five acres, within three and a-half miles of Toronto s northern city limits.

HENRY SAUNDERS, lots 5, 6 and 7, concession 3, was born in 1849, on
the farm where he now resides. The family are of German extraction. The
grandfather of our subject, Matthew Saunders, a noted shipbuilder, was a
U. E. Loyalist, and took up from Government two hundred acres of land
on lot 6, concession 3, which is still in the possession of his descendants.
He was killed at the battle of York by the explosion of the magazine. The
father of our subject was born near Thornhill in 1801, and took possession
of the family homestead in 1824, where he resided until his death in 1880,
at the age of seventy-nine years ; two sons and three daughters survive him.
Henry Saunders married Elizabeth Gould, of Pelham Township, Welland
County, who died in 1870. He married again in 1877, Elizabeth Dawdy of
Galesborough, by whom he has two sons and one daughter. Mr. Saunders
owns five hundred and sixty acres in this township.

GEORGE SMITH & Co., woollen manufacturers, Lambton Mills. This
business was originally established at Weston in 1870, under the name of
Smith & Wilby, and continued in force until 1880, when a dissolution of

Township of York ( West). 237

partnership took place. Mr. Smith then entered into partnership at Lamb-
ton Mills, to which place he transferred his business which is now known
under the above name. They employ over one hundred hands in the manu
facture of blankets, tweeds, and general woollen goods of various grades.
The machinery is run by an eighty horse-power water wheel and one hundred
and fifty horse-power steam engine. Mr. Smith is a native of Yorkshire,
England, and was born in the year 1832, emigrating to Canada in 1870.

*

ROBERT SMITH, proprietor of market garden on High Park Avenue and
Indian Road, was born in Cumberland, England, and came out to Canada
in 1832. He was variously engaged up to 1859, when he commenced the
gardening business at his present location where he owns and cultivates
twelve acres of fine garden land, growing all kinds of fruits, vegetables, etc.
He married in 1869 Mrs. Margaret Daly.

JAMES STEWART, deceased, was born in Ireland, of Scotch parents, in
1803, and came to Canada when only a boy. He first settled in Cavan Town
ship, Durham County, afterwards coming to West York, and locating on lot
13, concession 2, where he purchased two hundred acres of bush land. He
lived there for twenty years, and by additions made to his first purchase
became the owner of five hundred acres of land in one block. He subse
quently bought two hundred and thirty acres near the Don, in East York,
and twenty acres on Yonge Street, making a total of seven hundred and
fifty acres which is still in the possession of the family. He resided on the
farm near the Don until his death in 1878. He married Mary Ann Mulhol-
land, sister of Thomas Mulholland, of this township, who died in 1872,
leaving a family of four sons and four daughters. Joseph, the youngest son
of the family, resided on the homestead until 1876, when he settled on one
hundred acres, a part of the York estate. He married in 1876 Jennie
Heyland, daughter of James Heyland, of Essex Township, Simcoe County,
who was of Irish birth ; they have two sons and one daughter. Henry and
James, the second and third sons of the family, still reside on the old home
stead farm consisting of two hundred acres. Samuel Stewart, the eldest
son, resides on a portion of the York estate, and has a family of ten
children living. The four daughters of the late James Stewart are all
married. Mary Ann, married to James McGee, of Toronto ; Sarah, married
to Thomas Woodhouse, of Toronto ; Louisa, widow of the late William
Henry, of Toronto ; Jane, married to George S. Stevenson, of Peterboro .

JACOB STOREY, lot 25, concession 4, is the son of the late David Storey,
who left Pennsylvania for Canada at an early day. He served in the War of

238 Biographical Notices.

1812, and at the proclamation of peace settled in Vaughan Township, and
after a time removed to West York, where he purchased one hundred acres
of land, and locating on the lot above mentioned, resided there until his
death in 1872 at the age of seventy-eight. He left a widow and four sons
all of whom are still living. Jacob Storey, the subject of this sketch, was
married in 1843 to Sarah Snider, daughter of the late Samuel Snider, of
York Township ; they have three sons and four daughters, and have
sustained a loss of two daughters by death. During the Mackenzie Rebel
lion the father and son threw in their lot with the Reformers, and the father,
being captured by the regulars, was kept a prisoner for some time by the
Government. The family are of German descent.

JAMES STURZAKER, deceased, was a native of Lancashire, England,
where he was born in 1809. He had served his time to harness-making,
and on his arrival in Toronto in 1842, he settled on York Street, in which
locality he continued to conduct his business until 1874. He then removed
to Weston where he remained carrying on the same trade until the time of
his death on September 20, 1884. In 1843 ne married Sarah Mayhew, a
native of Hamilton, Ontario, by whom he has four children living, viz. :
Sarah, born August 9, 1849, married to Joseph Dean in 1870; Lillie, born
August 27, 1853; Sophia, born September 28, 1859, married to Thomas
Connor, October 15, 1878 ; Margaret, born October n, 1857, married
to William Bain, February 7, 1883.

JOHN SUMMER was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1842. He emigrated
to Canada in 1878, and taking up his residence in Toronto, remained there
two years. He then went to Dundas and from there to Cornwall, subse
quently locating in Weston where he yet remains. He married in Dundas
Martha Conningsby.

JAMES SYME, proprietor of vegetable and market-garden, Roncesvalles
Avenue, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to Canada in 1849,
being first employed by Mr. Gordon as gardener for about eight years. In
1859 he visited the Southern States, and on the breaking out of the Civil
War, joined the Confederate army. At the Battle of Fort Donaldson he
was taken prisoner, and was seven months confined at Camp Douglas,
Chicago. He was again wounded and captured at Resacka, Georgia, and
suffered another eight months confinement, and towards the close of the
war was paroled on account of sickness. In 1865 he returned to Toronto,
subsequently commencing in the gardening business in conjunction with

Township of York ( West). 239

his brother, in which vocation he since continued. In 1877 the brother
retiring from the business, James has since conducted this improving and
extensive business alone.

GEORGE SYME, proprietor of market-garden, lot 37, concession 3 from
the Bay, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and came with his people to
Canada in 1862. His father was James Syme, also a market-gardener, who
followed that occupation on his settlement here. George first commenced
business on Prospect Street, Toronto, afterwards spending some time in
Brockville, and on his return to Toronto, bought and settled in his present
location, which consists of twenty-five acres of fine gardening land, where
he cultivates both plants, vegetables and fruits. He married in Toronto,
Elizabeth McDonald, of County Armagh, Ireland, daughter of Daniel
McDonald, who now resides in this township ; they have a family of three
sons and three daughters.

GEORGE TOWNLEY, proprietor of the steam brick and tile yard, Carlton
West, established his business in 1868. From a small beginning, which
only gave occupation to six or seven men, he has by industry and enter
prise succeeded in building up a trade that will compare favourably with
any in the district. He now employs about twenty men, and turns out
about two million bricks annually. He also does a large busines in sewer-
pipes, his output being two millions yearly. In the spring of 1884 he added
a steam engine to his works. Mr. Townley is a native of Yorkshire, England,
and came to Canada in 1850 he had learned his business before his arrival.

FREDERICK WAKEFIELD, Carlton, a native of England, came to Canada
with his parents. His father, the late William Wakefield, was a native of
Oxfordshire, England, who emigrated to Canada in 1873, and commenced
the brick manufacturing business in Carlton, which is now carried on by his
widow, Mary Wakefield, the executrix of the estate, Frederick being
manager. They employ thirteen hands, and turn out about one million
bricks annually, also a large quantity of sewer-piping.

MICHAEL WARD, Davenport, is a native of County Cavan, Ireland, and
came to Toronto in 1842. He was first engaged carrying the mail before
the railway went through. He then carried on business for himself about
eight years, subsequently engaging in the milk business, which he continued
for five or six years. In 1873 ne commenced farming on the Davenport
Road, and in the spring of 1884 moved to his present location. He married
in 1862 Elizabeth Murphy, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland ; they have
three sons and one daughter living.

2AQ Biographical Notices.

JESSE G. WARDLAW, lot n, concession 4, was born on the farm where
he now resides, and is the son of Alexander G. Wardlaw, deceased, a native
of Scotland, who came to Canada about 1836 with his parents and settled
with them on the farm above mentioned, where he remained until his death
in 1872. Mr. Wardlaw s grandmother died 3rd November, 1874, at the
advanced age of one hundred and two years.

FRANCIS WATSON, lot 15, concession 2, is a native of County Monaghan,
Ireland, and came out in 1834. He settled at once upon the farm on which
he now resides. He was first married to Elizabeth Conland, who died in
1849; two daughters survive her. His second marriage was with Jane
Duncan, of this township. His eldest daughter is the wife of George Car-
ruthers of this township.

JOSEPH WATSON, Deputy-reeve, West York Township, is the son of
Christopher and Margaret Watson. His father was born in Cumberland,
England, and came to Canada in 1819, settling on lot 22, concession 6,
four miles north of Weston, where he resided six years ; he then removed
to the Village of Weston, where he lived until his death in 1828. The sur
viving children consist of three sons and two daughters: John, who lives
on lot 21, concession 6, West York; Joseph, the subject of this sketch, and
Thomas, now of Port Hope. John and Joseph commenced farming for
themselves when they became of age, and subsequently purchased fifty
acres near the homestead. Joseph married in 1850 Caroline M., daughter
of Jacob McKay, a native of the United States, but of Scotch parentage ;
they have two sons and four daughters the eldest son, William A., is
living on lot i, concession 3, in this township; the second son, John T.,
livesin the Qu Appelle district, N. W. Territory; of the daughters, one is
married and settled in Peel County ; one is in Toronto, and one is on lot
19, concession 5, West York. Mr. Watson has held the office of Deputy-
Reeve since 1871, with the exception of two years, and has held other
offices of more or less importance. He settled on a farm which he still
owns and occupies in 1852, and since that time has purchased the east half
of lot i and part of lot 2, concession 3, West York, consisting of one
hundred and thirty-three acres, also one hundred acres in Toronto Town
ship, being west half of lot 10, concession 6.

HENRY WELSH, lot 16, concession 6, was born on the homestead where
he now resides. He is the son of Henry Walsh, sen r, a native of County
Monaghan, Ireland, who emigrated to Canada in 1830, and received from
his father (who had previously settled and bought land) eighty acres, on

Township of York (West). 241

which he resided until his death in 1867. His wife was Ann Bell, who died
in 1876; three sons and three daughters survive them. Henry Welsh
received the homestead at his father s death by will ; one of his sisters
resides with him.

JAMES WRIGHT, floral and market-gardener, was born in Yorkshire,
England, and emigrated to Canada in 1848. He engaged for a short time in
farming, and subsequently adopted the business in which he is now engaged.
In 1849 he located on Avenue Road, Yorkville, where he remained until
1875, when he purchased eleven acres on Roncesvalles Avenue, on which
he built a residence, hothouses, etc. In 1878 he was burned out ; but has
since rebuilt, and now has one of the finest gardens in the neighbourhood
of the city. Mr. Wright has had a fine opportunity of becoming conversant
with all the details of his business, having in early life been employed in the
gardens of the Duke of Marlborough at Medley Hall, England. He mar
ried Miss Jane Stibbart, daughter of the late Thomas Stibbart, an early
pioneer.

A. W. YOUNG, proprietor of greenhouses and market garden, Ronces
valles Avenue, is a native of Tyrone, Ireland, and came to America in 1848.
He spent about ten years in the States previous to settling in Toronto in
1858; on his advent he was engaged in a wholesale boot and shoe house
eleven years. He then removed to the neighbourhood of Yorkville, on a
lot he had purchased in 1866, where he conducted a dairy business for
seven years. The tragic occurrence in High Park in July, 1882, in which
a boy was killed by a police officer under distressing circumstances, will
not easily be forgotten by this family, seeing that the unfortunate youth
was a son of the subject of this notice. In the winter of 1882 Mr. Young
bought nine acres of land at the above location, where he erected a hand
some residence and greenhouses, the latter being 65 x 18 feet. Mr. Young
married in 1853 Eliza Kilfarick, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, by
whom he has one son and four daughters living.

TOWNSHIP OF ETOBICOKE.

TOWNSHIP OF ETOBICOKE.

ACOB ANDERSON, lot 19, concession 2, was born in New
Brunswick in 1804, and came along with the other members of
his father s family to Ontario in the year 1806. He bought the
property on which he at present resides in 1824, and, in conjunc
tion with his brother Abraham (now deceased), commenced
farming. At the time of his first settlement the district was all
bush ; roads, there were none, and schools, churches, and like
institutions had not been thought of as regarded the building of them. He
has happily been spared to witness the remarkable improvements which
the energetic spirit of a modern civilization makes when once it lays its
colonizing hand upon a virgin soil, and we trust he may be spared for long
years to come to witness the still greater triumphs which are amongst the
evident probabilities of the future. Mr. Anderson married in 1828 Mary
Morrow, now deceased; he has two children living.

ANDREW BARKER, lot 31, concession A, was born in the Township of
Vaughan, being the son of the late Aaron Barker, who emigrated to Canada,
in the year 1832, with his wife and family consisting of six daughters. He
had been accustomed to farming in England, and on his arrival rented a
farm in the Township of Vaughan for ten years. In 1841 he purchased
the farm where Andrew now resides, and with whom he continued to live
until his death, which occurred in 1873. He was a member of the English
Church, and took great interest in all matters appertaining to its welfare.
Andrew Baker was married in 1864 to Mary Ackrow, by whom he had a
family of four children, three boys and one girl. Mr. Barker takes consider
able interest in raising the best breeds of cattle and sheep.

246 Biographical Notices.

PHILIP BARTHOLOMEW, lot 35, concession 7, was born on the lot where
he now resides in 1806. His father, Henry Bartholomew, was born in
Pennsylvania in 1779, and emigrated from that State to this country in
1800. Philip Bartholomew has been twice married ; his first union was in
1833 with Mary Boyer, by whom he had eight children, two boys and six
girls. He married again in 1863, his wife being a daughter of the late James
Lever; she was the widow of the late Peter Curtis, (his son the Rev. James
Curtis being President of the Bay of Quinte Conference of the Methodist
Church) ; her parents came from Bolton, Lancashire, England in 1818.
Mr. Bartholomew, sen r, took part in the War of 1812, and died in 1815.

GEORGE BETTERIDGE, lot 36, concession i, was born in 1822, upon the
farm where he at present resides. He is the third son of the late John
Betteridge, one of the first settlers in the section, and a native of the city of
Bristol, England, who emigrated to Canada with his wife and family, and
at first located in Toronto. He was a baker by trade, and on his arrival
opened a bakery on Queen Street, where he carried on business for three
and a-half years. He then purchased the farm in Etobicoke, at present in
possession of his son. George Betteridge was married in 1850 to Sarah
Castle, a native of York County, by whom he had eleven children, seven
only of whom are living. He is an adherent of the Methodist Church, and
has taken an active part in promoting the general good of that body in his
neighbourhood, having been a class-leader for twelve years, and led the
choir for twenty-five years. He is earnest and sincere in the work he has
undertaken, and as a Christian is an example worthy to be followed.

SAMUEL WOODS BIGHAM, lot 12, concession i, was born in 1828, on the
farm where he now resides, being the son of the late Andrew Bigham, who
was born in County Down, Ireland, September 9, 1867, and was one of the
first settlers in this township, having emigrated to America before 1800.
Andrew Bigham was married twice, by his first wife he had seven children,
four girls and three boys, and by his second wife he had nine children,
seven boys and two girls. When he first located in Etobicoke it was so
sparsely populated that he remained four years without a neighbour to the
north and west of his lot. He died April 6, 1843, at the age of seventy-five
years and seven months. His wife was sixty-four years old when she died,
on February 27, 1853. Samuel W. Bigham married in the year 1849,
Eliza Ash. He has not taken much interest in municipal matters, but is
Superintendent of the Baptist Sunday school, and has been a School
Trustee for a space of six years.

Toivnship of Etobicoke. 247

CHARLES E. BROWN, west half of 20 and 21, lot F, range 3, proprietor
of market garden, was born in New York State in the year 1839, and came
to Canada in 1862, locating first at Niagara, where he worked for six years
on a farm. He then moved to Sunnyside, and after spending two years on
the farm of his mother-in-law, purchased the property which he now owns.
He cultivates both farm and garden produce, and all his crops are in good
demand. He married in 1865 Susannah Elizabeth, eldest daughter of James
Charles, Esq., one of Toronto s oldest merchants and residents, he having
settled and started in business near the corner of King and Yonge Streets,
in 1834. By this lady he had a family of eight children, seven of whom are
living.

JOSEPH F. BROWN, lot u, concession 3, was born on the farm where
he now resides, being the son of the late Joseph Brown, who was a man
well-known and respected in the neighbourhood. Mr. Brown, sen r, emi
grated from Yorkshire, England, in 1831, and soon after his arrival settled
upon the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch. The mother is
still living and in good health, having reached the age of seventy-seven
years.

WILLIAM BURGESS, lot i, concession 6, was born in Middlesex County,
England, in 1844, and came to Canada with his father s family when ten
years of age. They came direct to Toronto, and lived a few years on
Dundas Street, and followed the occupation of gardening. In 1860 William
Burgess moved to his present farm, where he does a considerable amount
of vegetable and fruit-growing. He also ships a large quantity of vegetables,
etc., to the States. He married in 1871 Margaret Griggs, by whom he has
four children.

MATTHEW CANNING, lot 17, concession i, was born In the City of New
York in 1827, being the son of the late Joseph Canning, who emigrated
from Ireland and settled in New York, where he remained about four years
previous to coming to Canada. He took up his residence in York Town
ship, and located at different places until 1832, when he moved with his
family to Etobicoke Township, and purchased the farm which his son
Matthew now owns, where he lived until his death. Our subject took
possession of the homestead, and, by industry and perseverance, has con
siderably improved the property, to which he has since added, owning now
about four hundred acres of land. He has taken a lively interest in
municipal affairs, and from being a member of the Township Council, was
elected Deputy-reeve, and afterwards Reeve, which position he has filled

248 Biographical Notices.

with consummate ability for the past eleven years. He married in 1848
Janet Anderson, by whom he has a family of twelve children, eleven of
whom are still living. His eldest son resides on the farm; five daughters
are married.

JAMES CARRUTHERS was born in Cumberland, England, in 1813, and is
a son of the late James Carruthers, who emigrated to Canada with his
family in the year 1822, and settled in York Township. The township
was then but thinly populated, there being no place of worship nearer than
Weston, where a small Methodist Church had been erected ; their wheat
they had to carry to Pine Grove, it being the nearest grist-mill, which was
run by old John Smith. James Carruthers was married in 1841 to Hannah
Hind, also a native of Cumberland, England, by whom they had a family
of twelve children, four of whom only are living. The family are adherents
of the English Church.

ALLAN CASTLE, lot 28, concession A, was born on the farm where he
now resides, and is the second son of the late Robert Castle, who emigrated
from Yorkshire, England, about the year 1818. Robert had served his
time to shoemaking, but did not continue in that business, evidently pre
ferring the medical profession, which he followed for four years. After his
arrival in Toronto he sailed the lakes for two or three years, as captain of
a vessel plying between Toronto and Lewiston, afterwards following the
occupation of bookkeeper for a similar period. He then turned his atten
tion to farming, and purchased a farm in Markham, where he stayed two
years, subsequently in 1825 he bought the land in Etobicoke, where his son
Allan now lives together with his brothers, Thomas and James, and his
sister Matilda. The family are members of the Methodist Church.

WILLIAM CAVE, carpenter, Thistletown Village, is a native of Gloucester
shire, England, and was born in the year 1810. He emigrated to Canada
in 1832, and came direct to Toronto, the cholera being very bad throughout
the country at the time ; which somewhat disheartened him. He proceeded
to Weston, and there settled down to his trade, building houses, barns, and
all other works of the kind required in the neighbourhood. The first frame
house put up in Thistletown was the driving house for Devin s. Mr. Cave s
long residence in the township, and possessing as he does a good memory,
together with more than ordinary power of observation, enables him to
trace with much distinctness the rise and progress of the municipality. In
the absence of schools within convenient distances, a teacher usually
travelled around from farm to farm ; spending a week here and there, and

Township of Etobicoke. 249

by these primitive means the children were not left completely without
education. Mr. Cave married in 1834 Eve Philips; they had a family of
nine children, seven of whom are yet living. The family are members of
the Methodist Church. Mr. Cave remembers the old Indian, John Etobi
coke, and his squaw, after whom the township was named.

MATTHEW CODLING, lot 37, concession 4, was born in Etobicoke Town
ship in 1838, being the eldest son of the late John Codling, who died in
1847. Mr. Codling, sen r, emigrated to Canada at an early day and spent
some years in Toronto, holding the position of brewer at Helliwell s brewery.
In 1826 he left Toronto and purchased a farm in the Township of Etobi
coke, the one at present in the possession of Matthew, which is now
considered one of the nicest in the township. Mr. Codling was married in
the year 1863 ; his wife was Mary Pekins, a Canadian by birth; the issue of
this union being four children. He has two brothers, who also have farms
in the township, Thomas and John. The family are adherents of the Eng
lish Church, and are much respected in the neighbourhood.

ROBERT COULTER is a native of County Down, Ireland, and was born
in the year 1818. His father emigrated to Canada with his family in
1822 and remained for a short time in Toronto ; from there he removed
to Etobicoke and settled on some land he purchased from D Arcy Boulton.
As an instance of the straits to which they were often put, it is recorded that
a man named Stoddard carried a barrel of flour on his back from Toronto
to Islington, a distance of nine miles. Mr. Robert Coulter was married
in 1851 to Ann Jane Patterson, by whom he had a family of twelve children,
seven daughters and five sons, viz. : Martha Ann, born April 18, 1852 ;
Elizabeth Agnes, born September i, 1853 ; Andrew, born January 20, 1855;
Isabella, born July 8, 1857; Robert Wilson, born April 17, 1859; Albert
Edward, born June 15, 1861 ; Hannah Caroline, born September 3, 1863 ;
Sarah Maria, born April 18, 1865 ; Emily Adaline, born November 26, 1866 ;
Florence Louise, born September 27, 1868 ; David Wesley, born October
14, 1870 ; Frederick Arthur, born July 30, 1874. Incidentally we may men
tion that no death has occurred upon this farm for fifty years.

MEADE CREECH, builder, Lambton Mills, was born in the County of
Cork, Ireland, in 1825, and came to America with his parents the same
year. They settled in Philadelphia, U.S., and after a period of four years
came to Canada and settled at Scarlet Factory, on Black Creek, where
they remained about fourteen years, during which time Mr. Creech, sen r,
took the factory from Mr. William Taylor and assumed entire control.

250 Biographical Notices.

They subsequently removed to Lambton Mills, then known as " Cooper s,"
where Mr. Creech worked in the mill for a Mr. Hobson, since which time
the family have been located there. Mr. Creech, sen r, died in the year
1866. Meade Creech was married in Hamilton in 1851 to Charlotte Jane
McCammon, a native of Prescott. Our subject is a builder by trade, and
several dwellings and other buildings in the district testify to his skill and
ability.

FRANCIS DANIELS, lots 26 and 27, range 2, was born in Yorkville,
Toronto, in 1841. He is the fifth son in a family of eight sons and two
daughters born to William Daniels, who emigrated from England in 1837,
and followed the business of market gardening for a number of years.
Francis for a long time assisted his father in the business, and in 1871 he
purchased the farm on which he now resides, and in connection with general
farming does a market gardening business. He married in 1866 Susan
Lane, a native of the United States ; they have a family of five children,
two girls and three boys.

MARK DAWSON, lot 14, concession 3, is the second son now living of
the late Mark Dawson mentioned elsewhere. Our subject was brought up
to farming and owns a good farm in this township, which he has leased in
consequence of the ill-health of his wife and himself, and is now living in
Weston. He married in 1864 Ellen Jane Waugh, of Irish parentage, by
whom he has a family of eight children. The family belong to the Methodist
persuasion.

WILLIAM DAWSON, lot 15, concession 3, was born on the farm he now
owns and occupies, which formerly belonged to his father, the late Mark
Dawson, who emigrated from England in 1824, and settled upon the farm
the same year. He died in the fall of 1865. Mr. William Dawson was
married in 1872 to Elizabeth Hadden, a Canadian by birth; they have a
family of seven children. He has two brothers, Mark, now living in
Weston, and Thomas, in the Township of Essa.

JOHN DIXON, lot 30, concession i, was born in this township in 1841,
being the son of the late John Dixon, a native of Westmoreland, England,
one of the earliest settlers in this district. Our subject s grandfather and
family located in the township when they had no neighbours around them
for miles and the country generally was in its virgin state. Mr. John
Dixon has five brothers and six sisters, all of whom are living. He married
Deborah Bolton, the youngest daughter of the late Thomas Bolton, a

Township of Etobicoke, 251

sketch of whose life appears below. Mr. Dixon is a member of the Baptist
Church. Thomas Bolton, deceased, was born in Yorkshire, England, and
emigrated to Canada in 1828. He lived about eighteen months in the
Province of Quebec, afterwards coming forward to York County, where he
purchased the farm in Etobicoke on which Mr. Dixon now lives, and on
which he himself resided about fifty years. After leaving the farm he
retired into private life and took up his abode in Weston, where he lived
two years and four months, being eighty years old when he died. During
his lifetime he was largely interested in the raising of thoroughbred Durham
cattle, and was one of the first in the township who embarked in this business.

JOHN DOYLE, lot 26, concession 3, was born in this township on February
i, 1830, being the third son of the late James Doyle, who was an early
settler in Etobicoke. His father emigrated from the County of Wexford,
Ireland, in 1819, and landed in New York, having made extraordinarily
quick sailing across the Atlantic in nineteen days. He remained for a time
in New York State and worked on the Lockport Canal, and while there
marrried ; shortly afterwards came to Canada and settled in Vaughan
Township, where he stayed two years. He then purchased in 1828 the
farm. in Etobicoke on which his son John now resides, where he lived until
his death in 1873. He had a family of twelve children, five boys and seven
girls. The subject of this sketch travelled a good deal in his youth through
the United States, and finally in 1864 settled down on the old homestead.
He married in 1866 Mary Egan, a Canadian by birth ; they have a family
of six boys and two girls, and have buried one a boy. In religion the
family are of the Roman Catholic faith.

JOHN DUCK, hotel proprietor, Mimico, was born near Newmarket, in
Whitchurch Township, and is the son of William Duck, who is still living.
Our subject was brought up to farming, but ultimately entered the hotel
business, and commenced on Colborne Street, Toronto, which place he left
in 1866. He belonged to the band of the loth Royals, and accompanied the
regiment to Ridgeway at the time of the Fenian Raid. From there he went
to bush farm in the Township of Bentinck where he stayed three years, and
then bought the property on which he now lives, known as Duck s Hotel,
situated at the mouth of the Humber. Placed as it is in the midst of one
of the most attractive summer resorts of the inhabitants of the city, Mr.
Duck has spared no expense to beautify and adorn his extensive pleasure
grounds, which during the season are in great demand for pic-nics, etc.
He built the wharf at the mouth of the Humber which bears his name, and

252 Biographical Notices.

through his enterprise was formed the company who run the steamboat
Annie Craig, to and fro between Toronto and the wharf in question. Mr.
Duck has been presented with a gold watch and a medal by the Humane
Society for saving life. He married in 1863 Rhoda Trotter, by whom he
has six children living, one having died.

JOHN DILLON EVANS, J.P., Islington, was born in the Township of
Trafalgar, in the County of Halton, on July 19, 1841. His father John
Evans, son of Richard and Isabella Evans (Mrs. Evans maiden name was
Anderson), of County Cavan, Ireland, came to Toronto in 1825. The city
was then in its infancy, and he used to tell that there were only five brick
houses then in it. In 1834 he went to New York, and on the igth of April,
1837, was married by the late Bishop Onderdenck to Eliza Dillon, daughter
of Christopher and Elizabeth (Nee Drummond) Dillon, of Dublin, Ireland.
John Evans and wife then settled on lot 3, concession 5, New Survey,
Trafalgar, where he lived until his death in 1863. During the Rebellion of
1837 he turned out with the militia to do his duty as a loyal citizen in
quelling the Rebels. John Dillon Evans came to Etobicoke in 1872, having
purchased lot 5 in the first range of the township. He at once turned his
attention to fruit-growing, which he has since followed. In 1879 he removed
to the Village of Islington where he now resides. He was married on the
3oth of January, 1867, by the Rev. Canon Tremayne, to Isabella Beatty,
third daughter of the late Joseph Beatty, of Tyrone, Ireland, by whom he
has three children. Mr. Evans was in 1876 appointed a Justice of the
Peace. He has taken an active part in promoting the interests of the
Etobicoke Agricultural Society, of which he has been a director about ten
years, and several times President. Mr. Evans was three years a Coun
cillor, five years Deputy-reeve, and is now the Reeve of the township.

JOHN FOOTE, lot 25, concession A, was born in Newfoundland in 1816,
and came with his parents and family to Ontario in 1844. His father, the
late John Foote, settled on the farm on which the subject of this sketch and
his brother William still live. Neither of the brothers are married.

JAMES FULLER, lots 19 and 21, concession E, was born in Norfolk
County, England, in 1846, and emigrated to Canada in 1871. He lived in
Toronto seven years, and was in the employment of the Grand Trunk Railway
during that period. In 1878 he purchased the farm where he now lives,
which he cultivates principally for vegetables, fruit, etc., which he disposes
of in the city. He married in 1867 in England Sophia Percy, by whom he
has two children, both girls.

Township cf Etobicoke. 253

GEORGE GARBUTT, lot 28, concession B, is a native of this township,
and was born in 1829, being the eldest son of the late George Garbutt, who
emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in 1819. His father worked in Toronto
for a short time, and subsequently drew land in the Township of Albion,
where he remained but a few months, afterwards purchasing land in Etobi
coke. He married in 1825 Elizabeth, widow of the late Daniel Trimmer,
by whom he had a family of three sons and two daughters, George being the
only surviving son. The latter commenced farming on his own account
on concession A of this township, in 1863. He married in 1864 Hannah
Chapman ; they have a family of eight children. Mr. Garbutt is a member
of the Baptist Church. We may mention that our subject has been very
successful in getting together a comfortable home for himself and family.
At the time of the settlement of Mr. Garbutt, sen r, in the township, there
was no cleared land after leaving lot 28, concession A, Etobicoke, and no
road but blazed trees from there to Albion.

JAMES GARDHOUSE, lots 32, 33 and 34, concession 4, was born in Cumber
land, England, 1834, and came to Canada with his father and family in
1837. They came direct to Toronto, where they remained three months,
and the father having purchased land in Etobicoke on lots 32, 33 and 34,
concession 4, they went and settled there, the same farm being now in the
possession of our subject. James Gardhouse married in 1855 Ann Stobbart,
by whom he has a family of eight children. The family are adherents of
the Baptist Church.

THOMAS GRIFFITHS, hotel proprietor, Thistletown Village, was born in
York Township in 1856, being the fourth son of Matthew Griffiths of the
same township, who was one of the earliest settlers in York, having
emigrated from the County Cavan, Ireland, in company with three brothers.
Thomas followed farming, and is proprietor of the only hotel in the Village
of Thistletown, which he has kept three years. He married in 1880 Maria
Ramsey, by whom he has a family of two children. They are adherents of
the English Church.

WILLIAM GRUBB, lots 30 and 31, concession B, is a native of Edinburgh,
Scotland, and was born in the year 1812. He emigrated to Canada in
1832 accompanied by his uncle, William Grubb, and after a rough passage,
extending over six weeks, they were ultimately wrecked on the coast of New
Brunswick, losing their personal effects, but fortunately without loss of life.
After a delay of six weeks, during which time they remained without shelter,
they were taken to Quebec, and thence to Montreal, from which city

254 Biographical Notices.

they removed to Toronto, after a stay there of ten days. The year follow
ing their arrival in Toronto our subject s father, the late John Grubb, came
out from Scotland, and the father and son, after considerable trouble, finally
settled on the farm now owned by the latter. Mr. Grubb married in 1850
Mary Hetherington, of English birth. In religion the family belong to the
English Church. The late Mr. John Grubb was one of the first to introduce
plank roads in the district, and was President of the Weston Plank Road
at the time of its building.

FRANCIS HENDRY, lot B, concession i, L. S. R., was born in the
Village of Eglington, York County, in 1837, being a son of the late George
Hendry, who emigrated from Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1831. The latter
followed farming, and was a man well-known and respected in the township.
He moved in 1849 to the farm, on which Francis now lives, where he died.
Two brothers, Robert and Donald, reside with our subject on the old home
stead. He married in 1882 Lavinia Meredith, of English parentage, by
whom he has one child.

OCTAVIUS L. HICKS, hotel proprietor, Mimico, was born near Dundee,
Scotland, in 1852, and came to America in 1871 ; after spending one year in
the United States, he came to Canada and located for a short time in Ham
ilton, eventually taking up his residence in Toronto, where he carried on
business as contractor and builder for about two years. In 1873 he removed
to the mouth of the Humber and commenced the business he had formerly
followed in England (boat building), which he still continues in conjunction
with his hotel business. His house, "The Royal Oak," has excellent
accommodation for excursionists, pleasure and pic-nic parties, and contains
a large room suitable for balls, banquets, etc. He has a large variety of
pleasure boats and yachts to order. He is the inventor and patentee of
the roller sliding-seats for racing boats, similar to those used by Mr.
Hanlan. Mr. Hicks has been instrumental in saving the lives of five
persons on four different occasions, having rescued two persons at one
time. He also formed one of the company who started the Annie Craig
steamboat running daily in the season between the Humber and the city.
He was married in 1874 to Hannah Tavern er, by whom he has five
children, all boys.

D. F. HORNER, lots 8, 9 and 10, concession 2, was born in the Town
ship of Markham, York County, being the seventh son of Mr. Emanuel
Homer, one of the first settlers in Markham Township. His father, in con
junction with his uncle, the late Mr. Daniel Horner, built the first steam

of Etobicoke. 255

saw-mill in this township, and in connection with his lumber business
farmed on an extensive scale. Our subject lived with his father until twenty
years of age, and then went into business on his own account, and ran a
steam saw-mill for several years. He afterwards settled down on the old
homestead and turned his attention to farming, but at the expiration of
seven years he moved to Toronto, and was engaged in buying and selling
real estate for about four years, when he purchased the farm of three
hundred acres on which he has since resided. He married in 1861 ; his
wife s maiden name was Elizabeth Wagg, born in Canada of English
parentage on her father s side, her mother being an American. Their
family consists of seven children. Mr. Homer has taken some interest in
municipal matters, and is at present a member of the Township Council,
having occupied that position for four years.

RICHARD JOHNSTON, retired, Thistletown, was born in the Township of
Cavan, Durham County, in 1821, being the third son in a family of seven
children. His father, the late Robert Johnston, of Irish extraction, removed
from New York to Canada in 1818, and taking up his residence in Cavan
Township, brought up his family. On leaving home Richard came to Eto
bicoke, and embarked in the mercantile business at Thistletown, which. he
conducted successfully for twenty-two years, and for twelve years during
that period undertook the duties of Post-master. In connection with the
above business he cultivated a farm which he leased on his retirement about
five years ago. Mr. Johnston has been twice married, first to Margaret
Weir, of Otonabec, near Peterboro ; by .her he had two children, one of
whom (a son) is now living in Etobicoke. His second marriage was in
1858 to Mary Duncan ; the fruit of this union is three daughters and one
son, all living. The two eldest daughters are married, one to Mr. George
Rowntree, and the other to Rev. Henry Harper, Methodist minister. With
the exception of Mr. Johnston himself, who is a Presbyterian, the family
are of the Methodist persuasion.

ANDREW KAALE, lot 35, concession i, was born in this township on the
lot where he now resides, and is the third son of the late Adam Kaale, an
early settler in Etobicoke. His father came from Pennsylvania to Canada
with his parents in 1796, when only six years of age, when they settled
on the farm now occupied by Mr. Allan Castle ; from there they removed
to concession 3, subsequently to the farm where Andrew now lives, and
where Adam, the father of our subject, died. Mr. Andrew Kaale married
in 1871 Elizabeth NichoL a Canadian by birth. They are members of the
Methodist Church.

256 Biographical Notices.

JAMES KELLAM, lot 31, concession 2, was born in the Township of
Vaughan in the year 1838, and is the eldest son of Mr. John Kellam, of this
township, whose biographical notice appears elsewhere. James was
brought up to farming and remained with his father until 1864, when he
settled on the farm which he still owns and lives upon. He married in
1850 Emma Victoria Havill, a Canadian by birth, of English parentage ;
her father was the late Richard Havill, Esq., J.P., of Rainham Township,
Haldimand County. They have two children, viz. : Alice A., born October
18, 1860, and Richard H., born 2gth January, 1862, both of whom are still
living upon the old homestead with their parents. In religion Mr. James
Kellam is an adherent of the Methodist Church. He has taken an active
part in municipal matters, having been a member of the Township Council
for the past seven years, and has always exerted himself and supported
useful measures for the general good of the municipality.

JOHN KELLAM was born in Wymondon, England, on the 3ist Decem
ber, 1806. He was early initiated in farming, and on coming to Canada
with his father and family in 1831, engaged in the same industry. His
father was a shoemaker, and on his arrival in York settled in Vaughan
Township, where he followed that trade as long as his health and strength
would permit. Our subject took up land on lot 9, concession g, Vaughan,
which he cleared and cultivated for about thirteen years, when he sold out
and removed to Rainham Township, Haldimand County. He continued
there six years, subsequently returning to York County, and purchased a
farm in Etobicoke, lot 32, concession 3, where he remained thirteen years,
after which he moved to lot 32, concession 2, where he lived until recently,
and is now living in retirement. Mr. Kellam was married in the year 1837
to Rachel Sleightholm ; his family number eight boys and three girls, his
sons being all settled in the neighbourhood and doing well. The family
belong to the Methodist Church.

JOHN MCLELLAN, lot 23, concession i, was born in Bothwell, Lanark
shire, Scotland, in 1807. His father, John McLellan, died when our
subject was an infant ; his mother is still living in Etobicoke, and is one
hundred and one years old.

CHARLES MASON, lots 7 and 8, range 5, is a native of Yorkshire, Eng
land, the year of his birth being 1836. He emigrated to Canada when
twenty-one years of age, and after remaining a few months in Toronto
moved to Etobicoke Township, and hired out among farmers for seven
years. In 1865 he settled on the farm where he now lives, containing one

Township of Etobicoke. 257

hundred and sixty acres, which he cultivates in garden produce for market.
Mr. Mason married in 1867 Matilda Eccles, by whom he has a family of six
children.

JOHN MOODY, lot 40, concession 4, is a native of Yorkshire, England,
where he was born in 1815. His father, the late Robert Moody, came with
his family to Canada in 1831, and settled in Etobicoke with his eldest son
James (now deceased), who had come out before the other members of the
family. Our subject has principally been employed in farming ; he
purchased some land on lot 38, concession 4, which he lived on and culti
vated for over thirty years ; he retired from active work about three or
four years ago. He was married in 1840 to Sarah Gardhouse, by whom he
had eleven children, all living in this neighbourhood. Mr. Moody was
Tax-Collector of the township for four years. He is a member of the
Baptist Church.

CHARLES NURSE, hotel proprietor, Mimico, was born in Maidstone,
Kent, England, in 1841, and emigrated to Canada in the year 1871. He
had previously served his time and worked at the trade of plane and
carpenter s tool maker, and on his arrival in Toronto worked as carpenter
for about nine months, after which he followed the occupation of saw
sharpener. He came to his present place of business in 1876, the well-
known Nurse s Hotel, at the mouth of the Humber, where he has accom
modation in the summer months for a large number of excursionists, pic-nic
parties, etc ; the pleasure grounds in connection therewith form no incon
siderable portion of the attraction of the hotel. Mr. Nurse is a shareholder
in the Annie Craig boat, which makes four trips per day during the season,
between the City and the Humber, commencing on the 2 4 th of May. Our
subject was married in 1865 to Mary Sunnuck; they had one child, a boy.
Mr. Nurse has earned a wide-spread reputation as a runner, having
defeated all opponents at distances varying from one to ten miles and the
trophies of his numerous victories on view at the hotel are to him a source
of pardonable pride. He also does quite a business in fishing in the spring
which he markets in the city ; he builds his own boats for this purpose.
Mr. Nurse has been instrumental in saving a number of lives from drowning
in his vicinity, and in addition to several medals received from the Humane
Society, he has been presented by friends of the rescued parties with valu
able mementoes of his courage.

EDWARD O BRIEN, lot 29, concession 3, is a native cf this township,
and was born in 1852, being the youngest son of the late Christopher

18

2 eg Biographical Notices.

O Brien. His father was one of the earliest settlers in this part of the
township, and emigrated from County Westmeath, Ireland, at an early
day, and lived for over fifty years on the lot now occupied by his son
Edward, and followed the occupation of farming up to the period of
his death. He had two other sons farmers, Patrick in the Township of
Mornington, Perth County, and Thomas in Clinton, Huron County. The
subject of this notice has always remained on the old homestead, which he
became possessed of at his father s death. His mother died about two
years ago. He married in 1884 Elizabeth Shannon, of Canadian birth. He
belongs to the Roman Catholic faith.

JONATHAN ORTH, lots E and F, was born in the Township of Markham,
York County, in 1815. His father, Abraham Orth, emigrated from the
State of Pennsylvania after the War of Independence, and settled in
Markham, being one of the first pioneers of that section. His family con
sisted of four sons and two daughters, of whom Jonathan was the youngest,
two other of his sons are still living, one in Toronto Township, Peel County,
and one in Woodstock, Oxford County. Mr. Orth, sen r, removed from
Markham to Etobicoke Township, and was amongst the first settlers in this
township. He died here in 1843. Jonathan inherited a part of his father s
patrimony, and has been very successful through life. Having grown up
as it were with the growth of the township, he has taken an active part in
municipal matters ; he was for sixteen years Assessor, and while a member
of the Council held for some time the office of Deputy-Reeve ; was School
Trustee for over twenty-one years, and is now Secretary and Treasurer of
the Board. He was twice married, first to Miss McDonnell in 1835, by
whom he had a family of four children. His second wife was Miss Rutledge,
of Canadian birth, also dead ; the fruit of this union was one child. Mr.
Orth is still hale and hearty in spite of advancing years, and appears likely
to live long which is the earnest wish of all his friends to enjoy the com
forts with which through the labours of a long life he has been able to
surround himself.

JERAD PAISLEY, lot 19, concession 3, is a native of Fermanagh, Ireland,
and came with his father and family to Canada in 1817; they located in
Toronto for some months, and while here Mr. Paisley, sen r, unfortunately
lost his life. Being desirous of forwarding some letters to the Old Country,
he, in company with two others, rowed off to a vessel lying in the Bay
about to sail east, and on their return to shore they were overtaken by a
squall, which capsized the small boat ; his companions saved themselves by

ToivnsJiip of Etobicoke. 259

clinging to the overturned craft, but Mr. Paisley, not so fortunate, was
drowned. The widow married again, and young Jerad lived with.his step
father until he was sixteen years of age. He was brought up to farming,
and on commencing for himself obtained fifty acres in the Gore of Toronto
which he cleared; this he afterwards sold, and purchased one hundred
acres in Etobicoke, the same on which he now lives. He married in 1838
Rebecca Rutledge, also a native of Fermanagh. During the Mackenzie
Rebellion Mr. Paisley joined Denison s Cavalry and remained until the
disbandment of the volunteers. Mr. Paisley was twice married; his second
wife s name was Martha Ann Hillis. The family consists of five sons and
five daughters, some of the sons being in the service of the Government.

JAMES PEACOCK, lot 17, concession 3, was born on the lot where he now
resides in the year 1830. He is the second son and fourth in order in the
family of Jonathan Peacock, one of the first settlers in Etobicoke. The
latter was a native of Helmsley, England, and when he first settled here no
roads, or the still more visible signs of civilization, churches and schools,
were to be seen. Religious worship was conducted in different farm houses
by a Mr. Robert Walker, of Toronto, who travelled to and fro on foot.
James Peacock married in 1859; his wife s name was Mary Dawson, a
daughter of Mr. Mark Dawson ; they have a family of seven children living;
two are dead. Mr. Peacock has succeeded in making a very comfortable
home for himself and family.

THOMAS RAMAGE, lot 17, concesssion 4, was born in Scotland in 1826
and accompanied his parents to Canada in 1833. Almost immediately on
their arrival in York they removed to and settled in the Gore of Toronto,
where his father, the late James Ramage, engaged in farming until his death
in 1838. Thomas continued to reside on the old homestead until 1853,
when he moved to the Township of Etobicoke and purchased the property
where is situated his present residence. Mr. Ramage married in 1853
Maria Mercer, of Canadian birth, by whom he has one daughter, now
married. They belong to the Methodist Church.

GEORGE ROWNTREE, lot 34, concession A, was born in this township
in 1856, being a son of Joseph Rowntree, deceased, late of Weston, a sketch
of whose life appears under another heading. Our subject lived continu
ously with his father up to the two years preceding the death of the latter.
In 1881 he embarked in the grist and milling business at the Humberford
Mills, in addition to which he farms the lot above mentioned. Mr. Rown
tree married in 1883 Angeline Duncan Johnstone, of Canadian birth.

260 Biographical Notices.

JOHN ROWNTREE, lot 38, concession A, was born in this township in
the year 1846, being the eldest son of the late Joseph Rowntree, one of the
earliest settlers in this section. Mr. Rowntree, sen r, emigrated from Cum
berland, England, in 1830, and having learned the milling business continued
the same on his arrival here. In the year 1843 he built the flour-mill now
known as the Green Holm Mills, which he conducted until 1877, removing
to Weston about that time, where he lived until his death a year or two
after ; his wife is still living. The Humberford Mills, about a mile south
of the present locality, were also started by the deceased gentleman, and are
now owned by George Rowntree, a younger brother of the subject of this
sketch. John Rowntree married in 1876 Sarah Hamilton Torrance, of
Etobicoke; the result of the union being three children one boy and two
girls. Mr. Rowntree does a large merchant milling business, his brand of
flour in the market being known as a superior article ; he also runs a saw
mill in connection on the York side of the Humber. The family are adher
ents of the Methodist Church.

JOSEPH RUSH, lot i, range 3, was born in Oxfordshire, England, in
1849. He emigrated to Canada in 1868, came direct to Mimico, and hired
out for four or five years. He purchased in 1870 the property on which he
now resides, and in 1873 commenced market-gardening, in which he has
been successful, finding a great and increasing demand for his produce ;
occasionally he ships to the States. He was married in 1874 > ms wife being
Caroline Burgess, by whom he has a family of four children.

NEWMAN SILVERTHORNE, lot 10, concession 4, was born in the Township
of Etobicoke, as also his father before him. His grandfather came from
Jersey and settled in this section as a pioneer. Newman was educated in
Toronto at a school on Colborne Street, kept by a Mr. Hodgson. Having
lived all his life in the township he has noted with satisfaction the vast
improvements which have taken place, and well remembers the first baptism
which took place at the Baptist Church, Somerville. Mr. Silverthorne
married in 1857 Almira Beals, by whom he has a family of four children.

WILLIAM SIMPSON, brick manufacturer, Mimico, was born in the County
of Derry, Ireland, in 1820, and accompanied by his brother John came to
America in 1836. He lived for about eight years in the United States,
and while there his brother died. He then came to Canada, and located
in Toronto, where he resided thirty-seven years and followed his present
business on Kingston Road and in the city, the latter place being on the
site now occupied by the Grand Trunk Railway shops. He also made

Township of Etobicoke. 26 1

bricks on South Park Street, near the Don, and supplied bricks for some of
the principal buildings in Toronto. He subsequently went to Carlton and
conducted the same business there for a period of three years, ultimately
taking possession of his present premises where he still continues to manu
facture red brick on a large scale. He was twice married, first in 1842, by
which union there were three children. His second wife was Catharine
Doherty, by whom he has a family of thirteen children. He has a son who
keeps a hotel on the corner of Yonge and Richmond Streets, Toronto.

THOMAS WILSON SMITH, lots 9, 10 and u, concession B, is the son of
the late Thomas Smith, who kept a hotel on the Dundas Road for over
seventeen years. The latter was from Yorkshire, England, and on his
arrival in Toronto was engaged in the manufacture of crockery ware for
three years. He afterwards kept the Bay Horse Hotel in the city for two
years, and then took up his residence in Islington on the Dundas Road,
where Thomas Wilson Smith was born in 1857. He was brought up prin
cipally to farming, and now occupies one hundred and four acres left him
by his father, who died in 1872 ; his mother is still living. Thomas Wilson
married in 1878 Mary Ann Marshall, by whom he has three children.

EDWARD STOCK, lots 13 and 14, Mimico Estate, is a native of Lanca
shire, England, and was born in the year 1815. His father was James
Stock who, emigrating to Canada with his family in 1830, came direct to
York County, and settled in the Township of Etobicoke on lot 8, meridian
2, where he commenced farming, after having cleared the land which was
at first all bush. Edward remained with his father until his marriage, which
took place in 1836 ; his wife s maiden name was O Hara (now deceased),
and the fruit of the union was eight children, all living but one. On
leaving the homestead he rented a farm in the township where he lived
about twenty years, afterwards purchasing the property on which he now
resides, about one hundred and ninety acres. Mr. Stock has a very
comfortable home and a well-tilled farm.

JOHN STRONG, lot 15, concession A, was born in the Township of
Albion, Peel County, and is the son of Mr. Henry Strong of that section.
The latter is a very old settler in Albion, and came out in 1835 from County
Cavan, Ireland, and took an active part as a Loyalist in the Rebellion of
1837-8. Our subject came to Etobicoke in 1862, and took possession of a
farm purchased for him by his father; the same farm on which he at
present resides and owns. At the time of his first settlement only about
thirty acres were fit for tillage, the rest being bush which he has since cleared,

262 Biographical Notices.

and he now has one of the finest farms in the township. Mr. Strong was
married in 1867; his wife was Mary Jane, daughter of Mr. Matthew Can
ning, the present Reeve of Etobicoke. They had seven children, two of
whom are dead. Mr. Strong has been an active member of the Loyal
Orange Association for over twenty-five years, having joined L.O.L. No.
184, Albion, July 12, 1859.

HENRY THOMPSON, lot 40, concession 4, waggon-maker, was born in
Yorkshire, England, in 1817, and came to Canada with his mother and
family in 1830. His father had come to Canada about ten years previously,
and died two years after his arrival. The family came direct to Etobicoke,
and settled on lot 17, concession 4, for a short time, afterwards moving to
lot 31, concession 3, the same farm being now in possession of our subject s
brother, Richard Thomas. In the year 1835 Henry went to Brampton, and
was taught the trade of waggon-maker, and after remaining there six years,
removed to Clairville where he carried on a waggon-making business for
twenty years. He then came to the lot above-mentioned, and commenced
farming on a small scale, which he continued some time, and in 1878
returned to the Village of Clairville and recommenced the waggon business
which he still conducts. He married in the year 1840 Eleanor Hether-
ington, of English birth ; they have no family. Mr. Thomas for many
years belonged to the Primitive Methodist Church, and was superintendent
of the Sabbath school for about twenty-five years.

GEORGE A. THOMPSON, meridian 2, is descended from a family who
settled in this township in 1803. His grandfather, Alexander Thompson,
was a sergeant in the King s Rangers, and on receiving his discharge
together with a pension, he drew two hundred acres of land from the
Government, on which he located in the year above-mentioned. As an
instance of the value of land in those days we may mention that the half
of this lot was sold shortly afterwards for a set of harrow pins, an old mare
and $30 in cash ; the same one hundred acres is now worth over $10,000.
His father, the late Archibald Thompson, was born on the farm adjoining
that which is occupied by the son ; he died February 12, 1865. Mr. George
A. Thompson was married in 1877 * Georgina Peers. Among the reminis
cences of Old Toronto handed down by the grandfather, we may mention
that he remembers well the Americans landing at York in 1812, and the
bodies being laid out after the explosion of the magazine. He was out at
the time of the Rebellion of 1837, and the family are still in possession of
the musket which he carried on the memorable occasion of the Yonge
Street skirmish. He planted potatoes on the present site of Osgoode Hall.

Township of Etobicoke. 263

JOHN TORRANCE, lot 38, concession i, was born in the Parish of Stone-
house, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on July 22, 1819. In his youth he was
employed in the distillery business for about eighteen years, and worked for
three different firms in Scotland. He came to Canada in 1848, and, on
locating in York County, Ontario, worked for one year in Scarboro Town
ship. He afterwards worked in Vaughan Township, and in 1851 rented a
farm where he lived for two years, keeping bachelor s hall. In 1853 he
married Miss Jane McLellan, of Etobicoke, by whom he has a family of
1 seven children, five girls and two boys. In the year 1869 he purchased the
farm where he now resides, which he continues assiduously to cultivate.
His interest in all matters agricultural has been very great, he having in
his possession several prizes received at different fairs for his exhibits.

THOMAS UMPLEBY, lots 6 and 7, concession 3, was born in the neigh
bourhood of Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, and emigrated to Canada in
1842. He came direct to Toronto, and worked for a few months with
Jacques and Hay ; afterwards rented a farm near Springfield, Toronto
Township, where he remained seven years. He then removed to a two-
hundred-acre farm in the Indian Village, having obtained a lease for ten
years, but at the expiration of two years was obliged to retire on account of
a fit of ague. He next went to Somerville, and worked for two years at the
chair factory, afterwards renting the same, which business he conducted for
seven or eight years. He subsequently rented two farms on Dundas Road
near Dixie, where he stayed ten years, which proved very successful in a
pecuniary sense, and ultimately purchased the farm where he now resides.
Mr. Umpleby married in 1844 Mary Vaughan, by whom he has a family of
four daughters and one son living, two sons having died. The daughters
are all married.

PETER WARDLAW, lot 24, concession A, is a native of Scotland, and
was born near Glasgow, being the youngest living son of the late Peter
Wardlaw, who emigrated with his wife and family to Canada in the year
1835. His father came direct to York County, and purchased land in
concession 4 of West York, where he lived until his death ; his wife, the
mother of our subject, is still living in this township, and is ninety-nine years
of age ; she is a native of Scotland, and was born near Bothwell Bridge, the
scene of the historical battle of that name. The family consisted of eleven
children, three only being now alive. The subject of this biographical
notice lived with his father on the old homestead until 1844 ; and having
married the year previous he took possession of the farm where he now

264 Biographical Notices.

lives. His wife s name was Julia Clark, who was born in Canada of Irish
parents ; they have a family of seven children. He is a member of the
Presbyterian Church.

CHARLES WARE, merchant, was born in Bridgewater, Somersetshire,
England, in 1824. Before coming to Canada in 1849, he had been for a
short time in the boot and shoe business in Birmingham, and on his arrival
here he started the same business at 103 Yonge Street, Toronto, which he
continued for ten years. He subsequently went to Hamilton and after a
short stay thereof seven months returned to Toronto and resumed business.
In 1859 he came to Lambton Mills, and, after seven years spent in the shoe
business, he commenced the general store which he at present carries on.
He married the year before he emigrated, his wife s maiden name was
Elizabeth Knight.

JOHN WATT, retired, Thistletown Village, was a blacksmith by trade
and a native of Scotland. He was born in 1820 at North Berwick, East
Lothian. His father was a soldier in the British Army, and our subject s
early years were spent with his grandparents. After learning his trade in
Berwickshire he came to Canada in 1843, and worked for his father in
Toronto, the latter having received his honourable discharge from the Royal
Artillery, for seven years. About the end of this time he married Ann
Fleming, and a year later (1850) he moved from Toronto to his present
residence in Thistletown, where he followed his trade until a short time ago.
His first wife having died, he married a second time Mary Fleming ; his
family consists of two sons, one by each wife. He has been very successful
in business, and his present comfortable home is the result of thrift and
industry. Mr. Watt is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

ROBERT WILSON, lot 32, concession B, was born in the parish of Mulla-
brack, County Armagh, Ireland, in 1817, being the third son of Mr. Joseph
Wilson, of that place. Our subject served in the Irish Constabulary four
years and nine months and emigrated to Canada in 1849, accompanied by
his wife and two children. After landing, his wife and family were taken
ill with fever, which delayed their arrival in York two months. He first
settled in York Township, where he lived about ten years. In the year
1873 he bought the farm on which he now lives, and during his settlement
here has done remarkably well, his present comfortable home abundantly
testifying to this fact. He married in 1845, before he left Ireland, Martha
McLellan, by whom he had a family of nine children, one of whom is dead.
Of four sons living, one is the Rev. William Wilson ; one daughter married
the Rev. Matthew Couron.

Township of Etobicoke. 265

SAMUEL R. WOOD, lot 8, concession i, was born in the City of New
York, being the eldest son of the late Samuel Wood, a well-known and
respected resident of Etobicoke. The latter emigrated from England in
1830, and remained in the United States about ten years, subsequently in
March, 1840, coming to Canada. He purchased the farm in this township
on which his sons George and Arthur now reside. Samuel R., the subject
of this sketch, was born in 1840 and from his youth upward followed farm
ing. He married in 1876 Amelia Ann Musson, by whom he has a family
of two children.

TOWNSHIP OF SCARBORO .

TOWNSHIP OF SCARBORO .

EREMIAH ANNIS, lot 16, concession D, is the son of Levi and
Rhoda Annis, of English extraction, who emigrated from the
United States to Canada in 1793, where he purchased land in
Scarboro Township, on which he remained until his death in
1855. He also owned about four hundred and fifty acres in
Darlington Township, Durham County, which eventually became
the property of his sons. Jeremiah has always lived on the old
homestead, but he has done a good business in buying and selling farms to
advantage. He belongs to the Methodist persuasion, and is highly respected
in his immediate neighbourhood. He married Jane, daughter of William
Fawcett of this township, by whom he has three sons and three daughters.
He is a Justice of the Peace, the only office he has accepted amongst the
many offered to him.

THOMAS BROWN, lot 29, concession B, is the son of John and Margaret
(Smith) Brown, natives of Scotland. He was born in Scotland in 1806,
and emigrated to Canada in 1830, settling on the lot where he still continues
to reside. Like others of the early settlers, toil and hardship were for many
years his portion, but by industry and skill he has succeeded in producing
from almost impenetrable bush as neat and compact a farm as any to be
found in the township ; and now, in his declining years in the society of the
members of his family, he enjoys the quiet contentment vouchsafed to him
by his laborious past. He has figured conspicuously in connection with
the management of the municipality, having been a member of the Council
upwards of twenty years, being Deputy-Reeve and Reeve a considerable
part of that time. He was appointed J.P., and for several years acted in
that capacity, but early retired from the Bench, as he says, " to give place
to younger men." He married in 1835 Miss Mary Tackett, by whom he
had ten children, seven only are now living. His eldest son, John, is now
owner of the farm ; another son Robert lives on the lot adjoining. Mr.
Brown is a Conservative in politics, and in religion a Presbyterian.

270 Biographical Notices.

WALTER GLENDINNING, lot 29, concession i, is the youngest son of
Archibald and Jane Glendinning. His father and family emigrated from
Dumfriesshire, Scotland, in 1820, and settled on lot 28, concession i. Archi
bald married after he came to Canada ; his family consisted of three sons
and five daughters, viz. : Elizabeth, Isabella, Archibald (dead), Margaret,
Janet, Robert, Walter and Jane. Mr. Glendinning, sen r, kept the first
store in the township, near Ellesmere, and was also postmaster, the latter
position being now in the possession of Walter. He was a Major in the
militia, and was at the head of his company during the Yonge Street
skirmish in 1837; his military suit and sword are } et preserved as relics by
the family. He was one of the first Councillors on the old District Council
and was also Secretary of the Scarboro School Commissioners, and
retained that office several years. He was also Assessor and Collector of
the Municipality for a lengthened period. Although principally engaged in
mercantile pursuits, he and his brother William farmed at one time four
hundred acres of land. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He
died on May 29, 1883, after a long and industrious life, leaving behind him
a fine property and, what is still better, a respected and honoured name.
Walter (whose name heads this sketch) married Isabella, daughter of John
Robertson, a descendant of an old pioneer of Simcoe County, by whom he
had six children, one son and five daughters. Like his father he is a member
of the Presbyterian Church, and a moderate Conservative in politics.

WALTER J. GLENDINNING, lot 29, concession 2, is the son of James and
Elizabeth (Wilkinson) Glendinning, who came from Dumfriesshire, Scot
land, at an early date, and settled in Scarboro , where the father died some
years ago. The family left behind consisted of four sons and one daughter,
viz. : Francis, Walter J., Charles and John ; the daughter married J. G.
Thompson of this township. The subject of this sketch was born March
3, 1836, and early in life learned the trade of carpenter, which he follows
at the present time. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and in
politics is a Liberal Conservative.

WILLIAM HELLIWELL, lots 7 and 8, concession i, is a son of Thomas
Helliwell who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in 1818, and settled in
Toronto, where he established a brewery, carrying on that business until his
death in 1825, The business was afterwards carried on by his sons Thomas
and John until 1832, when William (the subject of this sketch) and Joseph
(another brother) became partners. John died in 1828, leaving two sons,
viz. : Thomas, who was manager of the Bank of Upper Canada at St.

,/tt/ut //<>/<>/<.

Township of Scarboro . 271

Catharines for many years, and John who is a commission merchant. In
1847 the premises comprising the brewery, distillery, grist mills and dwel
ling were burnt down, and the partnership was dissolved, William removing
to Highland Creek, where he built a grist mill, which he operated until
1880, when it was burned. He then turned his attention to farming, and
has since continued in that branch of industry. He was appointed J.P. in
1847, and was for many years a member of the Township Council. He now
holds the office of Overseer of Fisheries under the Dominion Government.
He is a Conservative in politics, and in religion a member of the Episcopal
Church. Mr. Helliwell married first a daughter of Thomas Bright, who
died in 1843, leaving two sons and four daughters. He married a second
time another of Mr. Bright s daughters, by whom he has a large family,
six sons and five daughters. He has one son (Frank) in the employment of
P. Burns, coal and wood merchant, Toronto, and one (Horatio) in the Inland
Revenue Department. Mr. Helliwell was formerly a captain in the militia,
and was out with his company during the troubles of

WILLIAM HERON, deceased, was born in York County, near Toronto,
in 1806. His father was a pioneer of this section, and passed through the
troublous times of 1812. William married in 1832 Hannah, daughter of
George Skelding, also a York pioneer, and settled on lot g, concession D,
Township of Scarboro , where he lived until about two years before his
death which occurred October 25, 1883, at his residence in Scarboro
Village, where Mrs. Heron and two daughters still live. He left a family
of four sons and five daughters, viz. : Samuel, George, William, Andrew,
John, Ann Moore, Lucy Stephenson, Jane Westney, Elizabeth and Sarah.
Each of the former received a farm, and the remainder of the family were
left in good circumstances. Mrs. Heron is still living on the family home
stead with two daughters, and is very much respected. The sons are
Reformers in politics ; two members of the family are Presbyterians, the
rest are Methodists. Mr. and Mrs. Heron celebrated their golden wedding
January 25, 1882, surrounded by their family and friends.

JOHN HOLMES, lot 26, concession 2, blacksmith, is the second son of
Alexander Holmes, a native of Roxburghshire, Scotland. He came to
Canada in 1830 and remained three years in Montreal, subsequently coming
to York County and settling on his present lot. In addition to his trade he
has twenty-five acres of land which he cultivates, and his dwelling and
surroundings, on which he evidently expends much labour, are replete with
beauty and comfort. At the time of the Mackenzie Rebellion Mr. Holmes

272 Biographical Notices,

shouldered his musket in defence of law and order, and was on guard at
Government House at the time of the Yonge Street skirmish. He is in
politics a Reformer, and a devoted and consistent member of the Presby
terian Church. He married Miss Margaret Wilson, of Berwickshire, Scot
land, by whom he had twelve children ; two only are now living, one son
and one daughter, the latter living at home with her parents.

WILLIAM H. HOUGH, carriage builder, is the son of Henry and Mary
(Colbetle) Hough. His father is a descendant of one of the Scarboro
pioneers ; his grandfather fought under General Brock, at Queenston
Heights, where he was wounded, and afterwards received a pension. The
father, Henry Hough, followed farming until twenty-four years of age when
he commenced the manufacture of carriages, which he continued until 1881.
when William H. took charge of the business. In addition to carriage-
making he carries on a blacksmith s shop also ; and by close application to
every detail in his business and the employment of the best workmen he is
on his road to prosperity. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a
Liberal in politics.

JAMES HUMPHREY, lot 16, concession D, is the son of William and
Elizabeth Humphrey, and was born in the County of Tyrone, Ireland.
His father was of English descent, his mother being from Scotland. James
married, before he left Ireland, Margaret, daughter of James Richardson, of
Derry, the latter coming with our subject to Canada in 1824. They came
direct to York County and settled in Scarboro Township, and purchased
three hundred acres of Clergy Reserve Land. Mr. Humphrey has been
very successful and has been able to be of great assistance to his family.
He is in religion a consistent and devoted adherent of the Church of Eng
land. His wife died in 1868, leaving a family of ten children. He has
one son, Richardson, who lives at home on the farm.

THOMAS KENNEDY, lot 28, concession 2, is the son of Samuel and
Eleanor Kennedy. His father came to Canada in 1800, and was engaged
in making roads and farming until 1838, when he removed to Ohio, U.S.,
and remained there until his death in 1861. He had five sons and one
daughter, and to each of the sons who remained in Canada he gave a good
farm. Thomas Kennedy was born in Scarboro Township, October n,
1814, and has always been a resident of this section. He married Jane,
daughter of Alexander Montgomery, a pioneer of this section, by whom he
had the following children: Rebecca, born December 7, 1839; Eleanor,

Toivnship of Scarboro . 273

born February 28, 1842; Lyman, born May 28, 1844; Elizabeth, born
March 29, 1846; Henry, born August 20, 1849 ; John W., born May 31,
1852 ; Thomas, born April 5, 1854 ; Maria, born August 16, 1856 ; William
Andrew, born August 18, 1858; Alfred E., born September 21, 1860, and
Mary Ann, born February 27, 1864, the latter being the only one now at
home. Mr. Kennedy received from his father sixty-five acres of land,
uncleared ; that his success in life has been marked may be taken for
granted, he being in possession of five hundred acres. He is a Liberal in
politics, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church. One of the
sons, Alfred E., is a druggist in Toronto ; John W. is a merchant of Agin-
court and very prosperous.

JOHN MclNTOSH, deceased, was a native of Perthshire, Scotland ; he
emigrated to Canada in 1801 and settled in York County, where he died in
1830, at the age of seventy-seven years. He left a family of eleven children ;
he and his son John fought side by side in the defence of little York in
1812 and at the capitulation were both taken prisoners. His son John
married a sister of Mrs. William Lyon Mackenzie, and was in the Legisla
ture at the same time as the husband of the latter. Mrs. Elliot, a daughter
of John Mclntosh, sen r, was born in Toronto, December 14, 1805, and
married in 1827 Thomas Elliot, who died in December 21, 1880. Mrs.
Elliot is now living in comfortable retirement at Highland Creek, and is
much respected for her benevolent and consistent Christian spirit.

MARSHALL MACKLIN, lot 24, concession 4, is the son of Daniel and
Martha (Marshall) Macklin, who in consequence of the persecution under
which they, as members of the Old Kirk of Scotland, suffered, took up their
residence in the North of Ireland, where they remained until their death.
Marshall emigrated to Canada in 1827, settled in Scarboro , and purchased
two hundred acres of land from the Canada Company, afterwards adding to
his original lot until he had five hundred acres, which he has divided
among his sons. He married in 1837 Mary Jackson, by whom he had
seventeen children, seven sons and six daughters of whom are living.
Some of the family are settled in Michigan, U.S. ; the eldest son, Marshall,
is a physician practising in Manitoba; the others are living on or in the
neighbourhood of the old homestead. Mr. Macklin has been very success
ful, and has accumulated wealth, and now in the autumn of life, after many
years of laborious anxiety, enjoys in quiet and content the ease afforded
^him. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics belongs
to the Reform Party.

19

Biographical Notices.

SIMON MILLER, lot 28, concession 4, Scarboro , is the eldest son of Henry
Miller whose father came to York from Pennsylvania, U.S., in April, 1793,
and soon after settled on lot 34, concession i, Markham Township where
Henry Miller was born in November, 1797, and remained until his death^ Fet

irv 2Q 1884. He left a family of five children, Simon, Nicholas, Henry,
Nancy Tane, wife of William Gown ; and Andrew. Henry Miller, sen r, was a
Member of the Home District Council from Markham Township, and was
also appointed Coroner and Issuer of Marriage Licenses in 1853-
once offered the representation of East York in the Dominion Parliament,
but refused the honour. Simon, the subject of this sketch, married a
u-hter of William Munshaw, of Markham Township ; his family consists
of two sons and four daughters. Mr. Miller is a Justice of the Peace, and
was a member of the Township Council for six years.

W T. MITCHELL, J.P., lot 22, concession 5, is descended from an Irish
family who remained true to the Crown during the Rebellion of 1798.
*her, James Mitchell, who was born in 1783, in after life often relatec
/Of the stirring scenes of which he was an eye-witness during that
ITorabl! ^riod, o^ne in particular, the setting on fire of his father s house
by the United Irishmen. The family trace their ancestry back to a more
remote date, their name being mentioned by Mackenzie in his narrative of
he famous siege of Derry, on the side of the defenders. The subject of
his notice is tie son of James and Sarah Mitchell, who emigrated from
Londonderry to Canada in 1842, and settled on lot 22, concession 5,
Scarboro Township, where the father died on April i, 18
hundredth year. He now lives on the old homestead, and although of
solicited to accept municipal honours has always declined,
office he holds is that of Magistrate and Commissioner in Queen s
the duties of which he discharges with care and ability, there not having
been any appeal against his decisions for the quarter of a century m which
he has held office. He married a daughter of James Baird, of Donegal
Ireland, a very prominent family in that part of the country an uncle
Mr. Baird s having been an intimate friend and subordinate officer of Lo:
Nelson, viz. : Surgeon on board the flag ship Victory.

TAMES PALMER, lot 31, concession B, is the son of James and Sarah
Palmer who came from the State of New York in 1797, and settled first at
Kingston, from which place they went to Cobourg, subsequently coming
to York and settling in the Township of Scarboro , on lot 22, concession D*
where the father remained until his death in 1836. James, our subje,

Township of Scarboro . 275

was born at Stone Mills, Bay of Quinte, Prince Edward County in 1797,
and remained with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age, when
he purchased the lot on which he now lives. He has been through life a
very industrious man, and has also been successful, the neatness of his
farm and the substantial erections thereon bearing .ample testimony. He
served in the War of 1812, for which he drew a pension. He has been a
member of the Municipal Council for some years. In politics he is a
Reformer, and in religion a Methodist ; a consistent Christian, he has earned
the respect of all who know him. Mr. Palmer married Mary Anne, daughter
of Nathaniel Hastings, of Toronto, who died in 1876.

JAMES PATTON, lot 28, concession C, is the second son of George
and Elizabeth (Brock) Patton, natives of Lanarkshire, Scotland, who came
to Canada in 1833, and settled in Scarboro Township. Our subject has
been considered one of the best farmers in this section, and the services
rendered by him to the rising community recently took the form of a valu
able testimonial consisting of a beautifully framed illuminated address,
together with a purse of $150. The following is a copy of the address :

James Patton, Esq., of Scarboro :

DEAR SIR, We, the undersigned, desire to express our appreciation
of the valuable services you have rendered, in your successful endeavours
to advance the interests of prize ploughing in Canada ; you have always
occupied a prominent position among the ploughmen of this country, and
although during later years, you have not been a competitor, yet the interest
you have manifested has been of the liveliest nature. To your untiring
zeal and kind instructions many of us owe our success in the field, while
your friendly and gentlemanly manner at all times has endeared you to us
all. This is a slight token of the high esteem in which you are held
by your many friends ; we would ask your acceptance of the accompanying
testimonial, and at the same time we trust the good feeling which has
always existed between us in the past, may continue in the future. We
would also express our regard for your estimable wife, Mrs. Patton, and
hope she may long be spared together with yourself, to enjoy the blessings
of this life, and be rewarded with eternal happiness in the life which is to
come. Committee on behalf of the contributors : William Hood, Andrew
Hood, W. Rennie, S. Rennie, Dougald McLean, John Gibson, George
Morgan, William Milliken, John L. Gibson, Alfred Moson, John Little,
Alexander Doherty, Andrew Young, sen r; James McCowan, Hugh Clark,
James Weir, John Torrance, John Crawford.
SCARBORO , June 17, 1884.

ADNA PHERRILL lives on his farm of one hundred acres, being lot 25,
concession B. He is a son of the late Stephen Pherrill, a native of St.
John, N.B., who came to Canada in 1805, and settled in Scarboro Town-

276 Biographical Notices.

ship. He fought in the War of 1812, and also during the Rebellion of 1837,
in which he held a captaincy. Adna Pherrill, the subject of this sketch,
was born in this township in 1816, and lived on the old homestead until he
reached man s estate, when his father presented him with thirty acres of
land wherewith to commence life. He afterwards purchased his present
one-hundred-acre farm in Scarboro , for which he paid $20 per acre. He
also acquired thirty-two acres in the township. He has been very successful
in buying and selling farms and city property. He purchased one hundred
acres at Widder, Bosanquet Township, Lambton County, which being
required for town lots turned out a very profitable investment ; he after
wards bought three farms in Chatham, where two of his sons and his eldest
daughter now reside ; he also purchased a fine residence in Leslieville,
before it became part of the City of Toronto (for which piece of property
he has been offered three times what it originally cost him). Mr. Pherrill
attributes his success to the fine example set him by his honoured father,
and never forgot a maxim laid down by him " My son, be honest and earnest
in whatever you do." He had a brother who was lieutenant in the Rebellion
of 1837-38. In 1838 he married Miss Stewart, daughter of Captain William
Stewart, by whom he has seven children living, viz. : William, Russell,
Stewart, Tilmer, Elizabeth, Mary Hester and Helen. Having, by nearly fifty
years of industry and hard work, amassed a considerable fortune, he retired
in 1875 to. enjoy the ease and comfort to which his past life entitles him.

STEPHEN PHERRILL, deceased, was descended from a family who came
from the State of Maine, U.S., and settled in New Brunswick at the close
of the Revolutionary War. He remained with his parents for several years,
and while in New Brunswick married Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Jacob
Russell, of that Province, by whom he had six children, as follow: Amy,
Sarah, Eliza, Mary, Stephen and David. During the War of 1812 he was
engaged carrying despatches for Government, and after the war was over
settled on lot 24, concession B, Scarboro Township, where he lived until
his death in April, 1842. He left about one thousand five hundred acres to
divide among his family. William Pherrill, son of the above, lives on the
old homestead. He married Charlotte Boulton, daughter of Captain
Edward Boulton, by whom he had eleven children, seven of whom are
living ; all married with one exception, a daughter who remains at home.
Mr. Pherrill held a captain s commission, and was present at the battle on
Yonge Street during the Rebellion of i837- 38. David J. Pherrill, son of
Stephen Pherrill, deceased, lives on the old homestead. He married
Hannah, daughter of Archibald Thompson, by whom he has five children.

Township of Scarbord. 277

SIMPSON RENNIE, J.P., lot 30, concession 5, is the third son of Robert
and Eliza (Fife) Rennie. His parents came from Scotland in 1833, and
soon after settling in Scarboro purchased the lot on which Simpson now
resides. Mr. Rennie, sen r, has long ago retired from active work, and now
lives in ease and retirement in the City of Toronto. Simpson Rennie has
had the entire management of his present farm for over twenty years, and
during that time has made considerable improvements. He obtained the
gold medal awarded by the Ontario Agricultural and Arts Association for
the best managed farm in group No. 4, comprising the following electoral
districts: Peel, Cardwell, York East, York North, York West, Simcoe
West, Simcoe East, Simcoe South, Algoma, Muskoka, Ontario North,
Ontario South, Durham East, Durham West. We need scarcely add that
the Association s award is to Mr. Rennie a source of considerable pride.
Mr. Rennie married Isabella, daughter of William Hood, Esq., Markham, a
sketch of whose life appears elsewhere. The fruit of this union is four
children, viz. : Elizabeth, married to J. W. Sanderson ; Robert, William
and James. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Rennie
is a Reformer in politics.

GEORGE TAYLOR, lot 26, concession C, was born in England, June 5,
1817. His father, Richard Taylor, was born in 1776, and was a gardener
by profession. His mother s maiden name was Fanny Burke. Their
family consisted of five children, viz.: George (the subject of this sketch),
James, Andrew, Mary and Nancy. Mr. Taylor, sen r, emigrated to Canada
in 1819, and after remaining in Nova Scotia for one year came forward to
little York, thence to Scarboro Township, where he purchased a farm on
the Don and Danforth Road for the sum of $500, on which he erected a log
house, and commenced the work of clearing. He had to put up with all
the inconveniences and hardships incidental to pioneer life, but by dint of
perseverance and energy he soon had a comfortable home in which to bring
up his family. As years passed by, his successes multiplied, and would no
doubt have further increased had not death, the stern monitor, cut short
his career in the year 1834. His life was a noble and industrious one, and
a fine example for his descendants. George Taylor was educated in
Scarboro Township, and early assisted his father in clearing the farm, and
on the death of the latter received the same by paying off the other mem
bers of the family. When twenty-five years of age he married Mrs. Stevens,
of Scarboro ; the result of this marriage was five children, three sons and
two daughters, viz.: Abigail, born July 26, 1843; George, born January
20, 1845; Ruth, born September 8, 1846; William, born September n,

278 Biographical Notices.

1848; Sarah Melissa, born June 7, 1852. The mother died on June 17,
1882. Mr. Taylor has earned among his neighbours a reputation for
integrity rarely equalled ; his industrious habits, descended to him from
his father, brought with them that success which is generally the lot of
application, and although now enjoying his well-earned ease, his habitual
liking for work finds vent in cultivating the well-laid-out garden surround
ing his house.

DAVID A. THOMPSON, lot 26, concession i, is the youngest son of the
late Archibald D. Thompson, a descendant of the late Andrew Thompson,
mentioned elsewhere. His father died in 1877; his mother is still living.
The family consisted of six children. David, to whom was left the old
homestead and the care of his mother, married Margaret Patterson, who
died in 1875, by whom he had the following children, Janet, Mary, Archi
bald, David and Isabella. Mr. Thompson is an industrious, upright man,
and respected by all for his integrity and high principle. He is a member
of the Presbyterian Church, and a Liberal Conservative in politics.

DAVID THOMPSON, deceased, was the first settler in the Township of
Scarboro , locating there in the year 1796. He and his wife were of Scotch
birth, being from Wester-kirk, Dumfries. He died on June 22, 1834, and
his wife died November 8, 1847; the latter was eighty years of age, and
left behind her over one hundred descendants. Mr. Thompson was a stone
mason by trade, and assisted in the building of the first light-house in
Toronto Bay. He also fought in the War of 1812.

FRANCIS THOMPSON, lot 34, concession C, is the youngest son of William
and Mary Thompson, who came from County Tyrone, Ireland, about the
year 1802. His parents remained in the United States eleven years, after
which time they came to Little York, and settled east of the Don, removing
afterwards to Scarboro Township, and settling on lot 34, concession C,
where he remained until his death. Francis was brought up on his father s
farm and assisted in clearing off the bush and became possessed of the
homestead by purchase afterwards. He has been very successful, and
has been able to fairly start his sons in life and retire himself from active
labour. He married Hellen, eldest daughter of John Walton, by whom he
had five children, William Wallace, Mary, David Walton, Hannah Janet,
and Hellen Isabella ; the latter lives at home with her parents. Although
often solicited to accept municipal honours he has always declined. He is
a staunch Conservative in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian
Church.

Township of Scarboro\ 279

CHRISTOPHER THOMSON, lot 34, concession 2, is the youngest son of
Christopher and Mary Thomson. His father, who was born in Dumfries
shire, Scotland, August 31, 1796, was one of the first settlers in this town
ship, and during his lifetime occupied a prominent position, having filled
for many years the office of Councillor and other places of public trust in
the municipality. His mother, Mary Thomson, was born in York, Upper
Canada, May 14, 1800. His parents were married March 17, 1820, at Scar-
boro , by the Rev. W. Jenkins. Their family consisted of nine sons and
four daughters, none of whom died under forty years of age. The mother,
Mary Thomson, died December 14, 1876, and the father, Christopher, died
December 13, 1879. C" n tne occasion of each funeral six sons acted as pall
bearers, and bore to their last resting-place the remains of their deceased
parents, an occurrence rarely seen. Mr. Thomson, sen r, was a consistent
and devoted adherent of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics supported
the Reform Party. Christopher, the youngest son, was born February 23,
1843, an d has always remained on the old homestead, which in company
with his brother John, he continues to cultivate. He is a firm supporter of
the Presbyterian Church, and in politics casts his vote for the Reform
Party. Both his brother and himself are much respected in this section.

JAMES A. THOMSON, deceased, lot 23, concession i, was the youngest son
of Andrew and Jane Thomson, who emigrated from Dumfries, Scotland, in
1796, and after remaining five years in little York, removed to Scarboro
Township, and settled on lot 23, concession i. Andrew Thomson served
during the War of 1812, and was taken prisoner by the Americans at the
capitulation of York. Connected as he was with the early history of this
township, we shall only be doing justice to his memory by briefly alluding
to the evident signs of progress made in this section during the early days
of settlement with which he was closely associated. The first school-house
erected in Scarboro was situated on the corner of this lot, and the first
church, a frame building, belonging to the Presbyterian body, was built in
1819, to which Mr. Thomson, sen r, gave considerable assistance. The
old gentleman died at the age of seventy-one years, leaving behind him a
name revered by his posterity. He was twice married. By his first wife
he had two children, viz. : John and Elizabeth ; by his second marriage he
had Margaret, Andrew, Janet, William, Mary Ellen, and James A., whose
name heads this sketch. The latter was born on the old homestead, part
of which he afterwards owned, March 20, 1802, and it is stated he was the
first white child born in Scarboro Township. Mr. Thomson was essen
tially a self-made man. Brought up to agriculture, he did not neglect the

2 So Biographical Notices.

more ornamental, yet necessarily useful duties that relate to self-improve
ment, and toiled early and late to acquire such knowledge as would prove
advantageous to him in after life. He was appointed a Justice of the
Peace, but always declined to act. He was frequently solicited to act as
Councillor, and in other municipal offices, but the offers were all courteously
declined. In politics Mr. Thomson was a staunch Reformer, but insisted
strongly on the maintenance of the British connection with its attendant insti
tutions. He was appointed an Elder of St. Andrew s Presbyterian Church,
Scarboro , in 1844, during the ministry of Dr. George ; and it was in a great
measure due to his influence that the site for the present beautiful structure
at Bendale was selected, for the erection of which he contributed a hand
some sum. Following the example of parents, who during their life-time
were eminent for their zeal and piety, he indeed merited the confidence of
the surrounding neighbours, and embraced every opportunity by which
through his assistance, the cause of religion might be advanced. He was a
man of rare intelligence, and one who discharged the duties of elder with
great faithfulness and efficiency for over forty-four years. Mr. Thomson
was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of Thomas Patterson, of
this township, by whom he had eleven children. There was no issue by
his second marriage. He died on October 28, 1884.

JOHN TINGLE, jun r, merchant and post-master, Wexford, is the son of
John and Ellen (Thompson) Tingle, and was born in 1837 in this township,
in which he has always been a resident. He commenced in the mercantile
line in 1865, an d has been very successful. His father emigrated to Canada
in 1818. He was a Reformer in politics, and a Presbyterian in religion.
Our subject married in 1869 Eliza, daughter of Timothy Devenish, of this
township, by whom he had two children, Mary Ellen and Emily. Mr.
Tingle, like his father, is a strong Reformer, and a consistent member of the
Presbyterian Church.

THOMAS WALTON, deceased, a descendant of one of the pioneers ot
Scarboro , was born in this township, January 12, 1828. He died April 17,
1876, leaving a widow and a family of seven children. His wife s maiden
name was Fanny Scott ; she came from Cumberland, England. Mrs.
Walton resides on the old homestead in company with the following sons
and daughter : William Albert, Thomas A., Francis E. and Alice. Two
daughters are married, Lavinia to William Brown, of Markham, and Mary
to Charles Scrivens, of Buffalo. John Wallis, the second son, married a
Miss Brown, of this township. The family is one highly respected in the
neighbourhood ; they are members of the Methodist Church.

1 Tozvnship of Scarboro . 281

JOHN P. WHELER, deceased, was born in England in 1810 ; he emi
grated to Canada in 1829 ar >d settled in the Township of Scarboro in the
following year, on lot 21, concession D, where he operated a saw-mill,
subsequently erecting a flour-mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1863.
Mr. Wheler took a prominent and active part in the affairs of the munici
pality, and was elected Councillor when the Board was organized, accepting
the honour of Deputy-Reeve for the first year and serving in the Reeve s
chair for the succeeding twenty years. He was Warden of the County of
York three years and was elected first President of the East York Agricul
tural Society, and also occupied for a number of years corresponding
positions in the Scarboro and Provincial Agricultural Societies. He was
appointed License Inspector for East York under the Crooks Act, which
office he held until the time of his death in August, 1883. Mr. Wheler was
a strong Reformer in politics, and took a lively and intelligent interest in all
measures likely to benefit the country at large.

THOMAS WHITESIDE, lot 29, concession 2, is the son of Thomas and
Sarah (Murdock) Whiteside. His father was born in County Antrim,
Ireland, in 1772, and came to Canada in 1821, settling in Scarboro Town
ship on the lot now occupied by our subject, a year later. He died in
1870. He was a strong Conservative in politics, and, in company with
two of his sons, took a prominent part in suppressing the Rebellion of 1837.
He was in religion a Presbyterian, and always bore a good character among
his neighbours. He left a family of seven children Margaret, Jane, James,
Daniel, Sarah, Thomas and John. Thomas Whiteside, jun r, was born in
1827 in the old log house, which is still to be seen from the windows of his
present residence. He married Miss Jane McCowan, a native of Scotland,
by whom he has six children, viz. : Thomas, William J., Margaret P., Janet
G., David and John H. Mr. Whiteside served in the Township Council
four years. He takes an active part in agricultural matters, and is a
member both of East York and Scarboro Societies. He is also a member
of the York Pioneers. In politics he votes Conservative, and in religion is
a worthy member of the Presbyterian body, from which he never withholds
substantial support.

ARCHIBALD WRIGHT, deceased, a pioneer of Scarboro Township and a
native of the Highlands of Scotland, emigrated to America at an early day
and settled in New Brunswick, where he remained until the year 1809.
He came to Canada and settled in Scarboro Township on the lot now
occupied by his grandson, John Wright. He afterwards removed to Whitby

282 Biographical Notices,

with his wife and one son, where he died on June 18,. 1837. His wife died
on November 13, 1855. He left behind him a family of five sons and four
daughters, together with considerable property about five hundred acres.
He was a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church, and in political con
victions a strong Reformer. Hulet Wright, son of the above, residing with
his son John on lot 35, concession 4, having in early life to put up with the
discomforts and hardships attendant to pioneer life, it is scarcely necessary
to add that he had little or no education, in lieu of which he had the example
of perseverance and energy, combined with a strong religious belief received
from his parents. He has been very successful in life, and now, at the
advanced age of eighty-eight, surrounded by his grandchildren, he enjoys
that ease and comfort, earned through years of toil, to which he is certainly
entitled. In politics he is a Reformer. John Wright, lot 35, concession 4,
son of the above, was born in Scarboro Township in 1833 and has always
lived at home on the old homestead. He is a member of the Methodist
Church, and in politics a staunch Reformer.

TOWNSHIP OF MARKHAM

TOWNSHIP OF MARKHAM.

ILLIAM ARMSTRONG, lot 10, concession 10, is the eldest
son living of Captain William Armstrong, who ernigrated to
the United States in 1817. Mr. Armstrong remained in
New York about two years, and then removed to Montreal,
where he stayed until 1824, in which year he came to
Toronto. He soon afterwards settled in Markham Town
ship on lot 10, concession 8, one log house at that time com
prising what is now the Village of Markham. In the year 1832 he married
Esther, daughter of Peter Reesor. For many years he kept the Wellington
Hotel in the township, which he carried on in connection with his farming.
He took a lively interest in agriculture ; and many others, stimulated by
his example, were prevailed upon to give their full support to the exhibitions.
He also held a captain s commission in the militia. He was a member of
the English Church, it having been partly through Captain Armstrong s
instrumentality that the services of the Church of England were procured
for Markham. Captain Armstrong lived to a good old age, honoured and
respected by all his neighbours, by whom his memory is still cherished and
his virtues emulated. William, his son, has a very fine property and has
taken great interest in all agricultural matters. He is energetic and enter
prising, and allows no opportunity to pass whereby the advancement of the
township may be secured.

WILLIAM JAMES BEATON, blacksmith, was born in the Township of
Pickering, Ontario County, in 1859. His father was born in Scotland in
1800, and came to Canada at an early day, and has occupied the position
of Township Clerk and Treasurer of Pickering for upwards of forty years.
William James is one of a family of five children ; he learned the trade of
blacksmith with Mr. William Mosgrove, of Brougham, and has since
carried on that business in Markham. He was married in 1882 to Miss
Minnie Woodruff.

286 Biographical Notices.

JOHN N. BUTTON, lot 15, concession 4, is the second son of Lieutenant-
Colonel Francis Button, who located in Markham about 1798 with his
father, Major John Button, who raised a troop of cavalry and fought in
defence of his country during the War of 1812. The subject of this notice
was born on the old homestead, and at the age of sixteen repaired to Mark-
ham Village, where he learned the trade of blacksmith, which business he
followed for several years. He has of late years, however, confined himself
mostly to farming. He married Miss Barr, by whom he had one daughter,
now the wife of Major James Elliott, who resides on the home farm. Mr.
Button is one of the oldest Canadian J.P. s in the township. He formerly
held a commission in the British cavalry. He is a member of the Metho
dist Church, and has been liberal in his donations for schools and other
necessary institutions in the township. His eldest grandson, Robert Button
Elliott, is a member of the old troop, and is Sergeant-Major of the Second
Regiment of Cavalry; his youngest grandson, William Asa Elliott, is with
him on the old farm.

NEWBURY BUTTON, lot 35, concession 7, is the son of Francis Button,
mentioned elsewhere. He was born at Buttonville Village in 1825, and
remained with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age. He
married a daughter of William Reynolds, by whom he has two children
living. His wife died in 1857. He married again, his second wife being
Catharine Bartholomew, of this township, by whom he had two sons.
Both himself and his sons take an active interest in military matters.

CHRISTOPHER H. CHANT, lot 12, concession 5, is the youngest but one
in a family of nine children born to Christopher and Jane Chant. His
father emigrated from Somersetshire, England, and settled in Brockville in
1841. Three years later he removed with his family to Niagara, and while
there the subject of this sketch was sent to St. Catharines to learn the
trade of cabinet maker. He eventually settled in Unionville, Markham
Township, where he married a daughter of Robert Croft, and has now a
grown-up family. He follows his calling of cabinet maker, and is every
where noted as being extremely skilful in his business. One of his sons
follows the same trade. He has one son Station Agent on the Midland
Railroad, and his youngest son is teaching school at Maxwell, having
matriculated at Toronto University with first-class honors in Mathematics
and English. Mr. Chant also conducts an undertaking business and has
a first-class hearse of his own making.

Township of Markhani. 287

DAVID CLARK, proprietor of Queen s Hotel, Thornhill, is a native 01
Scotland, and came to Canada in 1872. For some time he carried on a
bottling business in Toronto, and afterwards kept the Manitoba House. In
1882 he bought and took possession of the above named pretty popular
hotel, where he has every accommodation for the travelling public.

W. D. CROSBY, lot 8, concession 7, is the son of C. Crosby, who, coming
from the State of New York, located with his parents in Markham in the
year 1812, the family settling on the farm now occupied by the subject of
this sketch. His father married Mary, daughter of Michael Miller, a
pioneer of Markham, by whom he had the following children : Jemima (now
the wife of Dr. Doherty), H. P., Ellen, I. G., W. D. (our subject), James S.
and H. A. W. D. Crosby was born on the old homestead and assisted to
clear the farm, and since he has been in possession has shown himself
energetic and successful, and bears a good character among his neighbours.
He is a Reformer in politics, and a consistent follower of the Methodist
Church. He married in 1860 Jane Mulholland, by whom he has a family
of eight children.

SAMUEL S. CUMNER, lot 4, concession 3, Township of Markham, is the
youngest son of David and Abigail Cumner, being a descendant of a
family who originally came from Pennsylvania, and settled in York County
at an early day. His father was born in 1803, an d his mother in 1797, and
the family consisted of eight children, six of whom are yet living. Samuel
has always lived on the old homestead ; he married Miss Sarah Toppin, by
whom he had five children ; he has one daughter at home keeping house
for him. Mr. Cumner in religion is a Methodist, and is everywhere looked
upon as an upright, earnest and consistent Christian ; he is always ready
to assist in Sunday school work, and has been superintendent for the same
some years. He is one who has never sought office, preferring rather to
remain in private life and watch over the education of his children.

ANDREW ECKARDT is the sixth son of Philip Eckardt, who came to
Canada in 1790. His father came to Markham with Mr. Berzie, the
Government Agent. Andrew was born in 1811 ; he married Miss Charlotte
Hunter, whose parents emigrated to Canada in 1790 ; her mother was
originally from Copenhagen, in Denmark. Mr. Eckardt has been known
throughout the township as a hardworking and enterprising man. In the
municipality he helped to clear the land where now stands the thriving
Village of Unionville, and was appointed Postmaster when the office was

288 Biographical Notices.

first established there; and, in all matters for the advantage of the township
as a whole, Mr, Eckardt was ever ready to take his share of responsibility.

JAMES ECKARDT, lot n, concession 6, was born upon the farm where he
yet lives. He is of German extraction, his grandfather having emigrated
from Bruges in 1793, and suffered all the hardships and privations of the
early settlers. James was only fifteen years of age at the death of his
parents ; but, as he had received a good education, was well prepared to face
the stern realities of life. He married Sarah Jane Size in 1859, by whom
he has four sons and four daughters. He is a J.P. and License Inspector.
He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and his influence throughout the
section is very great.

JOHN ECKARDT, lot 10, concession 6, is the fourth son of George Eckardt.
The latter was born in Markham in the year 1800, and died in the same
township in the year 1862. Our subject was born in Markham in the year
1843, where he has always continued to live, following the occupation of
farmer: He married Mary, eldest daughter of John Snowball, a native of
Yorkshire, England, by whom he has two children, viz. : Wilbert Howard
and Ethel Maud. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a Reformer
in politics.

JOSEPH ECKARDT, lot 10, concession 6, is the youngest son of George
Eckardt, was born in Markham Township, and is one of a family of eight
children, all of whom are still living. He was born in 1846, and still lives
on part of the old homestead, where he does a large and profitable trade
in the cultivation of small fruits. He married in 1874 the eldest daughter
of Hector C. Thomson, formerly of Glasgow, Scotland, by whom he has
three children. His grandfather was one of the first settlers in Markham.

ANTHONY FORSTER, lot 13, concession 9, was born in the Township of
Markham, November 6, 1844, and is the son of William Forster, a native
of Northumberland, England, where he was born December 22, 1813. His
mother s maiden name was Barbara Wurts, of Markham ; their family con
sisted of four sons. Anthony was educated in School Section No. 21,
Markham Township, and subsequently at the High School, Markham
Village. He has, since the completion of his education, been engaged in
farming ; he married January 16, 1870, Alice A. Dack, daughter of John W.
Dack, a native of Dublin, Ireland ; they have six children, viz. ; Tamsine
Emilia, Nellie Amelia, Laura Alice, Jessie Gertrude, William Dack and
Walter Ellis (all living). Mr. Forster has occupied several important

Township of Markham. 289

offices in connection with municipal affairs. He has been Road Overseer,
Assessor, Councillor, Deputy-Reeve, Public and High School Trustee, and
a member of the Local Board of Health. He also belongs to the Agricul
tural Society, and is a member of the Farmers Club. Two brothers of Mr.
Forster, John and Elias, were drowned in the Maitland River, April 16,
1864. He is a member of the Methodist body, and a Reformer in politics.

THOMAS FRISBY, lot 25, concession 4, is the eldest son of John and
Lucy Frisby, who emigrated from England in 1831 and settled in Thorn-
hill, where the. father purchased a farm on concession 3, on which he
remained until 1856; he went on business to Milwaukie, but unfortunately
lost his life on board the Niagara boat which was burned on September
24, 1856. This unexpected and melancholy event disturbed all existing
arrangements and the family decided to remain in the township, Thomas
taking upon himself the management of his late father s affairs. That the
section benefited by the family remaining here is certain, for Mr. Frisby
has ever proved himself anxious to promote the general well-being of the
community ; and, although he has never accepted office, yet his presence
has ever -been recognized as an advantage. He has been liberal towards
the erection of churches of every denomination, and the poor and needy
find in him a sincere friend. He married a daughter of John Newlove, of
Etobicoke, by whom he had ten children, nine of whom are living.

GEORGE GOHN, lot 9, concession 3, is the youngest son of David and
Lucy Gohn, of this township. His father was a native of Pennsylvania,
his mother being from New Jersey. Mr. Gohn, sen r, came to Canada in
1812 and took part in the war with the States, afterwards settling on the
lot now occupied by his son George, where he remained until his death in
1862. His wife is still living with her son on the old farm. George Gohn
married a daughter of L. Belway, of Thornhill, by which union there are
four sons. He has, since his father s death, greatly improved the property,
and now possesses a very fine farm, to which he gives the closest attention.

WILLIAM GOHN, lot 8, concession 2, is the second son of David and
Lucy Gohn. His father was born in Pennsylvania and came to Canada
in 1812 ; he served in the War of 1812 and was at the Battle of York. He
settled on lot 9, concession 3, Markham, where he remained until his death
in 1862 ; his wife is still living.

MOSES HEMINGWAY, deceased, was born in the Township of Markham
in the year 1809. He was descended from a family which claimed to be of

20

290 Biographical Notices.

Scotch origin, though one of its members, Samuel Hemingway, resided in

England previous to his departure for these shores. Samuel, as far as we

can learn, was the first of his race to come to America ; he settled in the

United States, and brought up his family in the occupation of farming.

The members of the Hemingway family were particularly remarkable for

their strength and physical endurance. Josiah Hemingway, son of Samuel,

and father of the one whose name heads this sketch, was born in the State

of New York in the year 1774, and when a young man of twenty-four years

determined to try his fortune in Canada. In the year 1798 he settled in the

Township of Markham, York County, and married Miss Annie Stiver,

daughter of the late John Stiver, and sister of the first white male child

said to have been born in Markham. After his marriage he settled on

lot 4, concession 4 of that township, his land then being in its primaeval

state ; but through succeeding years he and his faithful helpmate after the

first of the hardships the laborious work of clearing was accomplished,

got together a very comfortable home. Josiah Hemingway died in the year

1854, at the advanced age of eighty years, leaving a family of three sons

and six daughters. Relative to the early history of York County, it may

be mentioned that Josiah Hemingway with his seven and a-half pound axe

cleared the first part of Yonge Street leading north from Toronto. He

never held any public office, preferring to attend to the duties of his farm,

which was in itself sufficient to engage his attention. Politically he was a

consistent Reformer, but took no active part in election contests. He was

ever true and loyal to the British flag, the emblem of those institutions of

freedom which he always cherished and admired. In religion he held to

the Methodist Church, of which he remained a devoted member until his

death. He was liberal in all matters that had for their object the good and

welfare of the community at large. Moses Hemingway, whose name heads

this family history, was left with the old homestead on his father s death,

and was married to Miss Jane Burns, daughter of Thomas Burns, deceased,

who at the time of his daughter s marriage resided in the City of Toronto .

Moses, on taking possession of the farm, followed his father s footsteps in

the management of the property. He was a man of powerful frame and

robust constitution, which enabled him to endure any amount of fatigue,

and was considered, when in the prime of life, one of the strongest men in

the Township of Markham. He was also a great sportsman, and might

often have been seen with gun and dogs wending his way in search of game.

Mr. Hemingway, following the example of his father, held no public office ;

in politics he was ever true to the Reform Party, but took no part in

election struggles. In religion he belonged to the Methodist Church, and

Township of Markham. 291

was liberal in promoting any object whereby the well-being of society
was to be secured. His death occurred March 15, 1875, at the age of
sixty-six years ; his widow, two sons and three daughters survive him.
Orson Hemingway, lot 4, concession 4, Markham, is the second eldest
son of Moses Hemingway, deceased. He manages the farm formerly in
possession of his father, and in addition to this he is occupier of the Bee-
Hive Hotel, at Hagerman s Corner, Markham, where every accommoda
tion is afforded to the travelling community. Mr. Orson Hemingway was
married in 1869 to Miss Matilda Jane Webber, daughter of John Webber,
Esq., proprietor of the Queen s Hotel, Unionville, one of the most com
modious and attractive hotels north of Toronto. Mr. Hemingway has a
family of five sons and three daughters. In connection with his extensive
farm Mr. Hemingway is applying all the latest improvements, and as a
hotel-keeper he is found courteous and obliging, and is everything else to
be desired. His reputation for fair dealing is well-known, and he is
liberal in giving towards any object that is likely to promote the welfare of
the community.

WILLIAM HOOD is a native of Roxburghshire, Scotland, and emigrated
with his wife and family in 1837. His father died in 1806 ; his mother came
with him to Canada. On his arrival here his family consisted of two sons
only, which was afterwards increased to fourteen ; nine only are now living.
Most of his sons are farmers and are settled in differentparts of the country.
Mr. Hood has been very successful, and although commencing with only
$100 has bought, and paid for since, five hundred and eighty-six acres
of land. Adam Hood, son of the above, lives on lot 3, concession 6 ; he
married a daughter of John Gibson, of this township. The family are
members of the Presbyterian Church, and have ever been known as hos
pitable and generous to the poor and needy.

B. HOOVER, lot 6, concession 7, was born on lot 23, concession i,
Pickering Township, in 1852. He is one of a family of eight children, and
worked for Mr. J. H. Earner, of Markham, and subsequently with his
brother, J. R. Hoover, at the mill on Duffin s Creek, two years. He after
wards rented a grist mill from Mr. A. Spofford for two and a-half years ;
and, before taking possession of his present mills, rented a grist and general
custom mill from Mr. Thomas Millne, from 1881 to 1883. The Glen Rouge
Mill, which has a run of three stones, and a grinding capacity of fifty barrels
per twenty-four hours, is valued by Mr. Hoover at $8,000. In 1875 he
married Miss Emaline Ramer, of Markham ; they have three children

2 g 2 Biographical Notices.

Peter John, born May 10, 1879 ; Edith Mary, born September 23, 1881,
and Archie, born February 3, 1884.

BENJAMIN B. S. JENKINS, lot 27, concession 5, is the son of the Rev.

William Jenkins, a Presbyterian clergyman. His father was educated at

the University of Edinburgh, and subsequently came to America, having

for his object the propagation of the Gospel amongst the Indian tribes.

He laboured among the Oneida Indians about twelve years ; and then

being offered a professorship in the College at Saratoga, and likewise having

a call from York County, Canada, he accepted the latter, and travelled on

horseback across the country to take charge of his new duties. This took

place in the year 1816, and it is confidently stated that he was the first

Presbyterian minister who settled in the country. Through his persevering

efforts several churches were erected in the various townships, and his

death, which occurred September 25, 1843, was widely regretted. He was

buried at Richmond Hill, the village where his last sermon was preached.

Benjamin was born May 25, 1824, and has always followed agricultural

pursuits, in which he has been eminently successful. He was married in

1848 to Maria F. Crosby; their family consists of four children, two sons

and two daughters. Mr. Jenkins is a zealous worker in the cause of the

church and is superintendent of the Sabbath school.

CORNELIUS JOHNSON, lot 27, concession 7, is the son of Peter and Sarah
Johnson, and was born June 9, 1810, in Markham Township. He remained
at home and assisted his father to clear the land till his marriage with
Margaret Clendenning in 1834, when he settled on his present lot. His
family consists of four sons and three daughters, one having died, and
are comfortably settled in the neighbourhood of the old homestead. His
wife died December 6, 1856. He is a member of the Methodist Church,
and is much esteemed throughout the district.

JOHN LANGSTAFF, lot 36, concession i, one of the contributors to
this work, was born September 9, 1819. His father came to Little York
from Amboy, New Jersey, in the winter of 1808, riding the whole distance,
five hundred and fifty miles, on horseback. The following year he married
Lucy Miles, of Richmond Hill, after which he returned to his old home in
the winter of 1809-10, and was back again at little York in the spring, the
journey, as heretofore, being accomplished on horseback, covering a distance
of one thousand one hundred miles. He signalized his return by settling
on the lot now owned by his son John, and commenced school teaching.
He opened the first public school north of Toronto. The building was

Township of Markham. 293

situated on the corner of lot 35 (Markham) and built of round logs. During
the War of i8i2- i4, Mr. Langstaff held a situation in the Commissariat
Office as book-keeper under the late George Crookshank. He died in the
year 1863, at the age of eighty-nine years. He was a strong Conservative
in politics, and took an active part at election times. John Langstaff, whose
name heads this sketch, has been a farmer in Markham for the past fifty
years. In 1847 he purchased lot 47, concession i, in Vaughan Township,
on which he built a saw-mill and agricultural implement manufactory. He
has been engaged in lumbering for a number of years, and has been gener
ally successful as a business man. He married in 1853 Elizabeth Brett,
of English birth, by whom he has the following sons and daughters, viz. :
George Augustus, M.D., at Thornhill ; John Elliott, M.D., Brooklyn,
New York, and married to Miss Meredith of New Brunswick ; Louis
Garibaldi, M.D., Richmond Hill; Edwin Curry, farmer; Lucy, married to
R. D. Little, and Flora at school. Mr. Langstaff belongs to the English
Church, and is a Conservative in politics. In connection with Mr. Lang-
staff s present property is a mineral spring which has only recently been
utilized, its health-giving and healing properties being found to be quite as
remarkable as those Bethesda waters which have such a celebrated name
over the continent. Its constituent elements are as follow, as analyzed by
Professor Thomas Heys, of Toronto School of Medicine : Sulphate of
Potassa, 0.921; Bicarbonate of Soda, 2.068 ; Bicarbonate of Magnesia, 9.812;
Silica and Alumina, 1.449; Chloride of Potassium, 1.225; Bicarbonate of
Lime, 16.507; Bicarbonate ot Iron, 0.669 (being 32.615 grains per gallon). The
spring has quite a reputation and many invalids are tempted thither to test
the peculiar properties of the waters. Mr. R. D. Little, of Brooklyn, New
York, son-in-law to Mr. Langstaff, has charge of the Hawthorn Mineral
Spring Residence, the name by which it is known, and every accommoda
tion is afforded for guests and visitors.

JONAH LEEK, lot 15, concession 3, was born in this township. His
parents were David and Harriet Leek. His father was born in New Jersey,
his people removing to New York State when he was three years old.
They remained there until 1825, when they came to Canada and, taking up
their abode in Markham, settled here. Mr. Leek died in 1878, leaving a
family of six children. Jonah was the only son and to him was left the
family homestead. He married Miss Quantz ; they have eight children,
five sons and three daughters, all of whom live at home with them. Mr.
Leek is a member of the Episcopal Church, and takes great interest in all
affairs calculated to promote the spread of Christian principles.

294 Biographical Notices.

GEORGE LEEK, lot 16, concession 3/is the youngest son of David and
Mary Leek. His father was born in New Jersey in 1 80 1, but afterwards
lived in New York State several years. He married there in 1826, and
subsequently came to Canada, taking up his residence in Markham Town
ship, where he lived until his death July 19, 1882. He was much revered
by his neighbours for his urbanity, which closely allied to his Christian
character did much to elevate the general tone of the community, and as
such his death was universally regretted. George, who was brought up
upon, and still retains the old homestead, endeavours to maintain the good
character of the family as established by his father, in which he has been
eminently successful. He is a Liberal Reformer in politics.

S. B. LEHMAN, lot 31, concession 5, is the second son of Daniel and
Susanna Lehman. His father was a native of Lancaster County, Pennsyl
vania, and came to Canada in 1825 with his parents, and settled on lot 35,
concession 7, Markham Township, subsequently removing to lot 35,
. Pickering Township, where he died in 1867. His family consisted of six
children ; his widow died in 1883. S. B. Lehman remained at home with
his parents until he was twenty-five years old when he married Miss
Frances Hoover, in 1865, and commenced farming on his own account
which pursuit he followed until 1880. In that year he started to operate a
flour as well as a woollen mill, and is at present doing a good business in
both departments, having one son in the business with him. Although not
possessing a desire for municipal honours yet he is always ready to join in
any private enterprise likely to benefit the community, consequently much
respect is entertained for him throughout the township. By his wife he
has six children.

JOHN LUNDY, lot 5, concession 3, is the son of William Lundy, who
emigrated from Ireland with his family, consisting of five sons and three
daughters. Mr. Lundy, sen r, settled in Toronto Township. John was a
cooper by trade, and being induced to settle at the German Mills followed
his occupation there for several years. He subsequently purchased the
farm adjoining the mill, on which he now resides. He married Sarah,
daughter of John Curroy, of Scarboro Township, the fruit of this union
being eight children. He has one son at home, Joseph, who manages the
farm. Mr. Lundy has been a hard working industrious man, and bears a
high character for integrity in the township. He is an adherent of the
Presbyterian Church, from which he never withholds his support.

Township of Markham. 295

ANGUS McKiNNON, lot 26, concession 5, is the sixth son of Neil
McKinnon, who emigrated from Scotland in 1812. His father came out
with Lord Selkirk, and went with him to Manitoba, where he built a house
on the banks of the Red River, about one and a-half miles from the present
City of Winnipeg. Angus was born in Mull, Scotland, and was about three
years old when the family settled in the far west. They left there at the
expiration of three years on account of the misrepresentations of Lord
Selkirk, and turned their faces eastward again. After a tedious and
lengthened journey they reached York, and settled in Markham, on the lot
now occupied by Mr. McKinnon. The father died in 1829 ; the mother
survived him twenty years. Angus married Mary Anthony, by whom he
has a family of four sons and five daughters. As may be expected he has
done a fair share of hard work, having helped to clear the farm at the time
of settlement. He has contributed towards the erection of churches and
the support of ministers, and in all matters concerning the welfare of the
municipality has acted no mean part.

ARCHIBALD McKiNNON, deceased. The late Archibald McKinnon,
Markham, was born in the year 1797 in the Isle of Mull, Argyleshire, Scot
land. He was the eldest of a family of four sons and three daughters.
His father, the late Hugh McKinnon, of Markham, and his mother, Mar
garet McGilivray, were both of the same parish of Mull. His father, Hugh
McKinnon was in fair circumstances in Mull, yet he was anxious to better
the condition of his family ; and his brother, the late Neil McKinnon, who
had settled in Markham in the year 1817, from the Selkirk District in the
North- West, where he emigrated with his family in the year 1812, held forth
to his brother Hugh, in Mull, strong inducements to emigrate to Canada
with his family. This invitation was finally accepted, and in the summer of
1820 Hugh and his family came to Canada. Previous to coming to Canada,
his eldest son, Archibald, the subject of this sketch, was married to Miss
Catharine McGilivray, of the same parish. They set sail from Glasgow,
and after a rough voyage of six weeks landed at Quebec. After staying
there for a few days they set sail for Little York, now Toronto, which they
reached after a perilous voyage of four weeks. The journey up from
Quebec had to be performed with Durham boats drawn by oxen and
guided by pilots who walked on the tow-path along the shore and with
pike-poles kept the boats at a certain distance from the shore. On land
ing at " muddy York," the first sight that attracted their attention was
the dead carcase of a horse lying on the wharf and surrounded by a group
of Indians and squaws feasting over its remains. Such a feast as this was

296 Biographical Notices.

rather unnatural to the Mull people, as they would prefer feasting over a
dish of Loch Fine herrings and a good bowl of buttermilk. After staying
in Little York for a short time, they set out for Markham, taking Yonge
Street as their route, which at this time was the only road leading north
of Toronto. After a journey of one day on foot from Toronto, they finally
reached their destination, the home of Neil McKinnon, near Cashel, and
now the present home of his son, Angus McKinnon. Shortly after coming
to Markham, Hugh McKinnon and his son Archibald purchased lot 9,
concession 6, Markham. Archibald settled on the east end of the lot, and
his father on the west end, each occupying one hundred acres, all bush
land. Hugh McKinnon, after the lapse of many years, made for himself a
comfortable homestead, where both he and his amiable wife died in the
year 1850, at the advanced ages of eighty-four and eighty-two; leaving a
family of four sons and three daughters, all of them being married at the
time of their parents death. Archibald, the subject of this sketch, and his
faithful wife endured (as did his father) many hardships and trials on their
bush farm, contending against difficulties which all the early settlers had
to fight against. The Village of Unionville, in Markham, at this period
had no existence, and Markham Village only contained a few log houses.
The first two bushels of fall wheat which he sowed he had carried a dis
tance of five miles on his back after threshing it on the same day with the
old-fashioned implement, the flail. The first baking-kettle obtained was
purchased with a loaf of sugar, which he carried on his back to Toronto, a
distance of twenty miles through the woods, and returned home the same
day carrying the kettle on his back. He had frequently journeyed to
Toronto on horseback with eggs and butter. However, through the lapse
of time, he and his industrious wife hewed for themselves a comfortable
home out of this forest farm, where he died on December 25, 1880, surviv
ing his wife by eleven years, and leaving a family of four sons and three
daughters to survive him. His eldest son, John, resides in the Township
of Vaughan and follows the occupation of farming ; he has a family of eight
sons and one daughter. The second eldest son, Hugh, resides in Mark-
ham on his grandfather s old homestead ; he has a family of four sons and
one daughter. His son Neil follows the occupation of a Public School
teacher and resides with his brother Allen, who is in possession of his
father s old homestead, and his youngest sister, Christina, lives on the farm
with him. The other two daughters, Flora and Margaret, reside in the
Townships of Bruce and Saugeen, and are married and in comfortable cir
cumstances. The late Archibald McKinnon was a consistent member of
the Presbyterian Church, to which denomination his family also belongs.

Township of Markham. 297

In politics he was a Liberal Reformer ; but took no active part in political
contests, neither held any public office, as he was no office-seeker, prefer
ring to live a quiet life. He was honest and exact in all his public dealings,
never had a suit in court, nor was he ever sued. He and his wife were
kind and hospitable, their home was always open to the poor and needy,
and they were always liberal in giving to assist in every good cause, which
example the surviving members of the family endeavour to follow.

ALEXANDER McLEAN, lot 10, concession 6, is the son of John and
Isabella McLean, who emigrated from Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1824 and
settled in York County, purchasing and locating on the lot on which the
subject of this sketch now resides. His father died in 1864 and his mother
in 1877. Alexander follows the occupation of farmer, and is energetic and
industrious. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a Liberal
in politics.

JOHN B. McLEAN, lot 3, concession 8, was born in the Township of
Markham in 1836 ; his father was John B. McLean, a native of Ardigullen,
County of Longford, Ireland, who died in 1851. His mother s maiden name
was Eliza Preston, a native of the same place. She died in 1876. Our
subject is one of a family of ten children, and has generally been engaged
in farming. He married, December 2, 1864, Ophelia Peck, of Newmarket,
daughter of Stephen Northrop Peck, deceased, formerly a dentist of New
market, by whom he has five children. Mr. McLean is in religion a mem
ber of the Baptist Church, and a Conservative in politics.

ALEXANDER MCPHERSON, lot 2, concession 5, is the son of Alexander
and Annie McPherson. The family are of Scotch origin, our subject s
grandfather having emigrated from Edinburgh about 1787, and settled in
Nova Scotia. His father, Alexander, came from that Province to York in
1830, and purchased the property on which the son now lives. He cleared
his land, and, after a life spent in toil and usefulness, died in 1878. He took
an active part in all matters pertaining to the religious welfare of the
community among which he lived, and ministers of all denominations have
received from him a hearty welcome. He left a family of one son and five
daughters. The subject of this sketch married Elizabeth, daughter of
William Hood. She died leaving one child. In 1855 he married a second
time, his wife was Hester Kennedy ; they have no children. Mr. McPher
son has much improved his farm, which is now a very valuable one, and
contains two hundred and twelve acres of choice land. He follows in the
footsteps of his father, which is the highest compliment that can be paid

298 Biographical Notices.

to him, and in all matters which concern the good of the township he is
ready to contribute his share of time and labour. He is a York Pioneer
and also holds a Lieutenant s commission in the militia.

ANDREW MILLER, lot 34, concession i, is the youngest son of Henry
and Mary (Kennedy) Miller. His father settled in Markham Township
during the administration of Governor Simcoe, where he lived until his
death in 1884. He was throughout his long life industrious, and discharged
his manifold duties with conscientious care. He filled the office of District
Councillor, and was a member of the first Council Board of the township,
and also belonged to the County Council. As a sincere and devoted member
of the Presbyterian Church his death was much lamented by that body in
the district. Andrew has always lived on the old homestead which he now
owns, and like his father, is much respected in the neighbourhood. He
takes no part in the affairs of the municipality; but attends strictly to his
own immediate concerns, and has been very successful. He is a member
of the Presbyterian Church. He married a daughter of John Welsh of this
township, by whom he had four sons, one of whom is in California. His
grandfather built the first grist mill in Markham.

JOHN MILLER, lot 19, concession io,is the son of George and Catharine
Miller. His father was a native of Dumfries, Scotland, and emigrated to
Canada in 1832, settling in the Township of Markham, where he remained
until his death which occurred in 1880. During his lifetime he was largely
engaged in stock-raising, and was, we believe, the first to import into
Ontario the Leicester and Cotswold breed of sheep as well as the Short
horn Durham cattle. He was also mainly instrumental in establishing the
Provincial Exhibition, and up to the time of his death was a most active
member of the society. He was on one occasion burned out, losing by
that conflagration nine valuable horses, fourteen head of cattle and thirty-
two sheep. He was, however, not discouraged by this calamity, but took
the earliest possible opportunity of having his stock recruited from the Old
Country. John, following the same course as his father, deals largely in
a thoroughbred stock, but never exhibited at any of the large shows. He
is married, and has six children.

LUTON MILLER, lot 16, concession 8, is the fourth son of Joshua Miller,
who came from Saratoga, New York State, in 1801, and settled on lot 22,
concession 8, in Markham Township, where he lived until his death in the
year 1851. Luton was born on the old homestead in 1809, and on com
mencing life for himself purchased the farm where he resided until his

Township of Markham. 299

death, which occurred July 7, 1884. Having grown up with the township,
he contributed not a little towards the making of roads and the erection of
churches and school-houses. Among the positions he held may be mentioned
Roadmaster, Trustee of Schools and Deacon of the Baptist Church. He
was also a Lieutenant in the militia, and was one of the first to answer the
call to arms during the perilous times of the Rebellion.

WILLIAM MILLIKEN, lot 5, concession 5, is the descendant of a U. E.
Loyalist family whose property was confiscated during the Revolutionary
War. They settled in New Brunswick, but afterwards removed to York
County, Ontario. His grandfather, Norman Milliken, located in Markham
about 1805, where he remained until his death. His father, Benjamin
Milliken, was born in New Brunswick in 1794, and was about eleven years
old when the family removed to York. He volunteered for active service
during the War of 1812, and was present at the Battle of Queenston Heights.
The arms he carried on that memorable occasion are still in possession of
the family. He also took an active part in the loyal cause during the
Rebellion of 1837-38. He received a Captain s commission, and subsequently
was appointed Major. As a fitting reward for long and distinguished service
he was commissioned a Justice of the Peace, the duties of which he fulfilled
with zeal tempered by moderation. He was a faithful adherent of the
Methodist Church, and his house was always open in welcome to ministers
of every denomination. He was generous to the poor and needy, and
exemplified his Christian principles by bestowing liberally for the further
ance of the Gospel. He died July 3, 1863, at the age of sixty-nine years.
William was born on the old homestead July 2, 1834. He married Miss
Mary E. Hood, by whom he has two sons and three daughters. Since he has
had possession of the farm he has considerably improved and beautified it
by planting hedgerows, etc. He is believed to have the best stock of Durham
cattle and Cotswold sheep in the section. He has been seven years a mem
ber of the Municipal Council, and four years in the County Council. He at
present occupies the position of Postmaster, and is a Lieutenant in the militia.

JOHN MORGAN, lot 28, concession i, is of Scotch descent, his parents
being Thomas and Sarah (Munshaw) Morgan. His father died in 1846, and
his mother in 1838. His father was a blacksmith, and by industry and
economy, left behind him a fine property of between four and five hundred
acres. John followed his paternal parent s trade, and in addition farms his
land, which through his care and attention has been rendered highly pro
ductive. He married Miss Margaret Clarke, Thornhill ; the fruit of this
union is two children. Mr. Morgan is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

300 Biographical Notices.

NATHAN MUNSHAW, lot 35, concession i. The family originally came
from Pennsylvania. The grandfather, Balsam Munshaw, a U. E. Loyalist
in company with Isaac Devins, came to Canada with Governor Simcoe,
and settled in the Township of Markham. The subject of this sketch was
born October 22, 1884, on the lot where he now resides. His father s name
was William ; his mother was a daughter of the above-mentioned Mr.
Devins. It is claimed for the eldest sister that she was the first white child
born in York. Mr. Munshaw, sen r, died July 13, 1846 ; his wife died June
27, 1881. Nathan was married in 1869 to Miss Jane E. Martin, by whom
he has three children. He has greatly improved the homestead since his
father s death, by erecting new buildings and planting trees. His eldest
brother, William M., lives with him and has an interest in the property.
Mr. Munshaw has not been an office-seeker, being contented to attend to
his own business. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and a
consistent Christian.

WILLIAM MUSTARD, lot 29, concession 3, is the second son in a family
of twelve children. His father was George Mustard, of Scotch birth, who
was pressed into the English Navy during the wars of Napoleon. He
sailed for South America, and his ship having captured several prizes
subsequently sailed for the West Indies. Mr. Mustard while there left the
Navy and removed to the United States, from thence to Canada, and took
up his residence in Markham, where he lived until his death in 1854. He
served during the War of 1812 as Lieutenant under Colonel Allen. In the
Battle of York he was at the western battery when it was blown up, and
was taken prisoner by the Americans ; but was exchanged, when he again
took up arms and served until the end of the war. William lives on the
old homestead, and married Miss Annie Graham, of Pickering, by whom
he had nine children. He underwent in early life all the hardships that fall
to the lot of the pioneer, but being a man of powerful frame, and withal
resolute will, he conquered every difficulty, and has now the supreme satis
faction of knowing that the toil has not been in vain. He is a member of
the Christian Church, and takes great interest in the work of the Sabbath
school.

AMBROSE NOBLE was born in Massachusetts, United States, in 1795.
His native town was West Springfield, his father being Stephen Noble who
emigrated from thence to Canada before the War of 1812. Ambrose settled
on lot 16, concession 8, Markham Township. He married in 1821 Hannah
Badgerow, by whom he had eleven children, six boys and five girls, all of

Township of Markham. 301

whom are married with the exception of two who live at home. His wife
died August 27, 1879. Jesse Noble, lot 5, concession 6, second son of the
above. In early life he assisted his father to clear the farm, and on
reaching manhood occupied his present lot. He married a daughter of the
late Colonel Button, by whom he has one son, W. A., who lives at home.
Mr. Noble has very much improved his property, and has shown con
siderable taste and skill in planting trees around his demesne, which is
considered one of the prettiest places in the township. He has not sought
or accepted office on the Municipal Board, but has principally attended to
his own immediate concerns.

WILLIAM HENRY NORRIS, deceased, Lieutenant-Colonel of the iath
Battalion of York Rangers, and a Justice of the Peace of some twenty-two
years standing in the County of York, was a native of England, and
graduated LL.D., at Oxford University. He was educated for the
ministry, and held a living in the Church of England when he came to
Canada in 1839. A few years after his arrival he gave up his charge, which
was either at Scarboro or at Markham, and commenced to speculate in
land, and other profitable investments, by which he amassed considerable
means. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the County of York,
about 1856, which position he retained until his death. About the same
year that he was appointed J.P., he started a company of volunteers in the
neighbourhood of Scarboro (the 1 2th Battalion, York Rangers), and always
continued to take an interest in them. He accompanied the Rangers to
Niagara, during the Fenian Raid of 1866, and stayed with them while they
were camped along with the medical staff at the Mount Eagle House, near
the bridge. The regiment did not take part in the Battle of Ridgeway.
Colonel Norris espoused Elizabeth Gray, also a native of England, by
whom he had two sons, who now reside in York County. Colonel Norris
died very suddenly on March 18, 1878, of apoplexy, a complaint from which
he had for more than a year previously suffered. He had been to the New
Fort on Garrison Common, Toronto, on business having reference to the
1 2th Battalion, and while boarding a Yonge Street car, with the intention
of proceeding to his home in Yorkville, the attack which soon after proved
fatal came upon him ; assistance was promptly procured and he was
carried to a neighbouring store, where he was attended by Dr. Riddell.
The latter came to the conclusion that the case was a hopeless one, and at
once secured a cab in which he had his patient placed, and within an hour
had him in his own home in Yorkville. All that human ingenuity could
devise and medical skill accomplish was done for the sufferer ; but his life

302 Biographical Notices.

could not be saved, and before 8 p.m. the same evening Colonel Norris had
breathed his last. His funeral was largely attended by the general public,
and his remains were followed by two companies of the I2th York Battalion,
also a number of the rank and file of the Queen s Own, the Governor-
General s Body Guard, the Field Battery, and the loth Royals. A large
number of commissioned officers were present, besides several prominent
citizens of Toronto. The body was temporarily lodged in the vault at St.
James s Cemetery, and was subsequently removed to its final resting place
in Scarboro . Of the esteem in which Colonel Norris was held by his brother
magistrates and neighbours, the following memorial is sufficient testimony :
" That the Magistrates of the County of York, in adjourned General
Sessions of the Peace ior the transaction of the public business, are deeply
impressed by the absence from among them of two esteemed friends, for
whom they had entertained sentiments of the most affectionate regard
they refer to the late Colonel Richard R. D. Denison and Lieut. -Colonel
W. Norris, whose loss as members of their body is seriously felt, and
engenders feelings of sincere sorrow. Impelled by a sense of duty, and
actuated by feelings of long-tried friendship, this court desires to place on
record that they have always found in those gentlemen unswerving integrity
and zeal for the public good, and beg leave to assure the bereaved families
of their departed friends how truly they sympathize with them in the very
painful bereavement which, by the dispensation of Providence, has fallen
upon them." W. P. Norris resides on lot 4, concession 6, Markham Town
ship, and is the eldest son of the late Lieut. -Colonel W. H. P. Norris. He
was born in London, England, in the year 1835. Came to Canada with his
father in 1839, and after receiving a fair education, turned his attention to
farming, which occupation he has since followed. By perseverance, industry
and good management, he has made for his family a comfortable home.
He was married in 1868 to Miss Letitia Cairns; they have two sons and
five daughters. Mr. Norris is a Liberal Conservative in politics, and has
never taken any active part in contested elections. He is no office seeker,
but finds sufficient outlet for his ambition in the cultivation of his farm, and
towards the comforts of his home. The only positions of any importance
held by Mr. Norris were a lieutenancy in the militia of Scarboro , which
had he desired it would have been raised to the captaincy, and Public
School Trustee for his own section for a term. Mr. Norris bears the repu
tation of being very exact in his public dealings, and his liberality towards
all objects of public benefit is very charitable ; and his hospitable and
genial manner is particularly noticeable and appreciated by his neighbours
and friends.

Township of Markham. 303

MARSHALL O NEILL, lot 10, concession 6, brick manufacturer, was born
in Markham in 1856, and is the son of Isaac O Neill, who for some years
carried on a brick manufactory in the Township of Uxbridge. Our subject
commenced business for himself in 1882, and has been very prosperous.
He married Miss Mary Hampton, by whom he has two children, William
A., and Frederick O. Mr. O Neill takes a lively interest in all matters
pertaining to the welfare of the municipality.

JOHN PETERSON, lot 19, concession 6, is of German extraction, his
father, Philip Frederick Peterson, being a native of Hanover. His grand
father was a minister of the Lutheran Church, who emigrated to America
in 1795 with his family. In 1831 Philip Frederick purchased the lot now
owned by our subject, on which he lived until his death in 1880, at the age
of eighty-nine years. He left a widow and four children, three daughters,
and John who was the only son. The latter took possession of the old
homestead, which he continues to cultivate. He is of a quiet and unassum
ing disposition, and has never held or sought office in connection with
municipal government.

FRANCIS PIKE, lot n, concession 9, was born in Pennsylvania in 1804,
and came to Canada in 1824. The prospects during the first few weeks of
his advent were not encouraging, and only the want of funds prevented him
from returning to Pennsylvania, but content came at last and with it
success. He married in 1826 Elizabeth Strickler, by whom he had a family
of fourteen children, nine of whom are living. He bought the old home
stead, lot 30, concession 8, Markham, in 1826, and made it one of the most
desirable farms in Markham ; at that time it was harder to pay for a farm
at $4 per acre than now at $80, owing to the absence of markets, and the
impassable roads. Peter, his eldest son, has two fine farms, and John,
another son, has three farms, all of which are in the vicinity of the old
homestead. Francis sold his own farm, and bought ten acres, on which he
built a beautiful brick house and out-buildings, and has also a fine orchard
adjoining. Mr. Pike bears a good reputation for charity in the township,
and steadily seeks how best to put in practice the precepts of the Great
Teacher. He is a member of the Mennonite Church, and has been School
Trustee for several years.

JOHN PINGLE, lot 21, concession 5, is the son of George and Mary
Pingle, who emigrated from Germany and settled in the United States in
1792. His parents only remained there one year before coming to Canada

Biographical Notices.

and at once proceeded to Markham and located on the lot now occupied
by him. He was born on the homestead in 1804, and from his earliest
years was accustomed to the severe labour which fell to the lot of pioneers
in clearing the bush. He managed to attend the German school of the
district during the winter months, his services being in request on his
father s farm in summer. In 1827 he married Miss Jane Hunter; eight
children being the fruit of the union. Of that family six are still living-
two sons and four daughters. He was presented with one hundred acres
of land with which to commence for himself, and by prudence, industry and
thrift he was enabled to give his sons a fair start in life. He has a son and
daughter living at home ; the name of the former being Alexander, who
manages the farm. Mr. Pingle is a member of the Church of England, and
held the position of Warden in connection with that body for a number of
years.

FREDERICK QUANTA, deceased, an early settler in Markham Township,
was born in London, England, in 1782. He was a German by birth, his
father being a soldier in the English Army, and fought in that capacity
during the American War of Independence. The latter returned to Europe
on the restoration of peace, and while there his son Frederick was born. He
subsequently returned to America, landing in Philadelphia in 1791 ; from
thence he came to Canada and settled in Markham in 1793, where Fred
erick thereafter continued to reside. Our subject served in the War of
1812 under Colonel Butler, in command of the Markham Cavalry, and
afterwards drew a small pension. He died in the year 1877. George
Quantz, son of the above, on commencing for himself purchased part of lot
12, concession 2, in Markham, and also two hundred acres of land near
Barrie, in Simcoe County, on one hundred acres of which his son Frank
now resides. He also bought fifty acres of land on lot 38, concession i,
where his son Arthur resides. He married a daughter of Edward Phillips,
of this township, by whom he has three sons and four daughters. He has
a married daughter living in Vaughan Township, and a son-in-law who is
a lawyer in Toronto. Mr. Quantz and his wife are famed throughout the
district for their hospitality, shelter never being refused the wayfarer.
Arthur Quantz, lot 38, concession i, son of the above, was born in Mark-
ham in 1849. He has been connected with farming all his life, and the
interest he takes in agricultural matters is amply shown by the fact that he
is President of the Agricultural Society of this township. He married in
1875, Margaret, daughter of Thomas Linklatter. He is a member of the
Lutheran Church, and holds a Trusteeship.

Township of Markham, 305

FREDERICK QUANTZ, lot 26, concession 6, is the eldest son of George
and Mary Quantz. His father was a native of Hamburg, Germany, and
came with his parents to the United States in 1772, where they remained
about one year ; subsequently coming to Canada and settling in this town
ship. Mr. Quantz, sen r, remained at home until his marriage in 1807,
when he removed to a farm of his own. Frederick married Margaret
Puterbough, by whom he had ten children. She died in 1854, and he
married a second time to Mrs, Mary Lundy, a widow ; they have two
children, a son and a daughter, who live at home with them. Mr. Quantz
is a member of the Methodist Church.

JOHN RAMER, lot 30, concession 8, is the son of Abraham and Fanny
Raymer, and was born in Pennsylvania, U. S., in 1810. He came to
Canada in 1822 with his parents, and remained on the homestead until his
marriage, clearing up the land. His wife was Elizabeth Sophia Breuls,
daughter of John Breuls, a native of London, England, by whom he had
eleven children, as follow : Hannah, dead ; Elizabeth, married ; Fanny,
who married Mr. Mitchell, dead ; Mary, living at home ; Anna, married ;
Philip, married; Martha, dead; John, married; Margaret, married;
George, dead, and Joseph, who lives at home. Although Mr. Ramer has
suffered reverses, and has not always enjoyed the best of health, he has
nevertheless a fine farm of two hundred acres and is in easy circumstances.
He is a member of the Mennonite Church.

PETER RAMER, lot 14, concession 7, is the son of Abraham Ramer, and
was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1800, and came to
Canada in 1809, settling on lot 14, concession 8, Markham, where he lived
until his marriage in 1823 with Miss Elizabeth Byer ; they had a family of
three sons and one daughter, Abraham, Jonas, John and Martha Reesor,
all of whom are living in this township. The family belong to the Menno
nite Church, and are in very good circumstances. Mr. Ramer, though now
advanced in years, still continues hale and hearty and can yet read the
newspaper without the aid of spectacles. Deer Park Farm, lot 15, conces
sion 8, Markham, the home of Peter and Elizabeth Ramer for fifty-four
years, was always open to receive weary strangers, and Mr. Ramer was one
of the most enterprising and prominent pioneer farmers in Markham. Mrs.
Ramer died in 1877.

PETER RAYMER, lot 32, concession 8, is the son of the late Abraham
Raymer, who came with his family from Pennsylvania, U.S., in 1822, and
settled in this township. Peter was about five years old when his people

21

306 Biographical Notices.

came to Canada, and was brought up to farming. His family consists of
four sons and three daughters Jacob, the eldest son, is located on lot 12,
concession 7, of Whitchurch, and married Martha Breuls ; the other mem
bers of the family are Fanny, married to John Heisey ; Abraham, married
to Matilda Stockley, located on lot 8, concession 7, Township of Whit-
church ; Mary and Christian (the two last named being twins), Elizabeth
and Peter. Christian Raymer married Christina Stouffer. He is of a
studious disposition, and often fills the pulpit of Mennonite Brethren in
Christ. Mr. Peter Raymer has been successful enough to give each of his
sons a good farm and yet retain for himself fifty acres, and bears an excep
tionally good character among his neighbours in the section.

BENJAMIN B. REESOR. The family first settled in Markham in 1804,
John Reesor, the father of our subject, being born at Cedar Grove a short
time afterwards. Mr. Reesor, sen r, assisted to clear the farm, and for
some years was proprietor and ran a grist-mill in his native village, until
receiving from his father lot i, concession n, of Markham, he repaired
thither and commenced farming. He subsequently bought land adjoining,
and his property in all amounted to about seven hundred acres. His
death occurred in 1864. Benjamin was born in 1836, and is the owner of
the old homestead, being the youngest in a family of five children. He
married Nancy Hoover in 1857; the result of this union being eleven
children. He is a Reformer in politics, and a member of the Mennonite
Church ; he has a brother, a minister in that body.

MRS. C. REESOR, lots 14 and 15, concession 10, relict of the late C.
Reesor, of this township, is a daughter of Calvin Cornell, of Scarboro
Township. She was married to Mr. Reesor in August, 1866, and his death,
which took place on April 25, 1877, left her with five children, viz. : Albert
C. Grasett, Victoria M., John A. E., Frederick E. N., and Maude C. E.,
all of whom are still living. By the father s will each of the sons received
three hundred acres of land, the daughters having divided among them the
village property. To Mrs. Reesor was left the management of the estate,
together with its income, besides village property and money. Her deceased
husband was a Conservative in politics, and an adherent of the English
Church. Mrs. Reesor belongs to the Methodist persuasion, and recently
gave a lot in the Village of Stouffville on which to build a church. Her
father, the late Mr. Calvin Cornell, died in Detroit, Mich., under circum
stances that provoked at the time a strong suspicion of foul play. He had
gone on a journey to the United States to buy land, and for that purpose

Township of Markham. 307

carried with him a large sum of money; he took sick at Detroit and died,
and the doctor who attended him was tried at the Courts in Toronto for
having poisoned Mr. Calvin Cornell, but managed to clear himself. All
the money and some notes disappeared.

JOSEPHUS REESOR, lots 3 and 4, concession 9, was born in the Town
ship of Markham, January 10, 1820, being the son of Peter Reesor, a native
of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Canada at an early day. The family is
one of great respectability and is very well known throughout the township.
Mr. Reesor has followed farming since he commenced for himself, which
occupation was also followed by his father. Mr. Reesor is a Mennonite in
religion, and in politics is a Conservative.

WILLIAM REESOR, lot 22, concession 10, Township of Markham, is the
eldest son of the late Christian Reesor, and was born in this township,
March 24, 1821, where he has always resided. He has been married twice,
the first time to Mary Jane Campbell, who died August i, 1862, by whom
he had two sons and one daughter ; one son and the daughter died in infancy
and the other son is now established in the jewellery business in Brandon,
Manitoba. His second wife was Jeannette, daughter of Hector Thompson,
of Cedar Grove, by whom he has one son and two daughters. William
Reesor and his wife belong to the Wesleyan Methodist Church, of which
they are exemplary and consistent members.

JONATHAN SLATER, farmer, Buttonville Post-office. Benjamin Slater,
the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in New York State, in
1789, and while yet a young man came to Canada, and became a British
subject. When the War of 1812-15 broke out he took up arms in defence
of his adopted country. He settled first on Yonge Street, near Hogg s
Hollow, but afterwards removed to Markham Township, where he purchased
a farm on which he lived until his death in 1868, at the ripe old age of
seventy-nine years. Jonathan received a good common school education,
remained on the farm, and on his father s death came into possession of the
homestead. By his energy and industry, and by adopting the most
approved system of farming, he has raised himself to a front rank among
the agriculturists of this section, and is a prominent member of the
Farmers Club. He has given considerable attention to the improvement
of stock, especially sheep. His religious persuasion is Presbyterian. In
politics he is a consistent Liberal, but has never aspired to political
distinction.

, o g Biographical Notices.

JOHN SNOWBALL, lot 8, concession 7, was born in Yorkshire, England,
and came to Canada in 1842. He settled first at Yorkville, where he
followed his occupation of brick-maker. In 1845 he removed to Markham,
and established his present business which was up to 1860 confined to the
manufacture of brick alone. In that year he was enabled, by importing
machinery from England, to enter largely into the manufacture of tiles,
which business he still follows. Besides his two sons he finds constant
employment for two men, and his close application to business has been the
means of securing him a large trade. He married Ann Glue, of Yorkville,
by whom he has seven children, four sons and three daughters ; a son and
a daughter are dead. He is an adherent of the Methodist Church.

WILLIAM SPENCE, merchant tailor, Unionville, was born in Yorkshire,
England, September 4, 1858, and came to Canada in 1883. He located
first in Hamilton, where he was employed as cutter, subsequently removing
to Unionville, where he commenced business for himself. Since his advent
he has met with considerable encouragement, the business in the near future
promising to be a prosperous one. He married Elizabeth Love, of York
shire, England, by whom he has two children. He takes great interest in
the temperance movement, and holds the position of Worthy Patriarch in
the Sons of Temperance Society.

JAMES STATENBURGH, lot 25, concession 3, is the youngest of three
children, and was born in Markham Township in 1821, where he received
his education. He is of Dutch descent, his grandparents having been born
in Holland. He is now living on the family homestead, having received
the same from his father, after paying off the other members of the family.
He has in addition other property which he has purchased, and has laid
out a great deal of money in buildings and improvements. He held the
office of Postmaster and is still License Inspector of the district. He is
Captain of the militia, having risen to that rank by merit from the grade of
private. He was twice married, first to a daughter of Robert Nichol, who
died in 1845. He married the following year a daughter of Robert Grundy
from Yorkshire, England, who died in 1883. By his first wife he had one
daughter ; by his second wife three sons and two daughters.

REUBEN H. STIVER, general merchant, Unionville, was born in Mark-
ham Township, July 16, 1855. He is the only son of Robert Stiver, who
was born also in Markham Township, October 25, 1818, and, when quite
young, removed with his parents to Toronto Township; but returned again

Township of Mark/mm. 309

to Markham in a few years ; he was one of the young pioneers of Markham,
and at the present time is the oldest member of the Stiver family now
living; he is a staunch Reformer, and took part in the Rebellion of 1837.
He married Annie Bell, a native of Cumberland, England, who came to
Canada when only eight years of age. Reuben A. Stiver commenced life
on a farm, but, at the age of twenty-two, he gave up farming and engaged
in the hardware business in Unionville, which he continued until January
i, 1884. He is now engaged in the general business in the same place.
On March 2, 1880, he married Eleanor, the third daughter of the late James
Mustard, of Markham ; his wife was born on July n, 1855. In religion he
is an adherent of the Lutheran Church, in politics he is a Reformer. His
wife is a Presbyterian.

W. STIVER, lot 14, concession 5, public school teacher and farmer, was
born in Markham Township, May 17, 1830. He is of German descent, his
grandfather having emigrated to the United States from Hamburg,
Germany, in 1792. He (the grandfather) remained in New York State about
one year, and in 1793 came and settled in Markham Township. Our
subject s father, Francis Stiver, was born near Rochester, New York State,
in 1793, and came to Markham Township with the family. He served with
his brother John as a volunteer during the War of i8i2- i4. His death
occurred May 12, 1879, at the age of eighty-six years and eleven months.
The mother of our subject was Elizabeth Lindsay, who was born at South
ampton, England, in 1805 ; she died in 1873. William Stiver is one of a
family of nine children, and after receiving a good scholastic training he
commenced the business of life as school-teacher. He began his duties in
1851, which he continued uninterruptedly to fulfil until so recent a date as
December, 1884. During the course of his career of thirty-four years tutor
ship it is calculated that he travelled on foot to and from school, altogether
a distance of sixty-nine thousand five hundred and twelve miles. He had
something like one thousand four hundred and seventy-eight different pupils
under his care, some of whom are now professors, ministers, and high and
public school teachers. He taught eleven years in No. 5 Section, two
years in No. 10 Section, and twenty-one years in No. u School Section of
Markham Township. Mr. Stiver was married at the Lutheran Parsonage,
Vaughan, December 24, 1873, to Elizabeth J., daughter of Andrew and
Rebecca (May) Wagner. Two children only are the issue of this marriage,
Elma May and J. L. Bernard. Mr. Stiver belongs to the Lutheran Church,
and is a Reformer. As an illustration of the tenacity with which. the
members of this family cling to their political principles, it is recorded as

3io Biographical Notices.

a fact that never on any occasion did the father or one of his six sons poll a
Conservative vote.

WILLIAM STIVER, lot 13, concession 4, is the son of John and Mary
Stiver. His mother, it is stated, was the first white child born in Markham,
her birth being on April 7, 1794. The family originally came from Han
over, Germany, in 1793; and Mr. Stiver, the father of our subject, served
in the War of 1812, for which he drew a pension. He died in 1879. William
married a daughter of Robert Hesk, of this township, by whom he has nine
children, all living.

DANIEL TIPP, lot 23, concession 4, is the son of William and Catharine
Tipp. His mother was born in Pennsylvania of German parents. His
father was born in Germany in 1755, and came to America as a soldier in
the German Legion of the British Army, and served through the Revolu
tionary War. At its conclusion he settled in Pennsylvania, but subsequently
came to Canada where he drew three hundred acres of land from the Crown.
His grant was at Chippewa Creek, which he afterwards sold and removed
to Toronto. He located soon after in Markham. He took part in the
War of 1812, and was at the Battle of York. Mr. Tipp, sen r, being
ignorant, of farming, was not very successful ; but the last days of himself
and wife were spent in comfort in the home of their son. Daniel was born
in 1799 at Richmond Hill, and has always been a resident of Markham.
When he reached manhood he purchased two hundred acres of land in
Tecumseth, and afterwards bought in Markham the lot where he now
resides. He married Sarah Perkins ; the issue of the union being two
daughters, both married. Mr. Tipp s religious principles are sound, and
he gives liberally to all denominations. He has not sought office, but has
quietly attended to his own affairs, which have been successful.

JAMES TRAN, lot 6, concession 10, is of Scotch descent, but was born in
Yorkshire, England, in 1814. He emigrated to Canada in 1843, his mother
and remainder of family coming in 1844, his father having died in England.
In 1845 he settled in Markham, the family comprising a small colony of
themselves, there being nine sons and three daughters ; two have since died,
a son and a daughter. James has always followed farming, and during the
first few years of his residence in the township rented a farm. In 1856 he
bought the property, and five years later added to the purchase, making in
all one hundred and ninety acres of choice land. The lively interest he
took in agricultural matters gained for him the Presidency of the County

Township of Mark/mm. 3 1 1

Agricultural Society, and he was for twenty-six years Director and Judge
of the Provincial Exhibition. He has imported stock from the Old
Country, together with agricultural implements, and in connection with
this business has five different times crossed the Atlantic. He has been
License Inspector seven years, and during his residence in the township
has contributed materially to its progress. He married in England in 1837
Mary Ann Gardham, by whom he had thirteen children; nine only are
living, seven of whom are married. One of his daughters, Maggie, has been
successful in securing the first prize for the best Farmer s Wreath, at York
County, Whitby and Newmarket Fairs. Mr. Tran has at present twenty-
four grand-children.

WALTER W. WALKER, lot 26, concession 6, hotel proprietor, was born
in Essex, England, and emigrated from there to the United States in 1872.
He came to Canada one year later, and was for some time engaged on the
survey of the Canadian Pacific Railway. He took possession of the present
hotel in 1880, and makes an entertaining and agreeable host. He also fills
the position of County Constable with zeal and discretion. Mr. Walker
married Christiana E. Hunter of this township, by whom he has one child,
a daughter.

THOMAS WILLIAMSON, the present Reeve of the Township of Markham,
was born in the township in 1848, and is essentially a self-made man. His
father emigrated from England in 1837, and settled at Richmond Hill,
where after renting two farms, he ultimately purchased land on lot 26,
concession 7. His parents were married in England, his mother s maiden
name being Hannah Bowlor ; their family consisted of seven children.
Between the years 1866 and 1877 Thomas taught school in the village, and
afterwards bought a farm of ninety-five acres on lot 31, concession 5, of this
township. He married in 1860 Miss Jane Lee of Markham, by whom he
has four children as follow : Elizabeth, born 1871 ; John, born 1873 ;
Ernest, born 1875 ; and Clarabell, born 1879. Mr. Williamson has been
Deputy-Reeve and Councillor.

DAVID WISMER, lot 17, concession 7, was born in this township in 1807,
being the son of David and Lydia Wismer, who emigrated from Pennsyl
vania in 1805, and making the journey with a yoke of oxen, settled in
Markham. His parents died in 1856. David married in 1826 Mary Toman,
by whom he had fourteen children ; ten are still living. Elijah, the
youngest son, resides with his parents, and takes the management of the

312

Biographical Notices.

farm. He married Susanna Strickler, by whom he has four children. Mr.
Wismer, sen r, though over seventy-six years of age, still preserves the
activity of youth, and though his long life has been energetic and indus
trious. He has assisted in the making of roads and other necessary
improvements for the comfort and convenience of the inhabitants of the
section, and in various ways has proved his usefulness to the community.
He is a member of the Christian Church.

VILLAGE OF MARKHAM.

VILLAGE OF MARKHAM.

OHN ANTHONY, builder, was born in Norfolk, England, and
came to Canada with his father, who settled in Scarboro Town
ship, in 1836. John remained at home until 1850, when he was
apprenticed to Mr. Peter Lapp, with whom he learned the trade
of carpenter. In 1856 he commenced business with Mr. Matthew
Swallow, and two years later removed to Pickering and began
business for himself, which he carried on until 1870. He then
became foreman for Speight & Son, which position he held eleven years.
He now rents a large factory, where he manufactures sashes, doors and all
kinds of general wood work. Mr. Anthony has the reputation of being a
first-class draughtsman and architect, and has erected some of the finest
buildings in the township. In 1858 he married Mary Cook. By this union
he has four children, Mary, Arthur, H. Oscar and Stella. On October 23,
1883, Mr. Anthony lost all his property by fire.

SAMUEL CHARLES ASH was born in Devonshire, England, in 1817. He
belonged to H.M. s 43rd Regiment of Foot, and came to Canada with the
corps in 1838. They were first stationed at Montreal, and afterwards
removed to Niagara Falls. In 1846 he returned to England, where he got
his discharge. The following year he came to Canada and located in
Montreal a short time, and in 1848 he went to Toronto. After spending
some little time at Thornhill, he commenced business in Toronto as a mer
chant tailor. From there he went to Uxbridge and ultimately came to
Markham Village. In 1850 he married Elizabeth Washington, who died
on December n, 1877 ; they had five children, viz. : Elizabeth Maria, born
May 27, 1851 ; Elizabeth Maria, born July 21, 1852 ; Agnes Augusta, born
September 21, 1853 (the three last named died in infancy); Frederick
Charles, born February 22, 1855 ; Elizabeth Maria, born May 4, 1858.

316 Biographical Notices.

EBENEZER BURK, postmaster, was born on lot 24, concession 10, of
Markham Township, in 1847, and is the son of David Burk, who emigrated
from Ireland in 1833. His mother s maiden name was Jane L. Campbell.
In 1866 Mr. Burk commenced general store keeping, which he continued
until 1872. In 1881 he took charge of the Markham Post-office, which
position he still holds. In July, 1879, he married Miss Lizzie Bell, of
Brougham; he has one son, Edmund, born January 9, 1882.

GEORGE JAMES CHAUNCEY was born at St. John s, Newfoundland, in
November, 1849, and is a descendant of one of the oldest families in
Britain s oldest colony. Among his predecessors was the first Surveyor-
General and Clerk of the Peace of the colony ; and among his late
relatives was the late Thomas Knight, Esq., for many years a member of
the Legislature, one of whose sons still fills the responsible position of
Acting Secretary of the Board of Works, and a second that of Cashier of
the Newfoundland Savings Bank. Mr. Rice, M.H.A., one of the present
representatives to the Legislature from the electoral district of Notre Dame
Bay, is also an uncle of Mr. Chauncey on his mother s side. Another of
his uncles lost his life whilst engaged in the public service of the colony ;
whilst the old firm of Goss, Chauncey & Ledgard was one of the most
substantial commercial houses in Harbour Grace, Conception Bay. One of
Mr. Chauncey s uncles by marriage has been Financial Secretary of the
Colony for the past eight or ten years. Mr. Chauncey s parents are George
William Fletcher Chauncey and Eliza, eldest daughter of the late James
Rice, Esq., formerly Sheriff of the Northern District of Newfoundland.
Mrs. Chauncey was born at Twillingate, Notre Dame Bay, in 1828, where
her husband carried on a general commercial business for some years. Mr.
George Chauncey is one of seven children, five of whom are still living.
His earliest days were spent in Notre Dame Bay, where many of the most
stirring memories of his boyish days were acquired. One of the most
memorable of these incidents occurred when scarcely fourteen years old
his father then being engaged in commercial life at Twillingate. Upon
that occasion large numbers of seals (Phoca Grcenlandica ) had been driven
into the Bay upon the ice, and George, young as he was, made it his duty
to join the seal hunters in their raids upon the amphibious animals, and
always brought home his " haul," when others had cut their lines to save
their lives. Twice, with his companions, he was carried off upon the floe-
bergs, to be rescued by a timely boat on one occasion ; and upon the other
escaping to shore over the ice after very considerable exertion, which ended
in an attack of ice-blindness that lasted for three days. How great the

Village of Markham. 317

peril was may be understood when the bodies of five men, who were drifted
up the bay and lost, were subsequently recovered, frozen to death on the
floating ice, about fifteen miles from where they started. After receiving a
very fair and liberal education of the old-time Commercial School class,
Mr. Chauncey was placed in the printing office of The Public Ledger news
paper, then conducted by his uncle, the late Mr. Henry Winton, in which
paper he " served his time " out. He afterwards entered the office of The
St. jfrfin s Daily News, and North Star (weekly), edited and published by
Mr. Robert Winton, now of Toronto. At this establishment, where from
some twelve to fifteen years was published the Legislative work of the
colony, with the Journals of its Legislative Assembly, Mr. Chauncey
acquired a pretty thorough knowledge of his business. He remained
at work there up to the period of his departure for Toronto, where he
was engaged on the Globe, Evening Telegram and in other offices, occa
sionally contributing correspondence and other matter to these journals.
In April, 1880, Mr. Chauncey was married to Miss Mary Hammond, of
Brampton, and in the following year was induced to undertake the publi
cation of the Markham Sun, in the Village of Markham, York County,
which paper is still successfully continued by him. In September of last
year he was appointed Postmaster of Markham, which position he continues
to fill. In politics Mr. Chauncey is of the Liberal-Conservative school ;
in religion, a Protestant of the Independent or Congregational denomi
nation, a connection in which he received his earliest religious training,
and to which he is still strongly attached. Personally, Mr. Chauncey
is a gentleman of considerable energy and large experience, and is possessed
of the best traits characteristic of the stock from which he sprung. He
has been a warm and zealous exponent of the views and policy of the party
with which he is associated, and still a young man gives fair promise of
a long future of considerable value to the political interests of the Province
in which he has taken up his permanent abode.

WILLIAM CHERRY, retired farmer, was born in Ireland in 1802, and
emigrated to Canada in 1827. He first worked near Toronto, and engaged
in lumbering and farming six years, and afterwards worked on the Lock-
port Canal. He then purchased a farm, being part of lots 3 and 4, con
cession 3, Markham, and with land adjoining, which he has since bought,
now owns two hundred and fifty acres. Mr. Cherry is in every sense of
the word a self-made man ; he landed in Toronto without a dollar, and by
perseverance, energy and pluck has acquired a nice competency. He owns
a fine residence on lots i and 2, Church Street in Markham Village, on

318 Biographical Notices.

which he resides. In 1840 he married Miss Ann Armstrong, whose parents
came from Ireland; they had ten children, as follow: Jane, born April
20,1842; died May i, 1842; Martha, born April 25, 1843; Mary, born
January 1 8, 1845; John, born October 22, 1846; Thomas, born July 26,
1848 ; William, born September 9, 1850 ; Rebecca, born August 10, 1853 ;
James, born September 2, 1855 ; Sarah Jane, born October 31, 1857; and
Albert, born September 8, 1860, who died September 15, 1860. Thomas,
Mary and Martha are married.

A. FLEURY, ironfounder, was born in 1824 on lot 9, concession i, King
Township, where he remained until 1843. He then went to Newmarket,
and learned his trade with Mr. Blaker, and, on completing his apprenticeship,
returned to the farm, and built a shop in which he manufactured threshing
machines, ploughs, etc. He remained there ten years, after which he
removed to Aurora, and in connection with his brother, worked there for
five years. In 1868 he located in Markham Village and rented what was
known as Todd s old foundry, which was burnt down in 1874. Mr - Fleury
then rented his present foundry, where he employs from twelve to twenty
men in the manufacture of agricultural implements. In 1880 he built a fine
brick residence in the village. He was a member of the Council for four
years, and is at the present time a Trustee of the Canada Methodist Church.
In 1848 he married Miss Catharine Woodard, by whom he had seven
children, viz. : Agnes, Milton, Arthur, Maria, Seth, Peter and Egbert.

GEORGE GRAHAM, retired, was born near the City of Carlisle, Cumber
land, England, and came to Canada in 1829. He located in Markham
Township, settling on lot 5, concession 7, where he remained until 1871.
He was Sergeant under Captain Barkie, and took part in the Rebellion of
1837. In 1855 Mr. Graham bought two hundred acres of land in Uxbridge
Township, and at present owns fifty acres in the Township of Scott, in
addition to house and lot in Markham Village where he resides. He is
Treasurer of L. O. F. No. 548. He has been twice married, first to Ann
Sanderson, of Cumberland, England, in 1835, by whom he has four children,
viz. : Ann, Joseph, Thomas and Dinah. His second marriage took place
in 1870, his wife being Mrs. Dewhurst, of Uxbridge.

WILLIAM HAMILTON HALL, proprietor of the Franklin House, Mark-
ham Village, was born in 1852. His father, the late Mr. Hamilton Hall,
was a native of Rome, New York State, where the family owned a distillery.
Accompanied by his brother he came to Canada, and settled near the
Humber, where he died, March 23, 1882, in his seventy-second year. In

Village of Markham. 319

1872 William took possession of the Ontario Hotel at Ringwood, and sub
sequently built his present large and commodious hotel, 50 x 100 feet and
two storeys high. In 1872 he married Lavinia Rimdle, of Whitby.

JOHN JERMAN, waggon manufacturer and blacksmith, Markham Village.
The enterprising subject of this sketch was born in 1838, being the
second son of Henry and Ann (Wilson) Jerman. His father came to
Canada in 1832, and for several years carried on the business of blacksmith
in Markham, and, under his supervision, John learned the same trade. On
the retirement from business of the former, the son took it in hand and had
greatly extended it, having added a furniture manufactory, planing mills
and waggon works. The factory was burned down in the fall of 1883, but he
still carried on the blacksmith shop. He is the owner also of considerable
village property, and may be classed as one of the most prosperous of the
surrounding community. He was a member of the Council from its incor
poration until 1882. In 1873 he married Annie, daughter of Captain Arm
strong. His wife died in 1877, and he married a second time, his partner
being Mary, daughter of Joseph Reesor, of Markham.

H. C. MARK, grocer, flour and feed merchant, is a native of Markham
Township, and was born in 1833. His grandfather was one of the first
settlers east of concession 6 of this township, and came from Pennsylvania,
United States. On his arrival in Canada, June i, 1800, he remained at
Niagara one year and then came forward to Markham. They made the
journey by means of sleighs drawn by oxen, in which primitive manner
their worldly goods were conveyed to the place of settlement, that being on
lot 14, concession 9, which was a Government grant of two hundred acres.
The subject of this sketch is still owner of one hundred and twenty-five
acres of the old homestead. They had many hardships to contend with in
the early days, his grandfather having carried wheat on his back a distance
of fourteen miles to the German Mills, and on one memorable day before
Christmas, walked to Toronto for the purpose of obtaining bread and tea,
and brought home two pounds of tea and seven loaves of bread. He died
in 1865. The father of our subject held forty acres of the old homestead,
and purchased fifty acres on the adjoining lot, on which he reared a family
of six children, as follow : James, Maria (dead), Henry C., Jemima (dead),
Sarah Ann and Catharine. The father died in 1855. The subject of this
sketch worked on the farm the ten years following his father s death, when
he removed to his present location, and started his present business, which
is a very prosperous one. He has occupied some important public positions,

320 Biographical Notices,

among which may be mentioned the Presidency of the Markham and East
York Agricultural Societies, and is at present Vice-President ; he was
Assessor and Collector for four years.

WILLIAM MARK, hotel proprietor, was born July 19, 1827, on lot 14,
concession 16, in the Township of Markham. His father, Joseph Marr,
was born in Pennsylvania, United States, in 1862. His mother s maiden
name was Louisa Crosby. His parents are dead. Their family consisted
of nine children, viz. : William, Sarah, Manly, Rufus, Ira, Mary, Ann,
Edward and James. William remained on the home farm until 1850, and
then removed to Pickering ; he subsequently located in Markham Village,
and entered the hotel business, which he has since conducted. He married
in 1847 Harriet Killington, from Yorkshire, England, by whom he has one
son, Henry, born November 17, 1861.

THOMAS MORGAN is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to this
country with his father, William Morgan, in 1832. His father bought land
in Markham Village and erected a blacksmith s shop and other premises,
the firm being now known as T. & G. Morgan. He is one of a family of
six children. The father died in 1843, and the mother the preceding year.

GEORGE PRINGLE, one of the firm of Pringle Brothers, carriage and
waggon manufacturers, was born in 1841. Some account of his parents is
given in another sketch. Mr. Pringle has been thrice married, first, March
9, 1865, to Catharine Burgess; second, on June 24, 1878, to her sister Margaret
Burgess, third, October 7, 1881, to Martha Widman. He has by his first
wife two children, Willard, born October 23, 1866; Walter Leslie, born
December 3, 1868; by his second wife he had Lilly Ella, born February
9, 1879; Minnie May, born May 13, 1880; by his third wife, who died
October 20, 1883, he had one daughter, viz. : Nellie Augusta, born Novem
ber 24, 1882.

ROBERT PRINGLE, waggon-maker, was born in Markham in 1837. His
father, James Pringle, was born in Scotland, and came to Canada in 1832.
His mother s name was Johanna Wanless. His parents were married at
Hogg s Hollow in 1836, and his father removed to Markham the same
year, where he commenced business. In 1873 his sons Robert and George
took charge of the business which they have since successfully conducted.
Their manufactures, include all kinds of cutters, sleighs, waggons, buggies,
etc., the turn over being about $10,000 per annum, and they employ about
fifteen men. Mr. Pringle has been a member of the Council three years.

Snath *C"

Village of Markham. 321

He was twice married, first to Mary Ann White ; three children are the
fruit of this union, Clara, William and Frank. His second wife was Rosa
Nighswander by whom he had two sons and one daughter, Charles, Robert
and Laura.

F. G. PERCY, livery stable proprietor, was born in Pickering. His
father emigrated from England in 1832, and was one of the first settlers in
that district ; he took up lot 27, concession 6. His mother s maiden name
was Elizabeth Young. His parents were married in England, the result
of their union being eleven children, five of whom only are now living ; as
follow: Rev. William Percy, of Stouffville ; James Percy, J.P., and first
Deputy-Reeve of Pickering Township ; Salvanius, in the express office,
Port Huron ; Uriah, living on the old homestead, and F. G. Percy, the
subject of this notice. The latter conducts the livery stables at Markham
Village, and owns a number of first-class rigs ; he also owns a part (fifty-
three and a-half acres) of the old homestead. He is a County Constable,
and a Councillor in the Village of Markham.

FREDERICK A. REESOR was born on lot 8, concession 8, Markham
Township, 1844. He attended school and worked on the farm until 1863,
and then went to college where he graduated in 1807. He is a silver
medallist in mathematics ; one year subsequent to leaving college he held
a position in the Royal Canadian Bank, and from 1872 until 1874 ne was
teacher in the High School. In the last-named year he was appointed to
the management of the Markham Branch of the Standard Bank a position
he still retains. In 1872 he married Catharine, daughter of the Rev. James
Bain; they have three children : Kate Eliza, born 1875; James D., born
1880; and Emily Bain, born 1884. Mr. Reesor has been a Sunday school
superintendent for fourteen years.

HENRY B. REESOR was born on lot 12, concession 9 of Markham
in 1846, and is the son of Christian G. Reesor, who was also born in this
township. His mother was Susan Burkholder, of Vaughan Township.
Our subject was educated at the Common and Grammar Schools ; attending
the former until eighteen years of age; the latter for two years. In 1867
he married Miss Jennie Dack, by whom he has five children, viz. : Ella
Augusta, born 1868; Laura Gertrude, born 1871 ; Walter Douglass, born
1876 ; Maud Ethel, born 1880 ; and Nora Edith Beatrice, born 1882.
After his marriage Mr. Reesor lived five years on the farm, and then
removed to Markham Village, and engaged in the business of conveyancer,
general financial and insurance agent, etc.

22

322 Biographical Notices.

JAMES ROBINSON, tanner, was born on the north-east corner of Bay
and King Streets, Toronto, in 1804, and came to Markham with his father
(who was from Pennsylvania, U.S.) in 1805. He was the eldest son in
a family of five children ; his father and grandfather were tanners, which
business James followed. In 1854 he commenced on his own account.
He has occupied several public positions, notably the office of Reeve from
1868 to 1872; Councillor from 1874 to I ^>7^> he was Warden of the
county in 1877, and has also been Deputy-Reeve. In 1863 he married
Louise Ashbridge, of Toronto, by whom he has five children, viz. : John
Franklin, William Armstrong, Edward Wheeler, Jennie and Clara.

DR. WESLEY ROBINSON was born on lot 13, concession 8, of this
township, in 1850, and is the son of Andrew Robinson, who was born on
the same farm in 1820. He studied at McGill College, Montreal, where
he graduated in 1872. He commenced the practice of his profession at
Uxbridge, and from there came to Markham, after a short stay of six
months, where he has continued to reside. He has been a member of the
Council and School Trustee. Dr. Robinson married Arvilla Elizabeth,
daughter of Dr. Freel, of Stouffville, by whom he has two children, viz. :
Bertram, born 1872, and Ada, born 1879.

HENRY ROBINSON, merchant, was born in Markham Village in 1849,
where he was educated. In 1873 he opened a general store on the west
side of Main Street, where he continued to carry on his business until
1882. He then moved to a building opposite, and with a well-stocked
store is doing a successful trade. He is a member of the Council, and
has been a Churchwarden for three years. In 1868 he married Miss
Sophia Burke, by whom he has had the following children, viz. : Harry
Crickson, born May 26, 1869, died October 22, 1874; Jhn O., born
November 3, 1872 ; Joseph Hilliard, born July 29, 1875 ; Eva Sophia, born
December 10, 1877.

JAMES SPEIGHT, one of the largest waggon manufacturers in the Prov
ince of Ontario, was born in Markham, August 30, 1830. His father,
Thomas Speight, emigrated from Yorkshire, England, and took up his
residence in the Southern States. He remained there but a short time,
and came from there to Canada, settling in the Village of Markham, and
in 1840 established the waggon manufactory which bears his name. James
went to school until he was fifteen years of age, and then worked with his
father. In 1877 a fire destroyed the whole factory, which was rebuilt in the

Village of Markham. 323

amazingly short period of thirty days. The main building is 244 x 52 feet ;
the showroom 100 x 32 feet ; in connection with the factory is also a
planing mill and sash and door shop. The annual turnover is about
$150,000, and goods are exported to the North-West as well as other
portions of the Dominion, in addition to a large local trade. Mr. Speight
was the first Reeve of Markham Village, held the Reeveship for ten years
consecutively, and has besides held the office of Councillor, High School
Trustee, and Secretary and Treasurer of the Township Agricultural Society.
He is also a Mason and an Oddfellow. He has been twice married, having
in 1855 espoused Miss Mary Crosby of Markham Township, who died in
1876 ; by her he had the following children, viz. : Arthur A., born July 9,
1856, died May 2, 1882 ; Harriet Amelia, born October 28, 1858, died
December 25, 1859; Elizabeth Maud May, born September 10, 1860, died
June 7, 1881 ; Martha Helen, born October 20, 1863 ; Jennie Crosby, born
November 19, 1865; Joseph James, born November u, 1868; Annette L.
Gertrude, born January 29, 1871 ; Frank Herbert, born February 25, 1873 >
Henry Howard, born November 22, 1875. His second wife was Helen, the
sister of his deceased wife.

G. R. VANZANT is descended from a family of U. E. Loyalists, his
grandfather, Garrett Vanzant, having emigrated from New York State, and
settled in concession 10 of Markham. He is one of a family of seven
children ; his father s name was William. He was first employed on a
farm at Uxbridge in 1853, an d afterwards went to the United States. In
1860 he removed to Toronto where he stayed two years, subsequently
conducting a general hardware business in the Village of StoufFville. He
sold out there in 1869 and located on his present premises in Markham,
where he carried on a successful business. He is also the owner of ten
acres of land and the residence built by the Hon. D. Reesor in 1874. He
at present holds the position of Reeve, and has been Councillor and
School Trustee. Among other important offices which he holds are
Master of Lodge No. 87, A. F. and A. M., G. R. Canada; President of
the Speight Manufacturing Company, and President of the Reform Asso
ciation. In 1861 he married Miss Catharine Nadier, by whom he has
five children, Eva I., Victor Edward, William Clifford, Frank Nicholas,
and Clarence N.

JOSEPH WALES, carriage-maker, was born in 1836. In 1844 he went
to Erie County, New York State, and at the expiration of seven years
returned to Markham, and worked for his brother, William H. R. Wales, at

324 Biographical Notices.

the trade of carriage building. At the end of eleven months he left him and
worked for some time afterwards in the sash and door factory of Messrs.
W. & J. Hicks. He subsequently journeyed to California, and after
remaining there close upon three years, returned to Markham and again
entered the employment of his brother. In 1872 he began business for
himself as carriage and waggon builder. In October, 1852, Mr. Wales
married Anna R. Scott, of this township ; they had two daughters, Henri
etta, born 1853, and Gertrude, born 1864, died 1866. He has been a
member of the Council for two years.

VAN B. WOODRUFF, saddle and harness-maker, was born in Brougham,
March 15, 1860, being the son of Powell and Ruth Ann (Merrit) Woodruff,
whose family consisted of six children. Mr. Woodruff first commenced
business in Brougham, where he stayed two years, after which he purchased
his present premises (formerly owned by Mr. G. M. Digby), and has a good
business. He keeps a general stock of harness, saddles, whips, valises,
trunks, etc.

WASHINGTON G. WOODRUFF, livery stable proprietor, was born in
Brougham in 1856, and is one of a family of five children born to Nelson
and Margaret (Barnum) Woodruff. He remained at home until 1873, and
then removed to Pickering, and was employed as buyer in the firm of
W. & J. Spinks, millers and grain merchants. He stayed at Pickering
three years, and then removed to Brant County, where he conducted a
bakery, selling out at the end of four months. The next four months he
spent at Michipicoton Island, carriage painting, and subsequently came back
to his native village, where he established a bakery which he carried on for
a little over a year. He purchased his present business from Mr. Marshall
in February, 1883. He married Miss Nellie Reid, of Brougham.

T. F. WOOTTEN was born in Wiltshire, England, in 1843, and emi
grated to Canada with his parents, David and Eliza (Clifford) Wootten,
who settled in Markham in 1856. He is one of a family of nine children,
five of whom only are living, and conducts the business formerly owned by
his brother. He holds a contract for conveyance of Her Majesty s Mails,
and is also pound keeper of the Village of Markham. He was married to
Sarah Jane Brooks, daughter of the late Mr. Jacob Brooks, by whom he has
two children, Ellen D. and Alna A. Eliza Elizabeth. It should be stated
that Mr. Jacob Brooks carried the first mail from Toronto to Markham
right through to Uxbridge and Mariposa Township, which he continued for

Village of Markham.

325

over twenty-one years. He was a native of Devizes, Wiltshire, England,
and came to Canada before the War of i8i2- i4, in which he took a part.
During the Rebellion of 1838 his son, Peter, now deceased, carried the
mails at the time they were stolen by the Rebels. The sword is in the
possession of the family which was carried by Mr. Brooks at the time. He
was a man highly respected and very upright in all his dealings. He was
a strong Conservative in politics.

TOWNSHIP OF VAUGHAN

TOWNSHIP OF VAUGHAN.

EORGE AGAR, lot 28, concession 10, was born in this township
on lot 19, concession 10, in the year 1842. He is the eldest son
of Mr. Richard Agar, who now resides at Weston. The latter
emigrated from Yorkshire, England, about 1836, and settled on
lot 33, concession 9, Vaughan Township, which he cleared. He
took an active part in the church matters of the township, and
was for many years a class leader. George Agar was married
to Mary Ann Bingham in 1866. His wife is a daughter of Mr. Andrew
Bingham, of Etobicoke. Their family consists of seven children. He
belongs to the Methodist persuasion, and is a Reformer in politics.

JAMES ADAMS, lot 26, concession 7, is a native of Ireland, having been
born in County Tyrone in the year 1807. He emigrated to Canada in 1832,
and immediately purchased the one hundred acres of land where he now
lives. The country around him was then quite wild and he had very few
neighbours. He was a member of the first Township Council. Mr. Adams
was married in the year 1834 to Sarah Irwin, the issue of the union being
seven children. He has one son, Mr. William Adams, in Toronto. He
belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and his political views are in accord
ance with those of the Conservative Party.

WILLIAM BASINGTWAIT, lot 22, concession 2, was born in the County
of Norfolk, England, in the year 1816. He came to Canada in company
with his parents and the other members of the family in the year 1832.
They came first to York County, but shortly afterwards moved into Ontario
County, where the father purchased a farm in Reach Township, on which
he lived until his death. In 1843 our subject settled in the Township of
Vaughan on the farm still occupied by him, which, when he first located

33O Biographical Notices.

there, was complete bush ; neither were there churches, schools or roads.
Mr. Basingtwait, in addition to farming his land, is much interested in
bee-culture, having no less than thirty-five hives, which are very productive
and yield a profitable return. He was married in the year 1835 to Mrs.
Margaret Atkinson ; they have a family of six children living. He belongs
to the Methodist Church, and is in political opinions a Reformer.

WILLIAM BOLTER, lot 29, concession 7, is a native of Suffolk, England.
He was born in 1815, and emigrated to Canada in 1859 accompanied by
his wife and two sons. He came direct to Toronto, where he remained two
years, being at the end of that period employed by Mr. Philip Armstrong,
on Yonge Street. He worked for that gentleman about nine years, and then
rented a farm on concession 3 of York Township, which he only occupied
about one year. He then rented the farm where he now resides. He was
married about six years previously to his departure from England, his wife s
maiden name being Louisa King ; they have a family of two sons and four
daughters. He belongs to the Episcopal Church.

ANTHONY BOWES, lot 3, concession 2, was born in the Township of
Vaughan, on the farm where he still lives. He is the youngest son of the
late Anthony Bowes, and was born in the year 1835. Mr. Bowes, sen r,
emigrated from Yorkshire, England, accompanied by his wife and family,
and settled upon the above-mentioned farm. He continued to cultivate his
land for many years, and having had a moderate share of success he retired
in favour of his son and went to live in Toronto. He remained there three
or four years and then returned to Thornhill, where he died in the year 1870.
Mr. Anthony Bowes married in 1857 Catharine Gillivray, of Scotch parent
age, being a daughter of Mr. John Gillivray ; they had a family of eleven
children, all living but one. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and
a Conservative in politics.

WILLIAM BOWES, lot 7, concession 2, was born in England in the year
1818, and in company with his parents and other members of the family-
three brothers and two sisters came to Canada in 1831. They landed at
Quebec, the journey from there to Montreal being made by steamboat.
From the latter city to Brockville they journeyed by Durham boats, and the
remainder of the trip to little York by schooner. His father was the late
Anthony Bowes, mentioned in another sketch, he being the eldest son of
the family. Mr. Bowes bears testimony to the extreme badness of the
roads in the early days of the settlement, although he admits the existence
of one of the prime elements of civilization, to wit, an old log school-house.

Township of Vaughan. 331

During the Rebellion of 1837 he was a member of Captain Capper s troop,
and served during that time. Mr. Bowes married in 1844 Ann Maxwell, by
whom he had ten children, seven only of whom are living. He belongs to
the Methodist Church, and in politics is a Reformer. The day the fight took
place at Montgomery s Tavern, Mr. Bowes was engaged at his father s
farm on lot 3, concession 2 of King, butchering hogs. While they were
so employed six of the Rebels rode up on horseback and demanded that our
subject and his companion should go with them and swell the force under
Mackenzie s command, but they refused to comply. The Rebels shortly
afterwards went away, leaving word that they would return and should
then expect their wishes to be respected. This threat was no vain one, at
least so far as their return was concerned ; but for making unwilling men
go where they had no desire was another matter. They put up their horses,
" blackmailed " for food and then commenced to threaten what would hap
pen unless he went with them. Happily perhaps for all parties, before
violence could be used, the Rebels, by some unexplained means, became
aware of the defeat of Mackenzie on Yonge Street, and at once mounting
their horses galloped away. The horses were afterwards found straying ;
they belonged to people around Eglington, and one, a very valuable mare,
was owned by Sheriff Jarvis.

JOSEPH BROWN, lot 3, concession 5, was born in Vaughan Township on
lot 2, concession 5. His father was the late James Brown, mentioned else
where. Joseph was the fifth son in order in his father s family. He has
been twice married, first in the year 1844, to Catharine Burkholder, by
whom he had a family of nine children, most of whom are dead. His
second marriage took place in 1881 to Miss Troyer. He is an adherent of
the Methodist Church, and is a Conservative in politics. His son Henry
now occupies his farm, lot 3, concession 6, and is the only son living; two
daughters are living, Susannah and Catharine, the latter being married to
Jacob Quartz.

RICHARD BROWN, lot 2, concession 5, was born on the lot where he now
resides in the year 1822. His father, the late James Brown, was among
the first batch of settlers in Vaughan, having emigrated some years before
the War of 1812. He was a man much esteemed by his neighbours, and
was ever ready to bring his experience to bear in assisting new settlers in
their difficulties. He was a Mennonite in religion, but afterwards joined the
Methodist Church. Richard married in the year 1843. His wife s maiden
name was Rebecca Burkholder, who was born in Vaughan Township, being

332 Biographical Notices.

a daughter of the late William Burkholder, who was a soldier during the
War of 1812. They have a family of nine children living, and two dead.
He is an adherent of the Methodist Church, and a Conservative in politics.

JAMES BRYSON, lot 30, concession 6, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland,
in the year 1794. He learned the trade of a machinist in Glasgow, at
which business he worked about eighteen years. In 1832 he emigrated
to Canada, and shortly afterwards settled in Vaughan. He married in 1835
Jane McCallum, daughter of the late Donald McCallum, who had charge of
the post-office in concession 6 of King Township. They had a family of
one son and seven daughters ; the daughters are all married and reside in
different parts of the county, the son living with his father on the farm.
His wife died October 31, 1882. He is a member of the Presbyterian
Church, and has always been a Reformer in politics.

JOSEPH BURKHOLDER, lot 3, concession 4, Edgely Post-office, is the
youngest son of the late William Burkholder. His father was a native of
the State of Maryland, and was ten years of age when he came to Canada
with his parents. During the War of 1812 he was captain of a company in
the militia. He moved on to the farm now occupied by his son Joseph in
the beginning of 1816, and continued there until his death in 1869. At the
time of the Rebellion of 1837, Mr. Burkholder s impulsive yet withal
generous nature was somewhat imposed upon as the following incident will
show. He became security for the appearance of a number of Rebels, but
they, either through fear of the consequences, or from other motives, were
not forthcoming when wanted, which had the effect of placing Mr. Burk
holder in a somewhat difficult position. He, however, came through his
trouble all right, the authorities possibly concluding that no blame could be
attached to him. Joseph Burkholder was born on the old homestead. He
was married in 1852 to Miss Hannah Koake, daughter of Adam Koake,
late of Etobicoke Township. They have a family of nine children living,
two being dead. Mr. Burkholder is a Presbyterian, but his family attend
the Methodist Church. He is a Conservative in politics. The farm which
he owns was originally purchased from the Clergy Reserve.

ROBERT BURTON, lot 13, concession 9, was born in the year 1852 on
the kit which he now owns and cultivates. He is the youngest son of the
late Henry Burton, who was one of the earliest settlers in this part of
Vaughan, and was a man well known in the neighbourhood. Mr. Burton,
sen r, was originally from Scotland, and on emigrating to Canada settled
first in little York, removing to Vaughan in the year 1834, where he resided

Township of Vanghan. 333

until his death in 1881, at the age of seventy-five years. Robert Burton
married in 1860 Margaret Lawrence, daughter of Mr. Isaac Lawrence, of
Toronto Gore, by whom he has three children. He is a member of the
Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer in politics.

WILLIAM BURTON, lot 2, concession 9, was born in Toronto Township
in the year 1828, being the eldest son of the late Robert Burton, who was
well known and respected in Vaughan and the surrounding townships.
The latter emigrated from Roxburghshire, Scotland, in the year 1824. He
was a stone-mason by trade, and on settling in Toronto assisted in building
the old Upper Canada Bank, as well as some other notable erections. He
married Violet Oliver (who is still living) and settled in Vaughan in 1830.
In 1852 he purchased land in Albion and King Townships, and lived on his
farm in the last named section until his death in 1870, at the age of seventy
years. William having been brought up to farming has always followed
that occupation. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer
in politics. He is not married.

WILLIAM BURTON, lot 4, concession 9, was born in little York, now
Toronto, in the year 1830, and is the eldest son of his father s family. The
latter was Mr. Henry Burton, who emigrated from Roxburghshire, Scotland,
in 1830; he was a stone-mason by trade, which he followed for two years
after his arrival. He helped to build the first Market-place, and Osgoode
Hall in Toronto. In 1832 he located on lot 13, concession 9, and settled
down to farming, which he continued until his death in 1881, at the ripe
age of seventy-seven years. He was a Trustee of the Presbyterian Church,
and joined the first congregation formed in the locality. Mr. William
Burton espoused in 1860, Jane, a daughter of Neil McDonald, by whom he
has four children. He is a member of the Presbyterian body, and in politics
a Reformer.

ARCHIBALD CAMERON, lot 17, concession 6, was born in Caledon Town
ship, Peel County, in the year 1826, and is the eldest son of the late Donald
Cameron. His father was a native of Argyleshire, Scotland, whose early
years were spent in tending cattle on the mountain pastures of his native
county. He emigrated to Canada in 1819, but previous to his departure
married Elizabeth Armour, who accompanied him, and heroically endured
the severe hardships which they afterwards encountered. They landed
after their voyage in Montreal on August 21, and immediately commenced
the long and tedious journey to Peel County, where they proposed to settle.
After several delays which occurred at different points on the route, and

334 Biographical Notices.

the additional misery of having sickness on board the boat, they arrived at
their destination about the latter end of October, and it appeared as though
they had not reached the final stage of despondency. They received their
grant of sixty acres in the Township of Caledon ; but were compelled owing
to the sparsity of settlement to sleep out in the woods for several nights
without shelter, not being able to build a shanty for want of the necessary
assistance. Mr. Cameron contrived however by perseverance, and the
consolation which his deep religious convictions afforded him, to overcome
innumerable obstacles and to emerge from his state of wretchedness to one
of comparative comfort. He remained in Caledon Township about seven
years, and then removed to Vaughan, where he lived until the time ol his
death. During his lifetime he took great interest in municipal affairs, and
was in the Township Council for some years. He was an Elder of the
Presbyterian Church. Archibald Cameron took charge of the homestead
at his father s death, which he has since continued to cultivate. He married
in 1851 Catharine McMurchell, by whom he has a family of eight children.
He is an Elder of the Presbyterian Church, and a Conservative in politics.

LACKLEN CAMERON, lot 12, concession 10, was born in the Island of
Mull, Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1830. In company with his parents he
emigrated to Canada in 1856, who settled in the Township of Saugeen,
Bruce County, where they remained about one year, subsequently remov
ing to the Township of Bruce, where they secured one hundred acres of
land, which the subject of this sketch still owns. He rented a farm in
Vaughan Township, on which he lived about seven years, and at the expira
tion of that time purchased the farm where he now resides. He is also
the owner of an additional fifty acres in another part of the township. He
married Margaret, a daughter of the late Archibald Sommerville, of this
township ; they have a family of seven children. Mr. Cameron is a member
of the Presbyterian Church, and a Reformer in politics.

JOHN CHAPMAN, lot 37, concession i, is the descendant of a U. E.
Loyalist family who emigrated from the State of New York at an early
day. Our subject was born in 1804, and came with his mother and
stepfather to Canada ; the latter drew land from Government, the same
now occupied by Isaac and James Chapman. The first settlement was
made on the farm now owned by Mr. Arnold, which was the first
farm cleared on Youge Street. Mr. Chapman was married in 1826 to
Hannah Pearson, of English parentage, by whom he had twelve children.
The family generally belong to the Presbyterian Church, but some of the
sons are Methodists. Mr. Chapman takes an active part in politics, and

Township of VaugJian. 335

votes for measures rather than party. As U. E. Loyalists the family retain
the patriotic spirit which animated their forefathers, and the evidence they
have shown of their firm adherence to the Crown is to them a source of
considerable pride.

JAMES CHERRY, lot 32, concession 9, was born in Vaughan Township,
on the lot where he now lives, in 1838. He is the only son of the late John
Cherry, one of the earliest settlers in this part of Vaughan, who emigrated
from County Down, Ireland, and settled in this township about the year
1834. James married Elizabeth, daughter of the late Samuel Sheardon, of
this township, by whom he has five children, all girls. The family are
adherents of the Lutheran Church, and in politics Mr. Cherry votes Con
servative. He takes considerable interest in stock-raising, and last year
imported two of the Clydesdale breed of horses, and in other matters shows
his enterprise and judgment.

WILLIAM CONSTABLE, lot 16, concession 6, was born in Yorkshire,
England, in the year 1815. He emigrated to Canada in company with his
step-father, William Jarolt, in the year 1830. He remained in the lumber
ing districts of Quebec Province about six years and then moved west to
York County and settled in the Township of Vaughan. He rented a farm
on lot 21, concession 6, where he stayed five years, after which he bought
his present farm. He lived on lot 20, concession 5, about four years, and
returned to lot 16, concession 6, on which he had erected buildings and
where he yet resides. He married in 1830 Mary Jackson, daughter of the
late George Jackson, of York Township; they have a family of two children
living. He is an adherent of the Lutheran Church, and a Reformer in
politics.

G. J. COOK, lot 28, concession 3, was born at Caarville, Vaughan
Township, June 7, 1852. He is the youngest son of the late Thomas Cook,
a very early settler in this section. His father located on lot 16, concession
2, which he farmed, and in addition carried on a large business as merchant
miller. He gave up business here and went to New Zealand, with the
intention of permanently settling there ; but not liking the country, he
returned to Canada, and again fixing his residence in Vaughan, died there
in the year 1877, leaving his property to his sons. Two of the sons reside
at Caarville. J. G. Cook was married in the year 1876 to Jane Denton,
daughter of William Denton. now living in Mono Township, County Duf-
ferin, formerly of Vaughan. They have a family of two sons. He belongs
to the Methodist Church, and in politics supports the Reform Party.

336 Biographical Notices.

THOMAS COOK, lot 16, concession 2, is the son of the late Thomas Cook,
of English birth, who emigrated to America in the year 1830. Mr. Cook,
sen r, first settled in the United States, and coming afterwards to Canada
he settled in the Township of Vaughan, where he located on a portion of
what was known as the old " Fisher Estate." He purchased six hundred
acres, which he divided with his brother William, and where, in connection
with farming they operated a grist-mill which was already on the land,
being the first mill erected in the township. They did a very large business,
having the monopoly of the trade in the section. Mr. Cook took consider
able interest in the affairs of the township and was for a number of years a
member of the Council. He was a Justice of the Peace for some time pre
vious to his death, in which position he discharged his duties with much
discrimination and judgment. In church matters he was ever to the fore,
and the Methodist body, of which he was an earnest member, in many
instances received substantial proof of his devotion to the cause of the
Gospel. He died in the year 1877 on the old homestead, after a long and
successful career, and a life of usefulness to the public weal. Thomas,
who now resides on the home farm where he was born, is the second
son of his father s family. He married in the year 1879 Elizabeth Ann
Bell, a Canadian by birth, by whom he has two children. He is a consist
ent member of the Methodist Church, and in political opinions gives his
support to the Reform Party.

WILLIAM COOK, lot 16, concession 2, was born on lot 17, adjoining the
farm upon which he now resides, and is the eldest of the three sons of the
late Thomas Cook mentioned in a previous biography. William married
in 1872 Mercie Ellerby, daughter of Mr. Joseph Ellerby, of Markham Town
ship. The family are adherents of the Methodist Church. Mr. Cook has
been a member of the Vaughan Township Council for four years, and is
now Deputy-Reeve. In political matters he is a Reformer.

GEORGE COOPER, lot 25, concession 8, was born in Lincolnshire, Eng
land, in the year 1843, and emigrated with his parents to Canada in 1854.
His father, the late John Cooper, settled on his arrival in concession 2 of
Markham Township, where he remained about one year. He subsequently
removed to Thornhill, where he died, after a residence of eight months. His
wife, the mother of our subject, lived in Thornhill about twenty years after
the death of her husband, and is still living in Vaughan with her son, being
now about eighty years old. Mr. George Cooper was married in 1868, the
maiden name of his wife being Fanny Wells ; they have seven children.

Township of Vaughan. 337

He has taken little or no active part in local affairs. He belongs to the
Episcopal Church, and is a Conservative in politics.

JOHN COWAN, blacksmith, Purpleville, was born in the Township of
Vaughan, in 1862. He is the second son of Mr. John Cowan who laid out
the Village of Purpleville, and for a number of years carried on a black
smith s business there, having since removed to the United States. Our
subject has lived the greater portion of his life across the border. He
learned his trade at Teston with Mr. Richard Lund, and has since com
menced business at Purpleville, which, there is good reason for believing,
is a successful one.

JOHN CRADDOCK was born in the Township of Vaughan, within a
short distance of his present residence. His father was a native of York
shire, England, his mother was from Lincolnshire, England. His parents
came to Canada in 1831, and located on lot 29, concession 4, where he
conducted a lumbering business in addition to farming for a number of
years. They were among the early settlers of Vaughan, and the old
people are still alive and reside in the town of Barrie. Mr. Craddock, jun r,
was married in the year 1861, his wife s maiden name being Elizabeth Nixon,
daughter of Mr. William Nixon, of concession 4 of Vaughan. The family
are adherents of the Methodist Church, and are all Reformers in politics.

ROBERT CREIGHTON, lot 10, concession 10, was born near Glasgow,
Scotland, in the year 1813, and emigrated to Canada in 1828 in company
with his father, his mother being dead. They came via New York, where
they remained a few months, and subsequently made their way to Little
York. They settled down in Toronto where they lived eleven years, and
then moved up Yonge Street, and located for over nine years on the spot
where Davisville now stands. In the year 1841, Mr. Creighton, sen r,
purchased the farm now in the possession of his son Robert, where he
resided until his death, which took place in 1883, at the age of seventy^seven
years. Robert was married in the year 1846 to Jane Stewart, she being
a daughter of the late Henry Stewart, of Toronto. They have one son.
In politics Mr. Creighton is a Reformer.

ROBERT CROFT, lot 28, concession 8, is a native of Lincolnshire, Eng
land. He was born in 1810, and in 1831 emigrated to Canada accompanied
by his wife and one child. He came direct to York County, and settled at
Thornhill, where he worked for three or four years. He then removed to
Vaughan Township, where he spent three years, and subsequently lived

2 3

338 Biographical Notices.

nine years in M-arkham. At the end of that time he purchased a farm in
the latter township, on lot 4, concession 4, where he resided about twelve
years. He ultimately bought the property in Vaughan where he now lives.
He has been twice married ; by his first wife he had eleven children. He
is a member of the Methodist Church, and a Conservative in politics.

JAMES DALZIEL is the son of the late John Dalziel, who emigrated from
Lanarkshire, Scotland, with his family in 1828, and immediately on his
arrival in York, settled in the Township of Vaughan, on lot i, concession 5,
where he lived until his death in 1842. James was born in Scotland in
1816, and on the death of his father occupied the old homestead. He has
benefited the Township of Vaughan considerably by the introduction of a
fine stock of Durham and Shorthorn cattle, and has also infused much
spirit into the working and aims of the Agricultural Society. He has taken
a number of prizes for ploughing, and may be classed as the best plough
man in the section. He has a brother also who is a first-class ploughman.
The farm he lives on was originally owned by the late John Smith, who
afterwards built mills at Pine Grove. Mr. Dalziel rents his farm and only
retains a few acres, living now in retirement. He married in 1872, his
wife s maiden name being Janet McLean, a native of Scotland, by whom
he had four children, two boys and two girls. He is a Presbyterian in
religion, and a Reformer in politics.

JAMES DEVINS, lot 18, concession 10, was born in concession 6 of
York Township in the year 1804. He is descended from a family who
originally emigrated to Canada from Pennsylvania, U. S., his father, the
late Isaac Devins, landing at the mouth of the River Don with Governor
Simcoe, whose tent he assisted to put up. Mr. Isaac Devins located in the
Township of Markham, but not being satisfied he came to concession 6
of York Township, where he subsequently died, being over eighty years
of age. In the early days the settlers had to go to the head of the lake in
scows to have their grist ground. The first saw-mill built on the Humber
was erected by an uncle of our subject, and was put up by order of the
Government. James Devins moved from York into Vaughan Township at
an early period of settlement, there being at that time less than half-a-dozen
dwelling-houses between Toronto and Vaughan. Our subject married in
1830, his wife s maiden name being Eleanor Christner : their family con
sisted of nine children. In politics Mr. Devins has taken a somewhat
active part, and at election times has given great assistance to the Reform
party. He belongs to the Methodist persuasion.

Township of Vaiighan. 339

GEORGE ELLIOTT, lot n, concession 8, was born on the farm where he
now resides. He is the eldest son of the late John Elliott, an old settler in
Vaughan, who emigrated from Northumberland, England, at an early day.
Mr. Elliott, sen r, remained two years in Montreal, and subsequently spent
a similar period in Toronto. In 1834 he purchased a farm in Vaughan,
where he continued to live till his death in 1869, at the age of sixty-nine
years. He belonged to the Congregational Church, and was a Reformer in
politics. George Elliott married, in 1860, Elizabeth, daughter of the late
George Gowland, of this township : they have a family of seven children.
In religion and politics he follows in the footsteps of his father.

RICHARD EGAN, lot 33, concession 8, was born in the County Monaghan,
Ireland, in the year 1831, being the youngest son of the late Johnston Egan.
His father emigrated to Canada, accompanied by his children (the mother
being dead), in the year 1831, and settled in Vaughan as soon as possible
after his arrival in York. He purchased land from the Canada Company,
lot 31, concession 7, which he occupied for three years, at the expiration of
which time he sold out and bought the farm where his son, the subject of
this sketch, lives. He died in the year 1858, being about fifty-five years of
age. Richard took possession of the old homestead, which he has continued
to cultivate, and where he has brought up his family. He was married to
Jane, a daughter of the late Joseph Hempsall, of this township : they have
nine children living. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is
a Conservative in politics.

JOHN H. ELLIS, lot 32, concession 8, was born in the County of Notting
hamshire, England, in the year 1830. He came out to this country with
his parents when an infant. His father located on the farm now occupied
by his son, which he cleared and otherwise improved. He lived to the ripe
old age of eighty-one years, his death taking place in the year 1882. John
H. Ellis was married in 1863, his wife being Sophia Josephine, daughter of
the late Abraham Crossen : they have a family of four children. He belongs
to the Lutheran Church, and is a Conservative in politics.

WILLIAM W. FARR, lot 5, concession 9, was born in the Township of
Chinguacousy, County Peel, in the year 1830. His father, the late James
Farr, emigrated from the neighbourhood of Weston, Herts, England, at an
early day, and settled first in Weston, where he stayed until 1829. He it
was who gave to the Village of Weston its title, in commemoration of his
English home. On leaving Weston he went to Peel County, and at the
expiration of twelve months moved into Vaughan Township, on the same

34O Biographical Notices.

farm where William, his son, now lives. He resided there until his death,
which took place in 1841, at the age of fifty-three years : his widow is still
living, being eighty-one years old. Mr. Farr, sen r, held a Captain s com
mission in the militia. W. W. Farr has been twice married: first in 1850
to Eliza Fletcher, by whom he had one child. His second union was with
a daughter of the late John Williams, an old settler who lived to be ninety
years of age. He has four children by his present wife. Mr. Farr has
been a member of the Woodbridge Village Council for three years, a position
he still holds. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a Conservative
in politics.

EDWARD FLETCHER, lot 9, concession 8, was born on the lot on which
he now resides. His father, the late Walter Fletcher, was an early settler
in the township, having located here in 1826. He was a native of County
Leitrim, Ireland, and after settling on his farm in Vaughan remained there
until his death in 1869, at tne age of seventy-nine years. Edward was born
in 1837, and is the youngest son of his father s family, which consisted of
three sons and two daughters. Mr. Fletcher is unmarried. He is a mem
ber of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Conservative.

JOSEPH GRAHAM, lot 18, concession 2, is a native of Vaughan Township,
and was born on concession 2, in 1840, being the second son of the late
William Graham, an old settler in this section. He (Mr. Graham, sen r)
was a cooper by trade, and followed that business for many years at
York Mills, and subsequently in Vaughan, and was widely known through
out the district as a hard-working, industrious man. The members of his
family are located within a few miles radius, and are all farmers. Joseph
Graham was married in the year 1877 to Louisa Frank, by whom he has
a family of two, both boys. He belongs to the Methodist denomination,
and votes for the Reform Party at elections.

MICHAEL HARVEY, lot 26, concession 6, is a native of County Tyrone,
where he was born in 1829. His father being dead, he, accompanied by his
mother and other members of the family, came to Canada in 1850. They
came direct to Vaughan, and settled on the adjoining lot on which he now
lives. He moved on to the present lot in 1862, which he continues to
cultivate.

WILLIAM HEMPHILL, lot 33, concession 9, was born in County Tyrone,
Ireland, in the year 1831. He emigrated to Canada, in company with his
parents, in 1841. They came direct to York County, and almost immediately

Township of Vaughan. 341

took up their abode in Vaughan Township, on the same farm now occupied
by William. He is the second son in his father s family: his paternal
parent, Joseph Hemphill, died in Vaughan, in 1878, at the ripe old age of
eighty-four years. Mr. William Hemphill, since the family first located
there, has always lived on the homestead, which was at first all bush. He
was married in the year 1865 to Jane Hamilton, sister of Mr. Gavin
Hamilton, of this township, by whom he has eight children. He belongs
to the Presbyterian Church, and is a Conservative in politics.

GIDEON HISLOP, lot 50, concession i, is the grandson of a Scotch farmer,
who emigrated from Perthshire, Scotland, at an early day, and located on
the lot now owned by the subject of this notice. Mr. Hislop was born on
the family homestead, and is the fourth son in his father s (the late Gideon
Hislop) family. The latter in his day contributed a great deal to the town
ship improvements, and in other ways, such as introducing some very fine
Clyde draught horses, for a better class of stock. Mr. Hislop is not married,
but his mother and sister reside on the farm with him. He is a Reformer
in politics, and the family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN HUGILL, lot 32, concession 7, was born in the City of Toronto, in
the year 1833. His grandfather, John Hugill, was an early settler in York,
and formerly conducted a brewery in Toronto. His father, also named
John, died when our subject was but four years old. John Hugill has
travelled around a good deal in his lifetime, but he has lived about thirty-
five years in Vaughan off and on. He is interested in the breeding of
horses, and has now a fine imported Clyde colt with an excellent pedigree.
Mr. Hugill married in 1855 Susan Cloney, daughter of John Cloney, of
Etobicoke Township, by whom he has a family of ten children. He attends
the English church, and votes for Conservative measures.

ROBERT IRWIN, lot 28, concession 6, was born in the County Tyrone,
Ireland, in 1811, and emigrated to Canada in 1832. He first settled in
concession 7 of Vaughan, after coming direct to York County, where he
remained about five years. He then sold that farm and located at Hogg s
Hollow for two years, after which he bought the farm where he now
resides. The only office he has held since his residence here is that of
Returning Officer, which he filled for one year. His connection with the
Presbyterian Church has been marked by the earnest attention he has
given to all matters relative to its welfare, he having been an elder for
several years. Mr. Irwin was married in the year 1858 to Eleanor Wallace.
He is a Conservative in politics.

342 Biographical Notices.

DAVID JEFFREY, an old settler in this township, whose long public
connection with the municipality entitles him to receive at our hands more
consideration than the space allotted to us usually affords, was born in the
parish of Whitson, Berwickshire, Scotland, in the year 1799. He was put
to the plough at an early age, and before he had arrived at manhood had
acquired a practical knowledge of all matters relating to agriculture. He
was employed on the estate of Sir John Hay to carry out a series of impor
tant improvements, in which situation he remained until 1833, when the
family decided upon emigration. He had, some little time before, married
a half-cousin, Jane Mitchell, and the family, consisting of father, mother,
two brothers, and three sisters, besides himself and wife, took passage for
Quebec, and, having friends in York County, they proposed proceeding
thither to settle. The voyage across the Atlantic occupied fourteen weeks,
and the journey from Quebec to Little York was made by Durham boats.
It was an August Sabbath afternoon when " Muddy Little York " (then
on the point of being re-christened) was reached, where they stayed a few
days before resuming the journey to Richmond Hill. After arriving at
their destination, the first business was to gain possession of some land,
which they eventually did, being lot 34, concession 8 of the Township of
Vaughan, for which they paid 400 sterling 200 down. As was usual
in such cases, they had to put up with considerable inconvenience and
hardship during the first few years of settlement, the township then being
far from completely settled. Mr. Jeffrey early became associated with the
local governing body, and was elected one of the commissioners appointed
to conduct the expenditure allowed by Government for public improve
ments in the municipality. He also assumed the office of Township Clerk,
which he managed with ability for seven years. Mr. Jeffrey is a politician
of strong Reform proclivities ; and, having personally suffered under the
system originated by " The Family Compact," has ever since endeavoured
to promote the return of Reform candidates. Having lived through the
dangerous period of the Rebellion, he was well acquainted with its causes
and effects, and has never wavered in his allegiance to the party who fought
for and obtained Responsible Government for the people of Canada. Mr.
Jeffrey is still hale and hearty, and his declining years are made happy by
his children and grandchildren, to whom he often recounts the story of the
stirring times gone by.

JOHN JEFFREY, lot 15, concession 9, was born on the lot which he now
occupies in 1849. His father, the late Richard Jeffrey, emigrated at an
early day from the County of Kent, England, and, on his arrival in York,

Township of Vaughan. 343

settled in concession 8. He afterwards worked on the farm now occupied
by his son John, where he resided until his death in 1872, at the age of
fifty-four years. His wife is still living on the homestead. John Jeffrey
is the only son living of their family. Being of a retiring disposition,
he has taken no part in municipal affairs, but attends strictly to his own
immediate concerns. He attends the Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer
in politics. He has five sisters, two of whom are married, one to Mr. Gavin
Hamilton, and the other to Mr. Thomas Richardson. Mr. Jeffrey, in addi
tion to the management of his own farm, practises as Veterinary Surgeon,
having received his diploma from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1874.

JOHN JOHNSON, lot 2, concession 8, was born in the year 1840, on the
lot where he still lives. He is the eldest son of the late Robert Johnson,
who emigrated from Dumfries, Scotland, in the year 1832, and, after remain
ing two years in the Ottawa district, located in Vaughan Township, York
County, where he brought up his family.

DAVID JOHNSTON, lots 3 and 4, concession 8, was born in Dumfries
shire, Scotland, in the year 1811, and emigrated to Canada in 1831. He
settled first in the vicinity of Ottawa, and at the end of two years moved
west, and settled in Vaughan Township, on his present farm. At the time
he first located here the country around was very wild, although the land
was mostly taken up. In 1849 Mr. Johnston married Catharine Dalziel,
daughter of John Dalziel, of this township. They had a family of five
children, two of whom are now dead. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and
a Liberal in politics.

PETER KEFFER, lot 12, concession 3, was born in Somerset County,
Pennsylvania, December 30, 1879. ^ s father, Jacob Keffer, was a native
of Germany. The family came to Canada in 1806, and settled on the lot
now occupied by the subject of this sketch, where the father lived until his
death. Mr. Keffer was married in 1823 * Miss Fisher, by whom he had
nine children. They are adherents of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Keffer,
like his father, is a Reformer in politics. He has one son living on the
homestead with him, who is married and has one child.

WILLIAM KEFFER, lot 9, concession 3, was born on the farm where he
now resides, in the year 1812. He is the youngest son living of the late
Michael Keffer, who settled in Vaughan as early as 1806, where he lived
until his death in 1852. His family consisted of six sons and three daughters,
some members of the family dying very young. Although brought up to

344 Biographical Notices.

the Lutheran faith, he afterwards joined the Church of England, and
entered with spirit into all matters undertaken for its future benefit. He
gave the land for the first church built, which is still standing, and where
services are yet conducted : it is a log building. William Keffer married
in 1831 Susanna Burkholder, a daughter of Oldrick Burkholder, of this
township : they have six daughters and two sons living. Mr. Keffer has
taken an interest in municipal affairs. He is an adherent of the English
Church, and a Conservative in politics.

ROBERT KERR, lot 23, concession 7, was born in 1812 in the Island of
Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands group. His father was a soldier in
the British army, and served during the Peninsular War. Robert emigrated
to Canada in the year 1844, accompanied by his wife and two children.
He remained a few months in Toronto, and then moved into York Town
ship. In the year 1846 he accepted a situation as schoolteacher in conces
sions 2 and 3, York, where he taught for one year, afterwards removing to
Vaughan Township, and was there occupied in teaching for a number of
years. In the year 1860 he settled on the farm where he now lives. He is
an adherent of the Presbyterian Church, and a Reformer in politics.

THOMAS KERSEY, lot 22, concession 10, is the eldest son of the late
William Kersey, and was born in 1836, on the farm where he now resides.
His father came from Westmoreland, England, and on his arrival in York
remained two years in Toronto Gore, and subsequently settled on the farm
in Vaughan. He was a man highly respected throughout the township,
and held several important offices in connection with the municipal govern
ment. He was a member of the Township Council, and received the
appointment of first License Inspector of the section. His death occurred
in 1876, he being seventy-five years old. Thomas Kersey has continued to
reside at the old homestead. He has two brothers, one of whom lives with
him on the farm. His mother is also living and in good health, being now
seventy-five years of age. He attends the Episcopal Church, and is a
Conservative in politics.

ROBERT KIXG, lot 13, concession 9, is of Scotch parentage, and was
born on the farm where he now resides. His father, the late Robert King,
an early settler in this part of the township, emigrated from Ayrshire,
Scotland, and, previous to his location in this section, remained some time
in Kingston and Toronto, where he worked at his trade of stone-cutter.
About 1830 he came to Vaughan, and commenced farming, and continued
to follow that industry until his death in 1872. Robert s birth took place

Township of Vaughan. 345

in 1836, he being the youngest son of the family, and he has always followed
farming. He was married in 1859 to a daughter of Mr. James Devins, by
whom he has a family of seven children. He is an adherent of the Presby
terian Church, and in politics is a Reformer.

NATHANIEL KIRBY, lot 38, concession i, was born in Yorkshire, Eng
land, in the year 1806, and emigrated to Canada in 1831. He came direct
to York County and located in Vaughan Township, where he had a brother
already settled. For some years he worked among the farmers of the
district, and in 1836 rented a farm in Markham Township. At the expira
tion of five years he went to live at Weston, and conducted a hotel in
connection with a farm for about eighteen months. He then moved to
concession 2 of Vaughan, to a farm formerly occupied by Mr. William
Cook, where he stayed twenty-five years. In 1860 he moved on to the farm
where he now resides. He married in 1836 Harriett Mason, also from
Yorkshire, by whom he had five children. He is a Conservative in politics,
and a member of the Church of England. When he first settled in Vaughan
there were a church and a log school-house in Thornhill.

JAMES KURTZ, lot 28, concession 9, is the youngest son of the late John
Kurtz, and was born on concession 2 of Vaughan, in the year 1842. He
has resided on his present farm since the death of his father in 1879. He
belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a Reformer in politics.

JOHN C. KURTZ, lot 27, concession 10, was born near Richmond Hill,
in the year 1830. His father, the late John Kurtz, came from Pennsylvania
when quite a child, and settled with his parents in Vaughan. In the year
1849 he moved to concession 9, where he lived until his death in 1880, at
the age of seventy-two years. John C. married in 1871, his wife being
Sarah Calham, daughter of Mr. James Calham, of Toronto Township, by
whom he has a family of six children. Mr. Kurtz has taken great interest
in municipal matters, and his opinion is often sought in connection with
township affairs. He is also an enthusiastic politician, and works hard for
the Reform Party. The temperance cause has in him an ardent supporter,
and he looks hopefully forward to the time when the Scott Act shall be
carried in his native county.

JACOB LAHMER, lots 16 and 17, concession 5, was born in the year
1828. He is the only son of the late Jacob Lahrner, a native of Pennsyl
vania, who emigrated to Canada in the year 1823, and shortly afterwards
settled in Vaughan. His mother s maiden name was Susan Mussulman,

34-6 Biographical Notices.

who carried on the management of the farm after her husband s death, her
own taking place in 1879. The old homestead was Jacob s birthplace,
where he has always lived. He has taken great interest in municipal and
agricultural matters, having been a member of the Township Council for
two years, and a Director of the Agricultural Society since its inauguration.
He has assisted materially in the development of well-bred stock in the
section, and has taken several prizes at the neighbouring fairs for Durham
cattle. Mr. Lahmer was married in the year 1850 to Barbara Snider,
daughter of the late Mr. John Snider, of Vaughan.

JOHN LAHMER, lot 15, concession 3, was born in the Township of
Vaughan, in the year 1854, being the eldest son of Jacob Lahmer, whose
sketch precedes this. He was married in 1881 to a daughter of Mr.
Thomas Mulholland, a prominent pioneer of York Township. Mr. Lahmer
gives great attention to all matters concerning agriculture. He was the
leading institutor of the Vaughan Ploughmen s Association, which has won
such celebrity of late years. At the inaugural match in 1879, he and three
of his brothers won one watch, two silver cups and two ploughs as
premiums. Although the object of this sketch was not so successful as
some ploughmen, he has tried his skill against the best men in the county.
Mr. Lahmer has also taken an active part in politics, and is prominent
among the workers of the Reform Party of West York. He is Vice-Presi-
dent of the Riding Association, and has been Secretary of the Township
Association for years.

JOSEPH LANKIN, lot 8, concession 6, was born in the Township of
Vaughan (where the Village of Maple now stands) in the year 1830. He is
the third son of the late Rickard Lankin, an early settler, who located on
lot 19, concession 4, when nothing but bush was to be seen around. Mr.
Lankin, sen r, afterwards moved back to lot 3, concession i, where he
lived about eight years. He subsequently went to Pickering Township,
and after spending a number of years there took up his residence in Ham
ilton, where he died. Joseph, the subject of this notice, was married to
Elizabeth Hodges in 1845. She was a daughter of Jonathan Hodges who
emigrated from Ireland in the early times of settlement. Mr. Hodges, at
the commencement of his career in the township, taught school, which he
continued for four years, and then bought a farm in Tecumseth Township,
on which he lived until his death. Mr. Lankin by his marriage has a family
of six sons and two daughters living. He is a member of the Methodist
Church, and a Conservative in politics. When he first settled on his present
lot it was a swamp, and there was no church nearer than Woodbridge.

Township of Vaughan. 347

JOHN LAWRIE is a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, having been born
within a short distance of the City of Glasgow in the year 1802. He was
early initiated in the weaving business, but did not follow it, afterwards
working with his father on the farm. He married Isabella Reid in 1830,
and emigrated to Canada in the same year. He settled first in York Town
ship, where he lived nearly five years. He then removed to Scarboro ,
where he lived six years, and from there he moved to his present residence,
lot 12, concession 9, Vaughan. At the time of his settlement in Vaughan
roads were conspicuous by their absence, and schools, churches, and
institutions of that kind were dreams of the future ; religious services were
then conducted in barns, and oftentimes in the kitchen of Mr. Sommerville.
Mr. Lawrie was a member of the first Council of Vaughan, and in other
affairs took an active part. He entered with spirit into the building of
Knox Church in the township, and has always been a consistent member of
the Presbyterian Church. The family consists of five daughters and one
son. He is a Conservative in politics. Gavin Lawrie, son of the above,
was born in Scarboro Township in 1836. He married in 1859 Eliza Jane
Bennett, by whom he has a family of five children. In religion and politics
he follows his father.

JOHN LINE, lot 18, concession 4, is a born resident of Vaughan Town
ship, having been born on the lot where he still continues to reside. He is
the only son of the late Henry Line, a Canadian by birth, and one of the
oldest settlers in Vaughan, the family having originally emigrated from
Pennsylvania. Mr. Line, sen r, always lived on and industriously cultivated
the home farm, where he died in 1870 at the age of sixty-four years; his wife
is still living in Maple Grove. Mr. John Line was married in 1858 to
Martha Bennett, a daughter .of the late Jacob Bennett ; they have seven
children living. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and a Conservative
in political opinion.

SAMUEL LINE was born on lot 15, concession 4, Vaughan Township, in
the year 1814, being the third son of the late John Line, mentioned else
where. He was married in 1841 to Rebecca Murray, daughter of the late
Christopher Murray, an old settler in this township ; they had three
children, only one of whom is now living. He is a member of the Lutheran
Church, and belongs to the Reform Party.

WILLIAM LINE, lot 16, concession 4, was born in Vaughan Township,
on lot 15, concession 4, in the year 1816, and is the youngest son of the late
John Line. His father emigrated from Pennsylvania at an early day, and

348 Biographical Notices.

on his arrival in York immediately settled in Vaughan on the same farm
now owned by our subject, which at that period was all bush. He con
tinued to live on the farm until his death, which event occurred about the
year 1840. William Line was married in 1839; his wife s maiden name
was Susan Snider, she being a daughter of the late Jacob Snider ; the issue
of this union is five children. They are adherents of the Methodist Church,
and Mr. Line s political sympathies are with the Reform Party.

SAMUEL McCujRE, lot 13, concession 8, is a native of Vaughan Town
ship, and was born in the year 1853, being the youngest in a family of ten
children, born to Andrew McClure, mentioned in another sketch. Mr.
McClure married in the year 1877 Nancy Cameron, the eldest daughter of
Mr. Archibald Cameron, of Vaughan Township, by whom he has a family
of five children. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is in politics
a Conservative.

WILLIAM MCCLURE, lot 14, concession 8, is the son of the late Andrew
McClure, one of the very first settlers in this section of the township. The
latter emigrated from County Armagh, Ireland, in 1833, and assisted in the
erection of a considerable number of grist and saw-mills on the Humber.
He settled on the lot now occupied by the subject of this sketch, where he
remained until his death, which occurred in 1876, at the age of sixty-seven
years ; his widow is still living, and resides with William on the home
stead. William was born in 1857, and in 1875 married Ellen Nesbitt,
daughter of the late John Nesbitt, of Toronto Township, by whom he has
three children living. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and takes
great interest in all matters concerning that body, especially the Sabbath
school, in which he is a teacher. He votes on the Conservative side.

DONALD McDoNALD, lot 24, concession 6, is the grandson of one John
McDonald, who was born in the Highlands of Scotland. His grandfather
was a soldier and held the rank of Sergeant in the British Army, and came
to America in that capacity. He served through the Revolutionary War,
and lived in New York State six or seven years, during which period John
Macdonald, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born. The family
came to York County, and settled on Yonge Street, north of Toronto,
where they remained two years, subsequently removing to Vaughan Town
ship on lot 19, concession 3, where our subject s grand-parents died. His
father resided at home until he was twenty-one years of age, and then took
possession of lot 19, concession 6, which he successfully cultivated until

Township of VangJian. 349

his death. Donald was one of a family of five children, and was born in
the year 1835. He was married in the year 1875, n ^ s wife s maiden name
being Flora McDonald ; the issue of their union is four children. Mr.
McDonald has devoted much attention to church matters, and is Treasurer
and Trustee of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Reformer in politics.

JAMES McDoNALD, lot 19, concession 3, was born in the year 1836 on
the same farm where he now resides, being the youngest son of the late
Archibald McDonald. His father came to Canada when quite young, in
company with his parents ; they were from the United States, and were
of Scotch extraction. James has always lived on the old homestead in
Vaughan, and married in 1863 Barbara Watson, by whom he had three
children. She died however, and his second union was with Elizabeth,
daughter of the late Henry White, by whom he had three children, two of
whom are dead. The family are adherents of the Methodist Church, and
Mr. McDonald is a Reformer in politics.

JOHN MCGILLIVRAY, lot 31, concession 7, was born in Vaughan Town
ship on the lot where he now resides, which is the same farm located on by
his father, Neil McGillivray, when he emigrated from Argyleshire, Scot
land, in the early days of settlement. Mr. McGillivray was married in the
year 1864, his wife being Nancy McGillivray ; their family consists of two
sons and three daughters. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church,
and in politics is a Reformer.

LACHLIN MCGILLIVRAY, lot 30, concession 7, is a native of the Island oi
Mull, Scotland, where he was born in 1807, being the youngest son of the
late John McGillivray, mentioned elsewhere. Mr. McGillivray is the
second owner from the Crown of the farm he now resides upon ; his father
lived on the farm with him until his death. He was married before leaving
Scotland to Flora McKinnon, by whom he has seven children living, viz. :
Donald, Mary, Sarah, Margaret, Hugh, Ann, Janet ; John died when three
years of age. He belongs to the Presbyterian body, and is a Reformer in
politics.

NEIL MCGILLIVRAY, lot 19, concession 9, is a native of Vaughan Town
ship. He is the eldest son of the late Neil McGillivray, an early settler,
who emigrated from the Island of Mull, Scotland, accompanied by his
mother and the rest of the family. They came direct to York and located
for a few years on concession 3, and in 1836 moved to the farm, lot 20,
concession 9, Vaughan Township, where the subject of this sketch was

35O Biographical Notices.

born. Mr. McGillivray died March 30, 1884, at the advanced age of
eighty-two years. Neil McGillivray is an adherent of the Presbyterian
Church, and a Reformer in politics.

CHARLES E. McKiNNON, pump manufacturer, late of Richmond Hill,
is the son of Angus McKinnon, of Markham Township. He was born in
Markham, and remained at home until his marriage in 1871 with Sarah M.,
daughter of John Perkins, of Victoria Square, when he removed to Rich
mond Hill and engaged in his present business, which includes the manu
facture of all kinds of first-class pumps and windmills. He also deals
extensively in hydraulic rams and similar appliances. He has lately
removed to Kleinburg, where a full line of all goods sold by him is kept
in stock.

DUNCAN McKiNNON, lot 18, concession 8, was born in Argyleshire,
Scotland, in 1833. He came to Canada with his parents and family in
1834. The family first settled in Vaughan and afterwards removed to
Markham, where they lived about five years. They then returned to
Vaughan and took possession of the lot now occupied by Duncan, where
the father died. Mr. McKinnon was twice married, both his wives being
dead. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and in politics a Conservative.

JOHN McKiNNON, lot 18, concession 5, was born in Trafalgar Town
ship, Halton County, in the year 1824, being the eldest son of Donald
McKinnon, who emigrated from the Isle of Mull, Scotland, in the year 1820.
On arriving in Canada his father stayed some time at Little York, and
subsequently moved into the Township of Markham and settled on lot 9,
concession 6 (one hundred and fifty acres), which is still farmed by a
brother of our subject. Mr. McKinnon, sen r, remained in Markham about
two years and then settled in Halton County, where he married and settled
upon fifty acres of land near Streetsville, on which he lived about twenty-one
years, and then disposed of, finally purchasing the farm in Vaughan where
John, his son, now resides, and where the old man lived until his death, at
the age of sixty-eight years. John married in the year 1860 Ann Drum-
mond, who was a native of Caledon Township, by whom he has a family
of three children living. The family are adherents of the Presbyterian
Church, and Mr. McKinnon is a Reformer in politics. Our subject had to
help his father in the early days to clear the farm, which was then all bush,
and remembers perfectly well the school teacher boarding around amongst
the different families, which was then the only possible means by which the
children could obtain any education.

Township of Vaughan. 351

JOHN McLEAN,lot 16, concession 6, was born in 1850 on the farm he at
present occupies, and is the youngest son of the late John McLean. His
father was one of the first settlers in Vaughan, having emigrated from Tyre,
Scotland, about the year 1821. After his arrival he was engaged upon the
construction of Brock s Monument, and about the year 1839 purchased the
above mentioned farm in Vaughan, where he lived until his death in April,
1879. He was in religion a Presbyterian, and took great interest in Church
matters. His political leaning was decidedly Conservative. He left his
farm to his son John, who in religion and political ideas follows in the same
grooves as his father.

DUNCAN MCMILLAN, lot 27, concession 3, was born in the township, on
the farm where he now resides. He is the youngest son of the late Hugh
McMillan, who emigrated from Argyleshire, Scotland, and composed one
of the band of pioneer settlers in Vaughan, being very widely known and
much respected throughout the section. Mr. McMillan landed at little
York when there were only three or four houses, and they travelled to their
destination by a deer track, carrying their luggage on two sticks across
their shoulders. He settled on the farm now occupied by Duncan, where
he remained until his death, March 9, 1876: his birth was on August 9,
1791. He took little or no interest in municipal affairs, but politically was
an enthusiastic Conservative. He took great interest in Church matters,
being a member of the Presbyterian body. Duncan McMillan was born in
1843, and has always lived on the old homestead.

ALEXANDER MCNAUGHTON was born in the Township of Vaughan in
1848, being the second son of the late Reverend Peter McNaughton, a
clergyman of the old Scottish Kirk, who came to Canada in 1833, ar >d was
the first minister of any denomination established in Vaughan. The Rev
erend Peter McNaughton preached in Vaughan about five years, and then
returned to Scotland to take charge of a parish, where he remained about
three years. He came back to Canada at the end of that period, and again
taking up his residence in Vaughan ministered to the wants of the section
for about nine years. He subsequently removed to Pickering Township,
and, after a number of years spent in Gospel work in that locality, he
returned to Vaughan, where he had considerable property : he retired from
the ministry and remained here until his death in March, 1874, at the
advanced age of eighty-one years. Alexander was married in the year
1880 to Catharine Cameron, by whom he has two sons. He belongs to the
Presbyterian Church, and is in politics a Conservative.

:

3ij2 Biographical Notices.

PETER MCNAUGHTON, lot 6, concession g, was born in the year 1846 on
concession 5 of Vaughan, being the third son of the late Donald McNaugh-
ton. His father emigrated from Perthshire, Scotland, in 1837, and settled
in concession 5 of this township, where he lived until his death in 1878, at
the age of seventy-five years. He was a brother of the late Reverend Peter
McNaughton, who for many years acted as minister for the Presbyterian
bodv in Vaughan. Mr. Peter McNaughton was married in 1884, his wife s
maiden name being Margaret Bryson, a daughter of Mr. James Bryson, of
this section. He is an adherent of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics
votes for the Conservative Party.

ANDREW McNEiL, lot 12, concession 6, is a native of Vaughan Town
ship, having been born on lot 14, concession 6, in the year 1834. He is the
second son of the late Mr. Arthur McNeil, a very old settler in Vaughan,
who came to Canada in 1819. His father remained in Toronto, then Little
York, about fourteen years, where he married. He afterwards purchased
land in Vaughan on lot 14, concession 6, where he continued to live until
his death. His wife s maiden name was Margaret Jamieson, who is still
living. During his lifetime he took a very intelligent interest in agricultural
matters, being the first to introduce the Galloway breed of cattle into this
section. He was also active in political affairs, and was a zealous and
consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. He died in the year 1881,
at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Andrew, the second in order of
his father s family, was married in 1872 to Sarah Livingston, by whom he
has three children. In politics, as well as creed, he follows in his father s
footsteps.

CHARLES McNsiL, lot 14, concession 9, was born in Vaughan Town
ship, on the lot where he now resides. His father, the late Colonel Arthur
McNeil, emigrated from County Cavan, Ireland, in the year 1821. He
remained about ten years in Toronto, and in the year 1831 purchased the
farm the locality of which is given at the commencement of this sketch.
He always entered with a progressive spirit into agricultural undertakings,
and introduced into the township the celebrated Galloway cattle. He died
on the farm in the year 1881. Charles was the eldest son of his father s
family, and continues to cultivate the old farm, which is a very fine one of
two hundred and fifty acres.

ARCHIBALD McQuARRiE, lot 23, concession 4, is a native of New York
State, where he was born in 1818. In company with his parents he came
to Canada in 1827. His father, Lachlan McQuarrie, after his arrival in

Township of Vaughan. 353

York County, settled on lots 15 and 16, concession 3, in 1829, and died in
the fall of the same year. After his father s death, his mother purchased
twenty-five acres of lot 23, concession 4, and two years afterwards she also
died. The family consisted of seven children besides the subject of this
sketch, who are all indebted to their eldest sister for the devoted manner in
which she endeavoured to supply the loss they had sustained. She is now
married and is a resident of Vaughan, being the wife of Mr. Francis Bunt.
Each member of the family is now doing well, and most of them are living
in this neighbourhood. Archibald McQuarrie was married in 1864 to Emma
Pickering, a native of England : they have a family of ten children. He
has taken an active part in municipal matters, having been a member of the
Township Council about four years. He belongs to the Presbyterian
Church, and is a Reformer in politics.

JOHN C. MCQUARRIE, lot 20, concession 4, was born in the State of
New York in the year 1825. His father, the late Lachlan McQuarrie,
emigrated from there to Canada about the year 1830, and coming to York
County located on lot 17, concession 3, Vaughan Township. He died,
however, after he had been about twelve months at the new settlement,
leaving a family of eight children, three girls and five boys, of whom John
C., the subject of this sketch, is the third in order. His mother died a few
years after ; thus, at the age of fourteen years, he was left to fight the battle
of life alone. Nothing daunted, he commenced to work with a carpenter,
from whom he received five dollars per month in the summer and no money
at all in winter. He worked for him about three years, during which period
he received a little schooling in the winter months. He then hired out at
eighteen dollars per month, and the subsequent year commenced business
for himself. He carried on a general carpenter and builder s trade for about
ten years, in which he was more than ordinarily successful ; but failing
health compelled him to give up that business, and he purchased one
hundred and fifty acres of land, which he has since continued to farm. Mr.
McQuarrie was married in the year 1853 ; his wife was Sarah Ann Bennett,
daughter of Jacob Bennett, who was a native of Vaughan, having been
born before the War of 1812. They have a familyof three daughters living.
His wife died about fourteen years ago, and he has since that time remained
a widower. Mr. McQuarrie is a Justice of the Peace, and has also taken
considerable interest in church matters, having filled several important posi
tions during the last twenty years.

ALEXANDER MALLOY, lot 33, concession 7, is a native of Vaughan Town
ship, and was born in concession 4. He is the eldest son of Mr. Archibald
24

354 Biographical Notices.

Malloy, who is still living on the homestead, the latter having emigrated
from Argyleshire, Scotland, in the year 1826. On arriving in York he
removed into the neighbouring County of Peel, and located for a short
time in Caledon Township, afterwards (in 1827) coming to Vaughan, where
he settled. Alexander was born in the year 1838, and in 1860 married a
daughter of Mr. James Bryson, of this section. Our subject has given
a considerable amount of time and attention to municipal affairs, and was
for about ten years a member of the Council of Colborne Township, Huron
County, having formerly resided there. He has been connected with the
Council of his native township four years, and is at present Deputy-Reeve.
He belongs to the Presbyterian body, and is a Liberal in politics.

JOHN MALLOY, lot 35, concession 4, is a native of Argyleshire, Scotland,
having been born in the year 1802. He emigrated to Canada in 1824 with
his parents. His father was the late Neil Malloy, who was well-known in
his day throughout this district. In the year 1829 John Malloy purchased
land in Vaughan Township, the same lot on which he now resides. Mr.
Malloy remembers the first church being built on concession 6, at which
time there were no roads. He was married in 1837 to Isabella Mitchell;
they have a family of four sons and one daughter living. He is a member
of the Presbyterian Church, and casts his vote for the Conservative Party.

GILBERT MATHEWSON, lot 20, rear of concession 4, was born in the
Township of Vaughan on the same lot where he now lives. His father,
the late Joseph Mathewson, emigrated from Ireland with his parents and
settled in Vaughan at an early day, the locality at that time being very
wild ; he located in 1836 on the farm now occupied by his son Gilbert.
He died in 1873 ; his wife is still living, being seventy-five years of age.
Gilbert married in 1860 Susannah Line, a daughter of Samuel Line, who
lives in Maple Village. At her death he married his present wife, whose
maiden name was Sarah Shunk ; she is a daughter of Mr. Simon Shunk, of
this township. He has five children by his first wife and one by his present
wife. The family are adherents of the Methodist Church, and he is a
Reformer in politics.

JOHN MAXWELL, lot 6, concession 2, was born in Yorkshire, England,
in the year 1816. His father was the late Thomas Maxwell, who emigrated
to Canada in the year 1818 in company with his parents and other mem
bers of his family. Thomas Maxwell was married in England to Martha
Robson, by whom he had six children; he was a miller by trade and

Township of Vaughan. 355

followed that occupation after his arrival here ; subsequently, entering into
partnership with Mr. Thomas Fair, they operated a mill on their own
account. Some time afterwards he removed to West York and conducted
a saw-mill for about three years. He then came to Vaughan and rented
part of the farm belonging to his father for a term of six years ; but unfor
tunately died before the expiration of his lease. John remained at home
with his parents for some years. On leaving there he went to Weston,
where he resided between two and three years, afterwards returning to
Vaughan. About the year 1838 he moved on to the farm he at present
occupies.

ROBERT METCALF, retired, was born in Yorkshire, England, in the
year 1809. In 1831, accompanied by his brother Thomas, he emigrated to
Canada and came to little York, now Toronto. He shortly afterwards .

removed into Markham and worked for various farmers in the section. He
subsequently purchased land in Vaughan, on lot 23, concession 2, where he
resided thirty-six years and brought up his family. He was married in the
year 1841 to Mary Ann Hoshel, a Canadian by birth of German extraction.
His family consists of two boys and one girl. Mr. Metcalf is a member of
the Methodist Church, and was a deed trustee of the old Methodist Church
at Richmond Hill ; he was an assistant class-leader to Amos Wright, and
conducted the class-meetings in the absence of Mr. Wright while attending
to his parliamentary duties. Mr. Metcalf mounted guard at Thornhill
during the Mackenzie Rebellion. He is a Reformer in politics. His son
Thomas was sergeant of a troop of cavalry for about ten years, and was
looked upon as being a very efficient officer.

EDWARD MILLER, lot 27, concession 6, is a native of County Tyrone,
Ireland, where he was born in the year 1800. He was a weaver by trade,
which occupation he followed previous to his emigration to Canada in 1827.
He came direct to York County and located in Vaughan Township, and
about six years after his arrival purchased the farm on which he now
resides. Mr. Miller married in Ireland, Rebecca Noble, by whom he had
a family often children, six sons and four daughters ; four being dead. He
belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is a Conservative in politics.
From his long residence in the township, Mr. Miller can bear testimony to
the vast improvements made in the section since first he entered it, and the
fact that he can remember the time when neither roads, churches or schools
existed, speaks eloquently on behalf of the settlers whose enterprise and
energy have contributed to the present satisfactory state of things.

356 Biographical Notices.

JOHN MOODY, lot 21, concession 9, was born in Vaughan Township,
being the youngest son of the late Mr. James Moody, a native of Yorkshire,
England. Mr. Moody, sen r, on his arrival in Canada came direct to York,
and purchased fifty acres of land in Etobicoke Township, on which he
remained about fifteen years. He soon after purchased the farm in
Vaughan, where his son John now resides; where he lived until the time
of his death in 1883, at the age of eighty years. His wife, our subject s
mother, still lives in Gray County. John Moody was married in the year
1880 to Matilda, daughter of the late Mr. John Prescott, of Toronto, by
whom he has three children. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and is
a Conservative in politics.

ARCHIBALD MORROW, lot 26, concession 7, was born on the farm he now
occupies, being the son of the late James Morrow. His father emigrated
from County Cavan, Ireland, in the year 1819, and on his arrival settled
first at Chippewa, where he was married. He appears to have followed
different occupations in various places before locating in Vaughan. At one
time he chopped cordwood on Cruikshank s Lane (now Bathurst Street),
Toronto, for the sum of twenty-five cents per cord, and he was subsequently
engaged as one of the party who surveyed the section where the town of
Barrie now stands. In the year 1830 he settled in this township on the
farm where his son, Archibald, now resides. He was a man who, in all
probability, would have made a useful member of the municipal body elect,
from his great experience and well-known capacity for observation, but
such office he never sought, although it is recorded that he always worked
hard for his friends and party. He died in the year 1869, at the advanced
age of eighty-one years, having lived a useful and industrious life, and gained
a host of friends. Archibald Morrow was first married in 1862, the maiden
name of his wife being Martha McCutcheon, by whom he had a family of
three children. He married his present wife in the year 1871, her name
being Margaret Slater ; they have three children. Mr. Morrow belongs to
the Methodist Church, and is a Conservative in politics.

MALCOLM MULLOY, lot 35, concession 5, was born in Argyleshire,
Scotland, in the year 1810, and is the youngest son now living of the late
Neil Mulloy. The latter emigrated to Canada in the year 1825 with his
family, and came to little York, and after staying there a short time, he
removed to Vaughan and settled on lot 55, concession 4. He lived with
his two sons, James and Neil, who had emigrated about two years previ
ously, and who farmed the land, he himself being a weaver, at which trade

Township of Vaughan. 357

he worked up to the period of his death, which took place in 1845. Mal
colm married in 1837 Agnes Cameron, who is still living ; they have had a
family of ten children, but three died when young. Mr. Mulloy is an elder
of the Presbyterian Church, and has taken an active part in its affairs. He
is a Conservative in politics.

ISAAC MURRAY, lot 26, concession 5, was born in Pennsylvania, in the
year 1816, and came with his parents to Canada when he was only two
years of age. The account of their journey has more the appearance of an
extract from some work of fiction than an incidental circumstance of real
life. The distance of four hundred and fifty miles was covered by the
parents on foot, while the children, of whom Isaac was one, rode in wallets
over the back of a horse. It is not recorded in what length of time the
journey was made, but no doubt it would afford a striking and instructive
contrast as against the time occupied in traversing the distance in the
present day. His father first settled in York Township, on lot 19, conces
sion 5, where he remained about ten years. In 1833 he removed to Vaughan
Township, and purchased the lot where the subject of this sketch now
resides. His father died at the advanced age of eighty years ; his mother
was within a few days of reaching her eighty-ninth year when her death
occurred. The old people during their lifetime, through industry and
perseverance, accumulated a nice property, the mother having been in the
habit of weaving for the neighbours, by which she earned a good deal of
money. His father had to carry all his flour on his back from Farr s Mill
near Weston. Isaac was the youngest son of his father s family, and to
him fell the possession of the old homestead. He is greatly interested in
bees, having a very large apiary in connection with the farm, from which
he takes a great quantity of honey ; he has one hundred and twenty-four
hives, and took out last season over two thousand four hundred pounds in
weight. Mr. Murray married Mary Cober, a daughter of the late Peter
Cober ; they had only one son who has since died. The only office held
by our subject has been that of Road Commissioner, which he held for
about five years. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and has taken
an active part in church matters. He is a Conservative in politics.

JAMES O CONNOR, lot 24, concession 6, was born in King Township in
the year 1846, and is the youngest son of the late Patrick O Connor, an
early settler in that section. His father emigrated from the County of Kerry,
Ireland, in 1837. He came to York County, and after working for a time
on Yonge Street he located in King Township, and worked for Mr. Bald-

358 Biographical Notices,

win, a farmer, for about nine years. He then purchased a farm on con
cession 6 of King, where he lived a number of years, and in 1855 bought
the farm in this township, now in the hands of his son James, where he
lived until his death, January, 1883, at the age of seventy-four years. James
was married in 1874 to Henrietta Nuggett, daughter of Thomas Nuggett,
who still resides in Vaughan. He belongs to the Roman Catholic faith,
and is a Reformer in politics.

JOHN PAGE, lot 9, concession 2, was born in the Township of Vaughan
in the year 1828. His father, the late Lewis Page, was born in the United
States and came to Canada in 1822. He worked around in the Township
of Vaughan until 1825, in which year he married and settled down on the
farm now occupied by the subject of this notice, which he had purchased,
and where he remained about five years. He then rented the Vaughan
farm and bought another one in King Township, where he resided twenty
years. At the end of that period he removed again to Vaughan and located
on his original purchase, where he continued to reside until his death,
which event transpired in 1858, at the age of fifty-eight. The mother of
our subject was before her marriage Rebecca Rupert; she died in 1881,
being seventy-two years old. Both his parents were of English extraction.
John was born on the old homestead in Vaughan. In 1851 he married
Jane, daughter of the late Job Wells, of King Township, by whom he had
a family of five children. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a
Reformer in politics.

WILLIAM PATTERSON, lot 26, concession 9, was born in Roxburghshire,
Scotland, in the year 1815. He came to Canada with his parents in 1831.
He is the eldest son of the late Archibald Patterson, by his second wife, and
on settling in Vaughan, our subject had to take the entire management of the
farm in consequence of his father s advanced age and corresponding infirmi
ties. The latter died in the year 1837 at the venerable age of ninety-five
years. Since Mr. William Patterson s residence in the township he has
taken an active part in municipal affairs, having, for the last twenty years?
filled the office of Road Commissioner, and he has been Tax Collector for
about half that period. In addition to these he has been a School Trustee
for a number of years. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and a Reformer in
politics. Mr. Patterson married Mary Jane, daughter of the late Thomas
Sharpe, by whom he has a family of nine children.

HENRY PAUL, lot 24, concession 10, was born in England in the year
1809. He emigrated to America alone in 1834, and landed at New York.

Township of Vaughan. 359

He remained some months in Utica, New York State, and then removed to
Cleveland, Ohio, where he lived nine years. He subsequently came to
Canada and located in Vaughan Township on the lot where he now lives.
He was married in the year 1856 to Patience Peacock, a daughter of the
late Thomas Peacock, of Toronto Gore. They have a family of four sons
and three daughters, viz.: Mary, born November 8, 1857; Jane, born
September 13, 1859; Henry, born January 7, 1862; Thomas, born January
24, 1864; Georgina, born March 18, 1866; John, born June 9, 1868;
Robert, born October n, 1870. He belongs to the English Church, and is
a Reformer in politics.

THOMAS PETERMAN, lot 30, concession 7, was born on the lot upon
which he is at present living and is the second son of Mr. Henry Peterman,
who lives in Aurora ; his father was born on concession 3 of this township,
the family having originally emigrated from Pennsylvania. Mr. Henry
Peterman of Aurora, brother to Thomas, is very active in church matters,
and was a class leader of the Methodist Church. His retiring disposition
has retarded him from interfering in municipal affairs. He is a Reformer
in politics. Wesley and Reuben, two younger brothers of the family, work
lot 29, concession 6.

CAPTAIN JAMES PLAYTER, deceased, was born and had always lived in
the County of York, and during the most of his life resided at Richmond
Hill, where he carried on for many years a large agricultural and lumbering
business at the old homestead of his uncle, the late Squire Miles, who con
tributed so largely to the church and school of that village. He was many
years Captain of the 4th Battalion York, Upper Canada Militia, retiring
with rank in 1861. In earlier life he manifested much interest in Sunday
school work. He took little part in public matters, though being a great
reader, he was very familiar with the political history of the country in
every detail. He was a Liberal Conservative in politics, but supported
men rather than party. Captain Playter was a descendant of a very old
Anglo-Saxon family. He was a son of James Playter, a U. E. Loyalist,
who over eighty years ago held municipal offices in the country, and grand
son of the Captain George Playter referred to in " Toronto of Old," as an
intimate friend of Governor Simcoe. He was related to many of the oldest
families in the Province, was twice married, and the father of Doctor
Playter, of Toronto, and seven other sons, one still living at Richmond
Hill, another in the Bank of Comn;erce, and two daughters. His death
occurred December 20, 1882, in the seventy-ninth year of his age.

360 Biographical Notices,

JOHN PORTER, lot 3, concession 9, was born in the year 1810, and is a
native of Yorkshire, England. In 1831 he came to Canada in company
with his wife to whom he had only just been united, and settled in York
County. After remaining in little York about six months he moved into
Vaughan Township, where his brother, the late William Porter, had previ
ously settled. Mr. Porter located on the farm he now occupies, which was
then in its primitive state, and the absence of roads and other adjuncts
to comfort and convenience contributed not a little to his labour in early
years. He takes a very active part in agricultural matters, being amongst
the first to introduce heavy draught horses and the breed of Leicestershire
and Cotswold sheep in this section. His wife s maiden name was Ann
Mercer, also a native of Yorkshire ; they had a family of fourteen children,
seven of whom only are living. Mr. Porter is a member of the Township
Agricultural Society a Reformer in politics, and a member of the Methodist
Church, of which he is a Trustee.

WILLIAM POWILL, lot 47, concession i, is a native of Beverly, York
shire, England, and was born in the year 1814. He emigrated to Canada
in 1830, and settled near the Village of Richmond Hill, York County, and
commenced to work for Miles Langstaff, with whom he stayed between
three and four years. He then rented a farm from Colonel Moodie for four
years, afterwards moving into Whitchurch Township, where he rented
another farm. At the expiration of two years, not liking the section, he
moved to Vaughan on the farm which he still occupies. Mr. Powill in
1835 married Margaret, daughter of Colonel Bridgeford ; by this union he
had five sons and one daughter, all of whom are living at the present time.
His wife died, and he married again in the year 1858. His second espousal
was to Elizabeth Chamberlain, by whom he has had seven sons and two
daughters. Mr. Powill has taken an active part in the management of the
affairs of the municipality, and was a member of the first Council elected
for the Village of Richmond Hill. He continued in the Council about
seven years. He and his family are adherents of the Church of England,
and in matters political he remains an uncompromising Conservative. Of
his family twelve sons and three daughters are now living ; the sons are all
impregnated with the intensely loyal spirit of the father, and are prepared,
should necessity ever require it, to defend the Crown against any enemy.
Mr. Powill, during the Mackenzie Rebellion, was a member of Captain
Capper s troop of horse. Mr. Powill was the son of the late Benjamin
Powell, who died in the Township of Whitchurch.

Township of Vaughan. 361

JOSEPH READMER, lot 31, concession 6, was born in 1837 in the Town
ship of Vaughan, on lot 12, concession 9, being the second son of Mr.
Thomas Readmer, who now resides on concession 8. The latter is a very
old settler, and came to Vaughan when he was thirteen years old. The
family were originally from Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, and on their
first landing here settled at Lachine, Quebec Province, where they remained
about five years, subsequently coming west and settling in Vaughan Town
ship. The family consisted of two sons and six daughters. Joseph Readmer
married in 1859 Sarah Ann Margaret Peterbough, whose parents came out
with the Selkirk party, for the colonization of the Red River region : they
have one son. The family are Presbyterians, and Mr. Readmer is in
politics a Reformer.

DANIEL REAMAN, lot 15, concession 2, is a native of this township,
having been born on lot 10, concession 2. His father, the late Josiah
Reaman, was a man well known in the Township of Vaughan and surround
ings, and was also born on lot 10, concession 2. The family were originally
from Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch is the third son living of
his father s family. He has two brothers living in this section, one, Josiah,
residing with him, and the other, Nicholas, living on the old homestead ; he
has one brother, William, living in Orillia. His brother Josiah takes a very
great interest in bee culture, and is always proud to show strangers the
working and household arrangements of his numerous family. Daniel Rea
man has been thrice married, his present wife s name being Margaret
Woods previous to their union : he has one child. The family are members
of the Methodist Church, and Daniel is a Reformer in politics.

MICHAEL REAMAN, lot 7, concession 9, was born in the year 1849, and
is the third son of the late Michael Reaman, whose parents originally came
from Pennsylvania and settled in York at an early day. Mr. Reaman,
sen r, was born in York County, and took up his residence in Vaughan
Township when the settlement of that section first began. He was a man
well and widely known, and the enthusiastic interest he took in all Parlia
mentary matters gave to him more than a local celebrity. He was a strong
Reformer, and up to the time of his death in 1871 never flinched whatever
may have been the position of his party from the principles he early
imbibed. Mr. Reaman, the subject of this notice, was married in 1876, his
wife s maiden name being Jane McCauley, a daughter of Malcolm McCauley,
of this township : they have a family of four children. He is a member of
the Methodist Church. His interest in political matters is centred more in

362 Biographical Notices.

obtaining good measures than in promoting the advancement of party. He
does a great deal of stock-raising, and has some thoroughbred Durham
cattle. He owns the first prize draught stallion " Edinburgh Tom," which
was imported in 1884, and is valued at $2,500.

THOMAS RICHARDSON, lot 14, concession 9, is the only son living of the
late Thomas Richardson, who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in the
year 1818, and took up his residence first in Philadelphia, United States.
Mr. Richardson, sen r, after a short stay in the United States came to
Canada and settled at little York, where he worked for Dr. Baldwin some
time, and subsequently kept a hotel for a number of years. He then purchased
a farm in Vaughan Township, in concession 8, which he lived on and culti
vated until his death in 1875, a * the age of eighty-five years. Thomas, the
subject of this notice, was born in little York in 1825. In 1859 he married
Miss McCormack, by whom he had one son. She died, and he afterwards
married again, his second wife being Elizabeth, a daughter of the late
Richard Jeffrey, of this township : they have four children. He is a mem
ber of the Methodist Church, and a Conservative in politics.

THOMAS RIDDELL, lot 10, concession 10, was born oh lot 12, concession
9, Vaughan Township, in the year 1842. He is the fourth son of the late
Alfred Riddell, an early settler in Vaughan, who emigrated with his father s
family from Roxburghshire, Scotland, and located here in 1834. Mr. Riddell,,
sen r, took an active interest in all matters concerning the Presbyterian
Church, of which he was a ruling elder for upwards of twenty years. He
lived on the farm until the time of his death, which occurred in January,
1863, being then sixty-seven years of age: his wife is dead also. The sub
ject of this sketch was married in 1872, his wife being Jane, a daughter of
Mr. John Mason, of Toronto Gore : they have a family of four children.
He is a Reformer in politics, and, like his father, a firm adherent of the
Presbyterian Church.

ROBERT ROBINSON, lot i, concession 6, was born in County Armagh,
Ireland, in the year 1837. He accompanied his parents on their emigration
to Canada in 1838, and is the eldest son of his father s family. His father s
name was Mark Robinson, who is still living in the Township of Chingua-
cousy, where he settled soon after his arrival in Canada. He is now
seventy-four years of age, and during his lifetime has taken great interest in
municipal affairs. He is also a prominent member of the Church of Eng
land, and has been churchwarden on several occasions. Robert Robinson
in 1869 married Mary Jane Graham, daughter of the late William Graham,

Township of Vaughan. 363

of this township. The latter was a proprietor of a large lumber mill, and
was also a prominent member of the Masonic order. Our subject was the
first pupil who passed through the Ontario Veterinary College, taking his
diploma on March 27, 1866. He is a Conservative in politics, and a mem
ber of the English Church. He has a family of five children.

PETER RUPERT, lot 16, concession 3, is descended from a family who
originally came from Pennsylvania, U. S. He is the son of the late Adam
Rupert, who died comparatively young, at the age of thirty-four, and was
born on the farm where he now resides in the year 1809. Reminiscences
of the early days of settlement may often be brought back to many through
the medium of a biographical sketch, and the early battles with nature in
which the pioneers played their part, to the mind s eye, may be fought
over again by a perusal of these pages. With these events, although but a
boy at the time, our subject was well acquainted, and retains a vivid recol
lection of the trials and hardships undergone. The absence of all signs of
civilization, nothing around but the vast and apparently endless bush, may
well make an impression on the mind of anyone, and Peter Rupert was
not exempt in this respect. Having witnessed the rise and progress of his
native township, he is naturally proud of the part he has played in its
development. He remembers well the time when but one little German
school was all the educational facilities afforded in the township, most of
the settlers being Germans from Pennsylvania. There was plenty of wild
animals however, and the nights were made hideous by discordant noises.
Mr. Rupert has happily seen a new state of things, and how, by the indus
try and energetic will of man, the wilderness may be brought into entire
subjection. He was married in the year 1831 to Susan, daughter of the
late John Pulebaugh, by whom he had seventeen children, some of whom
are still living in the neighbourhood. Mr. Rupert took an active part in
municipal affairs, but never accepted office. He is an adherent of the
Methodist Church.

THOMAS SEAGER, lot 31, concession i, was born in Vaughan Township,
on concession 2, in the year 1844. He ^ s the eldest son of the late Edward
Seager, an early settler in Vaughan, who emigrated to Canada in company
with his brother in the year 1830. He settled near Thornhill and operated
a sam-mill on Yonge Street, north of the village, for about fifteen years. In
1850 he purchased the farm in lot 31, concession i, Vaughan, where his
son still resides, together with his mother and a younger brother. They
are Roman Catholics in religion, while in politics Mr. Seagar supports the
Conservative Party. He has four brothers and two sisters, all living.

364 Biographical Notices.

SIMON SHUNK, lot 8, concession 4, is the eldest son of the late Jacob
Shunk. His father was a native of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, who
emigrated to Canada shortly before the War of 1812, and immediately after
his arrival in York purchased the farm on which Simon now lives, and
which he remained upon until his death in 1880, at the venerable age of
ninety-seven. He was a Mennonite in religion, and an elder of the Church.
Our subject was born in the old homestead in 1814, and married in 1835
Susannah White, daughter of the late Hiram White, of Vaughan, by whom
he has six children, all living. Mr. Shunk has taken a lively interest in
agricultural matters, having especially turned his attention to the breeding
of horses, and having sold some very fine teams. On one occasion he sold a
single horse for the high price of $700, which sufficiently proves that the
time and care he devotes to stock raising is justified by results. His farm
is considered one of the finest and best cultivated in the section. He is an
adherent of the Methodist Church, and in politics a Conservative,

WILLIAM SIMMONS, hotel proprietor, Thornhill, was born in Notting
hamshire, England, April n, 1844. He emigrated to Canada in 1867, and
first located at Belleville, where he was employed on the Grand Trunk Rail
way. He then went to Michigan, where he remained two years ; and the
subsequent seven years he was employed as engineer on the Great Western
Division of the G. T. Railway. In the year 1884 he purchased his present
hotel in the Village of Thornhill, where he has excellent accommodation
for the travelling public, including good stabling. He married Mary Ann
Callasas, of Lincolnshire, England. Mr. Simmons has done a large amount
of foreign travel, and possesses at the present time some property in New
Zealand.

DAVID SMELLIE, lot 8, concession 3, was born in the Township of
Vaughan in 1833, on the farm on which he now resides, being the eldest of
the family of the late David Smellie. The latter emigrated from Lanark
shire, Scotland, in the fall of 1830. He came alone, and for the first year
after his arrival worked at York Mills ; he then purchased the farm in
Vaughan now owned and occupied by his son, where he lived until his
death in 1860. He was a man well-known in the surrounding townships
and exercised considerable influence in municipal matters, and was for a
number of years a member of the Township Council. He took a leading
position in all matters relating to Agriculture, and was generally recognized
as being of great service to the different societies. He took prizes at
all the township fairs, his specialties being Leicestershire and Cotswold
sheep, and Ayrshire Cattle. At his death, the loss to the community was

Township of Vanghan. 365

felt to be great, and his memory is still cherished by some of the old
inhabitants independently of the surviving members of his family. His son,
David, on his father s death, came into possession of a very handsome
heritage, and it may be fairly stated that without exception he owns the
finest farm in the township. It is compact and neat in every particular,
and the grounds and surroundings bear ample proof of the care and labour
lavished upon them ; the style of cultivation is also greatly above the aver
age. Mr. Smellie married in the year 1873. His wife was Martha Jane,
born in York Township, and sister of William James, of that section ; they
have a family of three children. Mr. Smellie is an adherent of the Presby
terian Church, and a Reformer in politics.

JACOB SMITH, lot 15, concession 5, was born in Somerset County,
Pennsylvania, in the year 1817, being the eldest son of the late John Smith
mentioned elsewhere. He was but twelve months old when he came to
Canada with his parents, with whom he continued to live until 1845. He
then moved on to lot 16, concession 5, where he remained until 1869, in
which year he located in the Village of Maple, where he still resides. He
married in the year 1845, his wife being Elizabeth, daughter of the late
John White, of this township. He is a Mennonite in religion, and a Con
servative in politics.

SAMUEL SMITH, lot 7, concession 4, is the third son of the late Jacob
Smith, who emigrated from Pennsylvania in company with his parents
shortly after the American War of 1812. They settled on the farm now
owned by our subject. Samuel s grandfather belonged to the Mennonite
Church and took considerable interest in its welfare, and having received
a good education he often in his younger days exhorted the members of
the church. Samuel was born on the old homestead in 1833, and was
married in the year 1866 to Sarah, daughter of Mr. Samuel Snider, by
whom he has four children. He belongs to the old Mennonite Church,
but takes very little interest in politics, giving his support to good measures
rather than party.

JOHN SNIDER, lot 17, concession 5, is decended from a family who
emigrated from the State of Pennsylvania (near the Susquehanna River)
in the year 1800, He is the eldest son of the late Jacob Snider, who was
born during the journey his parents made from the States to Canada.
Jacob Snider settled on the farm now owned by his son John, and in the
early days of settlement proved very useful amongst his neighbours (on
account of his skill in surgery) before the advent of the medical profession

Biographical Notices.

which is now so ably represented. He died on the farm in 1864, at the age
of sixty-four years. His wife s name was Fanny Mussulman, who is still
living being about eighty-four years of age. John, the subject of this sketch
was born in 1821, near the Village of Maple, and was about nine years of
age, when his father located on the farm now in his own possession. He
has a lively recollection of the hardships to which they were in the early
times subjected, and remembers when the first trees were cut on the lot for
building purposes. He was married in 1852 to Mary Sturp, by whom he
has three children living. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and a"
Conservative in politics.

JAMES SOMERVILLE, lot 14, concession 10, was born in 1843 on the lot
where he now resides. He is the second son of the late James Somerville,
who emigrated from Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1836, and settled in Vaughan
on the same land now occupied by James, jun r. Mr. Somerville, sen r,
took a lively and intelligent interest in the affairs of the municipality, and
was a member of the Township Council for some years. He was a devout
member of the Presbyterian Church, and was an Elder for about twelve
years previous to his death. Before the church was built the religious
services presided over by Dr. Jennings were conducted at the house of Mr.
Somerville. He died in 1873, being sixty-three years of age. James from
his youth upwards resided on the old homestead, and takes considerable
pride in the cultivation of the farm. He does a good deal oi stock-raising,
principally Durham cattle. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is
a Reformer in politics.

ROBERT SOMERVILLE, lot 14, concession 10, was born on his present lot.
He is the eldest son of the late James Somerville, who was born in Lanark
shire, Scotland, and emigrated to Canada, locating in the Township of
Vaughan at an early day. The late Mr. Somerville took a lively interest in
municipal matters, and was a member of the Township Council for a
number of years. He continued to live on the farm until his death in 1873,
at the age of sixty-two years. He was an Elder of the Presbyterian
Church. Robert Somerville was married in the year 1876 to Mary Ann
Goodall, by whom he has four children. He belongs to the Presbyterian
Church, and is a Reformer in politics.

ROBERT SOMERVILLE, lot 17, concession 9, is the eldest son of the late
Archibald Somerville, who settled in the township about 1837. His father
was a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland. He lived on the farm in Vaughan
until 1876, in which year he purchased a farm in Chinguacousy Township,

Township of Vaughan. 367

Peel County, where he lived until his death in 1873, at the age of fifty-seven
years. He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and a
Reformer in politics. His wife survives him, and lives in Peel County.
Robert was born in 1847, on the lot where he still resides. He married in
1880 Mary Elizabeth, daughter of John Pearson, of Brampton ; they have
one child. Mr. Somerville is a Presbyterian in religion, and a teacher in
Sabbath schools. In politics he is a Reformer.

JOHN C. STEELE, lot 26, concession i, hotel proprietor, was born in
Vaughan Township, near Atkinson s Mills, in the year 1837. He is the
only son of the late Thomas Steele, who settled in the township at an early
day, and followed farming for a considerable time, and in connection
therewith also kept an hotel at Bond Lake ; he died in Vaughan Township
in the same house where our subject now conducts the hotel known as
The Green Bush. John C. is a joiner by trade, and worked for a number
of years in Toronto. He subsequently commenced in the hotel business in
Alma, Wellington County, and continued there for twelve years. He
started his present hotel in 1877, where every attention is paid to the
travelling public. Mr. Steele was married in the year 1858, his wife s
maiden name being Mary A. Robertson, by whom he has seven children,
two boys and five girls. He is an adherent of the Presbyterian Church,
and a Conservative in politics. Mr. Steele s parents were natives of York
shire, England.

THOMAS H. STEELE, lot 20, concession 9, was born on the farm he now

resides on, being the youngest son of the late Daniel Steele, who settled
in Vaughan about the year 1841. He came from Napanee in the Bay of
Quinte, and at the time of his first settlement in Vaughan there were no
roads, only the old Indian trail. He was an earnest and devoted member
of the Methodist Church, and besides being a class leader was also a local
preacher. He died in 1873 at the age of sixty-five years. Thomas H.
married in 1871, his wife being Mary, daughter of Robert King, of this
township ; they have a family of five children. Mr. Steele is an adherent
of the Methodist Church, and votes with the Reform Party.

JAMES A. STEVENSON, lot 20, concession 8, was born in 1848 in the
Township of Vaughan, on the lot now occupied by him. He is the only
son of the late James Stevenson, one of the early settlers, who came from
Glasgow, Scotland, and located here when only seventeen years old. He
settled on a farm in the township, where he remained quite a number of
years, and in 1853 located on lot 30, concession 8, where he died in 1862.

368 Biographical Notices.

Mr. Stevenson, sen r, was for many years a member of the Agricultural
Society. Mr. James A. Stevenson married in the year 1872 Eliza Hartly,
by whom he has four children. He belongs to the Congregational Church,
and is in politics a Reformer.

JOSEPH STONG, lot i, concession 5, is a Canadian by birth, being the
third son of the late Daniel Stong, who emigrated from Pennsylvania in the
year 1809 in company with his parents. They settled in Vaughan on lot 23,
concession 3. The father of our subject assisted to brush the town line
between York and Vaughan. Joseph was born in the year 1826 ; he
married Elizabeth Snider in the year 1849, who was also born in Vaughan,
being a daughter of the late Jacob Snider, who was Collector and Assessor
for the Township a number of years. They have a family of five children,
three sons and two daughters, all of whom are married and in good circum
stances. The family are adherents of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Stong
is a Reformer in politics. His mother is still living and resides with him ;
she is eighty-six years old.

THOMAS TEDDER, lot 25, concession 9, is of English birth, being the
second son of the late William Tedder, who emigrated from the County of
Norfolk, England, and settled near Woodbridge. In 1859 Mr. Tedder,
sen r, moved on to the farm where our subject now resides, and remained
there until his death in 1882, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was an
active worker in the cause of the Gospel in his day, and was a class leader
in the Methodist Church about thirty-five years. Thomas was born on the
old homestead in 1844, and has all his life devoted his attention to farming.
He was married in 1866, his wife s maiden name being Mary McGillivray ;
her father was the late Neil McGillivray, of this township. They have
no family.

SAMUEL THOMPSON, lot 35, concession 2, is from the county of broad
acres yclept Yorkshire, England, where he was born in the year 1812, and
where he spent the early portion of his life. About the year 1830, accom
panied by his stepfather, Thomas Grundy, his mother and other members
of the family, he came to Canada. They settled first at Unionville, in con
cession 6 of Markham, and there Samuel continued to reside, working with
his stepfather, who was a blacksmith by trade. He subsequently worked
on the farm of Mr. Robert Grundy in the same township for several years,
and finally, in 1850, purchased the farm in Vaughan, on which he still
resides, and which he still cultivates. In 1847 he married a daughter of his
former employer, Mr. Robert Grundy, by whom he had eleven children,

Township of Vaughan. 369

nine being still living. He is a member of the Methodist Church, of which
he is a Trustee, and generously presented the lot upon which the edifice
was erected. The first church was burnt down, and Mr. Thompson was
instrumental in having it rebuilt. He is a Reformer in politics.

JOHN TRAIN, lot 27, concession 8, was born in the City of Toronto in
the year 1832, he being the eldest son of the late Christopher Train, who
emigrated from Hull, Yorkshire, England, the year previous to the birth of
our subject. His father, after his arrival in Canada, came direct to York
County, and for the first two years, remained in Toronto, where he engaged
in sawing lumber, but, on account of ill health was obliged to quit that
business. He bought a farm in Vaughan Township, on lot 20, concession 10,
where he remained some time. He was induced to try Toronto again, and
after battling vainly against ill-health, he was obliged once more to seek
the repose and pure air of the country. He came back to Vaughan, and
after a lapse of eight or nine years he bought the farm where Elder s Mill
now stands, and commenced to operate the saw-mill, renting off the agri
cultural part of his property. After a time he sold his farm and mill and
returned to his first purchase in concession 10 ; this in turn he sold, and
finally bought the farm on which his son, John, now resides. He died in
1857, at the age of fifty-eight years. John Train followed his father s
business, and runs a saw-mill on his property in Vaughan, and in addition
has one in the neighbourhood of Georgian Bay, where he does a large
lumbering trade. In 1856 he espoused Ann, daughter of Mr. Thomas
Gimmerson, a native of Wallace Township. They have nine sons and two
daughters. Mr. Train has taken scarcely any interest in municipal matters ;
he belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a Conservative in politics.

SAMUEL TROVER, lots i and 2, concession 3, was born in the Township
of Vaughan in the year 1838, and is the fifth son of the late Christian Troyer,
minister of the Mennonite Church for upwards of forty years, a Canadian
by birth, who settled in Vaughan at an early period in its history. His
mother was born on Yonge Street, near Thornhill, and was a daughter of
the late Nicholas Cober who died in the year 1842. His people on both
sides were originally from Pennsylvania, U. S. His father commenced
farming on lot 5, concession 3, where he lived for twenty-six years, after
which he moved on to the farm which is now in the hands of our subject.
Mr. Troyer was married in the year 1865, his wife s maiden name being
Mary Ann Baldwin, a Canadian by birth ; the fruit of this union was a
family of six children, all living. They belong to the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Troyer is not much of a politician, but countenances good measures,
25

Biographical Notices.

rather than support hard and fast lines of party. The house on Yonge
Street, near Thornhill, formerly in the possession of his grandfather, was
the fifth built north of Toronto.

JACOB TWYER, lot 8, concession 8, was born in York Township in 1829,
and is a descendant of a family who came from Pennsylvania at an early
day. He is the fourth son of the late Jacob Twyer, an early settler of York.
He was a member of the Lutheran Church. Our subject was married in
the year 1859 to Mary Hackins, a daughter of the late James Hackins, of
Albion Township, by whom he has twelve children, all living. Mr. Twyer
is an adherent of the Bible Christian Church, and is a Reformer in politics.

PETER VANDERBUIGHER, lot 24, concession 2, is descended from a
U. E. Loyalist family, who came from Pennsylvania, U. S. His father
was Richard Vanderbuigher, who was born in Markham Township,
his parents being amongst the very earliest settlers there. Peter was also
born in Markham in the year 1817. In the year 1843 he purchased the
farm in Vaughan, where he still resides. In 1843 he married Mary Ann
Marsh, of Canadian birth, and daughter of the late James Marsh, of Mark-
ham Township ; by this marriage he has seven children. He belongs to
the Presbyterian Church, and is a Conservative in politics.

PETER G. WARDLAW, lot 21, concession 9, was born in the Township
of Etobicoke, in the year 1851, being the second son of Mr. Peter Wardlaw,
who resides on lot 24, concession A of that township. Mr. Peter G. Ward-
law was married in 1875, his wife s maiden name being Elizabeth Parsons,
daughter of Mr. Matthew Parsons, of York Township. They have a family
of three children. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a
Reformer in politics.

JAMES WATSON, lot 23, concession 3, was born at Gambleton, Scotland,
in the year 1820, and came to Canada with his parents when but two years
of age. His father, the late John Watson, on arriving with his family at
Toronto moved up at once into Vaughan Township, and located on lot 9,
concession 2, where he remained a few years. Apparently not satisfied
with his position he gave up the farm and hired himself out for a length of
time, subsequently locating on lot 23, concession 5, where he lived six years.
He tried two other localities before ultimately settling on lot 25, concession
4, where he died. The subject of this sketch commenced life on his own
account by threshing, which branch of industry he followed for over twenty-
seven years. In 1866 he purchased the farm he now holds, and which he

Township of Vaughan. 371

has farmed very successfully up to the present. He married in 1858 Nancy
Jane White: they have a family of three children. He belongs to the
Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer in politics.

THOMAS WATSON, lot 32, concession 4, is a native of Yorkshire, Eng
land, and was born in the year 1814. He emigrated to Canada in the year
1831, and the subsequent eleven years worked for different farmers in and
about Thornhill, amongst others the late Mr. Thorn. He then purchased
land in the Township of Vaughan on which he still resides. Being economi
cal as well as industrious he has become the owner of two other farms, and
possesses now a considerable amount of property. Mr. Watson was married
in the year 1835, his wife s maiden name being Hannah Morrison: they
have a family of seven children living. He has taken no active part in
municipal affairs, his own business and family having absorbed his whole
time and attention. He belongs to the Episcopal Church, and is a Conser
vative in politics.

WILLIAM WATSON, lot 7, concession 6, is a native of Lanarkshire,
Scotland, where he was born in the year 1831. He came to Canada in
1856, and settled in Markham Township, York County, where he remained
about two years. He then moved into Scarboro Township, where he
stayed seventeen years, subsequently locating on lot 7, concession 6, in the
Township of Vaughan. Mr. Watson was married before he left Scotland ;
his family consists of seven children, all living. He has exerted himself
very much in church matters, and is an elder of the Presbyterian body. He
is a Reformer in politics. While a resident in Scarboro Township he took
considerable interest in the Agricultural Society, of which he was a director.

GEORGE WELDRICK, lot 35, concession i. This gentleman, so well
known in connection with agricultural matters in the township and county,
was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England, in 1828. He emigrated to Canada
in 1849, and settled in Scarboro Township, where for a short time he ran a
threshing machine, subsequently renting a farm. He afterwards rented a
farm from Mr. T. Langstaff, near Thornhill, in Markham Township, which
he cultivated and resided upon about fourteen years. He then purchased
his present farm, which has now been in his possession about fourteen years.
He was married in the year 1852, his wife being Hannah, daughter of the late
William Boynton, of Markham Township: he has a family of three sons and
one daughter. Mr. Weldrick has in his possession several prizes and diplomas
received from the County and Provincial Fairs, awarded to him for excel
lence in his breeds of cattle and sheep, together with horses. His Leicester

3/2 Biographical Notices.

Cotswold sheep and Durham cattle are much admired. In other matters
connected with agriculture he has always shown a desire to promote its
interests in his section ; and, by adopting the most complete methods, has
been the cause of much emulation amongst his neighbours, to the general
benefit of the township. Mr. Weldrick in politics is now a Conservative,
having in recent years altered his opinions on the National Policy. He
is an adherent of the Methodist Church, and highly respected wherever he
is known.

HIRAM WHITE, lot 8, concession 3, is a native of Vaughan Township,
and was born on the farm where he now lives. His father, the late Hiram
White, was one of the first settlers in the section, there being but three
houses when he first located there. Mr. White, sen r, was from Vermont,
U.S., but is descended from an English family who settled in that State
before the Revolutionary War. On coming to Canada he first settled in
Etobicoke Township on the Humber River, but remained there only a short
time, subsequently moving into Vaughan where he lived until his death.
He had a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, Hiram and
one sister, Mrs. Simon Shink, being the only two living of this family. Mr.
White married in 1853 a daughter of Mr. William Reefer, by whom he
has a family of seven children. He is connected with the English Church,
and in politics is a supporter of the Reform party.

ROBERT WILSON, lot 23, concession 5, was born in the Township of
Chinguacousy, Peel County, in the year 1841. He is the eldest son of Mr.
John Wilson of that township, who emigrated from the County of Cumber
land, England, about the year 1827. He settled in the Township of
Chinguacousy, where he purchased land on lot 9, concession i, west of the
centre, where he has since continued to live. Mr. Wilson, sen r, married
after his arrival in Canada, his wife s name being Ellen Craig ; they had a
family of six sons and four daughters, of whom five sons and two daughters
are living. Robert Wilson has never married. He is a member of the
Methodist Church, and a Conservative in politics.

DAVID WITHERSPOON, lot 25, concession 7, was born in the Township
of Vaughan on lot 12, concession 7, in the year 1856, being the youngest son
of Mr. Peter Witherspoon, an old settler in the township, who has now
retired and lives at Woodbridge. Mr. Witherspoon was married in the
year 1883. His wife s maiden name was Mary Blough, daughter of Mr.
John Blough of Vaughan Township, by whom he had one child. In
religion he is a Presbyterian ; in politics a Reformer.

VILLAGE OF RICHMOND HILL.

VILLAGE OF RICHMOND

HILf

AVID BOYLE, ex-Reeve of the Township of Vaughan, is a native
of Ayrshire, Scotland, where he was born in 1821. In the spring
of 1842 he emigrated to Canada, and located at York Mills,
where he worked as blacksmith for twelve years. He then took
a farm in concession 2 of East York, on which he lived for
five years, and subsequently purchased two hundred and fifteen
acres of land, w T here there was a saw-mill which he operated until 1881, when
he retired. He has held the offices of Reeve, Deputy-Reeve, and School
Trustee; all of these offices he has satisfactorily filled. In 1848 he married
Miss Ann Williamson, a native of England ; they had born to them the
following children, viz. : David, born 1850 ; John, born 1852 ; Mary Ann,
born 1853 > Agnes, born 1855, died in 1872 ; Matthew, born 1857.

WILLIAM FRENCH, carriage manufacturer, Richmond Hill, was born in
Scotland in 1832, and came to Canada with his parents in 1835. His father
was a blacksmith, and on his arrival in York first located at Elgin Mills.
His mother s maiden name was Sarah Craige. William learned his trade
with his father, and in 1857 went into business on his own account at
Richmond Hill. In 1878 he opened his present commodious place of
business, a large building of three storeys high, and no x 30 feet measure-
settler in the township, and emigrated from the North of Ireland to Canada
in the year 1823. He purchased lot n, concession 4, on which he settled
ment, where he employs fifteen men, and conducts a business of $20,000
annually. His establishment is fitted up with all the latest improvements
in machinery, which is driven by an engine of sixteen horse-power. In
addition to this manufacturing industry Mr. French owns a farm of one
hundred acres in Vaughan Township, being a part of lot 23, concession 2,
which he cultivates. Mr. French has also taken an active part in municipal
affairs, and has occupied the position of Village Reeve ; he is now a School
Trustee. He was married in 1859, his family being as follows : Annie,
Frank, Thomas, Mary, Wycliffe, Matilda, Susan and William.

376 Biographical Notices.

DR. JAMES LANGSTAFF, of Richmond Hill, the youngest of eight children,
was born near Thornhill in 1825. His father, John Langstaff, from New
Jersey, U.S., was married on Yonge Street in 1808, to Lucy Miles, daughter
of Abner Miles, named in Dr. Scadding s " Toronto of Old." Dr. Lang-
staff studied two years as house-pupil with Dr. Rolph, also two years in
Guy s Hospffal, London, England. He commenced practice in Unionville
in the spring of 1849, but removed in the following September to Richmond
Hill, where he has continued to reside up to the present time, and is still in
the active practice of his profession. He has been twice married, first to
Mary Ann Miller, daughter of Henry Miller, Esq., of Thornhill, who died
in 1879, leaving four children. In 1882 he was married to E. F. Louisa
Palmer, daughter of J. W. Palmer, Whitby. In politics Dr. J. Langstaff
has been an active Reformer, although his father and three brothers were
ranged on the opposite side. He has been a member of the Presbyterian
Church for many years, and has always taken an active part in the
temperance cause.

JOHN PALMER, hotel proprietor, was born in Devonshire, England, in
1840, and came with his parents John and Frances (Holman) Palmer to
Canada in 1843. Our subject worked on his father s farm until 1865, an d in
that year purchased the Robin Hood Hotel, which he conducted only six
months. After selling the property he bought the stage which plied between
Stouffville and Toronto. In 1849 he bought the property known as The
Palmer House, Richmond Hill, which he rebuilt in 1874, an d which with
an additional two acres of land is valued at $15,000. He also owns a farm
of one hundred and seven and a-half acres, being part of lot 46, concession
i of Markham. Mr. Palmer takes considerable interest in the raising of
heavy-draught horses, and has imported some of the best stallions ever
introduced into the country. In 1868 he married Delia Veley of Vaughan
Township, by whom he has two children : Walter, born 1869, and Jennie,
born 1879.

TOWNSHIP OF KING

TOWNSHIP OF KING.

IEUTENANT-COLONEL ARTHUR ARMSTRONG,

deceased, was born in Ireland in 1812. He emigrated to Canada
in 1836, and locating in York County purchased lot 24, concession
9, King Township. He rilled several important offices during his
career, and was in 1838 appointed a J.P. He gave very
valuable assistance to the Government during the troublous
times of 1837, and was authorized by the Governor-General to
raise a company, which he succeeded in doing in the short period of four
days. He was taken prisoner by a party of Rebels who endeavoured by
threats to coerce him into joining their ranks, but it is scarcely necessary
to add without success. Baring his bosom he gave them to understand
that his life was at their disposal if they wished to take it, but his loyalty
to the Crown should never be questioned. Through his instrumentality the
whole party were afterwards arrested. He was appointed the first Clerk of
the Division Court, which position he occupied about ten years. In 1865
he took a first-class certificate at the School of Military Instruction. He
cleared over three hundred acres of land. He died in the year 1880, after
a long, useful and honourable life.

ARTHUR ARMSTRONG, son of the above, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in
1835, and came with his parents to Canada when but a child. His early
education was received in the Common Schools, afterwards finishing at
Upper Canada College. He succeeded his father in 1859 as Clerk of the
Division Court, and continues to retain that position. In military matters
he has taken an active part, having held honourable positions in both
Cavalry and Infantry Corps. He retired in 1875 with the rank of Major.
Major Armstrong was married in 1865 to Miss Bosworth, daughter of Alfred
Bosworth, M.D., late of Paris, Ont. His wife died in 1880, leaving five
children to mourn their loss, viz. : A. Bosworth, born 1868; Walter Clifford,
born 1873 ; Adelaide Dewson, born 1875 ; John A. McDonald, born 1877 ;

380 Biographical Notices.

Violet Keith, born 1879. Major Armstrong again married, his second wife
being a daughter of the late Colonel R. S. Denison. Our subject is a strong
Conservative in politics, and in religion holds to the Church of England.

FRANCIS ATTRIDGE, lot 6, concession 6, carriage manufacturer, Laskay
P.O., was born in Simcoe County, and acquired a knowledge of carriage-
making, at which trade he worked as journeyman for a period of fifteen
years. He established his present business in 1883, and by strict attention
and a careful regard to all the details of workmanship, he has been enabled
to secure a considerable amount of the trade of his vicinity.

JOSEPH BALDWIN, deceased, was one of the early pioneers of King
Township, and was born in the year 1807, at Laskay, Yorkshire, England.
He emigrated to Canada in 1830, and located for about two years in the
Township of Loughborough, Frontenac County. Attracted by the encourag
ing reports that were being received there of fine agricultural land north of
little York, he came to York County in 1832, and settled in the Township
of King, on lot 3, concession 5, and may be called one of the originators of
the Village of Laskay. He settled in the dense forest, amongst the hills
that skirt one of the eastern branches of the River Humber, on the north
half of the lot previously alluded to, where a small beginning had been made
towards the erection of a saw-mill and the building of a dam. Mr. Baldwin
purchased the property in its unfinished state, and completed its erection,
and afterwards successfully operated the saw-mill in connection with the
clearing of timber off his land. He was married during the year of his
arrival in King Township, his wife being Elizabeth Simpson, daughter of
George Simpson (a highly respected Quaker family residing at the settle
ment of the Society of Friends, about three miles south of the present
Town of Newmarket). There not being at that time any authorized
minister residing within eighteen miles of the residence of his wife s father,
the marriage contract was drawn by Mr. William Tyler, Justice of the
Peace, and witnessed by a number of relations and friends. The document
is still in existence, being in the possesion of their eldest son by whom it is
preserved as a curiosity. Mr. Baldwin s wife was born at Kirbymoorside,
Yorkshire, England, in 1808, and came with the remainder of her father s
family to Canada in 1831. The lumber mill of Mr. Baldwin, being the
only one in the section at that time, had to supply the demand of a
considerable portion of the district, and as a consequence he was more
than usually prosperous, although, what with the work of the mill and the
additional labour of clearing the land, his resources of strength and endur
ance were tried to the utmost, but the innate energy he possessed conquered

Township of King. 381

all difficulties and his progress was one of continued success. In the year
1844 he was selected to represent the Township in the District Council,
which office he filled to the entire satisfaction of his constituents for
several years until 1851, when he was compelled to retire, from the pressure
of his own increasing business. In the year 1849 he erected a large first-
class flour and grist-mill on the south side of his property and entered
largely into that business. The same mill is yet in good order, and is known
as Laskay Mills ; mainly from this establishment may be said to have
sprung the present lively Village of Laskay. But, although his business
prospered, Mr. Baldwin about this time suffered a severe loss by the death
of his wife, which occurred on August 19, 1851, in her forty-third year.
She had throughout her married life been of invaluable assistance to her
husband, patient under the discomforts of their early settlement, and
exercising by her uninterrupted cheerfulness a bright influence that drove
away the care which attends on accumulating business. She had three
children who still survive her, two sons and one daughter. Mr. Baldwin
felt his loss deeply, and in the interests of his growing family and the
general comfort of his home married a second time, his wife being Mrs.
Bailey, who proved an affectionate step-mother, dividing her kindness
and attention equally between the children of his first wife and her
own, of whom they have one son and three daughters still living. Mr.
Baldwin transferred his milling business to his second son, George Simpson
Baldwin, in 1865, and went into partial retirement, his only occupation
being that of farming, the old saw-mill having become dilapidated and
unworkable from the wear and tear of age the year previous. In the year
1879 he leased his farm and built a village residence, to which he repaired
and retired altogether from active life. He lived but two years, however, to
enjoy the ease which the labours of a long and honourable career had earned
for him, and in April, 1882, he found refuge in that haven against whose
breakwater the storms of life for ever beat in vain. His wife died about
three months previous, on December 23, 1881, in the sixty-second year of
her age. The cause of Mr. Baldwin s death was cancer. He was buried
in the graveyard of the Methodist Church, along with his two wives and
three infant children, that resting-place being on the lot which Mr. Baldwin
had presented to the Methodist body for that purpose. Of his character
little need be said ; the example of a well spent life requires no further
testimony than its own acts ; and no language of ours will contribute
greater honour to his memory than the lesson taught to the rising gener
ation of what may be accomplished in the sure way of gaining the respect
of all by closely imitating his mode and manner of life.

382 Biographical Notices.

HENRY BALDWIN, proprietor of the woollen mills, Laskay, is the
eldest son of the late Joseph Baldwin, and was born in 1835 in the house
near the old saw mill to which allusion is made in the biographical sketch
of the father. Our subject and his brother, George S. (who was born in
1839), received all the Common School education that it was possible to
obtain, with additional completion in Grammar Schools in Barrie and
Toronto, and afterwards were thoroughly taught every branch of the father s
business with whom they continued, rendering their united assistance for
the general good. Henry in 1856 was established by his father in a general
store in Laskay, which he conducted in connection with the other branches
of his father s business ; he was subsequently appointed to the position of
Postmaster of Laskay, which office he has held for over twenty years. He
afterwards added an additional branch to his business and purchased a
carding and cloth finishing mill near to the store, which business he yet
owns and manages, having recently enlarged it to treble its original size and
capacity. The motive power is principally water, although when that fails
steam is used. He has also enlarged his store to suit the requirements of
increased trade. In the spring of 1862 Mr. Baldwin finding his health begin
ning to fail on account of the severe strain to which he was subjected by
his close application to business, resolved to trust to the benefits likely to
accrue from an ocean voyage rather than the doubtful expedient of
physicians prescriptions, and accordingly sailed from New York in a
steamer called the North Star, being the commencement of a journey which
had for its termination Victoria, in British Columbia. He had for his
travelling companion Mr. William Jenkins, the voyage to Aspinall, in the
Caribbean Sea, being described as very enjoyable. After crossing the
Darien Isthmus by railroad they embarked on the steamship Orizaba for
San Francisco. The boat was very much overcrowded and our passengers
suffered severely, but the most miserable existence comes to an end, as did
the voyage, and on the twenty-seventh day from leaving New York the
travellers found themselves gazing on the horizon of the Pacific from the
quays of the Californian Capital. There they remained a few days waiting
for a steamer that was to convey them to Victoria, B.C., and on arriving
in that city after five days sail, their ocean journey may be said to have
been completed. The invalid had not trusted his sick body to the care of
old Neptune in vain, and on his arrival on the western shores of the
Dominion, his health, if not quite restored, was so far improved as to lead
to the hope that he would shortly be in the full possession of his strength and
vigour. After a short stay at Victoria they went to New Westminister, and
from that place boarded the steamer on the Eraser River and travelled to

Township of King* 383

the head of navigation, and thence to the gold mines of Carriboo. They
arrived at their destination in safety, after having performed a journey of five
hundred miles on foot ; but now, not being satisfied with the exorbitant prices
demanded for provisions, which added to the doubtful prospect of striking
the glittering metal, they concluded to return to Victoria, probably thinking
that money was more likely to be got rid of at the mines than found. Their
return to Victoria was signalized by the parting between Mr. Jenkins and
Mr. Baldwin, the former taking the steamer for San Francisco, from which
place he proposed visiting the Californian mines, while the latter, finding
the pure air of British Columbia suitable to his health, resolved to remain
where he was. The following spring Mr. Baldwin, still unsatisfied with his
former trip to the mines, determined upon another journey thither, and
accompanied by three others (who, like himself, were anxious to test the
truth of the reported rich deposits at Carriboo), commenced their expedi
tion. They each had a mule which they loaded with about three hundred
pounds weight of provisions, and thus equipped started from the head of
navigation on Fraser River. The second day out they lost one valuable
mule by accident, but eventually arrived at the mines without much further
trouble or loss. They located at the Town of Richfield, on William s Creek.
A few weeks of hard and dreary toil with shovel and pick convinced our
subject that mining has its disadvantages, especially when the labour is
unremunerative ; that is to say, when the gold for which they were in search
most unaccountably happened to be absent from that part where their claim
was located. A continuation of ill-luck, which appeared to have become
chronic, induced him to adopt the slow but sure process of earning a living
in the trade to which he had from youth upwards been accustomed, and
accordingly he went to work in a saw-mill, for which he received good
wages ; but which at the same time entailed on him long hours of employ
ment with a continuity of work through the entire seven days of the week,
Sunday not being recognized as a day of rest at the " Diggings." By this
and mining, Mr. Baldwin managed to accumulate considerable capital
during his over seven years residence in British Columbia, although at
times from investing too hopefully miner like he lost on some occasions
portions of his savings. In the fall of 1869 the idea occurred to him that a
return to his birthplace for the purpose of winding up his affairs there
would be the correct and necessary thing to do previous to settling in
British Columbia for good. He arrived at Laskay, York County, on
December 9, 1879, an< ^ at tne solicitation of his friends and relatives was
prevailed upon to remain and return to his old business. He recommenced
the general store and the carding and cloth mills, which he conducted

384 Biographical Notices.

successfully until 1882, when he disposed of the general store part of the
business and has since only carried on the woollen factory. Mr. Baldwin
was married in September, 1878, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Lewis,
a pioneer of Markham Township ; her mother, Mary Lewis, is of Dutch
descent and is still living, the father having died November, 1884, in his
eighty-second year. Mr. Baldwin s wife died March 20, 1880 ; two children
(twins) still survive her, viz. : Thomas Lewis and George Henry, healthy
and promising boys,

THOMAS BARRADELL, lot 25, concession 5, was born in England in 1827,
and came to Canada in 1851. He hired out as farm and mill hand, and
afterwards rented a farm for a few years. He bought his present farm in
1876. He has two children : William, born 1861 ; and Ida, born 1862.

THOMAS BATEMAN, lot 25, concession n, is the son of the late Mr.
Stephen Bateman, who emigrated from England to this country in 1849:
he died in 1855. Thomas was born in England in 1818, and emigrated at
the same time as his father, and settled on the farm where he now lives.
He was twice married. By his first wife he has three children living :
Milton, James and Joseph. He has one son by his second marriage : John,
born in 1862.

WALTER BEASLEY, lot 4, concession 10, is the son of William Beasley,
mentioned elsewhere, and was born on the old homestead on concession 9
of King, and inherited his present farm from his father.

WILLIAM BEASLEY, deceased, was descended from a U. E. Loyalist
family, and was born in the Bay of Quinte" District in 1812. He early
acquired the trade of carpenter, and on coming to York County located in
King Township in 1840, and followed that trade in connection with farming,
he having purchased the east half of lot 8, concession 9. In 1872 he pur
chased the east half of lot 4 and part of lot 5, concession 10, where he
resided until his death in 1874. His widow, one son and a daughter still
reside on the same lot. His wife s maiden name was Miss Ruterbough, of
Vaughan Township, by whom he had eight children : five are still living.
John Beasley, lot 8, concession 9, is the eldest son of the late William
Beasley, and was born on the old homestead, where he has ever since
resided. In addition to the careful attention he has paid to the raising of
crops, the breeding ot cattle has occupied a considerable portion of his
time, he having at present some very fine thoroughbred shorthorns. Mr.
Beasley has been appointed a Justice of the Peace, which was a very

Township of King. 385

wise selection. He has also held the office of Township Collector for
many years past. He was married in 1869 to Miss Kurtz, by whom he had
three children, two of whom are living: William J. and Victoria E. Mr.
Beasley is a Reformer in politics. He is an active member of the Good
Templars and Grange organizations. He is also a commissioner for taking
affidavits, conveyancer, etc., and recording steward of the Kleinburg circuit
of the Methodist Church ; altogether taking an active part in local affairs.

JAMES BELL was born in Scotland in 1810, and emigrated to Canada in
1831. He navigated the lake for a few years, and then bought a farm near
Guelph, which was at the time complete bush. He cleared his land with the
help of his son James ; by their united efforts it was soon under cultiva
tion. Mr. Bell s wife, whose maiden name was Mary Cairns, died the year
subsequent to their arrival in this country : two of their children are living
-James and Jane. Mr. Bell came to Canada without means, but has been
very successful : he is still living on the old place. James Bell, jun r, was
born in Scotland in 1827, and was only four years old when his father
brought him to Canada. He was married in 1854 to Miss Margaret
McCallum : they had five children, four of whom are living Duncan, Adam,
James, and Elizabeth. He is in religion a Presbyterian, and in politics a
Reformer. A fine large brick church stands on an acre of ground presented
by Mr. Bell.

JOHN BLACK, lot 14, concession i. His parents came to Canada in 1800,
and settled in the Province of Quebec, where the subject of this notice was
born in 1818. His father was accidentally killed in Quebec, and his mother
afterwards removed to York County. In early life John was employed
variously, and in 1840 he commenced farming. He bought the farm on
which he now resides in 1843, and also purchased lot 2, concession 3. By
thrift and constant attention he has been moderately successful, and has
been enabled to divide a fair share of his accumulation among his children.
He was married in 1840 to Araminta Hillier, by whom he had nine children ;
seven are still living, viz., Jerad, Joel, Zemas, John, Margaret, Mary, and
Maria. Mr. Black took an active part during the Mackenzie Rebellion,
and for the sympathy and assistance he gave towards that movement was
imprisoned for a time by the Government.

ABSALOM BLAKER, lot 21, concession 2, is of German extraction. He

was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and came to Canada in 1828. He

located first in Toronto, where he worked at the trade of carpenter for a

few years, making trips to the United States at intervals. He then went

26

386 Biographical Notices.

to Newmarket and started the first foundry in that section, which he has
conducted for close upon ten years. He subsequently bought his present
farm, which he has continued to reside upon. He espoused Miss Eunice
Hutchinson, by whom he has had seven children, three only of whom are
now living, viz., Henry, born in 1837; Charles, born 1841; and Margaret,
born 1843.

THOMAS BORDEN, retired, was born in King Township, York County,
in 1822, being the son of Joseph Borden, who emigrated from the United
States to Canada in the year 1800. Mr. Borden, sen r, purchased property
in concession 8 of King Township, where he raised a family of three children,
and remained there until his death in 1868. Thomas, on commencing life
for himself, bought some land on lot 25, concession 6, in his native town
ship, which he successfully cultivated until 1883, when he retired and pur
chased his present residence in Lloydtown. He married in 1857 Jane
Dale, of King Township : the issue of this union is a family of eight children.
Mr. Borden is a Reformer in politics, and belongs to the English Church.

WILLIAM BREEDON, deceased, was born in England in 1791, and emi
grated to Canada with his family in 1829. He was a shoemaker by trade,
which business he followed after his arrival here, and in 1834 purchased
land on lot 6, concession 10, in King Township, which, with the assistance
of his sons, he succeeded in clearing. His occupation hitherto having been
of a sedentary nature, and he himself being totally unacquainted with the hard
ships and privations of pioneer life, as may be imagined he found the work of
preparing wild land for cultivation somewhat uncongenial work ; but energy
and a determination to conquer triumphed over discomfort, and all difficul
ties were eventually overcome. The result was that he left to his family a
fine property and the example of a well-spent life. William Breedon,
eldest son of the above, was born in England, and came to Canada with his
parents when only eight years old. He was early initiated into all the hard
ships of pioneer life, and assisted to clear his father s farm. He bought his
present farm in 1842, which he has much improved. He was married in
1842 to Elizabeth Harman, by whom he had one son, William J.

W. J. BRERETON, physician, was born in Simcoe County in 1846, being
one of a family of six children born to Mr. C. S. Brereton, who emigrated
from England and took up his residence in Simcoe County at an early date.
W. J. Brereton received a thorough English education in the Common
School, which he completed at the High School, subsequently graduating
at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Ontario, in 1871. He bought

Township of King. 387

and located at his present residence the same year, and in 1872 married
the eldest daughter of the late Mr. H. Lount, of Barrie. He has four
children living: Cloudsley H., born October 25, 1873 5 Ewart L., born 1876;
Clara, born 1879 ; Ottie, born 1882 and died 1884; Mandall Schovell, born
June, 1884. He is a Conservative in politics, and in religion a member of
the Church of England.

JAMES BRETT, lot 6, concession 4, was born in Willowdale in 1841,
being the son of the late John Brett, who emigrated from England in 1836
and settling in York County located at Willowdale. Mr. Brett, sen r, was
confined during the Rebellion of 1837, and was ever after a strenuous
supporter of Reform. He died in 1884, at the age of seventy-five years.
James lived on the old homestead until he was nineteen years of age, and
was then apprenticed to the waggon-making trade. He commenced busi
ness for himself at Thornhill ; but shortly afterwards removed to his present
stand, where he does a large trade, and manufactures all kinds of waggon
and carriage wood work, together with painting and trimming. He runs a
blacksmith s business in connection. He was married in 1866 to Miss
Car ley, daughter of Peter Carley ; they have three children : George E.,
James O. and John L. W. He is a Reformer in politics, and in religion a
Methodist.

JAMES BROWN, lot i, concession 3, was born in the North of Ireland in
the year 1800. He is a weaver by trade, and came to Canada in 1840,
having spent seven years previously in the United States. He followed his
business after his arrival here, having taken possession of his present
farm, which was then all bush, he having cleared and otherwise improved
it at intervals. He was married in Ireland in 1821 to Mary Stewart, by
whom he has five children living : George, Robert, William, James and
Mary. Mr. Brown belongs to the Church of England, and is a Conserva
tive in politics.

JOHN R. BROWN, retired farmer, Lloydtown, is descended from an Irish
family, who settled in Pennsylvania, U.S., at an early day. John R. came
to Canada in 1830, and settled in York County, and during the Rebellion of
1837 was arrested for complicity in the rising. He was imprisoned for
eight months, and afterwards banished from the country. He returned
again after an absence of two years, and purchased lot 26, concession 8 of
King Township, for which he paid eight dollars per acre. He has been very
prosperous, and has erected for himself and family, at considerable expense,
a handsome and commodious brick residence. He retired from active life

388 Biographical Notices.

in 1880, and is now living in ease and comfort on the fruit of his past
labour. He married in 1840 Mary Price," a native of Pennsylvania; they
have a family of eleven children, as follow : Charles, Martha, Angelina,
Louisa, George W., Franklin, John N., Martin, Josiah, Mary and Evaline.
Mr. Brown is a Methodist in religion, and a Reformer in politics.

JOHN BROWN, blacksmith, was born in England in 1823. His father
was Thomas Brown, who emigrated with his wife and family to Canada in
1830. Mr. Brown settled first in the County of York, where he bought some
land, which he afterwards sold, and then moved to Wilmot Township,
Waterloo County. He died there at a good old age, having in his connec
tion with the section made himself highly respected. John was about seven
years of age when he came to Canada. He was at the age of fifteen
apprenticed to the trade of blacksmith, and after serving a term of five years,
commenced his present extensive and profitable business. He married
Miss Elizabeth Thompson, of this township, by whom he has two children
living, Louisa and Ivon H. Mr. Brown is a Methodist in religion, and a
Reformer in politics.

JAMES BURNS, lot 6, concession 4, is a native of Scotland, and came to
Canada in 1834. He located on his present lot the same year, which was
then entirely bush, to which he has since added the adjacent lot (5).
He has given agricultural matters the greater portion of his attention, yet
for twenty-five years Mr. Burns operated a saw mill, and also a grist mill
on Manitoulin Island, where he owns about six hundred acres of land.
Mr. Burns has accumulated this property notwithstanding loss from fires,
etc. He was married in 1837 to Miss Mary McPhearson, of Scotland, who
died in 1881. She had five children, four of whom survive her : John,
Catharine, William and James. He is a member of the Presbyterian
Church, and is a Reformer in politics. As an instance of the state of the
country at the period of Mr. Burns first location, money was so scarce that
months often passed by without those in the more remote settlements seeing
a single piece of silver.

FREDERICK BURROWS, lot 15, concession 3, is one of a class of men to
whom has been given the peculiar privilege of making the best of oppor
tunities. Originally a furniture polisher and finisher, he worked at that
business for a time after he came to Canada in 1837, and subsequently
purchased land in King Township ; his intention was to devote the
remainder of his life to agriculture. However, the fact of the non-existence
of roads and other attributes to personal comfort and convenience dissuaded

Township of King.

him from continuing the cultivation of his property, and he returned to
Toronto to follow the business in which he had previously been engaged.
In 1852, on the completion of some of the railroads, he returned to his lot,
cut and sold the timber, and erected a saw mill which was the first steam
saw mill in King Township, and soon put his land in a high state of
productiveness, which he has since been enabled to keep up to the average.
He is a native of Ireland, and was born in the year 1816. He was married in
New York to Martha Potts, a native of Ireland, by whom he has had five
children, three only are now living, viz : Frederick is a School Inspector
of Lennox County ; James, a farmer in Grey County, and John has a farm
in this township. Although getting somewhat advanced in years, Mr.
Burrows is still an active man, and superintends all the business of his
farm. He is a Reformer in politics.

JOSEPH BUTLER, lot 29, concession 4, is the son of Joseph Butler, sen r,
and was born in England in 1832. He came to Canada in 1854 without
funds, and worked some years as a farm hand. He afterwards rented land
and finally purchased the farm where he now lives, which he has himself
cleared and made highly productive. In addition he owns seventy-five
acres in the New Survey. He married Charlotte Mumford, a native of Eng
land, by whom he has seven children living. He is a Conservative in
politics, and in religion belongs to the Methodist Church.

JOHN NELSON BYERS, physician and surgeon, was born in 1842. His
father was Samuel Byers, a native of Ireland, who settled in York County
in 1834. He participated in the Rebellion of 1837, and died in the year
1874 i n Ontario County. The subject of this sketch had the advantage of
a good sound education, and in 1868 graduated as M.D. from Victoria
College. He first began practice in Muskoka in 1868, and in 1875 located
at Lloydtown, where he has since remained. He married in 1867 Miss
Hadwen, of English birth, by whom he has five children. He is a
Conservative in politics. Mr. Byers maternal great-grandfather and grand
father, John Rouse, were U.E. Loyalists, having emigrated from Pennsyl
vania, U. S., in 1812 ; their property was confiscated by the American
Government.

ADAM CAIRNS, lot 12, concession 10, was born in Scotland in 1802, and
in 1831 emigrated to Canada. He settled in York County and purchased
the lot where he now lives, it being then quite uncleared and in its virgin
state. Mr. Cairns is a living example of what maybe accomplished by energy,

39O Biographical Notices.

perseverance and industry ; and considering the fact that he was in very poor
circumstances when he first landed, his present affluent position will attest
to his having made use of the inherent qualities of his nationality to
advantage. He married before he came to Canada Catharine McFarland,
by whom he had nine children, seven of whom are living: Thomas, Mary,
Duncan, John, Margaret, Agnes and Janet. He belongs to the Presbyter
ian Church. Duncan Cairns, one of the above, was born on the old
homestead, where he has continued to reside, assisting his father in the
cultivation of the farm. He married Janet Boyd, daughter of Malcolm
Boyd, by whom he has a family of nine children.

JAMES CAIRNS was born in Scotland in 1808, and emigrated to Canada
in 1834. He settled in York County and remained a year or two in
Vaughan Township, after which he bought lot 15, concession 9, King Town
ship, then in a wild state. He was married to Miss Isabella McMurchy,
by whom he had eleven children ; six are still living, viz : Nancy, James,
Thomas (who lives on the homestead), Archibald, Martha and Janet.
Thomas was born in 1849, and married Margaret Atkinson ; they have one
child.

JOSEPH CAIRNS, lot 13, concession 10, is the son of the late John Cairns,
and was born on the old homestead, which he now owns, in 1850. His
father emigrated from Scotland in 1830, and settled on a bush farm in
Vaughan which he had purchased. He subsequently sold that one, and
removed to King Township and settled on lot 13, concession 10, where he
remained until his death in 1880, leaving a family of eleven children.
Joseph Cairns was married to Christina Watson, by whom he has three
children : William John, Kelso C. and Learat L.

WILLIAM CAIRNS, lot n, concession 9, is the son of John Cairns, of this
township, and was born on the old homestead, lot 13, concession 10. He
married Miss Ellen Watson. He purchased his present farm in 1881.

REVEREND JOHN W. CAMERON was born in New York State in 1851,
and received a very fair education in his youth. He entered at Knox
College in 1874, and graduated B.A. in 1881, having devoted much time to
theological studies. He was ordained to the ministry the same year in
which he graduated, and was immediately invited to take charge of the
Presbyterian Church at Laskay. He has also charge of churches in the
west of King Township ; the three under his control having a membership
of one hundred and seventy-five, having considerably increased since the

Township of King. 391

reverend gentleman took charge. The churches are all comfortable frame
buildings. He was married in 1882 to Miss Maggie Lockhart, of Toronto,
by whom he has one child, Mary Frances.

ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, lot 2, concession 7, was born in Scotland in the
year 1829, and came to Canada with his parents when only two years of
age. His father, Dougal Campbell, emigrated from Scotland to Canada in
1831, accompanied by his wife and four children. He bought a farm in
Albion Township, and afterwards removed to near Thornhill, in York
County, where he died in 1860. Archibald was brought up to farming, and
on commencing on his own account bought the farm he now occupies in
King Township. He was married in 1850 to Milcha, daughter of George
Atkinson, of Markham, by whom he has the following issue : Mary Mar
garet, Alexander, John, Jerome, Aaron, Archibald, Sarah and Esmerelda.

ABRAHAM CARLEY, deceased, emigrated from New York State to Canada
in 1831, and settled near what is now the Village of Thornhill, in York
County. He commenced farming about one hundred acres ; he was very
successful, and subsequently bought two hundred acres of bush land on lot
7, concession 5, which, with the assistance of his sons, he cleared and
cultivated. He died in 1864, after a useful and prosperous career, leaving
a large estate to his children, seven in number. In religion he was a
Methodist, and in politics a Conservative. Benjamin Carley, lot 7, conces
sion 5, son of the above, was born in New York State in 1814, and was
seventeen years old when he came to Canada with his parents. He had a
Common School education and has throughout his life been accustomed to
farming. He assisted to clear the home farm, where he has since continued
to reside. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a Reformer in
politics. Mr. Carley was married in 1837 to Miss Martha Clark, who
originally emigrated from Pennsylvania; their family consisted of ten
children, nine of them are living, as follow: Abraham, Sarah, Charles
(dead), Nancy, Alfred, Charlotte, William, Lavinia, Martha and Mary.

A. D. CARLEY, lot 7, concession 5, was born in the year 1846 on the
farm which he at present owns and occupies. His father was Peter B.
Carley, who came with his parents from Genesee County, New York State,
and inherited from our subject s grandfather the farm above mentioned, to
which he added another twenty-five acres, and subsequently acquired fifty
acres in concession 3. During the Rebellion of 1837 he took no part ; but
on one occasion narrowly escaped being killed by a mob of men armed
with clubs. He- was prosperous throughout his life, and died in the year

39 2 Biographical Notices.

1872, at the age of fifty-six. He left a family of nine children, all of whom
are living. A. D. Carley inherited the old homestead, consisting of seventy-
five acres, which he has worked since his father s death. Mr. Carley spent
about one year in Manitoba previous to taking entire possession of his farm.
He also works one hundred acres adjoining the old homestead. He was
married in 1875 to Miss Dutcher, o f Innisfil, by whom he has two children :
William B. and Francis A. O. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and
is a Reformer in politics.

REVEREND JAMES CARMICHAEL was born in the Ottawa Valley, near
Carleton Place, in 1828, his early years having been spent on his father s
farm. His preliminary education was received at the Common Schools,
and at the age of sixteen he commenced teaching, which he continued only
for a short time ; subsequently preparing for his University course, having
to walk five miles for each lesson. He entered at Queen s College, King
ston, in 1854, where he remained five sessions, and afterwards finished his
course at Glasgow, Scotland. In 1860 he was ordained, and accepted a
call from St. Andrew s congregation, of King Township a large, well-
finished stone church, on lot 10, concession 6, where he has officiated for
the past twenty-five years. During the early portion of his residence in
the township the reverend gentleman preached in Gaelic, as well as in
English, often preaching as many as five sermons in one day. He was
married in 1855 to Miss Martha Ross, who died on March 24, 1884. He
has two sons, Norman Ross and Fergus.

ORLIN CHAPPEL, lot 26, concession 3, was born in New York State in
1810, and came to Canada shortly after reaching man s estate. He settled
in York County, and worked around among farmers for a few years. He
then bought lot 26, concession 3, in King Township, which was then all
bush ; he cleared it, and has now got it into a fine state of cultivation. He
has since added eight acres to the original purchase. Mr. Chappel in 1865
received a permanent spinal injury from the fall of a horse he was riding,
since which time he has unfortunately been confined to his residence. He
was married in 1837 to Miss Melinda Heacock, daughter of Edward Hea-
cock, by whom he has three children, viz : Edward, born 1838 ; Loomis,
born 1842, and Lorinda, born 1850. During the Mackenzie Revolt Mr.
Chappel was arrested and kept prisoner for one week ; the official to whom
he was indebted for this circumstance was Captain Guthrie. Mr. Chappel
is a Reformer in politics, and in religion he belongs to the Society of
Friends.

Township of King. 393 ^

REVEREND HORACE D. COOPER was born in Huron County, being the
son of the Rev. H. C. Cooper, a clergyman of the Church of England, who
emigrated from London, England, in 1832, and settled in Huron County.
The reverend gentleman in 1848 removed to York County, and took charge
of Christ Church at Mimico. Horace D. received a liberal education and
obtained his degree of B.A. at Trinity College in 1859. He was ordained
by Bishop Strachan in 1861, and was subsequently engaged in missionary
work. He was appointed to the charge of St. Mary Magdalene s Church
at Lloydtown in 1883, which consists of some three hundred members. He
married a daughter of Peter Ruthven, of Hamilton, in July, 1864 by whom
he has a family of ten children, as follow : Peter E. S. was born in 1865 5
Henry W., born 1866; Horace Stanley, born 1868 ; Vivian L., born 1869;
Alfred St. Paul, born 1871 ; Sextus R. born 1873 5 Percy F., born 1876 ;
Ethel M., born 1878; Ernest Octavius, born 1879, and an infant, born
October 19, 1884.

^

emigrated from England to Canada in 1842 and settled in York County.
James was born the same year in which his parents came to this country,
and received a Common School education. He was married to Jeanette
Beaton, daughter of Donald Beaton, by whom he has five children, viz., John,
Hettie, Donald, William, and James. Mr. Cooper is a Reformer in politics.

ROBERT CREIGHTON, merchant, Schomberg, was born in Simcoe County
in the year 1860, being the son of Alexander Creighton, who emigrated from
Ireland in the year 1820, and after a life of activity and usefulness died in
1873. Robert was educated at the High Collegiate Institute at Colling-
wood and the Commercial School in London, and in 1883 commenced
business as a general grocer and dry-goods merchant in partnership with
Edmund Walker. He bought the property where he conducts the business,
having paid for the same $2,000. His trade is a very flourishing one, Mr.
Creighton being a very enterprising and industrious young man.

N. P. CROSSLEY, retired farmer, King Township, was born in Whit-
church, York County, in 1811. His father was Samuel Crossley, a native
of Pennsylvania, who died in 1831. His mother s name was Mary Barr,
also of Pennsylvania, who died in 1860 at the advanced age of over ninety
years. Their family consisted of four boys and four girls. They emigrated
from Pennsylvania to Canada in 1804, and followed the occupation of
farming in York County. N. P. Crossley, like his parents, followed agricul
tural pursuits until within the past few years, when he retired from active

394 Biographical Notices.

life. He was married in King Township in 1832 to Margaret Moore, who
was born in Ireland in 1812, being the daughter of Thomas and Mary
Moore ; they had four boys and three girls, as follow : Levi Nelson, engi
neer ; James Whiting, insurance agent and bailiff; Daniel Oliver, and
Hugh Thomas (the two last-named are ministers of the Methodist Church);
Mary, Ellen, and Ann Jane are the daughters. Mr. Crossley s eldest son,
Levi Nelson, was drowned in the fall of 1881, through the foundering of the
steamship Columbia in Lake Michigan, of which vessel he was chief engi
neer. Mr. Crossley belongs to the Methodist persuasion, and is a Reformer
in politics.

ANDREW DAVIS is descended from a U. E. Loyalist family. His grand
father, Asahel Davis, came from Carolina in 1790, and settled in Halton
County, Governor Simcoe at that time sending a gunboat to the mouth of
the Genessee River to meet two families, that of Mr. Davis being ,one and
Mr. Ghent s the other. Asahel devoted the greater portion of his life to
farming in Nelson Township, County Halton, where he remained until his
death. James Davis, the eldest son of Asahel Davis, and father of Andrew,
was born in 1798. His wife s maiden name was Ghent, a descendant of the
family that came to Canada with Mr. Davis s family; they had five children,
four of whom are still living. In 1828 he came to York County, and settled
on lot 20, concession i, York Township (west of Yonge Street). Andrew,
the subject of this sketch, was born in Halton County in 1825, and was
brought up on his father s farm. He acquired a Common School educa
tion, and at the age of fifteen commenced work. His father operated a
tannery, in which in due time Mr. Davis had a partnership, and which
finally passed into his possession completely. In 1848 he married Elizabeth
Pease, who was born June 6, 1822. He carried on the tannery until 1856,
when he sold out and bought a tannery and sixteen acres on lot 6, concession
5, King Township, where he conducted business until 1884, when he retired
in favour of his son, who for about twelve years previous had held an inter
est in the business. Mr. Davis has taken an active part in municipal affairs,
and in politics has always recorded his vote for the Reform party. He is
an adherent of the Methodist Church. His family is composed of the follow
ing : Elihu James, now owner of the tannery ; Ghent ; Edward Pease, now
practising law in Winnipeg ; and Lelia Ada.

E. J. DAVIS, eldest son of the above, and successor of his father in the
tannery business, was born in the Township of York in 1851. He was
educated at the Common and District Grammar Schools, and took a com
mercial course in Hamilton. Mr. Davis is a thorough business man, and

Township of King. 395

his connection with the Township Council has been found of great service
to that body, he having been Councillor, Deputy-Reeve and County Warden,
and being at present Reeve of King Township. He was married to Miss
Maggie Johnston, who was born in King Township, October 25, 1849, being a
daughter of David and Janet (Lang) Johnston, by whom he has four children.

CALVIN DAVIS, lot 34, concession 4, is the son of Thomas Davis, who
came to Canada with his parents in 1806 from Pennsylvania, and settled in
what is now King Township, York County. Calvin was born on the old
homestead in 1820, and after receiving a Common School .education he
commenced to assist his father in the cultivation of the farm, where he
remained until he was twenty-one years of age. He then bought the farm
where he now lives, which was entire bush, he having since that time
cleared and improved it. Besides the activity and energy with which he
has followed agricultural pursuits he has given some attention to matters
municipal, and was for some years Collector and Assessor of the township.
Mr. Davis was married in 1840, his wife being a daughter of William Lloyd.
They have ten children, all living and in good positions, viz., Nancy, Thomas,
Lizzie, Walter, Murdoch, Lot, Ella, Meade, Susan, and Daniel.

DANIEL DAVIS was born in Whitchurch in 1827, and commenced life
as a farmer, working with his father until twenty-four years of age. He
then bought a farm in Tecumseth Township, on lot 23, concession i, where
he continued to live until 1882, when he acquired his present residence in
the suburb of Schomberg. He married in 1852 Miss Annie Irwin, daughter
of Thomas Irwin, of Simcoe County; they have one son, Walter, born in 1857.

LEVI DENNIS, mill owner, Schomberg, was born in Newmarket in 1816.
His father, Nathan Dennis, emigrated from Pennsylvania, U.S., in 1806,
and located on lot 31, concession i, King Township, where he brought up
his family. Levi was the second eldest in a family of eight children, four
sons and four daughters, and after receiving a good education he commenced
in 1840 on his own account by erecting mills in Simcoe, in 1858 purchasing
one hundred acres of land in King, York County, which he continued to
cultivate until 1882. In 1875 he bought the mill which he now operates,,
and which has turned out a very profitable one, being in excellent running
order. Mr. Dennis married in 1845 Lydia Clarke ; they have seven children
living, viz., Urania, Jonathan, Sherman, Adelaide, Alfred, William, and
Henrietta. The daughters are married and comfortably settled. The
mother died in 1882. The residence and grounds of Mr. Dennis have every
evidence of diligence and careful attention.

396 Biographical Notices.

ALFRED EASTWOOD, druggist, deceased, Schomberg, was the son of
Anthony Eastwood, who emigrated from England in 1844, and bought the
property now in the possession of his widow. Alfred was born at Lloyd-
town in 1847, where in due time he received his education; afterwards
attending the High School in Barrie. He acquired his diploma as Phar
maceutist from the Ontario College in 1871, and began business in 1874,
having purchased the property, the size of the store being 16 x 36 feet. He
was married in 1868 to Miss Caroline Thompson, daughter of Mr. William
Thompson of Lloydtown, by whom he had four children as follow : Norman,
born 1872; Blanche, born 1875; Paul, born 1879, and Alvin Clare, born
1883. He died January 15, 1885.

J. B. EDWARDS, lot 21, concession 3, was born in England, in 1822, and
came to Canada with his father, the late George Edwards, in 1837. The
latter settled in King Township, and hired out for a few years. He subse
quently bought lot 20, concession 2, where he lived until his death in 1880.
J. B. Edwards, following the example of his father, worked out for a few
years and bought his present farm in 1862. He was married in 1843 to
Miss Ellen Lloyd, daughter of Norman Lloyd, by whom he has six children
living: Elizabeth, Henry, Matilda, William, Fanny and Ira. In politics
Mr. Edwards is a Reformer.

THOMAS FERGUSON, part of lots 4 and 5, concession 2, is the son of John
Ferguson of this township, and grandson of the late Thomas Ferguson,
mentioned in another sketch. He was born at his father s residence, lot 10,
concession 3, and after receiving a Common School education he com
menced farming, and also assisted his father to run the saw mill. He was
married in 1875 to Miss Flora McCallum of King Township, and soon after
moved to his present farm, which formerly belonged to his grandfather.
The issue of this marriage is three children, viz : John S., Thomas L., and
Peter E. He is a Presbyterian and a Reformer.

THOMAS FERGUSON, deceased, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, where
he learned the trade of weaver. He came to Canada in 1820, and soon after
purchased land, lots 4 and 5 in concession 2 of King Township, where he
worked at his trade and carried on farming at the same time. His farm
was at first complete bush land, but by dint of hard work he cleared the
greater part of it which he soon got into fine condition. He was very
prosperous and acquired considerable wealth, and on his death in 1852 he
left his widow and eight children in very comfortable circumstances. John,
his eldest son, was born in New York City, while his parents were en route

Township of King. 397

for Canada. He received a Common School education, and on commencing
for himself in 1847 he bought the last part of lot 10, concession 3, where he
built a saw mill, which he has since operated. In addition he owns the
west half of lot 13, concession 3. He takes a lively interest in political
matters, being a Reformer. He is an adherent of the Presbyterian Church.
He was married in 1848 to Margaret, daughter of George Stewart, an early
settler in the township, who emigrated from the North of Ireland to Canada
in the year 1823. He purchased lot n, concession 4, on which he settled
about 1828, and died in 1863.

THOMAS FERGUSON, last parts of lots 12, 13 and 14, concession 3, the
second son of the late Thomas Ferguson, the remainder of whose family
constitutes the following : Margaret, eldest daughter, married to Walter
Scott, residing in Aurora ; Alexander, the third son, was born on Yonge
Street, and is now living in Jasper County, Missouri ; Hugh, the fourth son,
was born in King Township, now living in the Township of Downie, Perth
County ; Catharine, the second daughter, was born in King Township, and
is married to George Burrows, resides in Simcoe County ; Mark L., born in
King Township, and at present living on part of the old homestead ; Mary
S., youngest daughter, was born in King, and died at the age of twenty-three
years. Thomas Ferguson was born near Thornhill in 1820. He had a
Common School education, and since he began for himself has devoted his
time to farming. He owns a good deal of land in the township. He
married in 1847 Frances Wade of England, by whom he had ten children,
six of whom only are living, viz: Thomas K., John H., Hugh, William,
Elizabeth and Joshua. Mr. Ferguson is a Reformer in politics, and a
Presbyterian in religion. John H. Ferguson, lot 18, concession 3, son of
the above, was born in 1854 m King Township, and took possession of his
present home in 1872. He married Miss McNaughton, of this township,
their issue being three children : Ellen, Annie, and Mary F. In religion
and politics his principles are in accordance with those of the family.

JOHN FLEURY, lot 69, concession i, is the son of Joseph Fleury, who
emigrated from Lower Canada in 1810, and settled on the above mentioned
lot, which he purchased in 1815. Mr. Fleury, sen r, served during the War
of 1812, and was at the Battle of York. On locating on the farm he went to
work and cleared it, and after considerable trouble and labour placed it
under a proper state of cultivation. His life was one of usefulness and
consequent prosperity, and his death, which occurred in 1860, was much
regretted by the neighbourhood. John Fleury was born on the old home-

398 Biographical Notices.

stead which lie inherited, in 1818, and after receiving a limited education,
he commenced to assist his father in the work of cultivating the farm. His
application, combined with industrious habits, secured for him a knowledge
of all the details of agriculture, and evidently led to that prosperity which
has been his deserving lot. During the Rebellion of 1837 Mr. Fleury s strong
Reform proclivities induced him to take up arms in the rash and adven
turous policy which the actions of the Family Compact almost forced upon
the impulsive William Lyon Mackenzie. Mr. Fleury was taken prisoner,
and suffered confinement for a period. Our subject was married in 1840 to
Esther Harman, daughter of William Harman ; they had a family of sixteen
children, ten of whom are still living, viz. : William, Obadiah, Alfred, John,
Walter, Ira, Susan, Mary, Matilda and Diana. Mr. Fleury attends the
Methodist Church.

GILBERT FOLLIOT, lot 6, concession 2, is a native of England, and was
born in 1813, being the son of Jonathan Folliot. He was brought up to
farming, and on coming to Canada in 1832, he settled in King Township,
York County, where he purchased a tract of wild land which his enterprise
and industry have changed into his present compact and well-tilled farm.
He was married in 1833 to Miss Hall, likewise from England, who died in
1852. They had four children, three of whom are living, viz: James,
Gilbert and Jonathan. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and belongs to
the Reform Party. Mr. Folliot, although over seventy years of age,
-continues hale and hearty, and attends to his vocations with as much zest
as ever, and the wish is that he may long be spared to enjoy the pleasures
which are provided on earth for those whose lives are spent usefully
and well.

JOHN FOLLIOT, lot 6, concession 2, is the son of Thomas Folliot, sen r,
of this township, and was born on the old homestead in 1851. He was
educated at the Common School, since which time he has followed farming,
and has devoted his time and energies to the improvement of his farm and
also to stock raising. He was married in 1880 to Miss Agnes Johnston,
daughter of David Johnston, by whom he has one child, a daughter named
Jennie Mary, born in 1881. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and a
Reformer in politics.

THOMAS FOLLIOTT, undertaker and dealer in general house furnishings,
was born on lot 6, concession 2, in King Township, being the son of
Thomas Folliott, sen r, of this section. He was born in 1842, and for a
short time after leaving school followed farming. He subsequently learned

Township of King. 399

the carriage making business under his brother, and then travelled in various
lines of business for a number of years. In 1879 he built the store and
residence which he at present occupies, and opened a furniture store, tin
ware and general house furnishing business, with which he combined that of
undertaker, possessing all the requisites for conducting funerals in first-
class style. He is also agent for the Royal A. Sewing Machine, manufac
tured in Hamilton. Mr. Folliott is a good business man, being enterprising,
industrious and thoroughly reliable, qualities which insure success in life in
any business. He has been twice married, first to Miss Hannah Draper^
and secondly to Miss Turkington in 1879. He has three children, viz :
W. Thomas, Edith H. and Sadie A. He belongs to the Presbyterian
Church, and is a Reformer in politics.

CHARLES FRY, lot 10, concession 8, was born in Somersetshire, Eng
land, in 1804, and emigrated to Canada in 1832. He located in King
Township, York County, on lot 10, concession 8, and lot n, concession 9,
a considerable portion of which was then uncleared, and which has since
been placed under good cultivation. He was married in 1837 to Miss
Shrooks, daughter of Mr. William Shrooks, by whom he has seven children
living, viz. : John, Henry, Thomas, James, Elizabeth, Mary, and Jane.
Mr. Fry is a Conservative in politics, and a member of the Church of
England. Henry Fry, lot n, concession 9, is the second son of the above,
and was born on the old homestead in 1851. He was married in 1879 to
Miss Jane Addison, daughter of Mr. John Addison ; they have two children,
Charles A. and Mary Ethel.

JAMES FULLER, lot 17, concession n, was born in England in 1824,
and came to Canada with his father in 1831. His father, Samuel Fuller,
bought some bush land in King Township, but died about four years after
his settlement. James was one of a family of six children, and as may be
surmised from the condition of the country, he received but a meagre
education. Although only about twelve years old when his father died,
young James showed unusual energy, and adapted himself to the work of
clearing the farm and making the home for his mother comfortable, which
he succeeded in doing. In 1842 he purchased his present farm, which
from its wildness had to have the same amount of labour spent upon it as
the one which his father first located upon. He was married to Anna Jack
son, by whom he has a family of seven children living. Mr. Fuller has
now a very comfortable home which he is able to appreciate and enjoy,
after the toil and privations which attended upon his earlier years. He is
a Reformer in politics.

400 Biographical Notices.

JOHN GODSON, deceased, was born in England, and emigrated to Canada
in 1839. He at first occupied a farm on Yonge Street, where he continued
two years, subsequently purchasing lot 16, concession 10, in King Township,
which was then in its wild state. He entered with earnestness and energy
into the work of chopping and clearing, and in due time he had the satis
faction of knowing that his earlier labour was receiving recompense. He
lived many years to enjoy the fruits of his industry, and in the year 1881
died, leaving a widow and seven children. The children are still living and
in prosperous circumstances, but his widow only survived him about one
year. Joseph Godson, lot 16, concession 10, is the eldest son of the above
and came into possession of the home farm on his father s demise, which
he has since continued to cultivate. He married Anna Atkinson, by whom
he has two children, Mary and John Henry. He is a Methodist in religion,
and tenders his support to the Reform Party.

WILLIAM GRAHAM, lot 35, concession 10, was born in the year 1849.
His father, Donald Graham, emigrated from Scotland in 1840, and coming
to Canada settled in King Township, York County, and for the first few
years followed his trade of blacksmith, which he afterwards gave up in
favour of farming. William received a good Common School education,
and until about five years ago remained with his father on the homestead.
In 1879 he rented the farm he at present lives on, and his industry and
economical habits render it no difficult task to prophesy that prosperity for
him is within measurable distance. The maiden name of his wife was
Elizabeth McDevitt ; they have three children, viz. : Ella Mary, Laura
Mabel and Annie Matilda.

ALEXANDER HALL, lot 28, concession 12, was born in England in 1827,
and came to Canada with his parents when an infant. His father was a
carpenter by trade and emigrated to this country in 1830; he took up his
residence first in Toronto, and worked upon the old Parliament Buildings,
then in process of construction. He afterwards moved to the Township of
King, where he took up land on lots 27 and 28, concession 12, and
occupied himself with farming and the lumber business until his death in
1873. Alexander received a Common School education, and was afterwards
employed in running the saw mill on his father s place. He has besides
given considerable time and attention to farming. In the year 1855 ^ e
married Mary Burnham, by whom he has three children as follow: Thomas,
born 1858 ; George, born 1861, and Isabella, born 1857.

CHARLES HAMBLY, concession 9, lot 2, was born in Nova Scotia in the
year 1808, and came to Upper Canada in 1828. A few years after his

p

Township of King. 401

arrival he purchased from the Canada Company two hundred acres of land
in concession g, which from complete bush he, by energetic perseverence,
converted into a good productive farm. As a matter of fact, he had
absolutely to cut his way to his property, such then being the sparsity of
settlement. He afterwards purchased six hundred acres of land, which has
since come under the plough. Mr. Hambly has only served one year in
the Township Council. Notwithstanding a very serious loss originating
from a fire, Mr. Hambly has by industry and economy accumulated a very
large estate. He was married in 1833 to Miss Mary Ann Hambly, daughter
of William Hambly; they have seven children, viz.: William, Edwin,
Charles, David, John, James, Bella and Elizabeth. He attends the
Methodist Church, and is a Reformer in politics.

JOHN HANLAN, lot 27, concession 9, was born in the North of Ireland
in the year 1815, and emigrated to Canada in 1835. He worked in Peter-
boro County for the first twelve months after his arrival, and then moved
to York County, where he purchased lots 26 and 27, concession 10, in the
Township of King, where he still resides, and in addition owns lot 27, con
cession 9, now occupied by his son George, whose sketch appears below. In
1840 he married Catharine Bell, of Tecumseth Township, by whom he has
a family of nine children : John, George, William, Daniel, Mary, Ann, Eliza
beth, Jane and Margaret. Mr. Hanlan is a Reformer in politics. George
Hanlan was born in 1853 ^ n Tecumseth Township. He received a Common-
school education, and has since remained with his father on the farm. He
married in 1883 Miss Strainer, of this township, by whom he has one son.

SETH HEACOCK, who resides at Oakland Farm, Township of King, is
a descendant of Jonathan Heacock, who emigrated from Pennsylvania
some time before 1800, and lived for a short time near St. Catharines,
Ontario. From there the family moved to Yonge Street, north of Aurora,
about 1804. They afterwards went to King Township and located on lots
26 and 27, concession 3, where they acquired four hundred acres of land,
which was then completely bush, The children of Jonathan and Mary
Heacock were Jane, John, Edward, Mary, Nathan, Catharine, Roland,
Sarah, Nancy, Amos and Levi. Nathan resided in Niagara District,
Township of Pelham, until about 1830. He then moved to the County of
York, where all the rest of the family were settled. Our subject s father
was Edward Heacock, who, with some of his brothers cleared the land,
where he lived until his death in 1864. About 1812 or 1813 Edward Hea
cock married Rachel Webb, one of a family also from Pennsylvania, who
27

Biographical Notices.

settled on Yonge Street, near Aurora, about 1803 or 1804, with many
descendants in the County of York and elsewhere. The children of Edward
and Rachel Heacock were Eliza, Delilah, Malinda, Seth, Mary and Ruth.
Seth Heacock was born on the old homestead on June 23, 1822. He
acquired a fair education for the times ; but the clearing of land, making
roads through the bush, ploughing among stumps and stones was the prin
cipal occupation at all hours to make both ends meet ; his whole life having
been devoted to farming, raising of stock and improving it as circumstances
would permit until 1867. He commenced with thorough-bred Durhams
and imported stock from the herd of Mr. Robert Symes, of Red Kirk,
Dumfriesshire, Scotland. His Shorthorn Durham cattle are considered
specially fine ; he now owns about thirty head of the pure breed, which
command high prices, having received as much as $520 per head, and are
distributed over a large part of Canada and the United States. He is also
breeding pure Southdown Sheep of the best breed, from imported stock,
which are especially fine and in splendid condition. Mr. Heacock was
appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1876. He is a Reformer in politics,
and in religion is inclined to be identified with the Society of Friends. He
was married in 1847 to Hannah, daughter of Jesse and Eliza Walton, of
Kettleby, Ontario ; their family consists oi eight children living and one
dead : John Milton, George Washington, Eliza Celesta, Emma C., Addie
A., Mary Lavilla, Rachel Alberta and Franklin W. John Milton in 1878
married Emma Louise Salter ; family, one child, Mable L. ; he lives at
Midland City, County Simcoe. Addie A. in 1878 married Robert A. Starr;
family, Ethel L., Edgar D. and Leanora, and lives in Whitchurch Town
ship, County York.

JOSEPH HOLLINGSHEAD, lot i, concession 8, is the son of Anthony Hol-
lingshead, who was born in Little York in 1800. The family were U. E.
Loyalists, and during the War of 1812 Anthony, then quite a boy, drove a
waggon which contained a number of American prisoners ; he was also
present when the powder magazine was fired during the Battle of York in
1813. His family consisted of seven children, of whom Joseph, our subject,
was born in King Township in 1845. He acquired a Common School
education, and afterwards went to farming. He operated his own farm,
the locality of which is given at the commencement of this sketch, during
the years 1867-8-9, which he the following year rented out and commenced
the business of general merchant at Schomberg, to which in 1882 he added
that of druggist, and is now doing a successful trade. He married in 1869
Mary A., daughter of Mr. John Proctor, of King Township, by whom he

Township of King, 403

lias two children, viz. : Alberta, born 1871, and Emma, born in 1874. ^ r .
Hollingshead is a strong Conservative, and attends the English Church.

JOHN HUGHEY, lot 69, concession i, was born in York County in 1820.
His father was James Hughey, a native of Ireland, who came to Canada
in 1818 and settled on some land in York County. He bought one hundred
acres off Yonge Street, which, after he had cleared, he sold and purchased
the land now farmed by his son John, who succeeded to the property on
the death of his father in 1871. John had only a Common-school educa
tion, and was early inured to all the hardships and privations of pioneer
life. He was twice married; first to Miss Isabella Kerr in 1846; by this
union there was no issue. He married a second time in 1854, his wife being
Miss Sarah Thompson, from Ireland ; they have nine children living, as
follow: James, Jane, William, Samuel, David, Rankin, Nelson, Bell and
John ; two are dead Wellington, who was drowned, and Lavinia, who
died in 1860. Mr. Hughey belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is in
political temperament a Conservative.

JAMES HUTCHINSON, deceased, was born in England, and came to
Canada in 1828 and worked as a farm hand several years. He subsequently
bought one hundred acres of land in King Township, which is now owned
by his son Martin. This land was entirely bush when he first located upon
it, and it took him several years of laborious toil to put it in thorough
farming condition. His labour, however, was well repaid, and he after
wards succeeded in accumulating property to the amount of $15,000.
His death, which occurred in 1873, was much regretted in the neighbour
hood, where his genial and kindly disposition had gained him numerous
friends. His wife, Jane Hutchinson, survived him nine years, and she died
at the venerable age of seventy-two years. Martin Hutchinson, son of the
above, resides on the old homestead, lot 13, concession 2. He was born in
King Township in 1836, and received a rudimentary education in the Com
mon schools of the time. He early assisted his father on the farm, which
he acquired at the latter s death. He married Elizabeth Gray, of York
Township, by whom he has six children, viz. : John, Thomas, James,
George, Henrietta and Martin. He attends the Baptist Church, and is a
Conservative in politics.

WILLIAM HUTT, lot 24, concession 2, was born in England and came
to Canada in 1833. He had from his early years followed the occupation
of shepherd, and on his arrival in York County worked the first year as a
farm hand. The succeeding six years he rented a farm, and then purchased

404 Biographical Notices.

his present property on lots 30^ and 20, concession 2. He was married
previous to coming to this country, his wife being Miss Gardner ; they had
eleven children, four only are living, viz. : Oliver, William, Walter and
Amy. He is in religion a Methodist, and in politics gives his vote to good
men and good measures.

CHARLES IRWIN, miller, Lloydtown P.O., is the son of R. P. Irwin, of
Irish descent, who was born in Pennsylvania, U.S., and coming to Canada
in the year 1818, settled near Aurora, where he followed his trade as mill
wright, and in which locality his son Charles was born in 1832. Charles
was educated in Newmarket. He went into the milling business with his
brother in Aurora in 1865. He bought his present mill and additional
property in 1879, where he does a large and lucrative business. He married
in 1857 Miss Tyson of Aurora, by whom he has five children as follow
Josephine, born 1858 ; Marion, born 1861 ; Kate, born 1867; Courtwright,
born 1870; and William, born 1873. Mr. Irwin was a Councillor of Aurora
for a number of years, and for the past nine years has been first Deputy-
Reeve of the Municipality of King, and a Justice of the Peace. He is
a Methodist in religion, and in politics is a Reformer.

JARED IRWIN, manager of the York County Industrial Home, comes of
a purely American ancestry. His grandfather, Charles Irwin, came to
Canada from Pennsylvania in the first years of the present century, and
settled on the line of the Indian trail which subsequently became the
important highway known as Yonge Street. He served his country in active
service in the War of i8i2- i4, and died at an advanced age, leaving a
number of children. One of these, Thomas, having married Miss Phila
Pearson, a sister of the present County Registrar, started life upon a bush
farm in the Township of Tecumseth, Simcoe County. Here the subject of
the sketch was born in 1839. He assisted his father in the pioneer s task
of clearing the land, always taking advantage of such opportunities for
education as were then possible, and continued to devote himself to the
farm until 1860. He then left the now fine homestead to begin life for
himself, and ultimately settled upon a farm adjoining the Town of New
market, where he continued to live till appointed to his present position in
1882. He was married in 1861 to Miss E. J. Armitage of this township.
Their family consists of Herbert E., born 1862 ; Eli Franklin, born 1867 ;
James Walter, born 1869 ; and Caroline Lenore, born 1880.

REVEREND WILLIAM JENKINS, deceased. In connection with the early
history of York County, the part played by the subject of this sketch was

Township of King. 405

not an unimportant one. It is stated that he was the first ordained preacher
in York County, but in the absence of any complete information on the
point, it would be perhaps as well to leave it debatable. The Reverend
William Jenkins was born in Scotland, and was educated at the University
of Edinburgh, and was married in that city. He came to Canada in 1812
with the object of advancing the Gospel of Christ amongst the Indian
tribes, but was soon obliged to relinquish his noble and praiseworthy calling
on account of ill-health, which compelled him to return to the Old Country.
He was, however, soon enabled to resume his duties, and in 1818 he returned
to Canada, and settled in little York, where for many years he preached
the Word. He ultimately located in Markham Township, where he died
in 1843. The first sermon he delivered in Markham was given from a tree
stump, there being no churches, nor indeed any building capable of accom
modating a number of people. The humorous often finds an entrance into
matters of graver moment, and an anecdote is recorded of the Reverend
William Jenkins, that was quite characteristic, and which exemplifies the
truth of the axiom. An old man who usually occupied a position right
in front of the pulpit, habitually went to sleep during the reverend gentle
man s discourses. This fact alone would probably not have brought such
a severe castigation upon the unfortunate sleeper as he eventually received,
but that his capacity for snoring equalled in its vigour the most sounding
declamations of the preacher, and it is a question as to which was the
greater sufferer, the minister or his congregation. However, the continu
ation of the old man s discordant slumberings at last produced a crisis. On
one occasion while expounding to his hearers some important theological
point, he was so annoyed at the snoring of the old man, that he stopped short
in his sermon, and bestowing a hearty cuff on the sleeper s head with his
Bible, remarked that if he could not be made to hear the Scriptures, he
would make him feel them. The Reverend William Jenkins spent a period
of nine years amongst the Indians, and translated the Bible into the Indian
language. He was a man of large attainments, and as a linguist could
scarcely be excelled, having acquired a knowledge of twelve different
languages. His cultivated mind, stored as it was with the learning of all
times, rendered his sermons profoundly impressive, although they lacked
neither clearness nor simplicity. James W. Jenkins, lot 6, concession 6, son
of the late Reverend William Jenkins, was born in New York State, while
his father was at his missionary labours. He was brought up to farming,
which he has always followed. He was married in 1845, to Miss Lazzetta
Burnford, she- being a grand-daughter of the Surveyor of Yonge Street.
They had ten children, all of whom are living. Mr. Jenkins came to King
Township in 1857, and retired into private life in 1879.

406 Biographical Notices.

ROBERT KENNEDY, lot 9, concession 9, was born in Ireland in 1816, and
emigrated to Canada in 1834. Soon after his arrival he settled in King
Township, and purchased the farm he at present holds. He came to this
country, if not exactly penniless, at least, without what may be termed
capital, and has by industry, economy and strict attention to his affairs
been prosperous above the average. His land was entirely bush when he
first settled upon it, but his labour and untiring energy in a short time"
transformed the virgin forest into a fine productive farm. In addition to
the substantial brick house he has built on the farm in this township, he
has also built a similar one on a farm he purchased in Gore Township.
Mr. Kennedy was married in 1844 to Mary Dennis, by whom he had six
children, viz. : Catharine, Michael, Honora, Mary, Margaret and William.
He is a follower of the Catholic Faith, and a Reformer in politics.

SIDNEY LEONARD, merchant, Schomberg, is the son of the late James
Leonard, who emigrated from England in 1849 with his family, which con
sisted of his wife, four sons and two daughters, their names being as follow :
Thomas, born 1831 ; Stephen, born 1835; Sidney, born 1837; William,
born 1840 ; Mary Ann, born 1833 (married to J. McKindless) ; Ruth, born
1841 (married Robert Winters). Mr. Leonard, sen r, died in 1867. Sidney,
the subject of this sketch, was born in England, and is the fourth in order
in his father s family. He established himself in business at his present
location in 1865. Having purchased two and a-half acres of land in the
centre of the Village of Schomberg, he forthwith erected the store which he
has since continued to occupy, being 24 x 70 feet, with a height of two
storeys. He also erected a brick residence in 1883. ^ n addition to his
mercantile investment he possesses a farm on lot 29, concession 8 of this
township. Mr. Leonard was married in 1865 to Jane, daughter of Alexander
Thompson, King Township, by whom he has eight children, viz. : Jennette
Ann, born 1867; Sarah Jane, born 1869; James H., born 1872; Florence
P., born 1874; Esther C., born 1877; Iva, born 1879; and Lydia, born
1881 ; Thomson, born 1884. Mr. Leonard is a very enterprising man, and
is strictly honourable in all his dealings.

JOEL LLOYD, lot 31, concession 9, is the son of Jesse Lloyd, who
emigrated from Pennsylvania, U.S., to Canada in 1812. Mr. Lloyd, sen r,
came to York County and settled in King Township, where he erected a
saw and grist mill where Lloydtown is now located, it being the first mill
in this section. He sold out in 1836 and bought lot 34, concession 9. He
was not long permitted to remain on his newly acquired property, for, on
the breaking out of the Mackenzie Rebellion a year later, he threw himself

Tofimship of King. 407

heart and soul into the movement. During the subsequent events, when
the ring-leaders were either escaping or being captured, he with Thomas
Brown succeeded in reaching the United States in safety, a large reward
being at the time offered for their capture, dead or alive. He died during
his exile at the age of fifty-three years. Joel Lloyd was born in 1822 at Whit-
church, where he received such an education as the Common schools at
that time afforded. He remained with his parents until he reached man s
estate, and then settled on a part of lot 34, concession 9, King Township,
which is still his residence. He married in 1847 Elizabeth, daughter of
James C. Gray, of Simcoe County, by whom he has four children, viz. :
Sarah, Libbie, Emma and Edwin. His first wife dying, he took another
in the person of Miss Eliza Mainprize ; the issue of this marriage is one
child, Florence L., born 1882. He is a Reformer in politics, and attends
the Methodist Church.

NELSON LLOYD, lot 35, concession 12, is the son of Joseph Lloyd, who
emigrated from Pennsylvania, U.S., at an early date. He settled in York
County, and died in the year 1880. Nelson was born in King Township
in the year 1841, and worked with his father on the farm until twenty-five
years of age. After receiving a fair education he commenced school teach
ing in the year 1868, and taught thirteen years. In 1870 he was married to
Mary Campbell ; they have a family of three children : Minnie, Bertha and
Mary. In 1881 he bought his present home. He has been generally very
prosperous.

WILLIAM LLOYD, second son of Jesse Lloyd, lot 33, concession 9, was
born in Lloydtown in 1830. In early life he acquired a Common-school
education, and in due time enjoyed the honour of retaining the old family
homestead, and has been very successful in life. He married Miss Jane
Gray, daughter of James C. Gray, one of the oldest and most respected
families in the county. The issue of this marriage is seven children, viz. :
Albert W., Martha J., Alfred L., Rachel A., Lavina H., Eliza A. and
Mary Etta.

JOSEPH LYNN, postmaster, Linton P.O., was born in Ireland in 1826.
He is second son of John Lynn, and brother to William Lynn, mentioned
elsewhere. He settled in his present locality in 1861, where he fulfils the
duties of postmaster in connection with a grocery store. He was married
in 1858 to Miss Annie McBain ; they have four children, Josephine Amelia,
Jane Maria, Frances Adeline and John Alexander.

408 Biographical Notices.

WILLIAM LYNN, lot 28, concession 8, was born in Ireland in 1828, and
came with his father and family to Canada in 1842. His father s family
consisted of four sons, James, Joseph, John and William (the subject of the
present sketch). He received a Common-school education, which he
improved by teaching school for a short time. He now retains the farm
originally in the possession of his father. He is in religion a Presbyterian,
and in politics gives his support to the Conservative Party.

JOHN McCARROLL, lot 35, concession 7 of King, was born in Ireland in
1825, being the son of the late John McCarroll, who emigrated to Canada
in 1840, and settling in West Gwillimbury Township, died there, after
twenty-five years residence, at the good old age of eighty-seven years.
John came to this country with his parents, and for about six years worked
out as hired man. He subsequently bought a farm in concession n of
King Township, and later on purchased the farm where he now resides.
By perseverance, industry and thrift, he has accumulated a fair amount of
this world s goods, which he now enjoys in the companionship of his wife
and children. He married in 1846 Mary Bell, of Ireland ; they had nine
children, of whom seven are still living, viz. : John, born in 1847 ; Margaret,
born 1849; Elizabeth, born 1851; Sarah, born 1852; Mary, born 1853;
William, born 1855 and Rachel, born 1857. Mr. McCarroll is a member
of the Presbyterian Church, and is a Conservative in politics.

ANDREW McCLURE was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1815, and emi
grated to Canada in 1836. He worked as hired man the first four years of his
residence in York County, and in 1840 bought a bush farm, which he
cleared and subsequently cultivated. On his first arrival here he was with
out means, but by hard work and strict attention to details, success has
crowned his efforts, and he has accumulated quite a handsome property.
He was married to Mary Ann Hamilton, daughter of Andrew Hamilton,
by whom he had twelve children ; eight are now living as follow : Mary A.,
John, Andrew, James H., Jane J., Elizabeth, Samuel and William. Andrew
McClure, son of the above, was born in Vaughan in 1841, and inherited his
present residence, lot 9, concession 7, King Township, from his father,
which contains two hundred acres. He was married in 1870 to Miss
Elizabeth Bryson, daughter of James Bryson ; they have six children :
Andrew, James, Jane, Mary A., Alexandra and Norman. Mr. McClure is
in religion a Presbyterian, and in politics supports the Conservative Party.

WILLIAM McDEViTT, lot 23, concession 9, was born in Ireland in 1821,
being the son of James McDevitt, of County Derry, Ireland. His mother

Township of King. 409

was Martha Parkhill, who is a native of Ireland. Our subject is one of
three children, and began life as a shoemaker. He was married in 1850 to
Mary Jane Morrison, of Irish birth, by whom he has nine children, six
daughters and three sons. He is a Presbyterian in religion.

ARCHIBALD McGiLL, lot 24, concession 6, was born in Scotland in 1814,
and came with his father to Canada in 1834. His father, William McGill,
located on lot 13, concession 7 of King Township, but only lived five years
after his arrival, having died in 1839. Although only a comparatively
short time in this country, his excellent knowledge of farming prevailed over
the obstacles and general crude state of things., which always exist in a new
settlement, and his career, though limited, was one of unqualified success.
Archibald worked at home on the homestead for several years, and in
1865 removed to the above farm purchased by his son Dugald some time
previous. He is connected with St. Andrew s Church, and belongs to the
Reform Party. He married in 1838 Charlotte McMillan of Scotland, by
whom he has seven children living, viz. : William, Dugald, Duncan,
Margaret, Katharine, Sarah and Charlotte.

JOHN MCMILLAN, deceased, was a native of Ireland, and came to
Canada in 1818. He purchased some bush land in King Township, York
County, on which he located, and having cleared it he put it in a good state
of cultivation, and was in the end very prosperous. He died in 1882,
leaving a valuable estate to his widow and seven children. John McMillan,
merchant, Eversley P.O., son of the above, was born in Vaughan Township
in 1859. After receiving but a limited education, he assisted his father on
the farm, but eventually gave up agricultural pursuits and adopted the
business of general merchant. He took possession of his present premises
in 1883, where he is doing a thriving trade, and in addition fulfils the duties
of Postmaster. He married Miss Haile, of Vaughan Township. He is a
Methodist in religion, and a Conservative in politics.

ARCHIBALD MCMURCHY. lot 12, concession 5, was born in 1817, and
emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1841. On his arrival he hired out
for three years, and then purchased his present farm, which at the beginning
he had to clear. He has since placed it under fine cultivation, and has
added to his original purchase one hundred acres. He also bought one
hundred acres in Simcoe County, which is now the residence of his son,
John McMurchy. He has also two hundred acres in Huron County, the
residence of his sons Donald and Alexander, both of whom have families.

4io Biographical Notices.

This fine property has not been got together without labour and economy,
and Mr. McMurchy is to be congratulated on his successful endeavours in
this respect. He was married in 1845 to Jane Cameron, daughter of Donald
Cameron, one of the early settlers of York, by whom he had twelve children
eleven of whom are living, viz. : Donald, Alexander, Annie, Archie, John,
Peter, Elizabeth, Neil, Jane, Catharine and Duncan. Mr. McMurchy is a
Presbyterian in religion, and in politics votes Reform.

JOHN MALLOY, lot 5, concession 8, is the son of John Malloy, of Vaughan
Township, where he was born in 1845. He purchased his present farm in
1876, in which year he also married Flora Malloy, daughter of Malcolm
Malloy ; they have two children, Sarah and Archibald. Mr. Malloy is a
Methodist in religion, and a Conservative in politics.

JAMES MOSLEY, lot 20, concession i, is the son of Thomas Mosley, a
native of Kent, England, who emigrated to Canada, and taking up his
residence in little York, was one of the first settlers engaged in the mercan
tile business on King Street East. Mr. Mosley, sen r, was subsequently
appointed Government Auctioneer, which position he filled for some length
of time. He died in Toronto after a successful career. James was born in
Toronto, March 5, 1818, and received the only education which the schools
at that time afforded. He began business in the store of his brother on
King Street as clerk ; but, becoming tired of store-keeping, he moved from
the city on to the farm in King Township which constitutes his present
residence. He has one hundred and four acres of good agricultural land,
and in addition to crop raising he takes a great delight in the breeding of
good horses, having received at various times prizes for the best roadsters
and other classes of stock. Our subject was married in 1858 to a Miss
Davis (a connection of an old pioneer family). The issue of-their union was
five children, of whom three only are living : John, Minnie and James E. Mr.
Mosley belongs to the Episcopal Church, and is a Conservative in politics.

WILLIAM MULOCK, M.P., was born at Bond Head, Simcoe County, in
1844, being the son of Thomas Homan Mulock, M.D., T.C.D., formerly
of King s County, Ireland, who settled in Canada about 1830. Mr. Mulock
was educated at the Newmarket Grammar School and University of
Toronto, graduating at the latter institution in 1863, when he obtained the
gold medal in the Department of Modern Languages. Having been called
to the Bar in 1868 he has since practised his profession in Toronto. His
wife is Sarah Ellen Cawthra, daughter of James Crowther, barrister, of

Township of King. 411

Toronto, and by whom he has five children now living, namely : William,
Edith, Sarah, Ethel and Cawthra. Mr. Mulock is a Liberal in politics, and
was elected to the Commons of Canada to represent North York in 1882.

ROBERT NORMAN, lot 6, concession 3, was born in England in 1818,
and came to Canada with his parents in 1833, who both died the year subse
quent to their arrival. Robert worked as hired hand for about twelve months,
and then rented a farm for a number of years. In 1862 he acquired by
purchase his present farm on lot 6, concession 3. He was married in 1842
to Miss Elizabeth Wells, daughter of Mr. John Wells, an old settler, who
served in the War of 1812. They had ten children, seven of whom are
living, viz. : Charles, John, George, William, Maria, Isabella and Mary.
Mr. Norman is a member of the Baptist Church, and is a Reformer in
politics.

I

DANIEL O BRIEN, lot 5, concession 6, is the son of William O Brien,
deceased, who came from Nova Scotia, and settled in York County, about
1828. Mr. O Brien, sen r, was a carpenter by trade, but devoted the
greater portion of his life to farming. He bought and cleared a farm in
Pickering Township, and was very prosperous, leaving at his death a nice
estate to his widow and six children. He took an active part during the
Mackenzie Rebellion, and being a sympathizer with the movement, his
house on several occasions was searched, and he himself narrowly escaped
being arrested, having to conceal himself for some time in the bush. By
this exposure he contracted a disease from which he never afterwards
recovered, and he died in 1847, at the comparatively early age of forty
years. Daniel, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was born
m Markham Township in 1832. He learned the trade of blacksmith in
Pickering, which he has since followed. He established his present business
in 1854, and by strict attention added to good workmanship, he has
built up a large ,and increasing trade. He was married in 1857 to Miss
Wood, daughter of Joseph Wood, of Clark Township, by whom he has
nine children, viz. : Emma J., Joseph M., Ida A., Frederick W., Annetta
L., Benjamin J., Louis J., Lina K., Eddie.

MICHAEL J. O NEILL, lot 15, concession 10 of the Township of King,
was born on November 15, 1854. His father, Michael O Neill, was born
May 25, 1814, in the County of Limerick, Ireland, and emigrated to Canada
in 1841. On his arrival in King he purchased the farm the location of
which is described above, and which is now known as Holly Park Farm.
It was at the time all bush, and has since been improved and put in a very

412 Biographical Xotices.

high state of cultivation. He was married in Ireland to Margaret O Hal-
leran, a lineal descendant of Sir Henry O Halleran who once took up
arms against the tyrannical laws of his country, but who subsequently
became one of Her Majesty s most loyal subjects. Mrs. O Neill died May
14, 1873, leaving a family of seven children, five of whom are still living,
viz.: Mary Ann, Patrick J., Ellen, Michael Joseph (our subject), and
Thomas. Michael J. was born on the old homestead, and helped to clear
the farm where he now resides. He entered public life at an early age, and
has filled various positions of trust. He was elected Deputy- Reeve of the
Township Council in 1811, of which body he still continues an able and
active member. He also holds the position of Postmaster of Holly Park.
Mr. O Neill is devoted to the Roman Catholic Faith, and in politics gives
his support to the Reform Party.

\Y. PKAKSON, lot 29, concession 2, is descended from a family who
emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1808 and located near what is now the
town of Newmarket, then a complete wilderness. His grandfather, Peter
Pentz Pearson, settled there and followed the occupation of farming; he
was concerned in the troubles of 1837 and was taken prisoner. The father
of our subject, L. B. Pearson, was born on the family homestead near
Newmarket in 1828. He bought the farm, lot 29, concession 2, King,
which he improved and continues to cultivate. William Pearson was born
in Whitchurch Township in 1863. He received his preliminary education
at the Common School, and then went to the High School at Newmarket,
where he took a second-class certificate, and has now been a Certified
School Teacher for the past two years ; and is at present attending the
Normal School at Ottawa.

THE PERRY FAMILY. It will invariably be noticed that, in regard to
modern settlements, some families will, as if by instinct, at once take a
prominent place among their neighbours and retain it through successive
generations. This general rule might distinctively be applied to the early
settlers of York County, and the family whose biographical record is herein
traced affords a good illustration. Many of the old residents will remember
the advent into King Township of the late Richard Perry, who, bringing
with him his wife and three children, settled upon lot 24, concession 7. He
was born in Ireland in the year 1797, and was thirty-four years of age when
he came to Canada and located in this section in 1831. Young, vigorous
and active, possessing moreover the peculiar energy of his race, he was in a
word just the sort of pioneer required in a new and undeveloped country.

Township of King. 4 1 3

The large and productive acreage now under cultivation by his sons testifies
to his strong and determined purpose to rank not among the least of those
who first laid open the forests of Ontario as a foundation for new industrial
enterprises. During his lifetime he exerted himself in all matters that
would prove of benefit to the community, and by that means succeeded in
gaining the respect of all his neighbours. His strongly imbibed Conserva
tism, and his genuine attachment to old-fashioned political ideas may at
times have caused him to ill-conceal his dislike to the Reform element
which in his day broke forth in such a startling manner and culminated in
the Rebellion of 1837-8. Mr. Perry, at the commencement of the affair,
seeing the Rebels with their pikes painted red and uttering treasonable
menaces, made, with the assistance of his son John, sixty-five rounds of
ball cartridges, and was at Bond Head before daylight next morning offering
his services to Colonel Dusen. The gallant Colonel complimented Mr.
Perry upon his vigilance, and declared that he was the only one who up to
that time was prepared to meet the insurgents. He lived to the good old
age of eighty-two years, and his death, which took place in 1879, was felt
as a personal loss throughout the section.

HENRY PERRY, lot 34, concession 10, is the second son of the late
Richard Perry, and was born in Ireland in 1824, and came with the
remainder of the family in 1831. His education was only that obtained at
the Common schools, and he began early to till the soil. He located on
his present lot in 1864, which he has since continued to cultivate. He was
married in 1854 to Elizabeth Gardiner, daughter of the late Lieutenant
Gardiner of the British Army. The issue of the union is eight children,
viz.: Harriet, born in 1855; Richard, born in 1856; Frederick, born in
1858; Susannah, born in 1861 ; Charlotte, born in 1863; Emma, born in
1865; Isabella, born in 1871, and Arthur, born in 1879. He also belongs
to the Church of England, and is a Conservative in politics.

JOHN PERRY, the eldest son of the late Richard Perry, was born in
Ireland in 1822, and accompanied his parents to Canada. He was but
nine years old when the emigration of the family took place, and the educa
tional facilities of the township being limited, he was obliged to forego the
benefits of much early scholastic training. He commenced to work with
his father on the farm while still a boy, and acquired, it may be said almost
from necessity, a practical knowledge of all that relates to agriculture.
The wild state of the country at that time afforded excellent opportunities
for youth to gain a good knowledge of hunting and shooting, and our subject

414 Biographical Notices.

soon became proficient in that respect, for many a fine buck, to say nothing
of smaller game, fell before his unerring and trusty rifle. His hunting
expeditions were not, however, without their dangers, and in many a tight
fix did he find himself with his mortal enemy the bear, which, however,
generally resulted in the discomfiture of bruin and the consequent loss of
his hide. John left his father on the old homestead in 1852, and located on
his present farm, and settling down to married life the year following gave
up to a great extent his adventurous pursuits. He at various times in
succeeding years enlarged his original farm until he now owns two hundred
and seventy-five acres. The opening out to settlement of the North- West
led him into larger enterprises, and -he now -owns three thousand acres of
timber lands, besides nine hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land
near to the City of Winnipeg, which will no doubt in the immediate future
yield him a large and profitable return. In the township Mr. Perry is
recognized as a leading and influential Conservative, and takes a remark
ably lively interest in the fortunes of that political party. His marriage in
1853 was to Elizabeth Steward, daughter of George Steward ; his wife died
in 1880, leaving three children, Richard, Elizabeth and Susannah. He
belongs to the Church of England.

RICHARD PERRY, lot 24, concession 7, is the youngest son of the late
Richard Perry whose life is recorded elsewhere. He was born on the old
homestead in 1837, where he has always remained, having assumed the
control of the farm when his late father retired from active life. He was
married in 1870 to Miss Sarah J. Hunter, daughter of Joseph Hunter, of
this section, by whom he has seven children, as follow: Rebecca, born
1871; Albretta, born 1873; Violet, born 1875; Eva M.,born 1876; Matthew,
born 1878; Ida F., born 1880, and Isabella, born 1883. He is, like the
other members of the family, a member of the Church of England and a
Conservative in politics. Mr. Perry is also a member of the Volunteers.

GEORGE PRINGLE, farmer, Nobbleton P. O., was born in Queen s
County, Ireland, April 10, 1812. His father, William Pringle, was born in
the same place on the 24th of February, 1785, and was by trade a wool-
comber, the wool in those days being combed by hand. Mr. Pringle,
sen r, came to Canada at an early day, being about the fifth settler in King
Township. He died on April 5, 1873. C" ur subject s mother was Jane
Gribbens previous to her marriage ; she was a native of King s County,
Ireland, and died in Prince Edward Island in 1818. George Pringle
attended school for a short time in his native town, and after coming to

Township of King. 415

Canada received further instruction at the Public school. He commenced
farming at an early age, which occupation he continued to follow until
recently, when he gave up active life and is now living retired in the Village
of Nobbleton. During the Rebellion of 1837 Mr. Pringle enlisted as a
Volunteer at Lloydtown. At the time of the great Battle of Waterloo, Mr.
Pringle (then not quite four years of age) distinctly recollects his father
taking the newspapers containing an account of the action round to the
neighbours. He was married in King Township on the igth of April, 1835.
His wife was Susannah Bell, of Queen s County, Ireland ; they had a
family of ten children, three of whom are dead. The names of the survi
vors are as follow : Jane, Edward, Martha, Roland, George, William and
John. Mr. Pringle attends the Methodist Church, and is a Conservative
in politics.

GRESHAM PROCTOR, retired, was born on Yonge Street, York County,
in the year 1817, being the son of Henry Proctor, who emigrated from
Vermont, U. S., in the year 1800, and bought a bush farm which he cleared.
Mr. Proctor, sen r, took part in the War of 1812 by hauling supplies for
the army. Gresham in early life had the advantage of a fair education,
and after leaving school hired himself out to farmers until he had accumu
lated sufficient money to purchase a farm. He bought one hundred acres
on lot 31, concession 6 of the Township of King, paying for the same $100.
He subsequently bought fifty acres more, all of which by industry and skill
he put in a high state of cultivation and was very successful. In the year
1869 he acquired five acres in Kettleby Village and retired from active life.
Mr. Proctor has filled several municipal offices very creditably. He was
married in 1841 to Elizabeth Lloyd, daughter of William Lloyd, by whom
he has six children : William, Mellissa, Lovella, Luzesky, Josephine and
Wakefield.

JOHN PROCTOR, deceased, was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to
Canada in 1831. He located in King Township, York County, settling
upon lot 23, concession 7, which was then in a wild state. He cleared the
farm and remained on it until his death in 1865, at the age of seventy-seven
years. He served in the Rebellion of 1837 under Captain Armstrong. His
wife, Mary Proctor, died in 1879, at the great age of one hundred years,
having through her long life been very active. William Proctor, lot 23,
concession 7, is the eldest son of the above, and was born in Ireland in
1814; he was seventeen years of age when he came with his people to
Canada. He received a very fair education, and on his arrival here spent
two years in the Victoria University. He began life as a farmer on his

41 6 Biographical Notices.

present lot ; since first taking possession he has added to it at various times,
and now owns one hundred and forty-seven acres of choice land, which he
has brought to a high state of cultivation. He has been very prosperous,
and is now worth about $20,000. He was married in 1854 to Susannah
Bunting, of Ireland, by whom he has the following children : Hester, born
1858; Herman, born 1860, and Mary, born 1863. His first wife died and
he married a second time. By this second union he has two children :
William Abbot, born 1875, and John Henry, born 1877. Mr. Proctor is a
preacher of the Methodist Church, having commenced when twenty years
of age.

WAKEFIELD PROCTOR, lot 31, concession 5, is the son of Gresham
Proctor, of Kettleby Village, whose sketch appears elsewhere, and now
lives on the old homestead formerly cultivatd by his father. He was born
on the home farm in 1854, and in 1878 married Miss Stokes, daughter of
Captain Joseph Stokes, of this township ; they have two children, Bartley
and Clarence. Mr. Proctor s affairs, together with those of his sons, are,
and have been, very prosperous.

WILLIAM RAMSDEN, lot 29, concession 5, was born on lot 50, conces
sion 5 of this township, and is the son of the late Thomas Ramsden, who
emigrated from England in 1836. He bought fifty acres of land in King
Township, which he successfully cleared and on which he brought up a
family of six children. William was born in 1838, and lived with his father
until he arrived at man s estate, when he purchased his present home. He
married a daughter of Peter Boodwin, of King Township, by whom he has
five children, James, Oscar, Teresa, Thomas and Hettie May. Mr. Ramsden
is a Reformer in politics.

DAVID ROGERS, lot i, concession 2, is the son of the late James Rogers,
and grandson of Timothy, the deceased U. E. Loyalist, a sketch of whose
life appears in these pages. After getting a little education he went to
work at farming, and subsequently purchased the lot where he now resides
(ninety acres), which he improved suitably to his own ideas. He has been
very successful. He married Mary Armitage, daughter of Thomas Armitage ;
they have four children : Henry, Mary, Eliza and William. His religious
views are those of the Society of Friends, and he is a Reformer in politics.

JAMES ROGERS, lot 14, concession 2 (known as Maple Avenue Farm),
is the eldest son of the late Timothy Rogers, and was born on the
old homestead farm in 1834. He bought and took possession of his present

Township of King. 417

farm in 1863, which contains one hundred and forty-five acres. He is much
interested in stock breeding, of which his specialty is Southdown sheep
and Berkshire pigs ; he also devotes a great deal of his attention to fruit
growing ; his orchard contains about six acres of the most choice fruits of
various kinds. He is a Conservative in politics, and is a member of the
Christian Church. He married in 1861 Miss Sarah Tustian, who was
a native of Oxfordshire, England ; they have five children : David A.,
Annie, Ida, Ella and Eva. Mr. Rogers has always taken a deep interest in
the Agricultural Societies of the township and county in which he resides,
and held the position of Councillor and Deputy-Reeve for four years, and is
a Justice of the Peace. He is a descendant of Timothy Rogers, who emi
grated to Canada from the State of Vermont, and who was the founder of
the Quaker settlement on Yonge Street, near the Town of Newmarket.

TIMOTHY ROGERS, deceased, was a U. E. Loyalist who settled on six
hundred acres of land on or near what constitutes the present flourishing
Town of Newmarket, in the year 1801. He emigrated from Vermont, U. S.,
and brought with him his children, seven in number, who each drew four
hundred acres, and having the land laid out in town lots, Timothy may be
said to be the founder of Newmarket. The following paragraph, extracted
from an historical sketch which appeared in the Newmarket Era about five
years ago, will explain itself: " The first white man known to have slept
at Newmarket was Timothy Rogers, who in the year 1800, while on a
prospecting tour between Toronto (then little York) and Lake Simcoe,
followed the branch of the Holland River running to Newmarket, and
there favourably impressed with the natural advantages of the place, and
with a view to a more thorough examination of it and its surrounding
locality, camped for a time upon the hill about where the North York
Registry Office now is, and fed his horse upon the rushes that grew on the
low land near by. He located and received from the Government a deed
of lots numbers 92, 93, 94 and 95, and thus became the first individual
owner of all the land upon which Newmarket was first built. This Timothy
Rogers was the founder of what was so long known as the Friends or Quaker
settlement on Yonge Street, and was greatly instrumental in influencing
Governor Simcoe to locate Yonge Street upon the line where it now is. He
made an arrangement with Governor Simcoe by which he was to bring and
settle upon Yonge Street forty settlers, and the first instalment of these was
located there soon after, and then followed the first settlement in and about
Newmarket." During his residence in Pennsylvania, when the war was
raging between the revolted colonies and the British Government, Timothy
28

Biographical Notices.

from the nature of his creed took no part, and later in the War of 1812-14,
he suffered imprisonment at the hands of the Government for refusing to
disobey the dictates of his conscience. The old man died in the year 1844,
after having lived a useful, peaceable and religious life and having seen his
children grow up in comfortable circumstances. James Rogers, deceased,
was the eldest son of Timothy Rogers, deceased, and was quite a youth
when he came with his people to Canada. His whole life was spent in the
work of clearing, chopping, and building houses for the accommodation of
the incoming settlers, and he well deserves the appellation of a pioneer.
He died on the old homestead, lot 95, concession i, in the year 1854. John
Rogers, son of the above, was born on the old home farm, and after receiv
ing 3 a Common School education, commenced to work, and assisted his
father in clearing and cultivating. He was married in 1840 to Anna C.
Doan, grand-daughter of the late William Doan (he composed one of the
party who came from Pennsylvania with our subject s grandfather). They
have a family of six children : William, Timothy, Jonathan, Albert, Annie
C. and Phoebe.

TIMOTHY ROGERS, lot u, concession 2, was the second son of the late
Tames Rogers, who emigrated to Canada from the State of Vermont with
his father, Timothy Rogers in 1781 ; he was the founder of the Quaker
settlement in the neighbourhood of the Town of Newmarket. Timothy
was born on lot 95, concession i, in the Township of King in 1809, where-
he remained until 1830, assisting his father and brothers, when he removed
to his present lot after leaving home, which then contained two hundred
acres of bush land, which he, with his sons, has put in a fine state of culti
vation. In 1834 he married Annie Lloyd, a native of Bucks County,
State of Pennsylvania, U.S., a daughter of the late James Lloyd, a native
of the same county and state, by whom he had nine children, viz. : James,
David L., Mary, Sarah, William, Henry, Elizabeth, Thomas and Alice.
Mr Timothy Rogers died October 22, 1884. The sons of the above are
men of sterling integrity. James holds the position of Justice of the Peace,
besides other offices of responsibility. David L. is a physician of high
standing, and is practising his profession in the Town of Newmarket.
William is a dentist of the highest standing, and is practising in the
neighbourhood of Richmond Hill. Henry has spent his lifetime on the old
aomestead farm with the exception of four years spent as a merchant at
Eversley He married Miss Jenet Scott, of the Township of King, in 1875.
He is a Conservative in politics. Thomas has served in the Mounted
Police in the North-West, and is now residing in Prince Albert, N.W.T.
The sons and daughters of the above were all born on the homestead farm.

Township of King. 419

JAMES Ross, deceased, was born in Ireland, and was brought to
Canada when an infant, his father being a soldier in the 49th Regiment of
Foot. James in early life learned the trade of a tailor and began business
on Sherbourne Street, in little York. He served during the War of
1812-14. He continued his business in little York until 1821, when he
bought two hundred acres of bush which he cleared and placed under
cultivation. He volunteered as a private to aid in suppressing the Mac
kenzie Rebellion, and he also made the service clothing of Robinson s
Company. He lived a long and useful life and was highly esteemed by all
who knew him. His death occurred in 1875. J onn Ross, son of the above,
was born in 1811 in little York. He has devoted his whole life to agricul
ture and purchased his present farm, lot 7, concession 4, in 1836. His
early experience was such as has been the lot of many, and he suffered all
the inconvenience and hardships of a pioneer life. In 1836 Mr. Ross
married Emma Elson, of England, they had eleven children, all of whom
are alive and prospering, their names being as follow : Thomas, Philip,
Sarah, James, Carrie, Elizabeth, Henry, Richard, William James, Ruth
and John. Mr. Ross is a member of the Disciple Church, and is a Reformer
in politics.

ROBERT Ross, lot n, concession 6, was born at Niagara in 1797. His
father, John Ross, was born in Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1730. He belonged
to the regiment known as the Cameron Highlanders, in which corps he
was for over twenty-one years a sergeant, and served through the whole of the
war between England and her revolted Colonies. He was appointed
Barrack Master at little York, in the year 1800, which he held until his
death in 1805. Robert s mother was Elizabeth Brooks, who was born in
Birmingham, England, in 1750, and died at little York in 1828, aged
seventy-eight years. Our subject was one of a family of ten children, and
commenced life as a shoemaker, having been apprenticed to that trade when
he was twelve years of age. He worked at his trade in little York until 1828,
and then moved to a locality a little south of Aurora, on Yonge Street. In
1832 he occupied his present lot and erected a saw-mill on a small tributary
of the Humber, which passed through his farm. He was married in the
year 1820 in the house of Dr. Strachan (afterwards Bishop Strachan), his
wife being Maria Smith, who was born in New York State in 1803. Her
father, Richard Smith, was of English birth, and was a U. E. Loyalist.
After the War of 1812-14, Mr. Smith went to Penetanguishene, where he
had a son, Robert H., born, who it is stated was the first white child born
in Penetanguishene ; another of his sons, Walker Smith, was Sheriff of

42O Biographical Notices.

\

Simcoe County for over thirty years. The family of Robert Ross, by this
marriage, consisted of five sons and seven daughters ; four sons and two
daughters only are living ; one son, Walker, is Indian Land Agent at Cock-
burn Island. For the last fifty years Mr. Ross has resided on his farm, a
great portion of which time he operated his saw mill, which, though now in
other hands, still does good work. Despite his advancing years Mr. Ross
maintains good health, which it is hoped will long continue. His memory
is still active, and the events of his youth are fresh and green to his mind s
eye. The City of Toronto presented somewhat of a different aspect to
what it did when Mr. Ross, as a boy, traced a bear cub a few rods from
where the Union Station now stands, or gathered brushwood on the site
of St. James Cathedral. He was in the Militia in 1813, and was present at
the Battle of York. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a
Reformer in politics. On January 8, 1885, Mrs. and Mr. Ross celebrated
their sixty-fifth wedding day, and both are healthy and quite strong yet.

JOHN H. Ross, machinist, King P.O., was born on lot 7, concession 4
of King Township, and is the son of the late John Ross, mentioned in
another sketch. He had a limited education in his early years, and was
apprenticed to the trade of blacksmith when only twelve years old, and had
also the opportunity of acquiring that of a machinist before he was twenty/
He purchased his present machine and blacksmith s business in King in
the year 1868, which he has since enlarged, and is now doing a large and
prosperous business in machinery of all descriptions. He married in King
Township in 1869 Miss A. Stewart, daughter of Mr. James Stewart, by
whom he has five children, viz. : Maddie, Lillie, Edwin, Nellie and Agnes.
He is in religion a Baptist, and casts his vote for the Reform Party.

GEORGE ROTSEY, deceased, is a native of England, and emigrated to
this country in 1835. His trade was that of a mason and plasterer, at which
he worked in Toronto for two years. He subsequently located in New
market, and while there served on the side of the Crown during the Rebel
lion of 1837. In 1846 he bought lot 19, concession 2, which was at that
time uncleared, and by perseverance and toil converted it into the fine and
productive farm which is now in the possession of his son, William Henry.
He died in 1884, leaving a widow and seven children, viz. : George, James,
John, Joseph, Sarah, Matilda and William Henry. He was much respected
by his neighbours as an honest, upright man, and trustworthy in all his
dealings, and his good management enabled him to leave a large estate to
his inheritors.

Township of King. 421

REVEREND THOMAS GRAHAM SCOTT was born in Markham Township,
June 30, 1838. He is of Irish descent, being a native of Tyrone, Ireland.
His mother was Annie Graham, born in County Armagh, Ireland, May
23, 1815, and died in April, 1882. Thomas Graham Scott s preliminary
education was received at the Common Schools, supplemented by indefati
gable home study. He afterwards went through a Primitive Methodist
course of ministerial studies. He commenced life on the farm his father
occupied, which he afterwards gave up for the more responsible calling of
a Methodist minister. He was married in Newmarket on June 12, 1872,
his wife being Miss Bella Hirst, of Yorkshire, England ; they have four
children : Lillian Hirst, Ernest Graham, Sarah Bella and Winifred Henry.

SAMUEL SHEARDOWN, deceased, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in
1806, and emigrated to Canada in 1828. He settled in York County, and
worked out for a few years as hired man until he had saved sufficient money
to purchase a bush farm. He was the pioneer of his section, and had to
cut his way through the bush to reach his land, which was lot 6, concession
9 of King. He was married in 1838 to Miss Isabella Drummond, who
died in 1874; they had eight children, all of whom are living, William,
John, Samuel, James, Peter, Elizabeth, Catharine and Thomas. Mr.
Sheardown s death occurred soon after that of his wife in 1874, at the
age of seventy-one years.

BENJAMIN SHUTTLEWORTH, lot 27, concession 10, was born in Vaughan
Township in 1843. He received a Common-school education and was
brought up on his father s farm. He learned the trade of a waggon-maker.
He married Eliza Gould, daughter of John Gould. Mr. Shuttleworth s
father was a native of England, and emigrated to Canada at an early day
and settled in Vaughan Township. He took an active part in the Rebellion
of 1837, and being a sympathizer with Mackenzie, his house was frequently
searched. He was killed by lightning in 1841.

JOHN SMELSER, deceased, was born in Germany, and came to Canada
with his parents when quite a child. His father died shortly after his
arrival. His mother died at sea. After the death of his father, John was
bound out as an apprentice ; but ran away from his master and settled in
the United States. He returned again to Canada and joined the British
Army, and fought during the War of 1812. The family have in their pos
session a medal of which he was the recipient for his bravery and fidelity.
At the conclusion of the war he bought a bush farm in Vaughan Township,
which he cleared and cultivated, afterwards purchasing one hundred acres

422 Biographical Notices.

in King Township. Mr. Smelser was married in the United States. His
wife was Miss A. Puteraugh ; of the issue of this marriage six children are
living : Isaac, Daniel, Joseph, John, Kate and Mary. Through life he was
exceedingly prosperous, and at his death in 1859 he left a handsome estate
for the benefit of his children. Isaac Smelser was born in Vaughan Town
ship in 1819 and was early accustomed to all work in connection with
farming. In 1847 he bought lot 7, concession 8, and subsequently married
Mary Ross. The family consisted of six children, four of whom are living.
His first wife died and he married a second time, his wife being Susan
Wells, daughter of Jacob Wells ; they have three children. He is a Con
servative in politics, and belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

JOSEPH SMELSER, lot 2, concession 5, is the third son of the late John
Smelser, and was born on the family homestead in 1835. Like the rest of
his brothers he was brought up to farming, and endeavoured to bring his
farm as near perfection as possible. He was married in 1859 to Ellen
Ann Bailey, of English birth, by whom he has one son, Thomas Baldwin
Smelser. He belongs to the Church of England, and is a Conservative in
politics.

JAMES SOMERVILLE, lot 19, concession 9, was born in the City of Glas
gow, Scotland, in 1828, and came to Canada with his mother in 1832.
She came to York County and settled in Toronto Gore, and subsequently
married A. McShanack. James was brought up to farming and assisted to
clear the farm where he now resides, which he purchased on his step
father s demise. He also bought an additional two hundred acres, thus
bringing the amount of acreage in his possession to three hundred, two
hundred and fifty of which are under a good state of cultivation. From a
small commencement Mr. Somerville has, by perseverance and hard work,
got together a large estate. He was married in 1859 to Miss Flora
McLachlin, by whom he had eleven children, eight of whom are living.
He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Reformer.
Mr. Somerville had only a limited education ; but he has through life been
a great reader, his library ranking as one of the best stocked and most
complete in the section.

ROBERT SRIGLEY, deceased, ranked amongst the very early settlers of
Upper Canada. He came to Canada in company with his parents in 1785,
who settled near Niagara. In 1808 he bought and cleared lot 34, concession
2, Whitchurch Township, where he brought up his family, which consisted
of ten children, four of whom are now living, viz. : Jesse, Malon, Elisha and

Township of King. 423

Christopher. During the War of 1812 he assisted to build gun-boats at
Collingwood. Robert Srigley died in 1836, after a useful and prosperous
career. He had acquired during his lifetime about four hundred acres of
land, and besides attending well to the duties of his farm, he filled various
local offices with credit, viz. : Constable, Assessor, Tax Collector, etc.

MAJOR STEPHENSON, lot 33, concession 4, was born in England in 1812,
and came to Canada in 1834. He settled in York County, and hired out
among the farmers for the first six years after his arrival. He then rented
his present farm which he held until 1850, when he purchased it. He has
taken very great interest in agricultural matters, and was selected by the
North York Agricultural Society to compete for the prize given to the best
ploughman in the country. He obtained the first prize being then over
fifty years of age which consisted of a silver tea service, and for this event
was also presented with a gold watch by the friends of agriculture in York.
He was married in England in 1834 to Mary Field ; they had eleven
children, nine of whom are living, viz. : William, Elizabeth, David, Phoebe,
Marjory Mary, Elijah, Frank, Martha and Jane.

GEORGE STEWART, deceased, was born in 1798, and came to Canada in
1823. He settled in York County, and located in King Township, where
he purchased two hundred acres of land, being lot n, concession 4. The
land when it came into his possession was quite uncleared, but by industry
and perseverance he succeeded in bringing the greater portion of it under
cultivation. He accumulated a fine property during his lifetime, and was in
a position to give his children a fair start in the world. He died in 1864 ;
and of a family of sixteen children, twelve were living at his death. James
Stewart, lot 15, concession 9, was born in Canada in 1823. He had a
Common-school education, and early acquired a knowledge of farming. He
purchased his present farm, a great portion of which he has cleared, and
has since added one hundred acres of lot 15, concession 8. He was married
in 1846 to Miss Margaret Rankin, a native of Ireland, by whom he had
twelve children, ten of whom are still living, viz. : Mary E., George, Sarah
J., William, James A., Rankin, Lena, Bella, Robert W., and Ida. Mr.
Stewart is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer in
politics.

HENRY STEWART, deceased, was a native of Scotland, and came to
Canada in 1831. He located in York County, and settled on lot 5, con-
cesssion 2, King Township, which he cleared, and by labour and skill put
his land in fine cultivation. He was a useful member of the community,

424 Biographical Notices.

and held the office of Township Councillor for many years. He was
appointed Justice of the Peace, in which position he gave great satisfaction.
He died in 1872 at the advanced age of eighty-five years; five children of
his family survived him, viz. : Mary, James, Robert, Allison and John.
James Stewart, lot 5, concession 2, son of the above, was born in Scotland
in 1820, and was eleven years old when he came with his parents to Canada.
He received a fair English education, and then assisted his father to clear
up the farm. He now owns ninety-nine acres of land where he resides.
He was married in 1845 to Miss Magdaline S. Rainey, of Bradford, whose
father was an old settler. They had a family of twelve children, nine of
whom are living, viz. : Henry, William, Robert, George, Agnes, Mary,
Allison, Eliza and Harriet. After the Rebellion Mr. Stewart received a
Lieutenant s commission under the command of Major Armstrong. He is a
member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer in politics.

JAMES WALLACE STEWART, pastor of the Methodist Church, Schomberg,
was born in Cookstown, Simcoe County, February 26, 1853. He is one of
a family of seven children born to Mr. J. W. Stewart, who emigrated from
Ireland in 1830, and settled in Simcoe County. The reverend gentleman
married in 1878 Miss Ralston, of Cookstown, who died the following year,
leaving one child, Gertie. He married again in 1882 to Miss Mary Cross,
daughter of James Cross, of Innisville.

CHRISTOPHER STOKES, deceased, was born in England in 1800, and
came to Canada in 1827, and located in Aurora. He was a miller by trade,
and devoted his life and energies to the business. He bought two hundred
acres of land in King Township, lot 4, concession 7, in 1834, and four years
later built a grist-mill. He was a thorough pioneer, cleared all his land from
the bush, and made many serviceable improvements. The state of the
country at that time may very well be understood when for a long time the
settlers bringing their grain to be ground carried it on their backs, this
being chiefly from the absence of waggons and roads. Throughout his life
Mr. Stokes was very successful ; and at his death, which occurred in 1868,
he left an estate worth $30,000 to be divided among his six children.
James Stokes, merchant, King P.O., was born in Vaughan Township in
1836. He received a Common-school education, after which he assisted
for some time about the mill and farm. He moved into the Village of
Springhill (King) in 1869, and opened a general agency in machinery and
agricultural implements, auctioneer, etc. He began the business in 1876,
and in 1881 erected his present commodious brick store and residence,

lownship of King. 425

where he now carries on a large and profitable business. Mr. Stokes was
elected Deputy-Reeve in 1875, which position he held for six years and then
resigned. He married in 1861 Miss Jeffray, only daughter of Mr. William
Jeffray, who was born in little York, now Toronto, in 1803 ; they have
three children, viz. : Ada, Hannah and William. He is a Conservative in
politics.

JOSEPH STOKES, miller, Kettleby, is the son of William Stokes, who
emigrated from Pennsylvania to Canada in 1834. William was a carpenter
by trade, which business he successfully followed for twenty years, after
wards purchasing a farm in concession 5, King Township, remaining in the
county until his death in 1880, aged seventy-three years. Joseph, the
subject of this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania in 1832, and was only two
years old when his father came to this country. After receiving a Common-
school education he commenced life in the milling business. He operated
his father s saw mill for some years, and subsequently purchased his present
romantic and valuable mill property in Kettleby where he resides with his
family. He married in 1856 Mary Vernom, daughter of Nathan Vernom,
by whom he has five children, one only (a daughter) being married, the rest
are yet at home, Carrie, William F., Clinton and Cora. His father-in-law,
Nathan Vernom came to Canada previous to the War of 1812, in which he
took part. Mr. Stokes was elected to the County Council in 1868, and
again in 1874, and served until 1882, the greater portion of which time he
officiated as Reeve. He was Warden of the county in 1880. He was
appointed Justice of the Peace in 1872. He is an active spirit in politics in
the section, and has done good service for the Reform Party. The genial
and hospitable disposition of Mr. Stokes has gained him an abundance of
friends in the township, and all unite in wishing him a life full of years and
continued prosperity.

JOHN STORY, deceased, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1834,
and came to Canada when eight years ol age with his parents, Peter and
Charlotte Story. The family settled on lot 30, concession n of King
Township, all of which was bush-land, which the father in time cleared.
John was early made acquainted with the rudiments of farming, and assisted
his father in the work of opening out the land for cultivation, and on
arriving at man s estate purchased the farm whereon his widow now lives.
He also acquired by purchase one hundred acres of lot 21, concession 4,
and afterwards bought the old homestead. Mr. Story was married in 1850
to Miss Hutchinson, by whom he had six children, all of whom are living,
viz. : Sarah, Henry, Alfred, John and Jenny. He was a Conservative in

426 Biographical Notices.

politics, and a member of the Methodist Church. His death occurred in
1881, at the age of fifty-seven years, after having lived a very useful and
energetic life.

OLIVER STURDY, deceased, was born in Yorkshire, England, and came
to Canada in 1851. He settled on lot 10, concession 5, which he continued
to farm until his death in 1883, at the age of eighty-three years, leaving a
widow and one son.

CHARLES STURDY, lot 9, concession 5, was born in England in 1834,
and came to Canada with his parents. He acquired a fair education in
England, and afterwards devoted his life exclusively to farming. He
inherited the old homestead from his father, and has also purchased the
adjoining lot, where he now lives. He has taken great interest in all school
matters, and is known as a man of very good standing. Mr. Sturdy has
been twice married. His first wife was Miss Jefferson ; Oliver and Charles
are the survivors of this union. The second marriage was to Miss Watson,
daughter of John Watson, an old settler, by whom he has one child, Lizzie
May. He belongs to the Church of England, and is a Conservative in
politics.

GEORGE TEASEDALE, deceased, was born in England in 1790, and
emigrated to Canada about 1820. He came to York County and settled in
Markham Township, where he acquired some land, which he successfully
cultivated. His death took place in 1858 through a steamboat disaster.
During the Rebellion he took an active part, his services and sympathies
being on the side of the Government. At his death he left two hundred
and fifty acres of choice land in excellent condition to his widow and six
children. Nancy Teasedale continued to reside on the farm with the
family until her death in 1879. George Teasedale, lot 22, concession 3,
son of the above, was born in Markham Township in 1833. He had a
Common-school education, and afterwards commenced life as a farmer.
He began by renting land, and afterwards bought part of it. He also pur
chased his present farm in this section, which he cleared from the bush.
He married in 1857 Miss Susan Gaston, of Markham, by whom he had
eleven children, all living but one: Albert G., Walter, Minnie, Charles,
Mary, Sarah, Harvey, Ernest, Ralph and Norman. Mr. Teasedale is a
member of the Methodist Church, and is a Conservative in politics.

BENJAMIN TERRY, lot 25, concession 5, is the son of David Terry,
deceased, who emigrated to Canada from Pennsylvania in 1822, and coming
to York County settled near Newmarket. A few years afterwards he moved

Township of King. 427

to the farm now occupied by Benjamin, where he remained until his death in
1857. Benjamin Terry was born in Pennsylvania in 1809, and was thirteen
years old when he came to Canada. He took part in the Rebellion of
1837, but managed to escape arrest. He was married in 1843 to Lucilla
Mount, daughter of Joseph Mount ; they have ten children living: Esther,
Mary, Susan, Lavinia, John A., Joseph M. , Sarah, Lucinda, Franklin and
Emma L.

JOHN THOMPSON, lot 28, concession 10, is the son of William Thomp
son, and was born in King Township in 1843. He received an education
such as the Common schools of that day afforded, and was brought up to
farming on the old homestead. In 1877 ne located on lot 28, concession
10, where he still resides with his family. He married Eliza Irwin, of
Toronto, in 1866 ; their family consists of four children, viz. : William, born
in 1868; Delia, born in 1870; Henry James, born in 1871, and John, born
in 1880.

WILLIAM THOMPSON, lot 28, concession 10, is the son of William
Thompson, whose sketch appears elsewhere. He was born in King Town
ship in 1840, and after receiving a Common-school education worked with
his father on the home farm, which he still occupies. He was married in
1870 to Rebecca Irwin, of Toronto, by whom he has six children, viz. :
Harold, Anna, Mary E., William R., James H. and Bertha M. The farm
bears evidence of skill and attention, and is a credit to the possessor.

WILLIAM THOMPSON was born in England in 1810, and emigrated to
Canada in 1836. He located near Lloydtown, York County. In 1856 he
purchased one hundred and fifty acres on lot 28, concession 9, and later on
acquired lot 27, concession 9. By industry and perseverance he was in 1874
enabled to retire from active life and bought his present residence. He
was married in 1833 to Ann Culley, a native of England ; they have eight
children, as follow: Henry, born 1834; Rachel, born 1836; Annie, born
1838; William, born 1839 ; James, born 1841 ; John, born 1842; Caroline,
born 1849, and Martha, born 1853. Mr. Thompson belongs to the Episco
pal Church, and is in politics a Conservative.

JACOB S. TOOL, cheese factory, Aurora, was born near Kettleby in
King Township in 1858. His grandfather came from Pennsylvania to
Canada in 1802 and settled near Bogart Town. He afterwards removed
to near Kettleby and erected the first saw-mill in this section. The father
of our subject was named John, who was born on the old homestead and

428 Biographical Notices.

devoted nearly all his life to farming. He married Miss Davidson, of Bond
Head ; their family being as follows : Jacob S. (our subject), John B. and
Sarah A., married to James Hunter, of Oakville. Jacob S. commenced his
cheese factory about one year ago and has done a satisfactory local trade,
its capacity being about four hundred and fifty pounds per day. The
family are all Reformers in politics.

MICHAEL TRAINOR, lot 9, concession 10, is the second son of the late
Patrick Trainor, and was born on the old homestead in 1844. He inherited
his present farm of one hundred acres, and afterwards purchased an
additional one hundred acres from his brother. He was married in 1870 to
Ellen Curtis, daughter of John Curtis, by whom he has six children, viz. :
Loretta, Annie, Lucy, Louisa, Michael Ambrose and James A.

PATRICK TRAINOR, deceased, was born in Ireland in 1816, and was
twelve years of age when he came to Canada with his parents. The family
came to Peel County, and located in Albion Township, where they remained
some years, afterwards removing to King Township, York County, where
the father died. Patrick was early inured to all the hardships which wait
upon the pioneer, and assisted in clearing farms in Albion, Etobicoke,
Toronto Gore, and King Township. He made his home on lot 9, conces
sion 10 of King Township, which consisted of two hundred acres. The
education he acquired in youth was but limited, although the absence of
instruction had little or no effect on the success .which attended him
through life. He died in 1879, leaving a fine estate to his widow and nine
children. John Trainor, lot 16, concession 9, eldest son of the late Patrick
Trainor, was born on the old homestead in King Township in 1839. He
has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, and inherited part of his
present farm. He bought one hundred and sixty-six acres on lot 17, in the
same concession. He was married to Ellen O Neill, of Ireland ; they have
nine children as follow : Mary A., Patrick J., Maria J., Ellen, John, Michael,
James, Thomas, Hannah T. Mr. Trainor belongs to the Roman Catholic
Faith, and is a Reformer in politics.

PHILIP WADE, deceased, was a native of Sussex, England, and came
to this country prior to the Rebellion of 1837. He settled on lot 4, conces
sion 3 of this section, the whole of which was then a wilderness. He
cleared the land and put it in a good state of cultivation, and died in 1870,
at the age of seventy years. John Wade, lot 4, concession 3, son of the
above, was born in England in 1831, and came to Canada with his parents

Township of King. 429

when only five years of age. He has all his life been connected with farm
ing, and endured in early years all the hardships and privations of the
pioneer. He purchased his father s farm at his death, which he has
continued to cultivate. He married Miss Sarah Hoover, of this township,
by whom he has eight children. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church,
and is a Conservative in politics.

JESSE WALTON, deceased, was born in New Brunswick, being the son
of a U. E. Loyalist who settled in that Province after the War of 1812.
Jesse removed west to York County, U. C., in 1824, and bought a farm near
Newmarket, subsequently removing to Tecumseth Township, Simcoe
County, which was then complete bush. During the first few years the
section was so sparsely populated that they were months together without
beholding a strange face. In 1840 Mr. Walton came to King Township,
and bought lot 30, concession 4, where he remained until his death in 1872.
Jacob Walton, merchant, Kettleby P.O., son of the above, was born
near Newmarket in 1826, and after leaving school was apprenticed to the
trade of blacksmith at which he worked for about ten years. He was
appointed Postmaster in 1853, and began the business of general merchant
with a small stock of goods. He also bought his father s farm on lot 30,
concession 4. He built his present handsome residence in Kettleby in 1876,
and has also erected other property at various times. He was married in
1876 to Mary, daughter of Thomas Lloyd, of King Township. They have
seven children, viz. : Ellen, Frederick, Jane, Elizabeth, Jesse, Clara and
Gertie.

JOHN WATSON, deceased, was a native of England, and came to Canada
in 1833. He settled in York County, and purchased a bush farm in
Vaughan f which he cleared and put under cultivation and farmed until his
death in 1850, at the age of fifty. His wife was Sarah Watson, whom he
married in England, and who accompanied him to Canada ; she died in
1880, at the age of seventy-three. Joseph Watson was born on the old
homestead in Vaughan. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to the
trade of a blacksmith, which he has since continued to follow, and has been
exceedingly prosperous. In 1859 he bought and settled upon his property,
lot i, concession 6 of King Township. He was married in 1859 to Miss
Robinson, by whom he has four children living.

THOMAS WEBSTER, lot 12, concession i, was born in England in 1828,
and came with his father, William Webster, to Canada in 1842. The
family settled on lot 35, concession 4, King Township, containing one

430 Biographical Notices.

hundred and twenty acres which the father cleared and afterwards culti
vated. He died in 1878. Thomas remained on the family homestead until
he arrived at the age of manhood, when he bought the farm which he now
occupies. He married in 1851 Mary Doane, daughter of Mr. B. Doane,
formerly of Pennsylvania, by whom he has seven children, viz. : Hilda,
Ebenezer, William, Barbara, Joseph, Isaac and Frederick.

MILTON WELLS, lot 10, concession 2, was born in 1857, on concession i
of King Township, being the son of Job Wells. He received a Common-
school education, and was brought up on his father s farm, in which
vocation he has been continuously employed. He was married to Miss
Lena Stewart, of King Township ; they have one son, Roy S. Mr. Wells
is a Conservative in politics, and belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

ISAAC WILLIS, deceased, was born in the State of New Jersey, U. S.,
1781, and carne to Canada in 1803. He purchased four hundred acres of
bush-land near the present Aurora Village, which he cleared and put
under cultivation. He was a man of great energy and very skilful in all
matters relative to agriculture, therefore it may easily be surmised that
prosperity was his portion. His wife was Miss Vandyke, of New Jersey ;
they had eight children, six of whom are still living. He died in 1838,
leaving a very handsome property. Frederick Willis, son of the above,
was born on Yonge Street, York County, and was raised up to farming,
to which he devoted his whole life and labour. He inherited one hundred
acres of bush-land from his father, which he afterwards sold and pur
chased his present home, lot 5, concession 6, in 1831. He was married
in 1843 to Hannah Moseley, who died leaving three children. His second
union was with Mrs. Jane O Brien, a daughter of William Jenkins. Mr.
Willis is a Reformer in politics, and belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
His first wife had six children, three of whom died ; the survivors are
living in this county, their names being: John W., Joseph A., and Jane
Phoebe.

EMANUEL WOOD, lot 14, concession 9, was born in England in 1820,
and emigrated to Canada in 1842. Having little or no means on his
arrival, he worked as hired man for a number of years, until he had suffi
cient money to buy a farm. Having got together the necessary funds, he
purchased the farm where he now resides, containing one hundred and
thirty-eight acres of land. He married in 1844 Miss Mary Ann Holland,
by whom he has ten children. He was a Reformer in politics.

Township of King. 43 1

JOHN M. WOOD, merchant and postmaster, Lloydtown, is the son of
Marshall Wood, who came to Canada with his parents at an early day.
The father of Mr. Wood settled on Yonge Street, and afterwards purchased
lot 6, concession 6, and removed to Lloydtown, where he died in 1866.
John M. was born at Lloydtown in 1847, and after receiving an ordinary
English education began business as carriage-builder in Schomberg in
1867. He occupied his present locality, where he built a store and resi
dence in 1882. He was burnt out the following year. He is now doing a
flourishing business, and in addition discharges the duties of postmaster
and telegraph operator. He married Miss Cameron, daughter of George
Cameron, of Stouffville, by whom he has five children, three daughters and
two sons: Maud, Mabel, James, Lillian and John. He belongs to the
Methodist Church, and is a Reformer in politics.

VILLAGE OF AURORA.

VILLAGE OF AURORA.

ETH ASHTON, Reeve of the Village of Aurora, was born in 1822,
on lot 16, concession 2 of Whitchurch Township. His parents
emigrated from Pennsylvania, U. S., in 1818, and settled on the
lot where our subject was born. He remained on the homestead
j\/vw7r? until 1848, and afterwards spent some time travelling through the

S >" B/ >

(, fa United States. On his return he went into store-keeping in
Newmarket, and afterwards acquired possession of a general
custom and grist-mill with two runs of stones, in concession 3 of Whitchurch ;
he also owns a farm adjoining the old homestead. He was twice married,
first in 1862 to Miss Causland, who died in 1872. His second union was
with Miss Todd. He has no issue.

GEORGE BISHOP, carriage-builder, is a native of York Township, his
father, Warren Bishop, having followed the occupation of wool-finisher and
carder in that section. George learned the trade of blacksmith with Mr.
William Duff, of Markham. In 1863 he went to Indiana, U. S., where he
remained seventeen years, and with the exception of one year, was in
business for himself during that period. He returned to Canada in 1881, and
erecting the necessary buildings in Aurora, commenced the very successful
business which he now conducts. His specialty consists in light buggies,
of which he manufactures between three and four hundred per annum, and
does a trade varying at from $20,000 to $25,000 yearly. Among the public
offices at present held by him are Junior Warden, A.M., and Foreman of
the A.O.U.W. He was married in 1868 to Mary Alice Foust ; they have
two boys, William Warren and George Bruce.

FRANCIS BUTTON, hotel proprietor, was born in Markham Township in
1834. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1792, and died in 1880. In
1859 Francis married Dinah Teasdale of Headford, by whom he has a
numerous family. He is a Lieutenant in No. 3 Cavalry Troop. His
present hotel is styled Button s Hotel.

436 Biographical Notices.

F. F. DAVILL, proprietor of tannery, Aurora Village, was born in
Middleport, 1846, and settled in York County ^1877, and commenced to
operate the tannery, the business of which has grown to such extensive
proportions. He employs on an average twenty men, and does a trade of
about $60,000 annually. Mr. Davill is a member of the Municipal Council,
a School Trustee, Master of the Lodge Rising Sun, 129 A.M., and Receiver
of the A.O.U.W. He was married in 1869 to Miss Rachael Belong, by
whom he has three children, viz. : Herbert Lionel, Edna Mary and Fred
Wilfred.

CHARLES DOAN, retired, was born November 6, 1808, at the settlement
of the Society of Friends, on Yonge Street, lot 94. His parents were from
Bucks County, State of Pennsylvania, U. S., and settled in Canada in 1806,
subsequently in 1817 settling in Sharon. At the age of eighteen our subject
learned the trade of shoemaker, supplementary to the farming experience
he acquired, and entered into business in partnership with his cousin
Elias Doan, as merchant, and afterwards with Hugh D. Willson. In 1850
he was appointed Postmaster of Aurora, to which place he had removed.
Of the different events which have marked the course of Canadian History,
Mr. Doan has an intimate knowledge. He is one of the few men now
living who heard the sound of cannon which preceded the capitulation
of York during the War of 1812. At the time of the Mackenzie Rebellion
he was imprisoned for five months. He was the first Reeve of Aurora, and
is an earnest advocate of the temperance cause. He is also president and
manager of the Aurora cemetery ground. Mr. Doan was twice married, his
first union being with Miss Mary Willson of Sharon in 1831 ; she died on
September 6, 1848. His second marriage was in 1850 to Miss Catharine
E. Willson of Sugargrove, Pennsylvania. He had seven children by his
first wife, two of whom are still living, viz. : David Willson, born at Sharon,
January 31, 1833; Charles Henry, born at Sharon, April 18, 1846. There
is no issue to his second marriage.

DAVID WILLSON DOAN, the son of Charles and Mary Doan, was born
at Sharon, York County, January 31, 1838. He remained at his birthplace
until 1850, when he removed to Aurora with his father. In 1870 he estab
lished himself in business as dealer in groceries, drugs, paints, etc., which
he continued until December 1879, when he sold his drug connection to the
late Mr. S. H. Ashton. He was appointed in 1882 to the position of Post
master in Aurora, an office for which he was exceptionally well qualified.
He is also Express and Telegraph Agent, with the additional responsible
offices of Treasurer of Aurora Village, the Aurora Cemetery Company, and

Village of Aurora. 437

Mechanics Institute, He was married in 1867 to Frances Emily Babcock,
daughter of John Babcock, by whom he had three children, viz. : Mary
Eliza, Florence Emily, and Clara Lilian. His first wife died in October
1872, and Mr. Doan married again, his wife being Sarah, daughter of
Samuel Hamill of Nevada, (J. S. ; they had two children, viz. : Ethel Winni-
fred and Mary Grace.

HERBERT W. FLEURY, agricultural implement manufacturer, was born
in Aurora in 1860, and was educated at Upper Canada College. His father,
the late Mr. Fleury, commenced the business now carried on by the subject
of this sketch in 1857 ; and, after an unusually prosperous career, died in
1880. The manufactures include binders, reapers, mowers, ploughs, etc.,
and find a ready sale in the Dominion ; having also a good foreign trade.

ALFRED GRAHAM was born in Whitchurch Township in the year 1841 ;
he is a grandson of the late Lieutenant-Colonel William Graham ; his
father was Adam Graham, who married in 1819 Miss McLeod, her death
taking place the year following their union. Our subject s father married
again, his second wife- being Elizabeth Edmondson, by whom he had eight
children, six sons and two daughters. Alfred owns two hundred acres of
land in this township, one hundred and forty acres of which are cleared.
His mother died January 15, 1873, and his father July i, 1874. ^ n J 864
Alfred married Miss Sophia Jane McMacken, native of Nova Scotia, by
whom he had the following children : Margaret G., born January 4, 1865 ;
Frederick G., born July 6, 1867 ; Alia M., born March 10, 1869 ; Harry H.,
born May 8, 1871 ; Sarah Rosettie, born November 25, 1873 ; Alfred L.,
born July 6, 1876 ; Eva Senorah, born August 29, 1879 ; Charles B., born
October 18, 1871.

GEORGE W. GRAHAM, grain merchant, was born in the Township of
Whitchurch, concession 2, in 1841, being a son of the late Neilson Graham
and grandson of Adam Graham, who was reputed the first white child born
in this township. George W. married Miss Wesley of Newmarket, Ont.,
by whom he has three children, viz. : Joseph, Herbert and Susan. Mr.
Graham has been a member of the Village Council for two years ; he
conducts a very successful grain, flour and feed business.

WILLIAM HALLIDAY, butcher, was born in Aurora ; his father, James
Halliday, was a member of the Municipal Council. William learned his
trade in Aurora and commenced business for himself in 1875 ; in February,
1878, he married Josephine Playter, by whom he has two children ; Ethel,
born, 1879 an d Nellie, born 1881.

438 Biographical Notices.

H. J. HARTMAN, druggist, was born in Whitchurch Township in 1853
and is the son of the late Joseph Hartman, M.P.P., who owned a farm of
one hundred and sixty acres in this township. His father s marriage with
Mary Ann Cosford took place in 1843 ; their family consisted of six children
as follows : Ann Jane, Hattie, Carrie, Thomas, Henry J. (our subject), and
Clayton W. Mr. Hartman s early education was acquired at the High School
in Newmarket and afterwards at Hamilton ; he received his diploma at
Toronto in 1874, anc ^ tne same } 7 ear commenced business at Newmarket.
In 1876 he came to Aurora to manage the drug business for D. W. Doan,
and at the expiration of four years purchased his present stand known as
the Medical Hall, which was first opened by Dr. Hillary and afterwards
conducted by Mr. H. E. Connor, now deceased.

GEORGE LEMON, proprietor of the Royal Hotel, Aurora Village, was born
in Markham in 1842. His father came to York County in 1836 and settled
upon a farm in Markham Township, which he worked on shares with Mr.
Cunningham. He, Mr. Lemon, sen r, afterwards purchased Kirby s Hotel
at Thornhill, from which place he subsequently went to Richmond Hill.
He returned to Thornhill and went back to his old farm in Markham,
removing again to Thornhill and-died in 1872. George learned the trade of
saddler and harness-maker with Mr. R. Fleming, of Newmarket. In 1868
he bought his present property from Mr. William Lloyd, which includes
the hotel, outbuildings, etc., and about one acre of land. He afterwards
built a hotel in Victoria Square, Markham, which is occupied by his
brother-in-law, Mr. W. Meek. In 1867 Mr. Lemon married Sophia Meek ;
they have three children, viz. : Lena, born 1869 ; Eva, born 1873 ; Georgina,
born 1874. The Lemons, father and sons, have kept hotels on Yonge
Street for the past forty years.

JOHN W. LLOYD, bookseller and stationer, was born in York County
in 1854. His ancestors came from Pennsylvania at an early day. He
built his present store in 1882, at a cost of $15,000, and carries a large stock
of general stationery, books, fancy goods, etc.

SCOTT T. MAGEE, carriage manufacturer, was born in County Antrim,
Ireland, in 1856. He came to this continent in 1876, and landed at New
York, from which city he proceeded to Toronto where he remained two
years. For some time afterwards he fluctuated between Bradford, Orillia
and Penetanguishene, and ultimately settled in Aurora where he follows his
business of carriage-builder, having learnt his craft with Mr. W. Judhope
of Orillia. He was married in October, 1880, to Miss M. J. Williams, by
whom he has one son, born September 20, 1882.

Village of Aurora. 439

WILLIAM OUGH, hardware merchant, was born in Cornwall, EnglandV
in 1837, and came to Canada in 1840, settling in York County. In 1869
he opened a hardware store in Aurora Village, and finding the demands of
his business requiring larger premises, he acquired his present commodious
store, the building of which measures twenty by sixty feet. Mr. Ough was
married in 1860 to Margaret Smith, who died in 1873 5 tne Y had six children,
viz. : Mary, Annie, William, Margaret, John and Gertrude.

SAMUEL E. PHILIPS, undertaker (late of Aurora), was born in Schom-
berg in 1840. He commenced business in Aurora in 1877, which combined
that of undertaker and furniture dealer, and conducted it until 1885. His
business reached about $9,000 per year. He was married in 1863 to Eliza
Hill, by whom he has three children, viz. : Oscar Hamilton, Anna Louise
and Herbert Charles. Mr. Philips was a member of the Aurora Council.
He is now a resident of Toronto.

ALBERT PROCTOR, proprietor of livery stables, Aurora Village, was
born in Albion Township, Peel County, in 1857, where his father kept
hotel. Alfred was for some time traveller for the Toronto Reaper and
Mower Company, and during that period visited the North-West and a
great portion of the United States. He established his present business in
1 88 1, and has now several first-class rigs. He was married in 1882 to Miss
Waite.

JOHN C. QUERRIE, carriage-builder, Aurora Village, was born in St.
Heliers City, Island of Jersey; in 1845, and came to Canada with his parents
when only two years of age. His father, George Querrie, emigrated from
Jersey in August, 1848, and settled in Toronto, where he commenced busi
ness as builder and contractor, subsequently removing to Wellington
County, where he occupied a farm. In 1851 he removed to Markham,
resuming the business of builder until his death, which occurred in 1871. Our
subject learned his trade as carriage-builder with William Oliver, of Mark-
ham, who afterwards removed his business to Aurora. Mr. Querrie event
ually purchased his employer s business in 1876, which he has since, with
his brother, carried on under the name of " The Novelty Carriage Works."
He was married in 1870 to Miss Emily Savage ; they have two children.

PHILIP L. QUERRIE, blacksmith, was born in the County of Wellington
in 1848, and acquired a knowledge of his trade with Mr. George Barnbridge,
of Markham. He first established himself in business in Markham in 1874,
where he remained about six years, and then removed to Aurora. His

44O Biographical Notices.

*

present business is carried on in connection with Mr. John Querrie s car
riage works, which forms a very satisfactory combination. Mr. Querrie
was married in 1874 to Mary Jane Tran, by whom he has two children.

WILLIAM B. RICHARDSON, grain merchant, was born in concession 3 of
Whitchurch on July 17, 1831. His father, David Richardson, emigrated
from Yorkshire, England, about 1828 accompanied by his wife. He came
direct to York County, where he took up land, which he afterwards con
tinued to cultivate. Mr. W. B. Richardson commenced his present business
in February, 1866. His wife was Mary Lloyd ; the issue of their union was
Avarilla Ann, born March 23, 1855, died September 8, 1855 ; Louisa Jose
phine, born August 7, 1856; George Henry Stamper, born January n, 1859 ;
David Wilmot, born May 8, 1861, died January 7, 1885; E ^ a Elizabeth
Jane, born September 18, 1864; Sandford Jared, born March 9, 1868, died
March 18, 1869, and Anson Lloyd, born September 12, 1871, died August
22, 1872.

C. C. ROBINSON was born in Toronto in 1853, being a son of Hon.
John Beverley Robinson, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Ontario.
Mr. Robinson is one of a family of five children, and was educated at
Upper Canada College, after which he studied law. He was married at
Oakridges to Miss J. McLeod, daughter of Norman McLeod, by whom he
has three children. He is a member of the A.F. and A.M., also A.O.U.A.
He is a Conservative in politics, and a member of the English Church.
Mr. Robinson is in the practice of his profession in Aurora.

CAPTAIN JOSEPH F. SMITH was born in the Parish of Bourne, Lincoln
shire, England. His father, Joseph F., married a Miss Eliza Hardy of
Spalding, in the above-named county. Mr. Smith, sen r, died in April, 1854,
at the age of forty-two years, leaving a widow, seven sons and one daughter,
to mourn his loss ; in consequence of a long and lingering illness, the family
were not left in the best of circumstances as regards this w r orld s goods.
Captain Smith was born on May 31, 1841, being the third son. Brought
up on a farm in the Fens, up to a very short time previous to his father s
death excepting a part of two years, during which time he was sent to
school at Bourne he saw or heard little but incidents of a farmer s life,
a great and successful farmer being his ideal of greatness. Being only in
his thirteenth year at the time of his father s death, and being the eldest of
six, with a widowed mother, young Smith, only a lad. had to turn out and
work in earnest to help his mother to maintain his little brothers and
sisters. Although now deprived of all school tuition, he still continued to

Village of Aurora. 441

study whenever opportunity afforded, and attended both public and private
night schools. At the age of eighteen he took a notion to military life, and
in the year 1859 enlisted into Her Majesty s 3oth Regiment of Foot, at the
ancient historic City of York, engaging with Sergeant Ackinson, of the
above-named corps. The Sergeant restrained him from joining the recruits
at the public rendevous (knowing the bad -results that always affect the
country lad, by being thrust among recruits obtained in the large cities),
and kept him in his own private quarters until the time arrived to be sent
to the Training Depot. The Depot Companies of the 3oth Regiment then
formed a part of the 5th Depot Battalion commanded by Colonel Jeffreys,
at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight ; to which place young Smith was sent, and
posted to No. 12 Company, commanded by Captain Campbell. The good
advice given by the Sergeant had not been given in vain, for Private Smith,
by a steady obedience to discipline, and an eagerness to learn all the duties
of a soldier soon found himself in the favour of his Captain, and while at
recruits drill, was picked out of the squad, and sent to the Garrison School,
to be examined for promotion, passed creditably and was promoted
Corporal, being only about two months a soldier, and still at training. In
February, 1860, Corporal Smith was sent with a draft to join the Service
Companies of his Regiment at the Curragh.of Kildare, Ireland, the Regiment
being then under the command of Colonel J. T. Mauleverer, C.B. In June
of the same year he accompanied the regiment to the Channel Islands, viz.:
Jersey and Alderney, the head-quarters being at Jersey. No. 7 Company,
to which Corporal Smith belonged, formed one of the head-quarter com
panies. In January, 1862, a general change of companies between Jersey
and Alderney took place. In May of the same year the whole regiment was
sent to Aldershot Camp, Lieutenant-General Penefather, commanding in
chief. About this time the trouble between North and South America began
to show itself very plainly. The Imperial authorities decided to send more
troops to Canada, and in the latter end of June the 3Oth Regiment received
orders to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to Canada, and on the
2yth it embarked on board the steamer Great Eastern, together with the 4th
Battalion 6oth Rifles, and the Grey Battery of Artillery, and reached
Quebec on July 6, and on the gth and 3Oth disembarked on the river
steamers for Toronto, Canada West, which was reached on July 12. Soon
after arriving at Toronto, Corporal Smith was sent with five others for
examination for the rank of Sergeant, and again came out with flying
colours, the other competitors being plucked : thus when only two years and
ten months a soldier he had been promoted four times, to the different
grades of Corporal and Sergeant. He accompanied the regiment to Mon-

442 Biographical Notices.

treal in 1863, and in January 1864, returned to Toronto on leave of absence
and married Miss Jane Coffin, whose acquaintance he had made while
stationed at that place. Sergeant Smith participated with his regiment in
the Fenian troubles of 1866, being stationed at Cornwall. In July, 1866, he
took his discharge from the army, notwithstanding urgent requests from the
officers of his crops to remain, having been in the service seven years, and
never performed the duty of a private soldier, being promoted and becoming
a non-commissioned officer before the course of training as a recruit was
terminated. Mr. Smith now proceeded to Toronto, and in October of the
same year entered the service of the Northern Railway of Canada. In
April, 1868, he was appointed Station Agent at Sunnidale, and in August of
the same year the whole village, together with the railway station, was burnt
down, the conflagration originating from bush fires, and not a solitary building
was saved ; Mr. Smith, with the rest of the citizens, lost nearly all his persona
effects, his wife and young family barely escaping with their lives from the
fiery fiend. In November of same year he was appointed agent at New
Lowell, and in 1870 at Gilford. In June, 1872, he was again promoted, and
appointed to his present position, Agent at Aurora. During all this time
he still retained a desire for military life, and in 1874 joined the Volunteer
Militia Force of Canada, and was gazetted to the quarter-mastership of the
i2th Battalion York Rangers ; on July i, 1879, he received his Captaincy by
being gazetted to the command of No. 3 (King) Company, which commis
sion and command he still holds. Mrs. Smith is also a native of England
having been born in Harmer, Shropshire, on July 17, 1845, but coming to this
country with her parents, when only four years of age. Her father and
mother (who still survive, and reside in the City of Toronto) settled first at
Rome, New York State, coming to Canada and settling in Toronto in May,
1855, the family consists (all surviving) of four sons and three daughters,
Mrs. Smith being the eldest of the family. The result of Captain Smith s
marriage is four sons and one daughter, sons all living, the daughter dying
when only a year old. Mr. Smith has been connected with the Northern
Railway for the past seventeen years, and holds the entire confidence and
respect of his employers and the public.

ALBERT STEVENSON, publisher, was born in 1854. He was educated in
Aurora, and learned the printing business with Mr. E. Jackson, of Newmarket.
In 1877 he commenced to publish a paper called the Liberal Conservative,
which was afterwards changed to the Aurora Borealis. Mr. Stevenson was
married in 1872 to Miss Jackson ; they have two children, viz. : George
Ashton and Alberta Maud.

Village of Aurora. 443

B. TOMLINSON, farmer, was born in York County, Ontario, in 1847, being
one of a family of eight children born to George and Charlotte (Mitchell)
Tomlinson. Mr. Tomlinson worked on his father s farm until 1861. In
1871 he went to the Southern States, and bought a farm of twelve thousand
acres on which he raised cotton, corn, pea-nuts, etc. In 1881 he sold
out and returned to Canada, and purchased a farm of three hundred
acres on lot 17, concession 3 of Whitchurch. Mr. Tomlinson has been twice
married, first to Annie Graham, by whom he has one daughter, Delia. In
1867 he married Mary Ann Finch ; the issue of this union is one son,
George, born 1869.

JAMES WAITE, proprietor of the Wellington Hotel, Aurora, was born
in Tompkins County, New York State, July 28, 1842. He remained in his
native State until 1862, and then came to Canada, locating for a short time
after, his arrival in Toronto. He subsequently went to Whitchurch where
he continued in the hotel business until 1872, selling out in that year and
removing to Aurora. He purchased a hotel, which he conducted for two
years in connection with livery stables which were burnt down. He next
secured the American Hotel, and assumed the control of that for three
years, afterwards purchasing the Railway Hotel, which he sold to Mr.
Button. He then built his present large and commodious hotel together
with convenient attachments, where every accommodation and comfort are
secured to the travelling public. Mr. Waite was married to Miss M.
Graham, by whom he has two children, Isabella and Frederick.

JOHN WEBB, general contractor, was born in Towcester, England, in
1830, and emigrated to Canada and settled in Aurora, York County, in
1856. He has erected the principal buildings in Aurora, including the
Queen s Hotel, now owned by Mr. R. Wells, the Medical Hall, etc., and
employs on an average ten or twelve men. He purchased half-an-acre on
Yonge Street, on which he built a house 30 x 26 feet, with stabling and
outbuilding, which now constitutes his present residence. He was married
in 1841 to Charlotte Elizabeth Turland, of Northamptonshire, England.

GEORGE WEBB, bookseller and stationer, son of the late Livell Webb,
of the Township of King, was born in King Township in 1858. He was
married in 1880 to Mary Case, of Aurora ; they have no issue.

RICHARD WELLS, the enterprising subject of this sketch, who is pro
prietor of the Queen s Hotel, Aurora Village, was born in the Township of
King in 1838. He worked on his father s farm in that township until 1862,

444 Biographical Notices.

when he went to the gold mines of Carriboo, British Columbia. His
evident desire for change is manifest, for Washington, Nevado, Vancouver s
Island, and other places were visited by him before he returned again to
York County. When he did return in 1868 he began farming, and went
into stock-raising, with energy and vigour, and imported a very fine class
of draught and carriage horses. He took possession of the Queen s Hotel
in 1881. In the spring of 1869 he married Rachel Webb, by whom he has
the following children : Kate, born 1870 ; Maud, born 1872 ; Mary, born
1874; Bertie, born 1876; Sadie, born 1878; Edith, born 1881.

ANDREW YULE, Accountant, etc., was born in Scotland in 1839, and
came to Canada in 1848. From the time of his arrival. until 1860 he was
principally occupied in farming in King Township. He then taught school
for a number of years, and subsequently engaged as bookkeeper and
manager in the establishment of Joseph Fleury, Esq. Mr. Yule is at present
a member of the Aurora Council and School Board and Reeve of the
village. He is now engaged in the management of the Aurora Agricultural
Works. He was married in 1866 to Mary Jane Watson, of Schomberg, by
whom he has the following children : Watson A., born 1870 ; John C.,
born 1872 ; Edwin W., born 1874 > Edward B., born 1876, and Walter S.,-
born 1880.

TOWNSHIP OF WHITCHURCH

TOWNSHIP OF WHITCHURCH

OHN ATKINSON, lot 14, concession 4, was born in Yorkshire,
England, in 1807, and came to Canada in 1830 and located in
Whitechurch Township. He was married in 1832, his wife s
maiden name being Jane Watson, who was born in Yorkshire in
1805, and died in 1878. The family consisted of the following:
Sarah Warran, born 1832; Thomas, born 1834, and died 1857 ;
William, born 1836 ; Mary E. Scott, born 1858, died 1881 ; Joseph,

born 1840; Jane Whitworth, born 1845; Richard, born 1846; Simeon,

born 1848 ; John, born 1850, died 1868.

SETH ARMITAGE, lot 92, concession i, was born in 1796, being the
youngest son in a family of seven children born to Amos and Martha Armi-
tage. His parents were natives of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and came
to York County in 1804, and settled on the farm now occupied by him. His
father died in 1847 ; his mother died in 1840. Mr. Armitage was married
in 1815, his wife being Anna Phillips, who died in 1859 ; their family com
posed the following: James, born 1816; Jane, born 1818 ; Seba, born 1820;
John, born 1822 ; Mark, born 1824 ; William, born 1827 ; Elias, born 1829;
Isaac P., born 1832 ; Sarah Ann, born 1835 ; Mary P., born 1837, and Eli,
born 1840.

WILLIAM BADGEROW, lot 25, concession 8, was born in Toronto in
1833. His father, Philip Badgerow, was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1784,
and settled in Toronto at an early date ; he died in Ospry Township in
1854. His mother s maiden name was Elizabeth Lemon ; she is still living.
William settled on his present farm in 1864, where he has under cultivation
one hundred and fifty acres. He was married in 1853 to Mary Bates, by
whom he has five children, Ira, William H., Philip, Milford and Rhoda.

448 Biographical Notices.

JESSE M. BAKER, merchant, Bethesda, was born in Whitechurch in
1857. He established his present business in 1882 and occupies the position
of Postmaster for the Village of Bethesda. He was married in 1880 to
Mary M. Eyer, a native of Markham, by whom he has two children,
George E., and Abram R.

JACOB BAKER, lot 8, concession 7, was born in Whitchurch Township
in 1808, being the son of the late Jacob Baker, who came from Pennsylvania
to Canada and located in Whitchurch Township at an early day, and died
in 1817. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Mary Law;
she died in 1858. Mr. Baker has been twice married; his first union was
with Elizabeth Connor in 1832, who died in 1841. In the year following
her demise he married Ruby Lemmon, a native of Pennsylvania, the issue
of the union being four children, viz. : John Lemmon, Abner and Carlton.

ABRAHAM BARKEY, lot 4, concession 9, was born in Markham, and
settled upon his present lot in 1860. He was married in 1859 to Annie
Raymer, who was born in Markham Township in 1840. They had two
children, John and Sarah. Our subject s father, Henry Barkey, was born
in Pennsylvania in 1804, and settled in Markham in 1808. He died in
1876.

JOHN BARTHOLOMEW, lot 3, concession 9, was born on lot 35, con
cession 7, Markham, in the year 1842, being the son of Philip Bartholo
mew. The latter was born in the year 1806 on lot 35, in concession 7 of
Markham Township, and married in 1833 Mary Boyer, who was born in
York County in 1815 and died in 1862. They had eight children, as follow :
Elizabeth, Catharine, Mary Ann, Benjamin, Mahala (the two last named
being twins), Sarah, Matilda and John. Mr. Bartholomew, sen r, was
married a second time in 1865, to Mrs. Mary Ann Curtis, daughter of James
Lever. The grandfather of John, who heads this sketch, was born in 1779
and died in 1815; he settled Markham Township in 1800. John Bartholo
mew was married in 1865 to Elizabeth Jane Richards, a native of Somer
setshire, England; they have five children, viz.: Louie Ornetta, Lewis
Elsworth, Alma N. Blanche, Mary V. Pearl and Audrey B.

FRANCIS BOAKE, lot 35, concession 6, is the owner of one hundred acres
in this township, in addition to which he owns six hundred and forty acres
in Manitoba. He was born in York Township in 1836, and located on his
present lot in 1859. He is of Irish extraction, his father, Edward Boake,
having been born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1811 and emigrated to Canada

Township of Whitchurch. 449

in 1825, and is at present living in York Township. Mr. Boake, sen r, was
married in 1835 to Sarah Boake, also a native of Tipperary, by whom was
born to him the following children : Francis, Benjamin, Maria, John T.,
Ellen, Sarah, Charlotte, Rebecca, Norman (died in infancy), Robert, Wel
lington, Ephraim, Bartholomew, Norman and Louise. .Francis was the
eldest son of his father s large family and in 1859 settled on the farm in
Whitchurch now owned by him. He has been very active in all matters
relative to the improvement of the township and was formerly in the Muni
cipal Council. He has been a Justice of the Peace for seven years, in
which position he has given general satisfaction. He is the present Post
master of Shrubmount. On January 23, 1862, he was united to Sarah
Thirsk, who was born in East Gwillimbury, May 23, 1838, and died May 5,
1 88 1. By his marriage he had two children : Clara L. and Elizabeth M.

JOHN T. BOAKE, lot 35, concession 6, is the fourth in order in the family
of Mr. Edward Boake, mentioned in another sketch. He was born in York
Township in 1839, and settled on his present farm in Whitchurch in 1867,
known as Eden Grove. He was married in 1867 to Sarah Wilson, who was
born in Toronto in 1842 ; their family consists of the following : Ada M.,
Martha L., Rachel R., Edgar J. T., and Byron F. E.

JOSHUA BOGART, lot 31, concession 2, is the son of John Bogart alluded
to in another sketch. He was born on the lot where he now resides in
1818, and was married in 1841 to Priscilla Penrose, who was born in York
County in 1821, and died in 1852, having given birth to six children, viz. :
Charles, born 1843 ; Albert, born 1844; Alonzo, born 1846; Joseph, born
1848 ; John E,,born 1850, and Harriet, born 1851. He was again married,
his second wife being Delia Glenson, in 1854 ; she was born in Pennsylvania
in 1822, and came with her people to York County in 1834. Three children
are the result of this union : Ira, born 1855, died 1870 ; Arthur, born 1859,
died, 1860, and George, born 1867.

PHILIP BOGART, lot 31, concession 2, was born on June 18, 1804, in the
homestead where he now resides. His father, John Bogart, was born in
New York State, September 19, 1758, and settled in Whitchurch Township,
York County, in 1803, and died September 7, 1842. His mother s maiden
name was Mary Opp, who was born in New Jersey, October 10, 1754, and
died January 2, 1843. Philip was one of a family of six children, whose
names and dates of birth are as follow : Anna, born 1788 ; John, born 1789 ;
he was Clerk and Treasurer of Whitchurch for many years ; Margaret,
born 1792, died in infancy; Mary M., born 1795; Hannah, born 1796;

30

450 Biographical Notices.

Catharine, born 1799, and Philip, born 1804 (the subject of this notice).
The family are of German extraction, Philip s grand-parents having been
born there, afterwards emigrating to America and settling in New York
State. Philip Bogart has been thrice married; first in 1828 to Britannia
Hodge, whose Christian name was acquired from the fact that she was
born on the vessel of that name which conveyed her parents to this con
tinent. She died in 1838, leaving as a legacy to her husband three
children, viz. : John P., born 1829 ; Mary Starr, born 1832, and Lyman,
born 1834. Mr. Bogart s second wife was Hannah Walton, who was born
in New Brunswick in 1807, and died April 6, 1850, by whom he had one
child, Eliza Britannia, born 1839; she is married to Reuben Jenison, of
Barrie, Ont. His third marriage took place in 1850 to Adeline Gleason, a
native of Massachusetts, U.S.; the fruit of this union is two children,
twins, born November 29, 1855 Franklin, who lives in Cleveland, Ohio,
and Wellington, a photographer at Newmarket. J. P. Bogart is the eldest
son of the above, and was born in 1829. He was married in 1852 to Rhoda
A. Gody, who was born in York County in 1827 ; they have three children :
Walter, William Henry and George A. Lyman Bogart is the youngest
son of Mr. Philip Bogart by his first wife, and was born in 1834. He
married in 1863 Arietha Haigh, a native of Ontario County, born in 1834,
by whom he has one child, Lewis C.

ABRAHAM BRILLINGER, jun r, lot 10, concession 5, was born where he
now resides in" 1849. His father, the late Daniel Brillinger, was born in
Whitchurch in 1823 an d died in 1880. His mother was Jane Reid, who
was born in Ireland in 1827 and died in 1880; they have seven children,
viz. : Abraham, Nancy, Samuel, Elijah, Nathaniel, Mary Jane and Enoch.

ABRAHAM BRILLINGER, lot 2, concession 4, was born in Whitchurch
Township in 1820. His father, John Brillinger, was born in Pennsylvania
in 1796 and died in 1874. Abraham was married in 1842 to Elizabeth
Gower, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1847. His second marriage
was in 1860 to Elizabeth Horner, a native of Markham Township, by
whom he had two children, Fanny and Nancy.

GEORGE BRILLINGER, lot 3, concession 4, was born in Whitchurch in
1816. He is a son of the late Peter Brillinger, who was born in Pennsyl
vania in 1788 and died in this township in 1865. His mother was Sarah
Fauckler, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1791 and died in 1862. Mr.
Brillinger was married in 1839 to Fanny Heise, a native of Markham, by
whom he has six children : Elizabeth, Nancy, Fanny, Martha, Chrystal and
George.

Township of Whitchurch. 451

CHARLES ]. BRODIE, lot 2, concession 5. was born in Aberdeenshire,
Scotland, in 1834, being the son of George Brodie who was born in Aber
deenshire in 1791. Mr. Brodie, sen r, came to Whitchurch in 1835 and
continued to reside there until his death in 1881. He was a member of the
Township Council several years. Charles J. now lives on the old homestead,
and was married in 1860 to Ellen Spafford, of Markham Township, by
whom he has six children, viz. : Harriet J., Charles J., George, Mary,
William and Mable. Mr. Brodie has for some time been a member of the
Whitechurch Township Council, and is at present Deputy-Reeve.

JAMES BROWN, deceased, was another son of William Brown, sen r
and was born in Markham, May 8, 1813, but when still a small boy his
father removed into Whitchurch. near the present Village of Stouffville.
He was married in 1843 to Barbara, daughter of Cornelius Johnson, born
in Markham in 1825. Three children were born to them, John J., Mary
Jane and Elizabeth Ann. His death occurred August 7, 1882. Politically
he was always a staunch Reformer ; he sided with the Patriots during the
troubles of 1837 ; was present under Mackenzie in the skirmish at Mont
gomery s Farm ; afterwards went to the States, where he had many relatives,
but soon returned and lived on his farm near Stouffville till the time of his
death. He lived a quiet life, was a good and esteemed citizen, and an
earnest supporter of the British connection.

JAMES BROWN, retired, Stouffville, was born in Niagara in 1801. His
father s name was James Brown, who was born in Somersetshire, England,
in 1752, and early joined the English Navy, and in that arm of the service
took part in the Revolutionary War. He settled in Pennsylvania and
married in 1779 Mary Marr, by whom he had the following children:
William, born 1780. died 1855 ; -Margaret, born 1781, died 1874; Elizabeth,
born 1783, and is still living in Illinois; Susan, born 1786, died 1857;
Hannah, born 1788, died 1868; Joseph, born 1790, died 1873 ; Mary, born
1793, died l862 ; J ane > born J 796, died 1857 ; John, born 1799, died 1860,
and James, born 1801. As will be noted, James is the youngest son of his
father s family, and, with the exception of a sister living in Illinois, is the
only representative now living of a somewhat numerous family. He was
married to Catharine Long, who was born in 1795 and died in 1876.
Their family was as follows: Elizabeth, born 1824; Joseph, born 1826;
Philip, born 1827; Rachael, born 1829; John, born 1831, died 1832;
Polly, born 1832, died 1833; Catharine, born 1834; Phoebe, born 1838,
died 1881.

452 Biographical Notices.

WILLIAM BROWN, jun r, lot i, concession 10, was born in 1824 on the.
lot where he now lives, being the son of William Brown, sen r. He was
married in 1848 to Margaret Kribs, whose birthplace was in Went worth
County, Ontario; they had two sons, John W., born in 1851, and Albert
C., born in 1863.

WILLIAM CARLISLE, lot 2, concession 2, is a native of County Down,
Ireland, where he was born in 1806. He emigrated to Canada in 1818, and
some time afterwards settled on the farm on whih he now resides and
cultivates about one hundred acres of land. He has two children, Samuel
and Ann A.

ANDREW CLUBINE, deceased, was born in New Jersey, U.S., in 1763.

His wife was Eliza Viles, to whom he was united in 1791, she being born

in 1768. He came to Canada in i8oi,and settling in York County, located

on Yonge Street, about ten miles north of Toronto. Two years later he

removed to lot 88, concession i, of Whitchurch Township, where he

remained until his death in 1838, his wife having died five years previous.

He had seven children, viz. : Mary, born 1793 ; Keturah, bo t rn 1795 ; Ezra,

born 1798; Nancy, born 1801 ; Frederick, born 1805; Andrew, born 1807,

and John, born 1811. The last named, John Clubine, resides on the old

homestead, and is a farmer of three hundred and fifty acres. He has been

twice married, the first time to Elizabeth Butler, who was born in. Oneida

County, N. Y., in 1817. The issue of this union was five children : Francis

E., born 1839; Mary Jane, born 1842; William Henry, born 1844;

Richard A., born 1847, died in infancy ; John R., born 1849. Mr. Clubine s

second marriage took place in 1853, his wife being Sarah Jane Inglehurst,

who was born in 1829, and died in 1884, by whom he had five children:

Ezra F., born 1854 ; Cyrus J., born 1857 ; Edwin J., born 1861 ; Andrew F.,

born 1864, and Justus J., born 1868.

J. W. COLLINS, lot 31, concession 2, was born in Uxbridge Township,
Ontario County, July 16, 1815, and was brought to Whitchurch Township
when an infant. His father, Joseph Collins, was born in 1782, who married
in 1810, Annie Bogart, settling in Uxbridge soon after that event; he was
a mill-wright by trade, and built the first mill in that section ; he was
accidentally killed in the mill in 1815. His widow afterwards married
Mr. E. Lewis, and died May i, 1870. J. W. Collins has followed his late
father s business as millwright, having also owned and cultivated a farm ;
he has, however, for some time been living in retirement, except that he
has held the office of Clerk and Treasurer of Whitchurch for thirty-two

Township of Whitchurch. 453"

years. He married in 1838 Caroline T. Gibbs, eldest sister of the Hon.
T. N. Gibbs. The issue of their marriage was five children, viz. : Emily C.,
born July 8, 1839, died March 10, 1842; John B., born 1841, died 1860;
Caroline A., born 1843 ; Sarah E., born 1846, died July 24, 1847, and
William E., born 1847.

JAMES DALEY, Stouffville, was born in St. John s, Newfoundland, in
1832, and settled in Stouffville in 1854, an d engaged in the manufacture of
boots and shoes, the management of the business being now in the hands
of his son, R. J. Daley. He was married in 1855 * Rosanna Rafferty,
who was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1833 : she died in 1873. They
had seven children : R. J., Mary A., Francis, Susan, James, Josephine and
Margaret Jane.

R. J. DALEY, boot and shoe merchant, Stouffville, was born in Stouff
ville in 1857. The business was established by his father in 1854, and has
been carried on by R. J. Daley since 1876. He is the owner of what is
known as " Daley s Block," comprising three stores, bank, public hall, law
offices, mechanics institute rooms, etc. It was erected in 1882 ; he is also
owner of the large music hall, roller skating-rink and curling-rink, erected
in 1885. Mr. Daley has been a member of the Village Council for three
years, and a Director of the Board of Management of the Mechanics Insti
tute. He married in 1875 Lucinda Bentley, who was born in Pickering in
1852. They have three children : Lewis R., Celia M. and Florence G.

JAMES DOUGHERTY, hardware merchant , Stouffville, was born in
Markham Township in 1838. He taught school for about thirteen years,
and was afterwards engaged as clerk in a mercantile house. He com
menced business for himself in the hardware trade in 1878, and is now
doing a large and profitable business, in which he employs two clerks. He
has been Reeve of the Village of Stouffville four years, and was formerly a
member of the Markham Township Council. He was married in 1861 to
Charlotte Jones, of Whitchurch Township, by whom he has a family of five
children. Mr. Dougherty s father, Samuel Dougherty, emigrated from
Ireland in 1796, and settled in Whitchurch in 1841 ; he died in 1882.

WALTER FOOT, lot 31, concession 6, was born in Dorsetshire, England,
in 1810, and emigrated to Canada, settling in Whitchurch Township, York
County, in 1835. His wife s maiden name was Jane Taylor, their union
taking place in 1847. They have four children, James W 7 alter, John H.,
Ann Rebecca and Jane E.

454 Biographical Notices.

ROBERT GRAY, lot 21, concession 7, was born in the County Tyrone,
Ireland, in 1830, and settled in Whitchurch in 1847. His father, William
Gray, was a soldier in the British Army and served through the Peninsular
War and was also present at the Battle of Waterloo. He came to Canada
in 1849, and died in 1873, at tne a S e f ninety-six years. Our subject s
mother was Jane Folyard, who was born in 1787 and died in 1879. The
family consisted of eight children : John, Jane, David, Robert, Sarah,
Edward, Mary and Jane. Robert married in 1857 Sarah E. Teed, a native
of Lincolnshire, England, by whom he has six children : George H.,
Robert F., Minnie E., Wesley H., Edgar H. and Ida S.

AARON B. HAINES, lot 21, concession 2, is the descendant of a New
Jersey family, his grandfather, Samuel Haines, having emigrated from that
State to Canada when quite a young man, and died in East Gwillimbury
Township in 1874. His father was Israel Haines, who was born in
Uxbridge, Ontario County, in 1814 and came to York County in 1822. His
mother was Sarah Doan, who was born in 1814. His parents are still
living and reside in East Gwillimbury. Aaron was born in East Gwillim
bury Township in 1845, and settled on the lot he at present occupies in
1876, which contains one hundred acres. In 1873 he married Eliza Usher-
wood, by whom he has three children, George B., Ethel A. and Leslie D.

JOHN HARTMAN, deceased, was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania,
June 24, 1779, and was of German extraction. He married in 1804 Mary
Webb, also a native of the same State, and five years later emigrated to
Canada and settled in Whitchurch Township. He located on Yonge
Stree t on lot 80, concession i, where he lived until his death. He had born
to him the following children,: Emily, born 1805, died-i828; Lavinia, born
1807, died 1827; Harriet, born 1809, died in 1829; Lot, born 1811, married
J. Wells, and died in 1850 ; Silas, born 1813, died 1835 ; William, born
1815, died 1883 ; Thomas, born 1818, now living in Colorado; Joseph, born
1821, died in 1859 (he was M.P. for North York) ; Nancy, born 1823,
married to Thomas Cosford and lives in London, Ontario ; Samuel, born
1826, married Sarah Ashton in 1847, and died in 1858. The children of
Samuel Hartman are Mary, born 1848, died 1851 ; Lot L., born 1850 ;
Elma, born 1853, married to G. T. Smith and resides in Aurora ; Eliza,
born 1855, married Clark Playtor, who resides in concession 5. Lot L. is
now in possession of the old homestead, and at present occupies the position
of Deputy- Reeve of Whitchurch. He was married in 1872 to Harriet
Armstrong, who was born in 1850 ; they have three children, Warren, born
1873, died in infancy ; Laura E., born 1875, ar >d Lome A., born 1878.

Township of Whitchurch. 455

ROBERT HILL, merchant, Ballantrae P.O., was born in Whitchurch
Township in 1833, being the son of Alexander Hill, who was born in
County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1800, and came to Canada in 1831 and died in
1872. Robert followed the trade of carpenter until 1870, when he estab
lished himself in business at Ballantrae and keeps a general store. He is
also Postmaster. He was married in 1866 to Eliza Dafoe, a native of
Markham Township, by whom he has three children : William A., Mary
Ann and Newton A*

DR. JAMES J. HUNTER, lot 16, concession 6, is a native of Yorkshire,
England, and was born in 1822. He came to Canada with his parents,
who settled first at Niagara in 1823 ; from there they removed to Whitby,
where his father practised medicine. They subsequently left there for
Hautland, New York State, where they stayed until 1840, and returning to
Canada in that year settled in Newmarket, York County. Dr. Hunter
studied medicine, and graduated at Geneva, N. Y., and afterwards attended
lectures at the New York Medical University. He commenced the practice
of his profession at Newmarket, in which town he remained about twenty
years, being Reeve of the Council during six years of that period. In the
year 1860 he went to New York City, where he practised three years, when
he returned to Newmarket and resuming his former practice, again was
elected Reeve. In 1870 he took up his residence on his present lot, and
purchased a saw-mill and a tract of timber, which he has since operated,
besides which he does a little farming. He has not, however, allowed the
latter enterprises to interfere with the practice of his profession, which he
still follows. Dr. Hunter has been a Justice of the Peace for twenty-five
years, a position for which he is eminently fitted. He was married in the
year 1842, his wife being Rachel Lundy, daughter of Isaac Lundy ; she
was born in Whitchurch in 1822. Three children are the issue of their
union : Louisa C., born 1844, married to Edward Campbell, and resides in
Uxbridge; Mary E., born 1848, married to Martin Heaton, and residing
in Montreal ; James W., born 1859, Physician and House Surgeon to the
Invalid Hospital, Buffalo. He is a Liberal in politics. Dr. Hunter s
father, James Hunter, was born in England in 1796, and as we have before
mentioned, came to Canada an 1823. He practised medicine in Whitby
until 1837, that being the year of the Rebellion, and he was suspected by
the authorities for complicity in that movement ; he was arrested and
imprisoned, but was released on finding bail of $16,000. He stayed until
his trial was announced, and on returning was acquitted, the day of his
trial being the one on which Launt and Matthews were executed. He was

456 Biographical Notices.

afterwards threatened with re-arrest, but managed to reach the States before
he could be detained. He returned to Canada and resided for some time
in Newmarket. He died in Buffalo in 1850.

JOHN IRWIN, lot 23, concession 8, whose birth-place was Markham
Township, located on his present farm in this section at an early day. He
was born in 1825, and in 1847 was married to Sarah Macklen ; the fruit of
this union being the following children : Margaret Ann, Martha, George,
Jane and John. Mr. Irwin s father, Samuel Irwin, was born in County
Tyrone in 1794, and came to Canada at an early day ; he died in Whit-
church in 1853. His mother s maiden name was Elizabeth Davis, who
died in 1869. Mr. Irwin cultivates one hundred and thirty acres of land
and also takes considerable interest in Municipal affairs, having been a
member of the Township Council for the past seven years.

JOHN JAMIESON, Springbrook farm, west half of lot 8, concession 8 r
Whitchurch, was born on this farm in 1835. His father, James Jamieson,
was born near Glasgow, Scotland ; he settled in York County in 1820, and
died in 1840. His mother was a native of London, England; she emi
grated to Canada in 1816, and died in 1848. Mr. John Jamieson was
married in 1856 to Mary Ann Lemon, a native of Whitchurch, and youngest
daughter of Baltes and Mary Lemon, by whom he had the following
children: James H., born 1858, who died in 1862; Elizabeth Jane, born
1860, died 1862 .; Matilda Ann, born 1862, died in 1882 ; Mary A., born
1863; Thomas H., born 1865; Lydia J., born 1868; Ettie E., born 1873.
Mr. Jamieson was a member of the Council of this township for seven
years; during five years of this time, 1878-1883, he held the position of
Deputy-Reeve ; he has also been a Justice of the Peace for several years.

JOHN H. JOHNSON, lot 5, concession 8, was born in Whitchurch Town
ship, October i, 1858, being the son of the late Robert Johnson, who was
born in this township in 1820, and died October 14, 1883, and who, during
his lifetime followed the occupations of blacksmith and farmer. His
mother s maiden name was Lydia Macklen, also a native of Whitchurch.
He was married to Barbara Jane Wheeler, a native of Whitby, by whom
he has one child, Zella A. Mr. Johnson belongs to the Christian Church,
and is a Reformer in politics.

NORMAN JONES, lot 3, concession 8, was born in New York State in
1801, being the son of Timothy Jones, born in the same State in 1780.
Norman came to Canada in 1819 and was engaged in school teaching for

Toivnship of Whitchurch. 457

ten years. He subsequently commenced farming, which he has since con
tinued. He was a member of the first Council of York County, and was
appointed a Justice of the Peace, but did not qualify. He is at present
cultivating one hundred acres. He married in 1831 Theresa Patterson,
who was born in 1814, and died in 1859. His second marriage was to
Belora Patterson, who was born in 1829, and died in 1870. He had by
his first wife eleven children : Maxon, Emmiline, Diana, Alanson, Abigail,
Charlotte, Lyman, Adeline, Eveline, Margaret Angeline and Alma Augusta.
By his second wife he had one daughter, called Minette.

JORDAN, lot 21, concession 5, was born in the County of Mayo,
Ireland, in 1813, and came to Canada in 1836, and settled on the lot where
he now resides. In 1846 he married Julia Foot, who was born in England
in 1819. They have a family of ten children : Joan, Thomas, Frank, Luke,
Job, Samuel, Sarah, Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Martha Jane. Mr. Jordan s
father was James Jordan, who died in Whitchurch in 1849.

JAMBS LEMON, lot 12, concession 5, was born on the farm where he
now resides in 1840. He was married in the year 1865 to Mary Ann
Jordan, who was born in 1845 ; five children are the issue of this union,
viz.: Sarah E., born 1866 ; Isaac, born 1868 ; William J., born 1870 ; Mary
L., born 1879, and Delia, born 1884. Mr. Lemon s father was born in
New Jersey in 1796, and emigrated to Canada, settling in Whitchurch
Township, York County, in 1834 ; he died in 1869. Our subject s mother was
Mary Mendenhall, who came from, the same place ; she died also in 1869.

DR. R. C. LLOYD, deceased, was born in Stouffville in 1845, and was a
son of the late Dr. Scott Lloyd, of English birth. He married in 1867 a
daughter of Alexander Sangster, Esq., of London, England. Her father
was born in 1821, and died in 1866. Her mother s maiden name was
Amelia Patterson, who was born in Whitchurch, York County, in 1830,
and died in 1865. Dr. Lloyd died in 1872, leaving his widow with one
child Edwin C. Lloyd who resides in Stouffville. He was a Methodist
in religion, and a Reformer in politics.

THOMAS LLOYD, lot 5, concession 3, whose birthplace is Whitchurch
Township, is the son of James Lloyd, who emigrated to York County from
Pennsylvania in 1808, and is still living. His mother was Anna Walker,
who was born in York County in 1804, and died in 1873. Thomas was
born in 1827, and was married in 1865 to Sarah Hutchinson; they had
four children: O. J., Cora May, Laura Anna and Emily Mabel. Mr. Lloyd

458 Biographical Notices.

cultivates two hundred and eighty-three acres of land, and in connection
with municipal affairs has been Councillor and Deputy-Reeve. He is also
Collector for the Township, and has been for a number of years President
of Whitchurch Agricultural Society.

WILLIAM J. LLOYD, lot 79, concession i, first saw light in 1824, his
birthplace being the lot on which he now resides. His father, James
Lloyd, was born in Pennsylvania in 1781, and emigrated to Canada in
1810, settling in Whitchurch Township, York County, where he died in
1868. William J. was married in 1853 to Sarah Webb, grand-daughter of
Isaac Webb, who settled in York County in 1808. Their issue was thirteen
children, nine of whom are still living: John W., James B., William J.,
George W., Senneca D., Albert B., Harvey C., Florence E. and Bertha.
Mr. Lloyd has six hundred and forty acres under cultivation, and also
operates a saw-mill on the home farm.

JOHN LUNDY, lot 26, concession 5, is the son of the late John Lundy,
who was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1772, and came to
Canada in 1801, settling in Whitchurch Township where he died in 1855.
Our subject s mother was Elizabeth Toole, who was born in Pennsylvania
in 1760. John was born in Whitchurch Township in 1810, and in 1837
married Hannah Penrose, by whom he had the following children, viz. :
Daniel, born 1839 ; George, born 1840 ; and Mary Ann Randall, born 1845.

ROBERT McCoRMicK, lot 31, concession 7, was born in Niagara County,
New York State, in 1818. His father, Nathaniel McCormick, was a native
of Belfast, Ireland, and while still a youth emigrated to Pennsylvania, U. S.,
subsequently removing to Niagara, Ont., where he married^Eleanor Camp
bell, who was a descendant of a U. E. Loyalist family, afterwards removing
to Porter, N. Y. Both spent their lives there. Robert McCormick early
learned the trade of millwright, and in 1842 settled on the Don, east of
Toronto, where he entered into the millwright business, and built twenty-
two mills in the Counties of York and Ontario. In 1854 he established
himself as a lumberman in the north-east part of Whitchurch then an
entire wilderness and is properly called the the father t of Vivian Village.
He has been extensively engaged in lumbering and latterlynn farming and
mercantile business, being the owner of one thousand four hundred acres
of land. He has been a member of the Municipal Council fourteen years,
and a J.P. upwards of twenty years. He was married in 1844 to Elizabeth
Latham, a native of Ireland, born in 1826, by whom he has seven children,

Township of Whitchurch. 459

viz. : Margaret E., Elizabeth, Mary, William A., Robert L., Nathaniel and
George S. In religion he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in
politics is a Conservative.

JOHN MCMILLAN, lot 31, .concession 3, was born in Wigton, Scotland,
in 1835, and came to Canada in 1849. He settled in Whitchurch, York
County, where he has successfully followed agriculture. He has been
married twice, his first wife being Edith Wilson, who was born in 1837,
and died in 1872. By that union he had four children, viz. : John A., born
1859, who is an M.D. ; Joseph E., Henry M., and Ida Laura. His second
marriage was in 1877, to Eliza Ann Powell, who is a native of East Gwil-
limbury, by whom he has four children, viz. : Elva J., Morvin J., Loyal E.,
and Etta V.

W. H. MAJOR, lot 74, concession i, was born in Pickering Township,
Ontario, in 1839, being the son of Henry Major, who was also born
there in 1808. His mother s maiden name was Mary Jane Smith ; she was
born in Pickering the same year as her husband, and died in 1844; they had
six children. Our subject s father was married a second time, his wife
being Lydia A. Hawkins, a native of New Brunswick, by whom he had ten
children. Mr. William Henry Major settled on his present farm in 1872,
which contains one hundred and seventy acres, in addition to which he
follows the business of an auctioneer. He was married in 1867 to Mary
Jane Burgess, who was born in Pickering Township in 1844, by whom he
has four children, viz. : Ellsworth E., Ella E., Ida Medora, and Maud
Ethel. Mr. Major s grandfather, John Major, was one of the first settlers
in Pickering Township.

JACOB MILLER, deceased, whose birth-place was Erin County, N. Y., and
the date 1784, was one of a family who rank amongst the earliest settlers
in York County. They settled in Markham Township in 1796, and located
on lots 21 and 22, concession 9, where Jacob lived and followed the occupa
tion of farmer for many years. He died in 1868. He was married in 1810,
to Phrebe Gould, aunt to Mr. Jay Gould, the well-known financier ; she
was born in 1786 and died in 1852, being the mother of sixteen children, all
of whom lived to have families of their own. Their names are as follow :
Hiram, Joshua, Avery, Jacob, Alfred, Mary, Robert, Abel, John, James,
Warren, Martha, Elijah, Nancy, Lorinda and Nathan. At his death Jacob
Miller could count of his direct descendants as many as one hundred and
eighty persons. Elijah Miller, hotel proprietor, Stoufiville, is the thirteenth
in order of the family of the late Jacob Miller, and was born on the old

460 Biographical Notices.

homestead in Markham in 1831. He lived at home with his parents until
he arrived at the age of twenty-five when he became- agent for a firm of
agricultural implement-makers, which employment he followed for a number
of years. In 1870 he entered the hotel business at Ballantrae, but sold out
there after an experience of seven years. He then established his present
hotel in Stouffville, called the Mansion House where, as host of that
deservedly well-patronized hotel, he has full opportunity of showing his
capacity for management. Mr. Miller was married in 1854 to Mary Jane
Read, who was born in Markham Township in 1835 ; by whom he has eight
children, viz. : Charlotte, Sophia, Frank D., Catharine, Fred, Harry, James
and William, all of whom are living.

SAMUEL PEGG, lot 27, concession 9, is the son of the late Samuel Pegg,
who was born in Pennsylvania, U.S., in 1785, and died in this township in
1870. His mother was Nancy Purdey, who was born in the same State in
1800, and came to York County in 1802; she died in 1881. Samuel was
born in the Township of East Gwillimbury in 1837, and settled on his
present lot in 1880. He was married in 1862 to Caroline Swigley, who died
in 1872; he had six children by this union, viz.: Andrew, Lydia, Mary,
George E., Ethel and Jesse S. He married again in 1876, his wife being
Mary Ann Bradshaw, a native of Peel County ; they have two children,
Caroline and Herbert.

JOHN PLAYTER, lot 27, concession 2, was born in Whitchurch, in 1834,
being a son of the late Welden Playter, who was born in York County in
1806, and died in 1869. His mother was Priscilla Haines, who is still
living in Aurora. Mr. Playter was married in 1860 to Margaret Lloyd, who
was born in 1840, by whom he has four children. He cultivates one
hundred and fifty acres of land, and is generally recognized as a first-class
farmer. Mr. Playter is a Liberal in politics, and in religion an adherent of
the Methodist Church.

JOSEPH PRETTY, lot 6, concession 4, was born in Devonshire, England,
in 1804, and settled in Whitchurch Township in 1833. He was married in
1842 to Catharine Hilts, who was born in Markham in 1816. Their family
consisted of the following children : Mary Oliver, born 1843 ; Elizabeth
Ratcliffe, born 1845 ; Hezekiah, born 1847 ; Frederick, born 1850 ; David,
born 1853 ; the last named was married to Mary Jane Terry in 1882.

JOHN RANDALL, lot 30, concession 3, is the son of the late Joseph
Randall, a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who settled in Whit-

Township of Whitchurch. 461

church in 1 80 1, where he died in 1825. His mother s maiden name was
Huldah Westley, who died in 1857. John was born in Scarboro Town
ship in 1813, his parents having removed from Whitchurch to Scarboro
about this period, returning however to the former township in 1817. He
now farms three hundred and fifty acres of land, in addition to which he is
the owner of considerable village property. He takes great interest in
municipal affairs, having occupied the position of Councillor, Deputy-Reeve
and Reeve, his connection with the Council having now lasted fifteen years.
He was married January 21, 1852 to Ellen Dales, a native of Yorkshire,
England, five children being the result of this union, viz. : Agnes, born
1853, married to George Fisher, and lives in Halton County; Caroline,
born April 12, 1856, died June 17, 1856; Mary, born September 7, 1857,
married to John E. Dickens, and lives in Newmarket ; Joseph R., born
September 29, 1860, and Huldah, born October 2, 1863.

JOB SCOTT, lot 13, concession 4, was born in Yorkshire, England, in
1811, and settled in Canada in 1830. He was married in 1837 to Emma
Foot, a native of Dorsetshire, England, by whom he had eight children,
viz.: William, born 1828; Thomas, born 1840, died 1883; James, born
1843 ; Mary Ann Watson, born 1846 ; Stephen, born 1849, died 1873 ; John,
born 1857; Henry, born 1854, died 1880; Albert, born 1859.

DANIEL SHAFFER, lot 5, concession 5, was born in 1844 on the lot
where he now resides, being the son of Joseph Shaffer, who was born in
Markham, November 20, 1808, and settled in Whitchurch in 1840 ; he died
in 1833. His mother, Sarah Shank, was born in Markham Township,
April 7, 1825, and died July 10, 1848. Daniel was the only issue of this
union, his father having been married twice his second wife died in
1873. He has always remained on the homestead, and on October 10,
1865, one year after his mother s death, he married Barbara Burkholder,
who was born in Markham June 20, 1834 ; they have three children : Sarah
Ann, born May 22, 1867; Adeline, born June 23, 1869, and Abraham, born
October 30, 1872.

GEORGE H. SILVESTER, merchant and Postmaster, Ringwood, was
born in London, England, in 1827 and came to Canada in 1851, and located
at Ringwood, Whitchurch Township, York County, in 1853, where he has
since that year been engaged as a merchant. He was appointed to the
position of Postmaster in 1856, which office he still retains. He was a
Commissioner in 1861, and the following year elected to a seat in the Muni-

462 Biographical Notices.

cipal Council. Mr. Sylvester was married in 1854 to Diana Adelaide Jones,
daughter of Norman Jones, by whom he had five children : William A.,
Alice H., Fanny A., George E. and Frederick W.

CHRISTOPHER SMITH, lot 7, concession 3, is a native of Northumber
land, England, having been born there on November 26, 1804. He came
to Canada in 1831, and settled in York County, occupying his present farm
in Whitchurch since 1840. He cultivates two hundred acres of land and
additionally has the reputation of being a very clever Veterinary Surgeon,
at which profession he has practised for sixty years, being succeeded by
his son Henry, who is a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, Toronto.
He married in 1832 Susannah Steel, who was born in Yorkshire, England,
in 1813 ; they had a family of twelve children as follow : William, born
in 1833 ; John, born 1834; Robert, born 1836; George, born 1838 ; Thomas,
born 1840, died 1843 ; Elizabeth, born 1843, died 1871 ; Christopher, born
1845, died 1848 ; Ann, born 1848, died in infancy ; Henry, born 1849 ;
Mary Ann, born 1852, died 1853 ; Hannah, born 1854 ; Seth, born 1857.

GEORGE SMOKEN, lot 30, concession 9, was born in Wiltshire, England,
in 1839 and settled in this township in 1858. He was married in 1860 to
Malath Jagger, born in Yorkshire, England, in the year 1835; they have
seven children, viz. : James, Sarah, David, George, Emma, Maud and Erne.

DAVID STOUFFER, merchant, is descended from a Pennsylvania family.
His grandfather, Abraham Stouffer, emigrated from the Quaker State in
1804, and settling in Whitchurch Township, became possessed of six
hundred acres of land, a portion of which now constitutes the Village of
Stouffville, and from whom it acquired its present title. He died in 1855.
Our subject s father, Abraham Stouffer, was born in Stouffville in 1806,
and was a farmer by occupation. He married in 1828 Esther Lehman ;
their family consisted of nine children, as follow : John, born 1828 ; Abra
ham, born 1830; Samuel, born 1832; Jacob, born 1834; Elizabeth, born
1837; Christian, born 1839; Hannah, born 1842, died in infancy; David,
born 1844, and Simeon, born 1846. David was the youngest but one of his
father s family, and is in business as a general merchant in Stouffville. In
1867 he married Ellen Parsons, of Lincolnshire, England. Mr. Stouffer is
a member of the Village Council. Abraham Stouffer is the second eldest
son of Abraham Stouffer, sen r. His present residence is on lot 2, conces
sion 9, where he owns two hundred acres of land. He was married in 1852
to Elizabeth Sherrick, of Markh am ; their family is composed of the
following : Christiana, Fanny, Elizabeth, Noah, Esther, Adeline, Mary

Township of Whitchurch. 463

Ann, Josephine, Martha and Abraham S. Simeon Stouffer is the youngest
son of Abraham Stouffer, sen r, and was born in 1846. His wife was Miss
Sarah Webb, a native of King Township, by whom he had four children :
Laura A., Luella R., Mary Jane and Frederick W. Mr. Stouffer lives on
the homestead of his ancestors, and is also the owner of a farm in Simcoe
County.

WILLIAM SWALES, retired, is a native of Yorkshire, England, and was
born in 1805. He came to Canada in 1844 and settled in York County,
being now the owner of one hundred and thirty-six acres of land on lot 14,
concession 9, of Whitchurch Township, which is now farmed by his son
David. Mr. Swales was married in February, 1831, to Elizabeth Brown,
who was born November 5, 1808, and died August n, 1884 ; their family
was as follows : Ann, born 1832, married to Robert Curtis, and living in
Markham Township; James, born 1834, died 1882 ; Jane, born 1835,
married to Alexander Seaton, and lives near Bloomington ; William, born
1837, died in infancy; Elizabeth, born 1839, married to Robert Greenbury,
and living in Markham Township ; David (who resides on the old home
stead), born 1841 ; William, born 1843 ; Mary, born 1845, married Jacob H.
Rose; Bartholomew, born 1848, and John, born 1850.

WILLIAM TINDALE, lot 28, concession 9, was born in York County in
1834. John Tindale, the father of the above, was a native of Yorkshire,
England, where he was born in 1794, and came to Canada, settling in York
Township in 1830 ; his death occurred in 1867. His wife was Eliza Lees
Tindale, who was born in 1806 and died in 1864. William, our subject,
was married in 1858 to Sarah Hilts ; they have five children as follows :
Margaret Ann, Holland, Charlotte M., Emma S. and William.

JOHN VAN NOSTRAND, lot 17, concession 4, derives his descent from a
German family who settled on Long Island, New York State, somewhere
about the year 1750. His grandfather, James Van Nostrand, was born on
Long Island, New York, in 1764, and settled in Toronto, York County, in
1800 and died in 1840. His father, Cornelius Van Nostrand, was born on
Long Island in 1796, and came to York County with his parents in 1800,
and died in Whitchurch Township, November 16, 1878. His mother was
Mary Wilkinson, of English extraction, who was born in 1802 and died in
1844. John Van Nostrand, the subject of this sketch, was born in York
Township in 1824, and in 1854 removed to Whitchurch Township and
engaged in farming. He owns about one thousand three hundred acres of
land, and does a large lumber business, his saw-mill and residence being

464 Biographical Notices.

located on lot 17, concession 4, where he manufactures annually about one
million feet of lumber, giving employment to over twenty men. In 1846 he
married Anna Maria Marsh, who was born in England in 1822, by whom
he has six children.

CHARLES E. WIDDIFIELD, deceased, was born in Whitchurch in 1813.
His father, Henry, was born in New Jersey in 1779, and came to Canada
in 1801, settling on lot 32, concession 3 of Whitchurch, Maple Grove Farm,
where he died in 1869. His mother was Phoebe Randall, who was born in
1770 and died in 1855. Charles E. was the only son in a family of four
children. He married Angelina Hughes, daughter of Joseph A. Hughes,
of King Township. The issue of their union was nine children, viz. :
Elizabeth A. Knowles, born 1842, residing in Whitchurch ; J. H., born
1845, now practising medicine at Newmarket; Elma Playter, born 1847,
resides in Newmarket ; Mercie A. Collins, born 1849, living at St.
Catharines; Jennie, born 1852, lives at home; William C., born 1855,
practises law at Newmarket ; J. E., born 1857, and lives on the old home
stead ; Rosa E., born 1860, and Charles H., born 1863. Mr. Widdifield s
death occurred in 1883.

L. C. WIDEMAN, Marble Works, Stouffville. The Widemans are
descendants of an old Pennsylvania family who settled in York County at
the commencement of the present century. In 1749, in the Quaker State, one
Philip Wideman was born, who married Anna S. Long, a native of the
same place, born in 1759. They emigrated to Canada with their family
and settled first in Markham Township, where the wife of Philip died in
1 806. Philip afterwards removed to Whitchurch Township, where he died in
1833 at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Among their issue was one
son Ludwig, the grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch.
Ludwig Wideman was born in Forthampton County, .Pennsylvania, in 1781,
and settled in Markham Township, York County, in 1801. He was twice
married, but no record appears to have been preserved of the first event.
He had, however, one daughter by this marriage, Christiana, born in 1813.
His second union was to Elizabeth Macklen, who was born in 1797 and
died in 1852. Their family consisted of the following: Mary Ann, born
1818; Henry, born 1819; Philip, born 1821; Lydia, born 1824; Sarah,
born 1827, and John, born 1829, the last named died in infancy. Ludwig
Wideman was killed during the Rebellion of 1837. Philip Wideman, the
third in order in the family of Ludwig, was born in Whitchurch Township,
and established the business now carried on by his son, L. C. Wideman, in

Township of White/lurch. 465

Stouffville. He married in 1848 Eliza Jane Center, who was born in Lower
Canada in 1826. His family consisted of the following children : Huldah
E., L. C., our subject ; Albert, who died in infancy ; Lydia R., Bertha J.,
who died in infancy ; Mary A., and Henry B. Mr. Philip Wideman is the
owner of one hundred and ninety acres of land, and is now living in retire
ment in Ringwood. L. C. Wideman was born in Ringwood in 1851, and is
now proprietor of the Marble Works established by his father in Stouffville
at an early date, being, in fact, the first of that particular industry com
menced in this part of the country. He came into possession in 1877, and
employs four hands in the business. He married in 1879 Matilda Bar
tholomew, a native of Markham Township, by whom he has two children,
Cora M. and Bartholomew C.

JUDGE WILSON, lot 25, concession 3, was born in New Brunswick in
1804, being the son of Joshua Wilson, who was born in New Jersey, of
English parentage, in 1756. His father served the Crown during the
Revolutionary War, and at its close settled in New Brunswick. He
subsequently came to Whit church, where he died in 1838. John Wilson
was married in 1831 to Agnes Lundy, who was born in 1812 and died in
1881. Their family consists of the following : Elizabeth Jane Hollingshead,
born 1832, who resides in Lambton County; Lavinia Vernon, born 1835,
living in Ontario County ; Emily, born 1835, died 1838 ; Harriet Armstrong,
born 1840 ; John, born 1842 ; Robert A., born 1843 ; Charles, born 1845,
died 1848; Mary Ann, born 1848, died 1878; Alonzo P., born 1851 ; Louisa
C., born 1853.

JOSHUA WILSON, lot 27, concession 4, was born on the same farm where
he now lives in 1831.. His father, Joshua Wilson, was a son of a U. E.
Loyalist, and settled in Whitchurch in 1812, and died in 1877. Our subject
was married in 1861 to Mary Walks of Whitby Township ; they have four
children : Ella M., James A., Arthur E. and Edgar.

3 1

TOWN OF NEWMARKET.

TOWN OF NEWMARKET.

HOMAS ATKINSON, auctioneer, commission agent, etc., was
born in Yorkshire, England, September, 1828. When two
years of age he was brought to Canada by his parents, who
first located near Richmond Hill, Vaughan Township, York
County. They subsequently moved to Whitchurch Township,
and Thomas was then sent to school at Hartman s Corners
under the tutorship of J. C. Moulton, He divided his time in
the early part of his youth between working for farmers and attending school,
and was subsequently apprenticed to Eli Ir win for three years to learn the wag
gon-making business, after which he worked at his trade in Newmarket and
other places for a number of years. He worked in Bradford, Simcoe County,
two years, and then established himself in business, which he conducted
for some time ; but this latter venture proving unprofitable, he decided to
go to Toronto. He there worked in the service of McLean & Wright, and
was engaged building cars for the Northern Railway. After a period he
returned to Bradford, and again conducted business for himself, which at
the expiration of two years proved of considerable value ; but from shrinkage
in the value of stock, which effect was produced by the close of the Russian
War in 1856, he found it necessary in order to recover lost ground to remove
to Yorkville, where he continued in business one year, and finding no
improvement he wound up his affairs. The United States now attracted
his attention, and thither he departed, locating first at Lockport, and after
wards at New York City, where he worked at his trade. The breaking out
of the Civil War rendered remunerative employment not easily procurable,
and Mr. Atkinson returned to Canada, and settled in Newmarket, after a
short stay in Hamilton. He adopted the business of Insurance Agent and
Auctioneer, in which he has been successful. He was afterwards elected a
member of the Town Council ; but after serving one year he was defeated

470 Biographical Notices.

at the polls on his second candidature in consequence of his strenuous
advocacy of the Public Market for the town. In 1882 he engaged in the
jewellery business, which is under the superintendence of his son. Mr.
Atkinson was married in Newmarket to Jane Philips, formerly of Hamp
shire, England ; their issue is one son named Lemington.

JOHN ARNOTT, cooper, Newmarket, was born in Northumberland,
England, in 1821, and emigrated to Canada in 1854, and locating first in
Toronto, he remained there about three years. He came to Newmarket in
1857, and a little later became one of the partners in the firm of Arnott & Fox,
the well-known coopers and manufacturers. They work up four hundred
cords of stave bolts into barrels annually. Mr. Arnott was married to Miss
Jane Douglas, by whom he has a family of two daughters.

GEORGE H. BACHE was born at Brierley Hill, Staffordshire, England, in
1813. In company with his father and younger brother he emigrated to
Canada in 1829; they located first at Cobourg, from which place after a
residence of a few months they removed to Toronto. His father subse
quently purchased land on lot 2, concession 3, Georgina Township, situated
on the shore of Lake Simcoe, which farm they cultivated about three years.
They then returned to Toronto where his father kept hotel, during which
period George H. worked as pattern-maker, in Duchess Foundry, and
assisted in building the engine for the steamer Colborne, which was the first
steamboat launched on Lake Simcoe. The family then removed to North
G\\illimbury, where his father purchased a farm, which they cultivated
for about two years, and in 1837 came to Newmarket. During his residence
in Newmarket he followed his trade of carpenter and joiner. He also held
the official position of Bailiff of the Court of Requests and County Constable,
in addition to which he has been Bailiff of the Division Court under Judge
Boyd. When Newmarket was first incorporated Mr. Bache was elected to
serve in the^first Town Council, and at present occupies the position of
Market Clerk, having held that office for the past ten years. The same
year that he settled in Newmarket he married Miss Lucy Hunt of Notting
hamshire, England, by whom he had two children, one only, a daughter,
being now alive ; she married Mr. John G. Partridge, a native of Stafford
shire, England.

W. H. BENTLEY, M.B., Toronto University, M.C.P.S., Ontario, physi
cian and druggist, Newmarket, was born in the City of Toronto, where he
was educated, and graduated from the University in 1878, since which time
he has practised in Newmarket.

Town of Newmarket. 471

JOHN BRIMSON, carriage manufacturer, whose birth-place is Wiltshire,
England (1830), emigrated to Canada with his parents, who first settled on
a farm in Simcoe County, Ontario. John moved from there in 1844, and
the succeeding five years were spent in- learning his trade with Edward
Kermott, after which he worked as journeyman several years. After
spending about twelve months in Bowmanville, Durham County, Ontario,
he came to Whitchurch, and followed his trade for nine years previous to
settling in Newmarket. He established his present business in 1868, which
now amounts to $3,000 annually. Mr. Brimson was married in 1850, to
Miss Jane Brodie, of Newmarket, by whom he has a family of two sons,
Robert Hudson and John Herbert.

J. B. CALDWELL, retired, was born in New York City in 1807, and
emigrated to Canada with his parents in 1819, where they rented a farm in
Markham Township, York County, where his father was unfortunately
killed by the falling of a tree three months after their arrival. They sub
sequently removed to York Township and rented a farm belonging to Capt.
D. Haines, from which place Mr. Caldwell went to Whitchurch in the fall
of 1820, where he worked on a farm as hired boy. After a lapse of five
years he removed to Thornhill, where he commenced to learn the trade of
blacksmith ; but by the end of the first month he gave up the prospect of
being a blacksmith and moved to little York, where he learned chair-
making with Erastus Wiman. After about six years spent in the " Queen
City," he again turned his face northward, and locating in Newmarket
rented a house and shop of Mordecai Millard. After the lapse of three years
he built a house, which took fire and burned down while he was in little
York on business. His capital at this time, to use his own words, was a
"York shilling." He followed the business of painting and chair-making
about fifty years, being burned-out three times during that period, and by
industry and perseverance has been enabled to retire altogether from active
life. He was married in Toronto in 1830 to Miss Rosina Potter, a native
of Ireland, by whom he has nine children living, six sons and three
daughters. James Caldwell, deceased, was a U. E. Loyalist and emigrated
from Tyrone, Ireland, to America in 1807. He subsequently drew two
hundred acres of land from Government in Albion Township, Peel County,
on which the settlement duties were performed after his death.

W. CANE & SONS, lumber merchants and manufacturers. The present
head of this firm, Mr. William Cane, was born in Albany, New York, in
1822, of Irish parents. He emigrated to Canada in 1840, and first located
in the Village of Queensville, York County, where he commenced the busi-

472 Biographical Notices.

ness of wood-turning and operated a pump-works. He also purchased the
saw-mill formerly in the hands of Mr. Wilson, and in addition bought some
land on which he erected another mill. During his residence in Queens-
ville he was Reeve and Councillor of the Township of East Gwillimbury
for a number of years, and was for the year 1874 Warden of the County, of
York. His settlement in Newmarket dates from 1875, m which year he
established the business which has now such an extensive connection. He
also bought S. Sykes foundry and engine works. The foundry was burned
in the spring of 1876. The firm afterwards built a tannery on the same lot,
which is now occupied by R. Park & Co. as tenants. He first built the
steam saw-mill which is conducted under the management of. the present
firm. The existing sash and blind factory was also built about the same
time and is a portion of the business. The manufacture of pails, tubs and
wooden ware is a department of the business for which the firm have
become celebrated. Mr. Cane s general fitness for municipal office was
quickly recognized by the citizens of Newmarket, and very little time was
allowed to elapse after his location in the town before he was elected a
member of the Council, and on Newmarket receiving the honour of incor
poration in 1881 he was elected Mayor, which office he has since retained.
Mr. Cane was married in 1844 to Catharine Belfry, of Queensville, by whom
he has eleven children : eight sons and three daughters.

R. J. DAVISON, general merchant, was born at Holland Landing in
1842, and first commenced business in Newmarket in 1870 as partner in
the firm of Harrison, Sheppard & Co. Mr. Sheppard retiring in 1875, the
style of the firm became Harrison & Davison. This latter partnership
closed in 1880, and Mr. Davison then established his present extensive
business, which amounts now to about $26,000 per year. He deals largely
in dry-goods, cloths, tweeds, ready-made clothing, hats, caps, ladies and
gentlemen s furs, boots and shoes, etc., also in general groceries. He was
married to Miss Mary Wright, of East Gwillimbury, in 1874; tnen " family
consists of two sons and one daughter. Mr. Davison is of Irish descent,
his father, George Davison, having been born in County Tyrone, Ireland,
and emigrated to this country in 1832. His maternal grandfather was a
U. E. Loyalist and emigrated from Pennsylvania to the Niagara District
at the close of the last century, and located in York County in 1804.

JOHN E. DICKSON, Principal of High School, Newmarket, was born in
East Gwillimbury in 1850, being the son of Andrew and Elizabeth Dickson.
1 1 is parents were natives of Peebles, Scotland, and emigrated to America
in 1834, settling first in Ohio State. They removed to Canada in 1836

Town of Newmarket. 473

and located at Newmarket, York County, afterwards removing to a farm
near Newmarket. J. E. Dickson is the youngest of a family of ten, and
acquired his primary education at the Public School near his father s farm,
and was also a student at the Scholastic Institution of which he is now the
principal. He graduated at Toronto University in 1879, an d the year
following received his present appointment. He was in 1880 married to
Miss Mary Randall, of Whitchurch.

EDMUND ELVIDG is a native of Nottinghamshire, England, and emi
grated to Canada, settling in the Province of Quebec in 1815. He came to
Upper Canada in the year 1836, and located in York County, where he
followed the business of a millwright for several years. He was married
in 1849 to Miss Grace Me Arthur, of Simcoe County. Mr. Elvidg has
been Collector of Taxes in Newmarket for several years, also Engineer
of the Fire Brigade, and now occupies the post of County Constable.
He is one of a family of nine children born to Henry and Elizabeth
Elvidg.

R. FLOOD, Manager of Loan Company, Newmarket, is a native of
Middlesex County, Ontario. He was born in 1836, and acquired his educa
tion in London, Ontario. In 1862 Mr. Flood came to York County, and
locating at Richmond Hill commenced business as a general merchant,
which he continued for four years. He then went to Manitoba, and after
a stay of nine years returned to York County, and taking up his residence
in Newmarket commenced the banking business under the style of R. Flood
& Co. Mr. Flood subsequently became Managing Director of the Provin
cial Real Estate and Loan Company, which was established in 1881, the
President being James J. Pearson, Registrar of the North Riding. Mr.
Flood married Grace Agnes Wyatt, of Hamilton City, in 1862 ; they have
a family of six children, four sons and two daughters.

G. Fox, of the firm of Arnott & Fox, was born in Germany in 1820,
and emigrated to America, settling in New York State in 1851. After two
years residence in the Empire State he came to Canada, and fixing on
York County for his future abode located in the Town of Newmarket. He
was married in 1853 to Miss Regine Treuzier, also a native of Germany ;
they have a family of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters.

THOMAS GAIN, merchant tailor, was born in the County of Waterford,
Ireland, in 1852, and came to Canada in 1858. He first located in Montreal
where he remained for a few years, after which he came west to Toronto,

474 Biographical Notices.

where he worked at his trade for ten years. He located in Newmarket
about 1868, and for the first five years superintended the tailoring depart
ment of Mr. William McMasters, after which he established himself in
business. He has been a member of the Town Council for two years. Mr.
Gain was married to Miss Sarah Brown, a native of Bristol, England, by
whom he has five children living.

NELSON GORHAM, J.P., retired. The gentleman to whom we accord
this space in our pages is the eldest-born resident of the Town of Newmarket,
and is one of a family of eleven children. His father, Eli Gorham, was
born in Danbury, Conn., January 2, 1787. His mother s maiden name was
Hambelton; she was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1790, and
died in York County in 1830. His father was a woollen manufacturer, and
came to Canada before the War of 1812. He located in Newmarket, and
followed the business of woollen manufacturer and farmer until his death,
which occurred April n, 1867. Nelson was born in Newmarket, June 6,
1812, and was educated at Aurora Academy, Cayuga County, N. Y. On
finishing his studies, he assisted his father with the business, which he
carried on for ten years after the death of the latter, when he retired from"
active business life. He was married March 26, 1863, to Miss Bull, of
Loana, Chautauqua County, N. Y. ; they have no family. Mr. Gorham
has ever taken an active interest in all that concerns the welfare of his
native place, and has occupied numerous offices in connection with public
and municipal affairs, among which may be mentioned the Reeveship of
Newmarket Village, and also that of Judge Advocate. W r ith regard to
military affairs Mr. Gorham has always taken a prominent position, and
having held a commission on Navy Island during the Rebellion of 1837-38,
his knowledge has been of considerable service. He has been Captain of
Artillery and Brigade Inspector. He is a member of the English Church,
and a Liberal-Conservative in political matters. He is a Mason and a
member of I.O.F. The first carding machines introduced and operated
west of the Bay of Quinte were brought by Mr. Gorham, sen r, in 1808.

PATRICK HARDING, general merchant, and dealer in groceries, crockery,
glassware, etc., was born in Sligo, Ireland, in 1846, and came to Canada
with his parents when only one year old. They located first at Newmarket,
York County, and subsequently in North Gwillimbury, where Patrick
worked around amongst the farmers. When he reached the age of twenty,
he removed from Canada to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania,
where he worked at the saw-mill and lumber business. He subsequently

Town of Newmarket. 475

returned to Canada and purchased a farm of two hundred acres in the
Township of Georgina, York County, which he cultivated for a period of
six months, and then abandoned that project and commenced working in
a hat factory. He again removed to Pennsylvania and worked in a hat
factory in Philadelphia, and ultimately returned to Canada and locating in
Newmarket, followed the business of hat making until 1880, when he
established his present large and. prosperous business, which is now doing
about $20,000 annually. Mr. Harding still owns the farm in Georgina in
addition to the more recent purchase of two lots in Newmarket, upon which
he has built a handsome residence at a cost of $1,500. In 1847 he was
married to Miss Sarah Howard, of Newmarket, by whom he has one child
living. His father, Timothy Harding, still resides on his farm in Georgina
Township.

ERASTUS JACKSON, eldest son of Christopher Stroud Jackson, was born
in the Village of Merrickville, County of Grenville, Ontario, Canada, on
August 29, 1829. Two years later his parents removed to the Town of
Prescott, on the St. Lawrence, where the family remained for over six
years, when they again removed westward, and settled in the Village of
Wilton, Township of Ernestown, County of Lennox. During the next
seven years the parents of the subject of this sketch gave him all the
advantages of education obtainable in those early times in the District
School of that locality ; but, as those years included the period when the
pedagogues of the day "boarded around," those advantages were exceedingly
limited. In January, 1845, the Canada Christian Advocate was established
in the Town of Cobourg, by Messrs. Webster & Leonard, as the acknow
ledged organ of the M. E. Church ; and as the junior- member of the firm
had been an old school-mate of the father of Erastus, it was arranged that
the youth should enter the office as an apprentice, with the view of learning
the " art preservative." In 1848 the General Conference of the Church
took control of the Advocate, and removed its office to Hamilton. This, of
course, led to the dissolution of the partnership between Messrs. Webster &
Leonard. The former, however, continued as editor of the paper ; and
Mr. Leonard bought another press and continued the printing business in
Cobourg. The employes of the office were divided, part going to Hamilton,
and part remaining with Mr. Leonard, who continued the publication of a
monthly periodical called the Canadian Gem, which had been started
before the dissolution. Shortly after this a General Election followed, and
Mr. Leonard was induced to commence the publication of a weekly political
paper called the Courier, in the Liberal interest. The contest in Northum-

476 Biographical Notices.

berland that year was between Messrs. Weller and Meyers, the former
noted as being the proprietor of the line of stages then running between
Kingston and Toronto, and a strong Reformer, the latter a lawyer, if our
memory serve us, residing in the neighbourhood of Trenton. During this
contest Mr. McCarroll, previously connected with the management of a
Liberal paper at Peterboro , was the accredited editor of the Courier ; but>
Mr. Weller being defeated, the paper did, not succeed very well, and only
continued about a year after, when Mr. Leonard moved his office to Toronto,
where he still continued the publication of the monthly periodical above
referred to, and also became the publisher of a Church paper the organ
of the Methodist New Connection body. Mr. Jackson accompanied Mr.
Leonard to Toronto, where he completed his apprenticeship in January,
1850; and about the first of the following May proceeded to Guelph, and
occupied a situation in the Advertiser office there then printed and edited
by John Smith, Esq. Here he remained until the summer of 1852, the
Advertiser meanwhile changing hands and passing to Mr. Kieling, who
afterwards started the Guelph Mercury. In 1852 Mr. Jackson again returned
to Toronto, and took a situation in the office of the North American, con
ducted by the Hon. William McDougall, where he continued until June of
the next year, when, in company with Mr. A. Henderson, another North
American typo, he purchased the Newmarket Era office. The partnership
only continued one year, when Mr. Jackson became sole proprietor, and
he was editor and publisher until February, 1853, when he retired from
business and handed over the paper to his son, Mr. L. G. Jackson, who
conducts it. The subject of this sketch has ever taken a lively interest in
every enterprise calculated to advance -the prosperity of the Town of New
market or County of York. For most of the time during the past twenty
years he has held a seat in the local municipality of the town, and with
the exception of one year, has been its Reeve and Representative at the
County Council since 1871. He has also been Warden of the county, and
having taken a lively interest in municipal matters for so many years, is
generally regarded as a pretty good authority in municipal law. Mr. Jack
son has also been an active worker in agricultural matters ; he has been
Secretary and Treasurer of the North York Society for over twenty years,
and largely through his instrumentality the Directors purchased the beauti
ful grounds, and erected the commodious buildings now the property of
the Association in Newmarket, not equalled by any society in the county.
During the period when the present Judge Adam Wilson occupied the
position of Solicitor-General in the Sandfield-Macdonald-Dorwin Adminis
tration of Old Canada, Mr. Jackson was appointed Coroner and Issuer of

Town of Newmarket. 477

Marriage Licenses, and continued to hold the same until he voluntarily
resigned in 1878. Mr. Jackson has also taken a deep interest in the
Mechanics Institute of the town, and for years occupied the position
of President. He was also elected for this year to the Provincial Board
of Mechanics Institutes. He is still Reeve of the town, as well as taking
part whenever occasion requires in the work of the local magistracy
of the place. Considering his limited opportunities in early life, and
the success that has attended his public and private affairs, he may be
regarded as essentially a self-made man, the printing office being his
principal schoolmaster. For many years he occupied a position on the
Executive Board of the Canadian Press Association, was its Secretary for
some years, and has also filled the President s chair. He has been twice
married ; his present wife being a daughter of the late James Wright, jun r,
of the County of Wellington, by whom he has seven children all living but
the eldest, who died when quite young. Mr. Jackson is a Liberal in politics,
and took a prominent part in nearly all the great conventions of the party,
as a supporter of the late George Brown, from 1858 until after Confederation.

JAMES KILMAN, druggist, is a native of Banffshire, Scotland, where he
was born in 1835. He emigrated to Toronto in 1856, and after remaining
there until 1869 he came to Newmarket, where he has since been in business.
Mr. Kilman has been Auditor for Newmarket several years, and is at
present Agent for Vickers Express and the Montreal Telegraph Company.
His agencies also include the White Star and Allan Line Steamship Com
panies. Mr. Kilman was married in 1856 to Miss Elizabeth Cahan, of
Wicklow County, Ireland, by whom he has a family of seven children, two
sons and five daughters.

*&

WILLIAM MALLOY, bailiff, etc., was born in Ireland in 1822, and came
to this country with his parents when an infant, and has resided in or near
Newmarket ever since. He has held the office of Bailiff for the past twenty
years and also the office of License Inspector since 1878. Mr. Malloy was
married in East Gwillimbury Township on May 8, 1847, to Miss Rebecca
Wilson, by whom he has two sons and three daughters, all of whom are
living in the county.

ALEXANDER MILLARD, manufacturer, Newmarket, was born in 1852, and
commenced business with his father, Joseph Millard, in 1873, and established
business for himself in 1881. His marriage was in 1874 to Miss Emma
Millard, by whom he has one child, a daughter.

478 Biographical Notices.

JOSEPH MILLARD, furniture manufacturer and undertaker, was born in
the Township of Whitchurch, York County, in 1816, and is of Welsh
descent. He first commenced farming, also worked in a saw-mill, and in

1839 commenced his furniture business in Newmarket with the limited
capital of twenty-five dollars. This business has steadily increased, and
the modest dimensions of its original existence, compared with its present
large proportions, is very creditable to Mr. Millard s talent and enterprise,
and he is now considered one of the wealthiest men in this section. In

1840 he married Miss Susan Hollingshead, of Whitchurch, by whom he has
a family of eight children living, three sons and five daughters. Mr.
Millard s parents, John and Mary Millard, emigrated from Pennsylvania in
1805, and on their arrival in York County first located at Stouffville with
their parents, Timothy and Mary Millard, where they resided until 1813 ;
they then removed to Newmarket and remained there till removed by death
at the respective ages of eighty years.

J. NASH, M.D., was born in Sussex, England, in 1815, and settled in
the State of Connecticut. He remained there but two years however, his
next place of location being Toronto. He came to Newmarket in 1841
where he has since practised his profession. He was married in New York
City, in 1838, to Ann Ashman, formerly of England ; they have three sons
and three daughters.

RICHARD PARK, tanner and leather merchant, was born in Yorkshire,
England, in 1839, and came to Canada when twenty years of age. He was
located for a long time in Oxford County, Ontario, and in 1871 came to York
County, settling in Newmarket, commenced the business which he at
present carries on in partnership with Mr. J. S. Peckham, of Waubaushene,
under the firm name of R. Park & Co. The main building of the tannery
is 100 x 36 feet, in the rear a wing 50 x 25, and three storeys high, with a
brick-built engine-house containing a thirty horse-power engine. Calfskin,
kip, bridles and harness-leather are manufactured and made a specialty
of by the firm, whose business turn-over amounts to about $70,000 per
annum. Mr. Park was married in 1865 to Miss Hannah Battye, of
English birth ; neither of their children is living. Mrs. Park died sud
denly in the spring of 1884, and, a year later, Mr. Park married Miss Maria
Barry, daughter of J. W. Barry, Esq., of Bradford, Ont.

JAMES J. PEARSON, Registrar of the North Riding of York, was born
in the Township of W T hitchurch in 1828. He was for some years engaged
in the milling business in King Township, and received the appointment of

Town of Newmarket. 479

Registrar in 1863, the office being established that year. Mr. Pearson has
been married twice. His first wife was Mary Ann Kennedy of Aurora, to
whom he was united in 1856 ; her death occurred in 1866. He was married
again in 1868 to Mrs. Hoag, widow of Lyman Hoag and daughter of the late
S. T. Peckham, of Newmarket. He has two daughters by his first wife.
James Pearson, father of the above, was one of the early pioneers who
emigrated from Pennsylvania to Canada in 1800 and located in the Town
ship of Whitchurch. He was a son of Nathaniel and Ann Pearson, the
latter being a daughter of William Bunting, formerly of England. Her
maiden name was Bidgood, her ancestors having come from England with
Wm. Penn. The grandfather of James Pearson was supposed to have
been killed during his homeward journey from Quebec to New Jersey after
the old French War.

W. T. PERKINS, saddler and harness-maker, was born on the Island of
Jersey, in the English Channel, and emigrated to Canada in October, 1850.
He located first at Bradford, County Simcoe, and came to Newmarket in
1858. Mr. Perkins is doing a first-class business, which maybe considered
the best of its kind in town. He has been a Director of the Mechanics
Institute for five years, and is now a member of the Independent Order of
Oddfellows. Mr. Perkins was married in 1871 to Miss Martha Scarffe,
sister of Mr. J. W. Scarffe, Mayor of Brantford, by whom he has a family
of four daughters living and one son.

B. F. REESOR, merchant miller, Newmarket, is one of a family of eight
children, born to Samuel Reesor, a son of Peter Reesor, mentioned else
where as an early pioneer of Markham Township. B. F. Reesor was born
in Markham Township in 1849, where he lived until 1882, when in company
with his brother, F. A. Reesor, he purchased the flour and grist-mill now
owned and conducted by Reesor Brothers. The premises measure 60 x 80
feet, with a height of five storeys, and five runs of stones, with a yielding
capacity of three hundred and fifty barrels per day. Mr. Reesor s capa
bilities as a business man, added to his previous experience as a Councillor
and Deputy-Reeve of Markham, were soon taken advantage of by the
citizens of Newmarket, and his present position as Councillor is the result,
a position doubtless extensible to something higher when time and circum
stances shall reveal themselves.

SAMUEL ROADHOUSE, cabinet-maker and undertaker, is the descendant
of a family who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in 1819, his grandfather
and parents settling in Albion Township, Peel County, that year, where

480 Biographical Notices.

they lived until their death. Mr." Roadhouse was born in Albion Town
ship in 1824, and located in Newmarket in 1841, since which date he has by
prudence, good management and ability, got together an extensive con
nection. In the year 1846 he was married to Frances Elizabeth Elvidge,
by whom he has a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters.

THOMAS J. ROBERTSON, barrister, etc., was born in Dublin, Ireland, in
1841, and settled in this county in 1847. He is a member of the Town
Board of High School Trustees.

DR. DAVID L. ROGERS, physician and surgeon, was born in King Town
ship, York County, in 1836. He graduated at Bellevue Hospital Medical
College, New York City, in 1863, and at Victoria University College,
Toronto, in 1864. He practised medicine about five years in Newmarket,
York County, and five years in Toronto, Woodson County, in Kansas State,
after which he returned to Newmarket, where he has since remained in
active practice.

WILLIAM SAWDEN, retired, although he maybe termed an early resident
of York County, is still only comparatively a recent citizen of New
market. He was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1813, and emigrated to
Canada in 1837. He devoted himself entirely to farming, and on his loca
tion in the Township of Whitchurch, York County, he commenced as hired
man. The first farm that he owned was in Mariposa Township, Victoria
County ; but this he afterwards sold, and bought a farm in concession 9 of
Whitchurch. He subsequently bought the lot adjoining his latest purchase,
and by other acquisitions succeeded in getting together six hundred acres of
land. He was married in 1843 to Rachel Toole, by whom he has a family
of two sons, who are both living.

ROBERT HALL SMITH, J.P., retired, was born in Penetanguishene,
Simcoe County, in 1817, and was, it is stated, the first white child born at
that place. He removed with his parents to Toronto in 1819, where they
stayed until he was twelve years of age; they then moved to Springfield,
Elgin County, from which place after a stay of two years they again
returned to Toronto. Robert Hall entered a store as clerk, and continued
until 1833, when he removed to Aurora Village, and opened a general store,
which he assisted in conducting in partnership with his step-father
(Marshall), and in 1837 he removed to Newmarket. In 1839 he married
Miss Mary Boyart, by whom he has a family of two sons and three
daughters.

Town of Newmarket. 481

SUTHERLAND BROTHERS, merchants. This firm conducts a large general
store on Main Street, where a flourishing business is done. It is composed
of James, Alexander and William, who are the sons of the late Mr. Donald
Sutherland. The latter was born in the County of Caithness, Scotland, in
1815, and in 1840 emigrated to Canada. He came to York County, and
was first employed by Mr. William Fraser, of East Gwillimbury Township.
Two years later he removed to Schomberg, and took charge of the mill of
the late Thomas Brown. After a few years experience there he decided to
go into business on his own account, and accordingly came to Newmarket,
and leased the Coster mill. At the expiration of three years he returned to
Schomberg, and rented the mill formerly owned by Mr. Brown. On the
completion of the Northern Railway, Mr. Sutherland came back to New
market and purchased two mills, the only existing ones in the village, which
he operated for many years. He began store-keeping also, and after a time
entered into partnership with Mr. Burns, which continued some time, when
serious losses by fire compelled them to break the connection, and for a
period suspend business. Mr. Sutherland, however, commenced in the
mercantile business, which, with the assistance of his sons he carried on for
a number of years. Failing health eventually obliged him to retire from
active employment, and his sons energetically continued the concern. Mr.
Sutherland, sen r, held numerous offices in connection with local govern
ment, prominent among which may be mentioned the first Reeveship of
Newmarket. He was also a member of the School Board, and his abilities
being recognized, he was also made a Justice of the Peace. He was also a
License Commissioner, and subsequently became chairman of that body.
He was married in 1847 to Jane Boddy of Lloydtown, by whom he had
seven children. He died in November, 1880.

WILLIAM TERRELL, caretaker, Newmarket Cemetery, was born in
Devonshire, England, in 1824, and emigrated to Canada in 1870, and at
once settled at Newmarket, York County. The cemetery of which Mr.
Terrell is caretaker was opened in 1869, and is beautifully situated at the
northern extremity of the town limits, on high rolling land, commanding a
good view of the town and the surrounding country. Alfred Burns, late of
the firm of Burns & Sutherland, was the first buried there. Mr. Terrell was
married in England in 1848, to Miss Maria Brouse ; they have eight children,
four sons and four daughters.

THE North York Reformer is published every Friday morning by the
editor and proprietor, Mr. Thomas Ratcliff, at his office, corner of Main
and Botsford Streets, and is at the present time regarded as the official
32

482 Biographical Notices.

organ of the Reform Party in the North Riding of York. It was at first
commenced by Messrs. Oliver &, Ratcliff at the request of some of the
leading Reformers of the Riding, in order to supply a want sorely felt by
members of the party, viz. : that of a Liberal paper at political headquar
ters. This position had previously been filled by the Newmarket Era ; but,
its editor having opposed the nominee of the Reform Convention in 1875,
the paper had gone into Opposition and the party was thus left without an
organ in Newmarket. In commencing the Reformer the proprietors made
no addition to the number of papers in the Riding, having purchased the
plant of the Newmarket Courier, a paper published in the Conservative
interest in the building now occupied by Mr. William Perkins as a harness
shop. The Courier was first launched by Mr. G. M. Bins in 1867, and was
conducted by him for about four years, when he sold out to Dr. Playter,
who retained the management of it but a short time, and in the year 1872
disposed of the business to Mr. George Fox, from whom the present pro
prietor purchased it, as above mentioned, in the year 1876. Under the
new management the name and politics of the paper underwent an entire
change, and the circulation was increased to nearly three times its original
number. In the winter of 1877 Mr. Oliver severed his connection with the
paper, and his place by Mr. M. Baker, of Whitchurch, until the end of
1878, when he sold his interest to the present proprietor and retired from
the business. The Reformer is a large, special-sized sheet, devoted to
family reading, and local and political intelligence. It is well-patronized
by the Reformers of the riding, as well as by the more liberal-minded
Conservatives. Two years after its first number appeared Newmarket,
previously Conservative, gave a Reform majority, and since that time it
has been steadily on the increase, the majority for Dr. Widdifield at the
last election to the "Ontario Legislature being one hundred and twenty-
eight, a portion of which remarkable increase may very fairly be attributed
to the influence exerted through its columns. Its editor has for some years
acted on the Board of License Commissioners, an office he preferred to
accepting municipal honours. The paper has been treated to a new
" dress " of type during the past year, and the proprietor contemplates put
ting in new machinery at an early date. A very complete job office is
connected with the other plant, with which a good business is done.

THE ROYAL HOTEL, Newmarket, A. K. McKinnon, proprietor. This
well-known and popular hotel is one of the best in the locality, and is well-
patronized by the travelling public, every accommodation and good attend
ance being among its characteristics.

Town of Newmarket. 483

J. H. WIDDIFIELD, M.D., M.R.C.S., London, England, L.R.C.P.,
Edinburgh, Scotland, M.P.P., was born at Maple Grove Farm in Whit-
church Township in 1845. He has represented the North Riding of York
in the Ontario Legislature in the Reform interest since 1875, ar >d a * * ne
last election held in February, 1884, he was returned with a majority of
eight hundred and fifty-four. Dr. Widdifield is a Justice of the Peace, and
formerly, for several years, held the office of Coroner for the County of
York.

JOHN WILSON, boot and shoe merchant, was born in County Tyrone,
Ireland, and emigrated to Canada in 1846. He came to Upper Canada
and located in York County, taking up his residence in Newmarket. He
opened a store near the old Post-office, but was afterwards burned out, his .
loss exceeding $2,500. He took possession of his present store in the fall
of 1884, where his attention to business promises a large custom, which is
certainly deserved. Mr; Wilson was married in 1849 to Miss Ellen Tardy,
a native of Wexford, Ireland, by whom he had six children. Henry Wilson
is the fourth son in order of the family of John Wilson, and is at present in
business with his father. Their store on the west side of Main Street is
one well-known, and both father and son have business qualifications of a
high order.

A. M. WOOD, photographer, is a native of Springfield, New York State,
and came to Canada in 1856. Previous to his settlement in Newmarket
in 1868, he worked in Simcoe County at different points along the Northern
Railway. Since locating in Newmarket Mr. Wood has taken considerable
interest in matters relating to the social welfare of the inhabitants, espe
cially in the cause of temperance, and at present holds the Presidency of
the District Association. He is also connected with the Masonic Order
and formerly occupied the position of Master of Richmond Hill Lodge.
He was married to Miss Henrietta Victoria Selby, of East Gwillimbury,
by whom he has a family of four children.

TOWNSHIP OF

EAST GWILLIMBURY

TOWNSHIP OF EAST GWILLIMBURY.

AMES H. AYLWARD, postmaster and merchant, Queensville,
is the son of the late James Aylward, and was born in the Village
of Queensville. His father was a native of Ireland, and emigrated
to Canada in 1822. He located in York County, and for the
first four years taught school in Scarboro Township, and was
afterwards engaged as general merchant, which business he
carried on to within a short time of his death in 1875. The
mother of James H. was Miss Belfry, daughter of the late Jacob Belfry, an
early settler in this township. The subject of this sketch is the only sur
viving member of their family, and succeeded to his father s business, and
also the office of Postmaster. He deals in boots and shoes and patent
medicines. Mr. Aylward has been twice married ; first to Emma J. Hill,
whose death occurred October 17, 1872. He was married to his present
wife in December 13, 1883 ; she was Miss Marion Stokes, daughter of John
T. Stokes, of Sharon.

WILLIAM JAMES BEATON, blacksmith, was born in the Township of
Pickering, Ontario County, in 1859. His father was born in Scotland in
1800, and came to Canada at an early day, and has occupied the position
of Township Clerk and Treasurer of Pickering for upwards of forty years.
William James is one of a family of five children ; he learned the trade of
blacksmith with Mr. William Mosgrove, of Brougham, and has since carried
on that business in Markham. He was married in 1882 to Miss Minnie
Woodruff.

EDWARD BRAMMER, merchant, Sharon, was born in Sharon Village.
His father was the late Edward Brammer, who emigrated from Yorkshire,
England, in 1836, and the following year was taken prisoner for taking part

488 Biographical Notices.

in Mackenzie s Rebellion, but was afterwards released. He was a black
smith by trade, which business he followed to within a short time before his
death in October, 1872. The maiden name of our subject s mother was
Hannah Scales ; she died in 1882. Edward succeeded his father in the
blacksmith business, which he carried on for about ten years. In 1882 he
bought the store which he now conducts, where he is doing a satisfactory
and improving business. Mr. Brammer was married in March, 1867, to
Emily Agar, daughter of Henry Agar of this township.

WILLIAM BRODIE, proprietor of the steam pump- works, Franklin, is a
native of Scotland, and emigrated to this country in 1856. His father is John
Brodie, who located with his family first in Toronto, and after three years
residence there removed to the Township of Scarboro where he resided
about seven years. He subsequently settled in this section, where he
has been engaged in the manufacture of pumps. He took possession of
his present establishment in 1877, and turns out on an average about one
thousand five hundred pumps and wind-engines per annum.

JOHN CURRIE, lot 5, concession 3, is of English birth, and came with
his people to Canada in 1830. His father, Thomas Currie, on his arrival
in York County, fixed his residence in Newmarket, where he lived for many
years, and subsequently died in East Gwillimbury in 1879, a * the age of
ninety-one years. His mother s maiden name was Elizabeth Parker; she
died in the year 1868. John Currie started for himself on a farm belonging
to his father, afterwards receiving from him one hundred acres. He located
upon his present farm a few years later, and married in 1885 Elizabeth
Porter, of English birth.

ELIAS DOAN, lot n, concession 3, was born in Bucks County, Pennsyl
vania, in 1805, being the son of the late Ebenezer Doan, who brought his
family to Canada in 1813. Elias married in 1829 Wait Wilson, daughter of
the late Hugh Wilson ; his family consisted of three sons and five daughters.
A. T. Doan, son of the above, was born in Sharon. He went to California,
where he remained about thirteen years and then returned to Canada, and
has since been living on the old homestead in this township. He was
married in 1828 to Angelina McCarty, daughter of the late R. McCarty, of
this section.

DAVID DOAN, lots 13 and 14, concession 3, -was born on the farm where
he now resides, and is the son of the late Ebenezer Doan, a native of
Pennsylvania, who came to Canada about the year 1808, and settled firs

Township of East Gwillimbury. 489

in the Township of Whitchurch, York County, where he resided about ten
years. He moved from Whitchurch to this section about 1818, where he
lived until his death in 1866, at the age of ninety-three years. Mr. David
Doan has been twice married, first to Sarah Quibbell ; three sons and one
daughter survive this union. In 1875 he married Jane Anderson.

ALLEN GRAHAM, lots i and 2, concession 8, is a native of Yorkshire,
England, and came out to Canada in 1842 in company with his parents.
The family were by trade spinners and weavers, and unaccustomed to
farm life, consequently on settling on uncleared land they found the labour
and hardship more than usually severe. Their success may be taken for
granted when about one thousand four hundred acres of land altogether are
possessed by two brothers in different parts of the county. The father died
in 1860, at the age of eighty-eight, and for some years after this event
Allen and his brother Benjamin were in partnership, combining farming
with the business of wool manufacturing. Mr. Graham is, however, now
alone, and owns altogether about six hundred and forty acres in this
township and eighty acres in Whitchurch, his brother Benjamin being in
possession of the remainder of the property.

WILLIAM GRAHAM, lot 10, concession 2, was born in the State of New
York, near the Mohawk River, and came to Canada with his people when
a child. His father, the late William Graham, was a native of Ireland,
and settled first in New York State on his arrival in America. In the year
1811 he came to York County, U. C., and settling in concession 3 of East
Gwillimbury resided there until his death. Mr. Graham, sen r, was married
in Ireland to Esther Reid, who survived her husband some time ; four sons
and four daughters were the issue of their union. William, on starting for
himself, purchased a bush farm on concession 2 of this township, on which
he remained until 1868, when he retired from active life, and has since been
living in the Village of Sharon. He was married in 1833 to Elizabeth
Doan, daughter of the late John Doan, a pioneer of this township ; they
have two sons and three daughters. Mr. Graham took an active part in
the Rebellion of 1837, and after the disbandment of Mackenzie s forces was
taken prisoner and confined for a short time in a church at Newmarket,
afterwards being released on bail.

GEORGE HAIGH, proprietor of the woollen-mills, Mount Albert Post-
office, was born in East Gwillimbury Township, being the son of the late
David Haigh, who emigrated to this country from Yorkshire, England, in

490 Biographical Notices.

1841, and settled in this township, where he died in 1844. George was the
only son of his father s family (which consisted only of a son and daughter),
and commenced the woollen business at Mount Albert in 1870 under the
firm name of Graham & Haigh, which business was continued in this manner
for six years, when Mr. Haigh retired and followed farming for four years.
In 1880 he again took charge of the woollen-mill, and has since successfully
conducted the business and employs about ten hands. His manufactures
include tweeds, flannels, blankets, etc. Mr. Haigh married Jane, daughter
of William Mainprize, of this township.

SAMUEL HARRIS, deceased, was born in New Jersey State, and came
to Canada before the War of 1812. He settled in Uxbridge Township,
Ontario County, and during the war, not wishing to take up arms against
his American countrymen, he was fined by the British Government. He
came to East Gwillimbury Township in 1816 and conducted a blacksmith s
business for six years, subsequently returning to Uxbridge, where he owned
five hundred acres of land, and lived there until 1829. He then came back
to East Gwillimbury and bought one hundred and fifty acres in concession
2, where he resided until his death in 1872. He married Susan Chap-
nen, born in Pennsylvania, whose death occurred in 1858; three sons and
one daughter survive them, of whom one son", Israel, resides on the old
homestead. The latter married in 1836 Sarah Doan, daughter of Ebenezer
Doan, of this township, by whom he has a family of eight children ;
four sons and one daughter are now living.

BROOKS W. HOWARD, lot 4, concession 2, is one of three sons, the only
surviving members of a family of nine children born to Stephen and Tammy
(Foster) Howard. The family originally came from Connecticut, U. S.,
where the father was born in 1781. The late Stephen Howard came to
Canada in 1801 and settled on Yonge Street, where he resided until his
death in 1840. There was no road when he came, they being obliged to
follow the Indian trail. Our subject s mother was from the Black River
region, New York State, was afflicted with chronic rheumatism and not
able to walk the last forty-five years of her life; she died in 1869. Brooks
W. was born in this township, west of Yonge Street, on concession i. He
was married in 1839 to Amelia Wakefield, daughter of T. B. Wakefield, a
native of Vermont, U.S., who came to this township at an early day ; she
died in 1874. Mr. Howard married again in 1876, his second wife being
Elizabeth Philips, a native of East Gwillimbury, by whom he has one son
and one daughter.

Township of East Gwillimbury. 491

STEPHEN HOWARD, lot 101, concession i, was born on the family home
stead, being the third surviving son of the late Stephen Howard. He
was married in 1848 to Jane Millard, daughter of the late John Millard, a
pioneer of York County ; the issue of their union is three sons and four
daughters.

A. J. HUGHES, lot n, concession 3, is the son of the late Job Hughes,
and grandson of Amos Hughes, who emigrated from Bucks County, Penn
sylvania, as early as 1805, and coming to York County, U. C., settled in
King Township, where Job, the father of the subject of our sketch, was born.
The family removed to the Village of Hope, since called Sharon, in the
Township of East Gwillimbury, where Amos, the grandfather, died. Job
Hughes came to East Gwillimbury along with his parents in 1818, where
he lived until his death in 1875. Our subject s mother was Elizabeth
Thorpe, of Irish birth, who died in 1882 ; four sons and one daughter sur
vive them. A. J. Hughes was born on the old homestead, where he has all
his life resided. He married Martha D. Philips, daughter of David Philips,
whose father, Dr. Samuel E. Philips, came from Pennsylvania in 1800.

W. H. HUNTER, merchant, Mount Albert, is a native of the village
where he resides, being a son of the late Robert Hunter. The latter was
of Irish parentage and carne to Mount Albert in 1844, the locality at that
time being entirely bush. In 1850 he built and conducted the first store in
the village, and two years later took possession of an adjoining store which
he continued to carry on for twelve years. He then retired for four years,
subsequently erecting the store and establishing the business now conducted
by his son, W. H. He died in 1875. The mother s maiden name was
Maria Shuttleworth ; W. H. and his brother are the only surviving children.

JAMES KAVANAGH, auctioneer and agricultural implement agent, Queens-
ville, was born in Sharon Village, being the son of the late James and
Elizabeth Kavanagh. His parents came from Ireland at an early day, and
settled in York County, his father being shot at the Battle on Yonge Street,
near Montgomery s Tavern, during the Mackenzie Rebellion, dying from
his wound shortly afterwards. James has resided in this township all his
lifetime. He first kept hotel at Sharon for several years and afterwards
for a time in this village. He has been in his present line of business about
twenty-five years. He was married in 1854 * Maria Barker, daughter of the
late John and Mary Barker, who lived in this section, having emigrated
from England ; their family consists of three sons and three daughters-.

492 Biographical Notices.

JOHN H. KAVANAGH, merchant and postmaster, Sharon, was born
November 10, 1833, in the village where he now resides. His father, James
Kavanagh, was born in the County Down, Ireland, in 1785 ; he was a
soldier in the British Army, and was killed at the Battle on Yonge Street,
during the Rebellion of 1837. The mother of John H. was Elizabeth
Darling, a native of Ireland also ; born in 1787 ; she died in Rochester,
N.Y., in 1874. The subject of this sketch was one of a family of seven
children, and was educated at School Section, No. 4, East Gwillimbury. He
commenced life as carpenter and joiner, which business he followed for a
number of years. During the Civil War in the United States he joined the
Federal Army and enlisted in the 22nd Regiment, New York Cavalry. He
is at present acting as Postmaster of his native village, and also conducts a
store. He was married at Sharon in 1861 to Eliza Ryan, who was born in
County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1837; he has four children by this union,
viz. : Elizabeth, James, Mary and Adeline. He is a Liberal in politics.

CHARLES E. LUNDY, lot 102, concession i, east of Y*onge Street, whose
place of birth is the farm he now owns and occupies, is the son of the late
Jacob Lundy. Mr. Lundy, sen r, was born in this township on an adjoin
ing lot, his father, Israel Lundy, having emigrated from Lycoming County,
Penn., and settled there in 1805, and built mills, subsequently removing to
Sharon, where he died in 1846. Jacob Lundy lived with his people until
he reached the age of twenty-five (1824), when he bought and settled upon
a tract of uncleared land (the same farm being now occupied by Charles E.),
where he lived until his death in 1878, at the age of sixty-nine years. The
mother of the subject of this sketch was Hannah Doan, daughter of Eben-
ezer Doan, who emigrated from Bucks County, Penn., in 1808. Charles E.,
the mother and three sisters are the survivors of the family. The former
has always resided at the homestead, which he received by will from his
father, and consists of seventy-five acres, in addition to which he owns one
hundred and twenty-five acres on lot 8, concession 2 of this section. His
father, Jacob Lundy, was with Mackenzie s forces during the Rebellion of
1837, and was held a prisoner for a short time.

CHARLES LUNDY, lot i, concession 2, farmer and machinist, is the son
of the late Samuel Lundy, who, with his parents, settled in concession 4 of
Whitchurch, at the beginning of the present century. His father married
in 1838 Hannah Star, who is still living; their family consisted of five sons
and three daughters. Samuel Lundy died in 1860. Charles resided at the
old homestead until 1863, when he bought and settled upon his present farm
which he continues assiduously to cultivate.

Township of East Gwillimbury. 493

JOHN CALVER? MCCARTHY, lot 2, concession 3, was born upon the farm
he at present owns. His father, the late R. McCarthy, was born in
Rensselaer County, New York State, in 1809, ar >d in 1825 came to Canada.
He was only a boy at the time, and almost destitute, walked all the way
< from Kingston to York. He was variously employed for several years and
eventually bought and settled upon the farm located as above. His first
purchase was fifty acres from the Crown, to which he added another fifty
acres which he purchased from his father, George McCarthy, who came to
Canada some time after his son. John Calver, two sisters and his mother
survive the father. John C. married in 1877 Margaret, daughter of John
Hooper, of this township ; she died in May, 1884.

MRS. B. F. MORRISON, lot i, concession 2, is the daughter of the late
Joseph Kinsey, Her father was born in this section and was the son of
James Kinsey, who came from Pennsylvania at an early day, and settled on
lot 3, east of Yonge Street, in this township, where he resided until his
death. Joseph Kinsey was married in 1828 to Clarissa Arnold, who was
born in the United States ; both died in the year 1835. Mrs. Morrison is
one of two daughters who survived their parents; she was married in 1851
to B. F. Morrison, of Youngstown, Niagara County, .N. Y., and son of
Major Morrison, of that place ; their family consists of four sons and three
daughters,, who are located at various places from the homestead to the
Pacific Coast.

W. MORLEY, proprietor of the grist-mill lately erected at Mount Albert ,
is a native of Sussex, England, and came with his people to Canada in
1832. They settled first in Perth County, where they lived until the death
of the father. Mr. Morley has a grist and saw-mill at Baden, Waterloo
County. His present mill in East Gwillimbury has three run of stones ;
the main building is 30 x 40 x 37 feet, with another structure 38 x 30 feet ;
the machinery is driven by a fifty horse-power engine. Mr. Morley married
Rachael Coe, of Waterloo County.

T. T. MORTON, proprietor of the general store, Queensville, is the son
of Silas Morton, now living in Michigan, U. S. His father and grandfather
were the first to settle in North Gwillimbury, where they located about
1820; the grandfather died there. His father resided on the old home
stead until he arrived at maturity, and then purchased lot 18, concession 5,
North Gwillimbury, where T. T. Morton, our subject, was born, and
which farm is now owned by the latter. Mr. Morton, sen r, remained on
the farm until 1870, when he moved to Michigan. The mother of our

494 Biographical Notices.

subject was Annie Sinclair, who died in 1882. T. T. Morton is one of a
family of eight children, and on leaving home engaged in farming in
Simcoe County. He subsequently settled upon a farm in this township,
and was afterwards engaged in the mercantile business in Ontario County.
In 1883 he located in Queensville, and established the business in which
he is at present engaged. He married in 1867 Sarah Huntly, of North
Gwillimbury Township.

JAMES PARNHAM, lot 106, concession i, was born in Nottinghamshire,
England, in 1822, and came to Canada with his mother and stepfather
when only ten years of age. On their arrival in Toronto in 1832 his
mother died from cholera. Subsequently the family went to Newmarket
and afterwards to East Gwillimbury, where our subject s stepfather, George
Foster, resided until his death. James, on leaving home, went to live with
a sister in Pickering Township, with whom he remained about one year.
He then learned the trade of carding and cloth-dressing at Ellerby s mill,
East Gwillimbury, a vocation he followed ten years. He then bought one
hundred and forty acres of land, on which he now lives, and to this he has
since added another hundred acres, owning now about two hundred and
fifty acres of land. Mr. Parnham occupied the position of Reeve of East
Gwillimbury for eight years, and was Warden of the County for one year,
1870; these offices he held between 1860 and 1870. He was married to
Miss Wright, daughter of George Wright, of Yonge Street, East Gwillim
bury ; they have one daughter living, having lost their only son when about
five years of age.

B. F. PEARSON, M.D., Queensville, derives his descent from a family
who originally came from Pennsylvania. The grandfather, Benjamin
Pearson, came to Canada in 1797, and settled the same year in King
Township, York County, where he died in 1817. Of his family only
one son, Benjamin P., survives ; he is living in Aurora. Nathaniel,
deceased, another son, was the father of the subject of this notice. He
resided on the old homestead until 1825, when he married Martha W.
Watson, daughter of William Watson, one of the early settlers of Whit-
church Township. Nathaniel died in 1880 and his wife died in 1867; two
sons and one daughter are all that survive of a family of eight children.
B. F. lived on the homestead with his parents until 1860. He spent
about three years teaching, and afterwards attended the Victoria Medical
College, Toronto, where he graduated, and soon after commenced practising
in the Village of Queensville. He was married jn 1870 to Mary Wilson,
daughter of the late William H. Wilson, of Sharon.

Township of East Gwillimbury. 495

PHILIP PENTZ, proprietor of the grist-mill, Pine Hill, is the son of the
late Peter Pentz, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to this country at an
early day and settled in Lloydtown. He afterwards returned to the States,
where he died in 1842. Philip learned his business in Lloydtown, and
afterwards engaged in milling io various parts of the country. He acquired
a lease of the above-mentioned mills in 1881, and has since conducted
the business. The mill is worked both by steam and water-power, and has
three run of stones, doing a large custom business. He was married in
1861 to Catharine Lundy, daughter of Reuben Lundy, of this township.

DANIEL PEREGiNE,lot 21, concession i, was born in England in 1814, and
came to Canada with his people when an infant. His father, John Peregine,
settled in York County and remained near Toronto about three years, and
in 1818 removed to Georgina Township, where he drew land from the Govern
ment, and erected the first dwelling-house in that township. He resided
there twelve years, and in 1839 sold out and bought the farm where Daniel
now lives. He died in 1859 ; his wife, whose maiden name was Catharine
Thomas, followed him three years later. Daniel is one of a family of two
sons and one daughter who survive their parents. He married in 1837
Martha Wilson, daughter of the late Titus Wilson, of this section. Mr.
Peregine cultivates one hundred and fifty acres. R. F. Peregine, son of
the above, resides on the old homestead. He has been twice married, first
to Priscilla Defoe, of Belleville, in 1875. His present wife, to whom he was
married in 1878, was Hannah Holgate, of Belleville.

A. F. PRINGLE, M.D., and proprietor of drug store, Mount Albert, is
a native of Lennox County, being the son of Wm. Anson Pringle. His
grandfather, Joseph Pringle, was a U. E. Loyalist, and was amongst the
first settlers in Lennox County ; he located in Fredericksburg Township,
where he lived until his death. Dr. Pringle was, for many years, a school
teacher, and spent ten years in Waterloo County in that capacity. He
received his professional education at Trinity College, Toronto, and obtained
his degree in 1882. He practised for a time with his brother at Welland-
port, and, in 1883, bought the drug business of Dr. Hamill and commenced
the practice of medicine in this district.

HARRISON PROCTOR, lot 98, concession i, was born on lot 100, concession
i of this township, and is the fifth son of the late Henry Proctor. Both
his parents died when he was quite young. He resided on what had been
his father s farm until he was twenty-five years of age, after which he was
engaged in farming in different places. He subsequently bought a small farm

496 Biographical Notices.

on Yonge Street, which he afterwards sold and bought the one where he
now resides. He was married in 1853 to Mary A. Millard, daughter of the
late John Millard ; they have one son who is now in charge of the home
stead. Mrs. Proctor s grand-father, Timothy Millard, was a pioneer of
Whitchurch.

ISAAC PROCTOR, concession i, west of Yonge Street; in East Gwillim-
bury Township. His father, Henry Proctor, was born near Boston, U. S.,
and settled in York Township in 1800 on the same farm where he, Isaac,
was born, and where he lived until his death. Of six sons and twelve
daughters who survive him, Isaac is the eldest. Isaac resided on the old
homestead until 1840, when he purchased a farm in King Township, where
he remained until 1876 ; he then moved to his present location.

JOHN SALTER, lot 12, concession 2, was born near Bath, in Somerset
shire, England, and came to Canada in 1851. He settled first at Holland
Landing, where he remained about thirteen years, and followed his trade of
carpenter. He next settled on lot 108, east of Yonge Street, and engaged
in farming, subsequently removing to lot 1 1 , concession 2, where he remained
until 1872. He then bought the farm of one hundred and eighty acres,
west part of lots 12 and 13, concession 2, where he has since resided. Mr.
Salter has been twice married, his first union being with Mary Greenhill,
whose death took place in 1863 ; one daughter survives her. His present
wife s maiden name was Rachel Wright, daughter of the late George
Wright, of this township, who came originally from England. He has two
sons and two daughters by this marriage.

SAMUEL SHUTTLEWORTH, lot 9, concession 8, is a native of Lincolnshire,
England, and emigrated to Canada in 1834. Soon after his arrival in York
County he settled on his present farm in East Gwillimbury. He was a
pioneer of this section, and came through the woods all the way from
Newmarket, following an Indian trail. He has very much improved his
property both in the way of cultivation as well as in the erection of build
ings. He married in 1838 Nancy Malts, a native of County Donegal,
Ireland.

STEEPER & WOODCOCK, proprietors of saw, planing and shingle-mills,
and sash, door and blind factory, Mount Albert. This firm is composed of
S. Woodcock and Messrs. P. & J. Steeper, and was established in 1883.
The planing mill has been running for about eleven years, the business at
first being carried on by Woodcock and Grindall, the firm name having

Township of East Givillimbury. 497

been changed several times since then. The working capacity of the saw
mill is about twenty thousand feet per day. The firm are also builders and
contractors, and are prepared to fulfil all contracts of that class. Messrs.
Steeper Brothers are natives of Lincolnshire, England, and came to Canada
in their youth. Their father, David Steeper, settled in Markham Town
ship, where he resided many years, and has only lately removed to this
section. The mill building has a frontage of 60 x 50 feet.

ISAAC TOOL, lots 4 and 5, concession 8, is descended from a family of
Welsh origin. His father, the late Moses Tool, was born in Bucks County,
Pennsylvania, and came to Canada with his parents Aaron and Rachel
(Howard) Tool in 1799. They located near Niagara two years, and then
came to York County, settling in Whitchurch Township on a tract of land
drawn from Government (lot 29, concession 4), where the old people resided
until their death. In 1827 Moses Tool took possession of the farm in this
township now occupied by Isaac ; it then consisted of four hundred acres,
which is now divided, a part being in the hands of Lewis Tool. When the
late Mr. Tool first came here but three settlers were located at that end of
the section. He died in the year 1882, at the age of eighty-eight years,
having survived his wife twenty-two years. His wife s people were of
Welsh origin and U. E. Loyalists, and came from New Brunswick at an
early day. Isaac, the subject of this sketch, is one of a family of four sons
and one daughter, and was born on the old homestead in Whitchurch
Township. He has been thrice married, his rst union being with Jerusha
Burchard, who died eight years later ; she was the mother of five children,
only one survived her ; this daughter died some time after. His second
marriage was with Elizabeth S. Brown, which event took place in 1870 ;
she died in 1876, leaving one son. Mr. Tool s present wife was Hannah J.
Brown, to whom he was married in 1879.

LEWIS TOOL, lot 4, concession 8, was born on the farm on which he
now resides, being the only son of the late Lewis Tool, whose death occurred
by an accident from a threshing-machine in 1851. His family consisted of a
son and a daughter. Mr. Tool inherited his farm from his grandfather, the
late Moses Tool. His mother is still living.

W. J. TURNER, general merchant, Queensville, is a native of Newton-
brook, Ireland, and came to Toronto in 1854. He nao ^ learned the trade of
shoemaker at home which he followed for two years after his arrival here ;
he then left Toronto, and established himself as a general merchant in
Queensville, which he continued for a number of years. He subsequently

33

498 Biographical Notices.

bought and lived upon a farm in Grey County, and in 1879 returned to
Queensville, and after putting in a new stock of goods opened the store
which he has since conducted. Mr. Turner has been twice married, his
first wife being Eleanor Todd, of King Township ; she died in October, 1873,
leaving two sons and one daughter, all of whom are now in Manitoba.
His second marriage was in April, 1884, to Mrs. G. Stiles, of Queensville,
born at Port Perry, whose maiden name was Rosanna Brown.

JOSHUA WELDON, shoemaker, Queensville, was born in Biddleford,
England, and came to Canada in 1855. He came to York County, and
settled in this village, in 1858, where he has since carried on the business of
shoemaker. He married in 1863 Charlotte A. Maries, daughter of Samuel
Maries, of this township ; they have five sons and four daughters.

HUGH D. WILSON, farmer, Sharon Post-office, is the son of the late
David Wilson, and was born in 1802, where the Village of Sharon now
stands. Mr. Wilson was formerly a Custom House Officer, which position
he occupied about twenty years, the remainder of his life has been spent in
Sharon. He was married in 1823 to Phosbe Wilson, daughter of W. H.
Wilson ; they have two sons and two daughters.

DAVID L. WILSON, lot 6, concession 2, is the son of Israel Wilson, and
grandson of David Wilson, who founded the Church of Davidites or
Children of Peace at Sharon. David Wilson, sen r, came from the State of
New York about 1801, and settled with his family in what is now Sharon
Village, Israel, the father of David L., being then an infant. Israel lived on
the homestead until some time after his marriage with Mary Hughes,
daughter of Amos Hughes, a pioneer of this township, and in 1841 settled
upon the farm now owned by David L. The latter is the youngest in a
family of four children, and has always lived on the old homestead, which
he received from his father. He was married in 1869 to Eliza J. Stokes,
daughter of John T. Stokes, of Sharon.

RODNEY WILSON, lots 13 and 14, concession 3, was born on the farm
where he now lives, being the son of John H., and grandson of Hugh D.
Wilson, who came to Canada in 1812, and took up their residence in North
Gwillimbury. His mother was Rebecca Barr, who died at the age of
seventy-two years. Rodney lived for twelve years on concession 5, and
took up his residence on the old homestead in the fall of 1882. He married
in 1857 Adeline McCarty, daughter of R. McCarty, an early settler in this
township, by whom he had one child, a daughter.

TOWNSHIP OF

NORTH GWILLIMBURY

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH GWILLIMBURY.

ILLIAM R. ARDELL, lot 10, Lake concession, was born in
King s County, Ireland, in the year 1827, and emigrated to
Canada in 1848. On his arrival he settled in North Gwillim-
bury on the lot which he at present owns. He was married
in the year 1857 to Louisa Ann Knowlton, by whom he had
nine children, six of whom are still living. The country
generally was in a wild state when Mr. Ardell first came,
there being no roads at all, and no school nearer than Bellhaven.

JAMES ALDOM, lot 19, concession 6, was born in Gloucestershire,
England, and emigrated to Canada in 1847 with his parents, being at that
time very young. His father, Edwin Aldom, is still living and enjoys good
health, being now seventy-six years of age. His mother s maiden name
was Annis Nicolls ; she also is living, and is in her seventy-eighth year.
James is one of a family of four children, three, of whom are living and
married, being also in good circumstances. The district, when the family
first settled there, was extremely wild, and around the lonely farm-house
the wolves howled through the night, awakening them from their hard-
earned slumbers and making them feel more than ever how distant they
were from a civilized community. The country is changed now, however,
and what was once a wilderness is now a rich and productive soil.
Towards this result Mr. Aldom has contributed his share, and by his
industry and prudence has made himself a comfortable and well-furnished
home. The family are members of the English Church.

JOHN CONNER, lot 13, concession 6, is the son of John and Hannah
Conner. He married Miss Latham, daughter of John and Lydia Latham,
of North Gwillimbury, by whom he had the following children : Albert,

502 Biographical Notices.

i

born August 7, 1861 ; Hannah Victoria, born January i, 1863; Lydia,
born 1865; Jane, born 1866; Sarah Jane, born 1868; Polly Ann, born
May 10, 1869; Thomas Wilmot, born October 4, 1870; Emma, born
March 4, 1873 > Martha, born May 15, 1876.

r

JOSEPH D. DAVIDSON, lot 14, concession 6, was born in the Township
of Brock, Ontario County, of Scotch parentage, in the year 1849. He
removed to Newmarket in 1856, and remained in that neighbourhood about
ten years, from which place he came to North Gwillimbury. He has lived
on the farm where he now resides for the past twelve years, and was mar
ried in 1872 to Eliza Sheppard, daughter of Richard Sheppard, sen r, one
of the old pioneers of the township; they have six children, all of whom
are living. Mr. Davidson has been a member of the Township Council
for several years, and, in addition to the interest he takes in local govern
ment, has contributed not a little to the progress and welfare of the section
by the attention he gives to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, of which he
has a very fine herd. By enterprise and industry he has succeeded in
establishing for himself a good reputation among his neighbours, and his
comfortable home is due to his own labour and his appreciation of what is
required for the best comforts of his family.

THOMAS GLOVER, lot i, concession 5, is a native of Loftus, Cleveland,
Yorkshire, England, and was born on January i, 1811. He emigrated to
Canada in the year 1831, and coming to York County located in the neigh
bourhood of Newmarket. He purchased land in the Township of North
Gwillimbury in 1845, which at that time was perfect bush, there being only
cow-paths to do duty for roads, and no mill nearer than Newmarket. Mr.
Glover was one of the first five Councillors elected for the township. He
was married in the year 1835 to Margaret Garbot, by whom he had nine
children, seven of whom are living.

SAMUEL KING, lot i, concession 5, was born in England, and came to
Canada in 1856. He first located at Woodstock, where he remained six
years, after which he rented a farm in East Gwillimbury for ten years, sub
sequently purchasing a hotel at Ravenshoe, which he has since continued
to conduct. He was married in England to Miss Charlotte Short, by
whom he has had eleven children, eight of whom are still living.

LOUISA MANN, lots 16 and 17, concession 5, was born in the Township
of North Gwillimbury in the year 1827. Her maiden name was Louisa

Township of North Gwillimbury. 503

Prossor, being a daughter of John Prossor, Esq. The latter was one of
the leading men in the township in the early days and was commissioned
a Justice of the Peace ; his fatherly advice whilst acting in that capacity is
still remembered by many in the section. He was an elder of the Christian
Church, and was a devoted and consistent member. He died about the
year 1852, deeply regretted by all the old settlers. Mrs Mann was married
in 1844 to Darius Mann ; they had a family of five children, four of whom
are living.

SQUIRE MORTON, deceased-, was born in the United States and emi
grated to Canada with his parents, Simeon and Elizabeth (Squires) Morton,
in 1 80 1. He was then three years of age, and continued to reside on the
homestead until 1817, when he married Sybelia, daughter of Darius Mann.
He first settled in North Gwillimbury, subsequently removing to concession
4 of East Gwillimbury Township. His family consisted of ten children-
four sons and six daughters ; by industry and perseverance he secured for
them a comfortable home. He was a man of strong religious convictions,
and in the capacity of minister for the Canadian Christian Church did a
great deal of good in his section. He died in 1867, at the age of seventy
years. Darius Morton, lot 8, concession 5, the second son of the above, was
born on May 19, 1820, and lived with his parents until twenty-one years of
age. In commencing life for himself, he settled on the farm in North
Gwillimbury Township, which he still occupies. He married Deborah
Phrebe, daughter of Captain N. McArthur, of A meliasburg, Ontario, by
whom he had three sons and four daughters. On the death of his first
wife he married her sister, Elizabeth McArthur ; he has two sons and one
daughter by his present wife.

EDWARD Ross, lot 12, concession 5, was born in North Gwillimbury
Township in the year 1839. He was married in 1858 ; no issue.

RICHARD SHEPPERD, lot 16, concession 5, was born in King s County,
Ireland, and emigrated to Canada in 1827, settling in North Gwillimbury
the same year. At that time the absence of roads, schools, churches and
other elements of civilization added greatly to the inconvenience and labour
of the early settler. Mr. Shepperd was married in 1836 to Chloe Willingsby,
by whom he had sixteen children, twelve of whom are still living.

GEORGE TOMLINSON, lot 15, concession 2, is the son of George and
Mary (Garlic) Tomlinson, who came to Canada in 1831, and located in this

504 Biographical Notices.

section the year following. His father died June 30, 1859, his mother died
July 3, 1854. Their family consisted of four sons and one daughter. George
remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age ; he then commenced
for himself, and after locating in two or three different parts of the section,
finally settled on his present lot. He has acquired other lands besides that
which he resides on, and owns about eight hundred and sixty acres in the
township. He married Miss Mitchell in the year 1836, by whom he has
had nine children, seven of whom survive ; their names being as follow ;
Sarah Ann, born October 4, 1837, died February 19, 1884 ; Ezery Bartlett,
born November 23, 1839; Mary Jane, born May 3, 1842; Priscilla P.T.,
born June 17,1846; Hannah L., born April 26, 1848 ; Ida, born July n,
1851, died February 6, 1855; Elizabeth, born January 4, 1854; Isabella,
born July 14, 1856, and George W., born March 28, 1859. Mr. Tomlinson
has been a member of the Council for several years. He is a regular
attendant of the Methodist Church, and has given largely towards the
erection of churches in the section.

R. M. VAN NORMAN, merchant, Keswick P. O., was born in North
Gwillimbury in 1845. His father, David Van Norman, was born near
Kingston in 1815, and is still living. His mother s maiden name was
Eunice Crittenden, who was born in North Gwillimbury in 1820, and died
in 1857. Our subject is one of a family of twelve children, and began life
as a farmer. He afterwards established his present business, and was
appointed Postmaster of Keswick in 1873. I n 1880 Mr. Van Norman was
elected a member of the Township Council, and was Reeve for 1884. He
has always taken great interest in matters municipal. He belongs to the
Christian Chjarch, and is a Reformer in politics.

SAMUEL WINCH, lots 18 and 19, concession 4, was born in this township
in the year 1829, and in 1850 was married to Ann Williams; they have a
family of seven children, who are all living. Mr. Winch, by industry and
perseverance, has succeeded in making a comfortable home for himself and
family.

ALFRED WYNDHAM was born in Dorsetshire, England, in 1837. His
father, Alexander W. Wyndham, was born in Dinton, Wiltshire, England ;
and held the rank of Captain in the famous Dragoon Regiment known as
the Scots Greys ; he died in January, 1869. His mother s maiden name was
Emma Trevelyan, a native of Somersetshire, England; she died in 1857.
Alfred was one in a family of nine children, and was educated at the Sher-

Township of North Gwillimbury.

505

bourne (England) Grammar School, and the Gosport Naval School. He
served in the Wiltshire Militia as Lieutenant during the Crimean War.
Mr. Wyndham was married in Toronto in 1859 to Caroline Elizabeth Stuart,
who was born in London in 1837 ; they have ten children, viz. : Alexander,
Agnes Stuart, Walter, Trevelyan, Ernest Alfred, Spencer, Charles Wadham,
Beatrice Ida, Julia, Mary Sophia and John Stuart. Mr. Wyndham is
Lieutenant-Colonel of the iath Battalion York Rangers. He is a Conser
vative in politics, and an adherent of the English Church.

TOWNSHIP OF GEORGINA

TOWNSHIP OF GEORGINA.

V

AMES BAINE, lot 10, concession i, is the son of Samuel Baine,
who emigrated from the County of Antrim in the year 1832, ami
coming to York County, Upper Canada, srltlrd in Toronto. 1 1,-
moved to the Township of Scott in 1849, wlu-ie IK- biou-Jii up
his family. The mother of James was Jane Bone, of English
parentage.

KENNETH CAMERON, lots 10 and n, concession 4, was formerly a tlOfl
commissioned officer in the 93rd (Sutherland) Highlands s. He cmiviated
to Canada in 1838, and locating first in Toronto was lln-i < m.in n-d to Mai y
Murray. He subsequently moved to the Township of Thora, Ontario
County, and from there to Georgina, where by industry and hard uoik he
has succeeded in accumulating a very comfortable property. II. li.nl ten
children born to him, eight of whom are living and in good position ,.

MURDOCK S. CHAPMAN, lot i, concession 4, was born in the Township
of Georgina, York County, in 1852. He is a son of Mr. Seth Chapman.

RICHARD CROMSBERRY, lot 15, concession 7, was born in tin- I \vir,lnp
of Georgina in 1859, on the farm heat present occupies. In the year /Mi
he married Alice Ann, eldest daughter of Richard Dalton, J.I ., < reorgina
Township. His father, Benjamin Cromsberry, emigrated iiom Limerick,
Ireland, in the year 1848, and settled first in the Township of llro- 1. , ali<-i
wards settling in Georgina. His mother s name was MaiiMa Jackson.

ARTHUR DOIDGE, lot 15, concession 5, was born in I)<-voir,lnif, I ,
land, 1828, and emigrated to Canada in 1855. He came al once \<, \<,\l.
County, and located in Sutton Village, IVoin which pla< h- removed to
Queensville. He afterwards occu}) - I lot 11, concession , ol Gcorgina
Township, where he remained fifteen years, and subsequently look ]

cio Biographical Notices.

sion of the lot where he now resides. He has had the usual hardships to
contend with, which fall to the lot of the pioneer ; but, by perseverance,
industry and economy, has got together a comfortable home. Mr. Doidge
was married before he left England to Margaret Honey, of Plymouth, by
whom he has twelve children, seven only are living.

MARK KAY, lot 7, concession 6, is the son of Joseph Kay, who emigrated
from near Hull, Yorkshire, England, in 1829. Mr. Kay, sen r, married in
England, his family consisted of fourteen children, twelve of whom are still
living. On his arrival in York County he settled in Georgina Township,
and had in the early days to go all the way to Holland Landing to the
nearest grist-mill.

PETER LAVIOLETTE, lots 23 and 25, concession 7, was born in the Village
of Sorel, Quebec Province, in the year 1823. In 1833 his father and family
moved to the City of Montreal, where Mr. Layiolette, sen r, followed the
occupation of shoemaker. Peter travelled about a good deal in his younger
days, during which he lived some time in the City of New York. He came
to Georgina in 1851, but did not remain long on his first visit, he being
absent about two years in the Huron District previous to locating perman
ently. He married in the year 1842 Jane Duck, by whom he has a family
of six sons and four daughters. Four of his children are living in Georgina,
and he has two sons in the United States.

WILLIAM MOORE, lot 21, concession 5, was born in the County of
Limerick, Ireland, in the year 1849, and emigrated to Canada in 1865. He
settled in the Township of Brock, Ontario County, and lived there until
1877, when he removed to his present locality. He was married in the
year 1874 to Rebecca Ann Edwards, by whom he had four children ; three
of them are still living.

WILLIAM MORRIS, lot 24, concession 6, was born in the Township of
Georgina in 1853 on the farm on which he at present resides. His father
was George Morris, a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, who settled on the farm
above-mentioned at an early day, the country being then very wild and the
roads merely chopped out and all but impassable.

WALTER S. RAE, lot 13, concession 6, was born in the Township of
Georgina in the year 1833, being the son of John Rae, who emigrated from
Scotland. In the early days of settlement Mr. Rae tells us that the only
road in the township was the one leading from Sutton to Beaverton. The
school-house was a small log-building, although teaching was mostly done

Township of Georgina. 511

on the "boarding out" system, the payment being twenty-five cents per
month for each scholar. Mr. Rae was married in the year 1866 to Selina
Honey, who was born in England ; they have a family of three children.
Mr. Rae, by economy and perseverance, has got together a comfortable
home.

ARCHIBALD RIDDELL, lot 8, concession 3, whose birth-place is in the
Parish of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, Scotland, emigrated to Canada in
the year 1829. He remained four years in Quebec Province, and then
removed to the vicinity of Hamilton and in 1838 settled in Georgina Town
ship. He was married in 1840 to Catharine Munroe ; they had twelve
children, eight of whom are living. Four of his sons are settled in the
township and all in prosperous circumstances.

ROBERT RIDDELL, lot i, concession 5, is a native of the Parish of East
Kilbride, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and to Canada in the year 1829. On his
arrival he located in the County of Harlington, Quebec Province, where he
remained about ten years, after which he took up his residence in Montreal
and worked for the Hon. John Molson. The cholera being very bad,
Robert took his departure from Montreal and came west to Dundas, where
he stayed until the fall of 1834, when he came to Georgina Township and
located on the farm where he now resides. He was married in Toronto in
the latter part of 1834, his wife s maiden name being Elizabeth McCona-
chie ; they have six children all living. In the early days of settlement
they had to carry grain on their backs to Sutton to be ground.

EZRA SHERWOOD, lot 13, concession 5, was born in the Township of
North Gwillimbury in the year 1817, being the son of Thomas and Annie
(Mitchell) Sherwood. His maternal grandfather was the second settler in
North Gwillimbury. When our subject was a boy they had to carry their
grain to mill at Sutton, and he remembered when there was only one house
in Sutton, besides the store. His grandfather assisted to make the first
mill in that village, and came very near losing his life at the time.

THE END.