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REMINISCENCES
EARLY HISTORY OF GALT SETTLEMENT OF DUMFRIES,
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO.
BY
JAMES YOUNG, Late M.P. for South Waterloo, M.P.P., author of Prize Essays on ‘Canada asa Field for Emigration,” * The Reciprocity Treaty,” ete,
KEES. —_~ —“™
TORONTO ; HUNTER, ROSE AND COMPANY.
MDCCCLXXxX,
ERRATA.
On page 48 for ‘‘ Mr. Curpbell ” yead “Mr. M cDonald, - On page 218, eleventh line, for ‘‘18” read “8,”
A
Entered according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand |= eight hundred and eighty, by Huxtzr, Rosz & Co., in the office of the Minister of | Agriculture. . |
PREFACE.
PUVVAAAACLLVVVALE®
Ir has frequently been suggested to the writer to col- lect in some permanent form the fast-fading Reminiscences of the early history of Galt and the settlement of Dumfries, in whose atmosphere he has lived from childhood. A few months leisure during the past sammer and fall, was devoted to this purpose, the result of which is the present volume, which, with some misgivings, is now laid before the public.
It is not claimed that the settlement of Dumfries and Galt has varied much from that of other parts of Canada, or that their history has been marked by many events of historical interest. But, it is hoped it will be found not uninteresting, even to persons unassociated with the local- ity, as picturing some phases of Backwoods Life in Canada half a century ago, and as illustrating what communities and individuals may accomplish by honest industry and thrift, to better their fortunes in a new land.
These Reminiscences, however, will be chiefly interest- ing to the remnant—alas! constantly growing less—of the | early Pioneers of the settlement, and their descendants. Imbued with profound respect for the time-scarred Vete- rans who transformed Galt and Dumfries from a wilder- ness into what they appear to-day, the writer has aimed, however feebly, to exalt their arduous life-work, and pre- serve the names and memories of many_of these good
Iv PREFACE,
men and true, who, with the.other early Picneers of Can- ada, are believed to be its true heroes.
In proceeding with the work, more difficulties were en- countered than had been at first foreseen. Very little in the way of reliable records was available. The facts and dates of the earlier circumstances had necessarily to be obtained from some of the oldest Pioneers, and the mem- ory, after the lapse of fifty or sixty years, is not always reliable, particularly in regard to dates. Reference to some persons and circumstances may have been overlook- ed which ought to have appeared—indeed, one of the difficulties in dealing with the sober circumstances of every-day life in a new settlement, is to decide between what is too interesting to omit, and too trifling to appear. Care has been taken, however, to verify all material state- ments, as far as data could be found, and to present them as accurately as possible.
As the names of my Mentors are mentioned in one way or another in several places, it is unnecessary to do more here than to thank them, which I do most heartily, for much information and assistance zealously rendered.
The little volume has been hastily written, makes no pretensions to literary excellence, and no one is more con- scious than the writer of its deficiencies, both in matter and form. It is hoped, however, it will be welcome as a humble tribute to his native place, that it may help to pre- serve the memory of the men and the circumstances, how- ever unpretending, connected with the early history of Galt and the settlement of Dumfries, and, it may be, brighten a leisure hour or two in its perusal.
“ THORNHILL,” Galt, THE AUTHOR. Christmas, 1879.
CONTENTS.
000000000090 000—00neeaetteste
CHAPTER I.
Lumfries originally Indian Lands—The Iroquois or Six Nation Indians— The brave Thayendanega (Col. Jose h Brant) their Chief—Dumfries purchased by I’hilip Stedman, in 1798—Ninety-four thousand acres for £8,841—Stedman dies Intestate—The Hon. William Dickson—-A ee of his Character and History—Duel with Mr. Weeks—How .
umfries was obtained by him............cccccccecccccscccevcvees 9
CHAPTER II.
Absalom Shade— A man on whom Nature had left an imprint—Meeting with Mr. Dickson at Niagara in 1816—-Shade fails to get a contract, but finds a home in the Wilderness—Earliest settlers in Waterloo Township —Dickson and Shade visit Dumfries—They follow the Indian trail— The valley in which Galt stands selected for a Village—Its Natural Beauty—A Cvlisseum in Leaves—Shade returns to the Wilderness. . 19
CHAPTER III.
of “ Shade’s ” in 1820—Hoist- ba, ag Stars and Stripes on the new Grist Mill--Nearly a serious affra -—The price of land sixty years agu...........cceseccccecssccvccees 30
CHAPTER IV.
1e progress of Settlement slow—-Physical features and soil of Dumfries- - ™ Remarkable Geological character of the rocks underlying Galt—Ener- getic efforts to attract Scottish settlers—The Ettrick Shepherd offered
a farm in Dumfries—John Telfer visits Scotland as agent— Pov of
the first oe Houses chinked with clay— New buildings—Visit
of John Galt, Eeq., in 1827—Its object— How Galt obtained its name— Mr. Dickson removes from Niagara—A Highland acquaintance .... 38
CHAPTER V.
The Trading period of Bush life—Money scarcely ever seen—M: e under di - The want of roads oppressively felt—The terrors of Beverly Region—Mr. Shade determines
fficul Swamp—Early stories of the Benighted
CONTENTS.
to float the produce of the Settlement down the Grand River—Galt’s first and only Fleet—The “* Arks” as a freight line:...... ceviices ts 54
CHAPTER VI.
Canadian Backwood’s life—Ita merry-makings and jolly character-- Bears and Wolves—Mr. Bruin, a slandered animal—Singular Bear Hunt in Galt, in 1834 - -Winter the liveliest season of the year— Christmas ehoot- ing matches for Turkeys and Geese—Early Drinking customa—‘‘ In Devitt’s fall, we sinned all ”—Temperance Keform
Covers eoerereereene
Character of the first Settlers of Dumfries--Education and Love of Know- edge—A Debating Society forty-five years ago—T'he names of its members—Subjects discussed—Weuld an Iron Ship Sink or Swim ?— The Society's Annual VDinner—Making a Haggis with Dundas oat-
meal—The courage and energy of the early Pioneers—A tribute to their
| CHAPTER VII. | TUG Coccoceccccctacceumeescccuaebeeh es HNC RES RET eed 70
CHAPTER VIII.
Early Churches and Schoola—Rev. William Stewart arrives about the Fall of 1831—First Presbyterian Church in Galt—EKarly Missionary Visite —Rev. James Strang—St. Andrew’s Church begun in 1833—-The old- fashioned Camp Meetings—Divine Service in West Dumfries—What fashionable Church-goers will be surprised to learn—‘‘O why will ye die, O House of Israel ”—The early Schools of Galt—-Mr. John Gowin- lock— Glimpses of School Life forty years ago 4
CHAPTER IX.
Galt in the Spring of 1834—Its principal Citizens—New arrivals—Dr.
Miller— Tippen ving prrepeots of the Settlement—A travelling Meragerie
visits the Village--A fearful calamity comes swiftly and fatally down— Terrible ravages of the Cholera—Graphic description by Mr. Alex. Buruett, written at the time— Painful incidents of the fearful ordeal—
The Village left a pitiful scene of mourning and woe..... Epere hes 93
CHAPTER X.
From the time of the Cholera to the Rebellion—The populatign--awEness of Galt improving— Break-up of the old-fashioned Mercantile monopoly —Earl:; prices- ''he Dutchman’s one per cent—Richard Irwin—N cn of prominent CGaltonians who arrived during this period—Rev. Jolin Bayne--A great man who prefers the backwoods of Canada to the intellectual centres of Europe—Erection of the King’s Arms Hotel
and other ancient land-marks—-Early Musicians—Construction of the | Macadamized Road—Galt dam—Unrealized projects
CHAPTER XI.
| Material fhe say begets new ideas—Public Meeting-- Formation of Galt \ Subscription and Circulating Library in 1836—1 ull list of its members al —Sweet and sad Recollections of ww: ne days—A valuable institution i —Curling on Altrieve Lake with Maple Blocks—Galt Club Established i in 1838-—-The Drama in Galt’s early days—-Rob Roy and Bailie Nicel
CONTENTS. vil
3 seus as done by leading villagers — Comical incident not in OGG oc ccc tens 0cbede ChE TREVOR RESE VERKEETL SURE EDERCE STEEN bee
CHAPTER XII.
Early Municipal Government—The old annual Town Meetings—A baker's lozen of settlers meet in 1819—Firset Officers elected tor Dumfries— Amusing Enactments—FEarly efforts at public epomnine Tbe perplexed Chairman and how he opened the Meeting—Three Large Commis. sioners elected in 1836—Their names ~ Polling for District Councillors
in 1842—The greatest day Galt had ever witnessed—First School Com- missioners—Introduction of our present Municipal System—First Councils of North and South Dumfries ... ..........seeeeereeees 133
CHAPTER XIII.
¥irst Parliamentary Elections—Political Issues of the day—Richard Beas- ley and William Scollick elected for Halton, 1825—Growing opposition tothe Family Compact— William Lyon Mackenzie —The Members elected for Halton in 1828 and 1830--Mr. Shade returned in place of the Hon. James Crooks in 1831— Mackenzie speaks in Galt in 1833- -Burned in effigy by Conservative opponents—Arrival of Sir Francis Bond Head at Turonto—The Halton Elections of 1834 and 1836—Mr, Alexander Seeee" Sen Cottage ””—Upper Canada on the brink of mar. a Oe eee TERT TINT NS ope key ere eee eee eye:
CHAPTEK XIV.
The Rebellion breaks out- News of the Pattle of Gallows Hill received in Galt with surprise —Public feeling in Dumfries—The Union Jack taken off Mr. Dickson’s house at night—The men of Dumfries called upon to
the 123
yr. q muster-—The bridge guarded by Galt Volunteers under Captain Rich-— rie Men genliog For Duncombe’s j Bods near Ayr—Arrests made by Galt the and Fergus Volunteers near the Blenheim line—A Wife worth having — x. . Samuel Lount said to have been hidden near Galt--The Galt Voluntee bie P at Navy Island—Restoration of peace an‘ order............00.00% 154 3 CHAPTER XV.
Visit of Sir George Arthur to Galt in 1839—Rather a cool reception—First 8 Durham Meeting said to have been held in Galt—Memorable Meeting y in Dundas—Procession from Dumfries and Galt—Speeches by Me_=rs. 8 Burnett and Benn—The struggle ends in the triumph of Responsible " Government—Dinner to the Hon. Wm. Dickson in Galt—Full report e of his speech—The other , ge resent - First Agricultural Society— l Its Officers— 1840— The Rev. Dean Boomer—Galt Society in a flut- : ter over a dashing young Englishman —The Western Advertiser that 3 never appeared-—The Knights of the Round Table—A most heartless
es ola cde Be c.g uo eed Lg RCNA TE oer RkRE OO bars 166
CHAPTER XVI.
Disruption of the Church of Scotland—First Fire Company formed— Its officers—Erection and burning of the Dickson Mills —Galt Thespian
Amateurs—A Monk who was nut solemn—The Elections of 1841 and ’44 —Local leaders of the two Parties—Mr. Francis McElroy—How Burns was quoted for the Bible—Webster beats Durand by eight votes—The Dumfries Courier started in 1844—Origin of the Galt Reporter—Dis-
Opeag the
Galt becomes a Town in 1857- The election of the first Mayor and C
Viii CONTENTS.
cussion, in 1845, between Dr. Bayne and Dr. Liddell—Erection of Old Knox Church—Dr. Bayne’s death—His successor— Other Ministers of Galt—New Schools and Teachers......... »....- Sek apace nena 18
CHAPTER XVII.
Galt becomes an Incorporated Village—Population in 1850—Other villa
of Tt ee ee reminiscences of Paris, St. George and Ayr—Visit of Lord Elgin to Galt in 1849—First Councillors of Galt—Reeves and Manic’: 11 Officers—The Dumfries Reformer—The County Town strug-
le—E lin carries off the oe ide y ic meeting— Reform dipner to the Hon. George Brown—The Ferrie and Tiffany election— First great Fire in Galt—The Collegiate Institute—Dr. Tassie—The Railway era opens— Turning the first sod of the Galt branch— Municipal rejoic eeee 207
CHAPTER XVIII.
Great Prosperity of Galt from 1850 till it became a Town— Principal Manu- factures an
Business firms—It is called the ‘‘ Manchester of Canada”— Effects of the Crimean war— Reminiscences of the old Militia muster— Amusing incidents— Formation of the Mechanics’ Institute--Some fami- liar faces row nearly forgotten—Fivst officers elected—Early lectures by Galtonians in ‘‘ Noah’s Ark ’—Splendid lecture course in 1855-56, and afterwards—Crowded meetings—-Excitement and fun now preferred to lectures—What does it portend? ...........cccce eect eee e er eee 230
CHAPTER XIX.
Great; Western Railway to Galt— The Galt and Guelph line racken affair—Warm municipal struggle, in 1855, over the erection of the Central School—Mr. Peter Cook— William Lyun Mac- kenzie's last visit to Galt—His Homestead GM neg nt a spirit of Galt at this ge he Galt and Saugeen Railway--£1£,000 voted to aid the enterprise —Bears seen in Dumfries as late as iS66— Mesting in 1856, to authorize the erection of a Town Hall and Market --Second great Fire in Galt ..........s0.e0000s ee LEe Pate ay Siee 244
CHAPTER XX,
unicipal
tion—Names of those elected—The first School Trustees— Municipal Celebration in May—Description cf the Lg ager age Rifles, Artil- lery Company, Firemen, Oddfellows, and Sons of St. George- Mayor Lutz lays the foundation stone of the Town Hall and Market—The offi- cial document read by Mr. Ker—The Mayor’s speech—Their testimony to the great prosperity and enterprise of Galt at this period—Lunch at the Queen’s Arms—The celebration closes amidst much enthusiasm. . 252
CHAPTER XXI.
Concluding remarke—-Contrast between the past and present— Yr ung Galt-
onians who have won something of success or nctiou—The Hon. Wn. Dickson lives in top, edo his 77th year—How the ously Pi- oneers regarded hira—Mr. e’s closing years—He survives with all his uetural characteristics until 1862—His life-work—What may justly be said of its effevta Galt’s ty—Mr. William Dickson e
th and prosperity to which Dumfries has attained—Gs"t at the present day—The true heroes of Canada ....... pe baga a cebu cows 268
REMINISCENCES
Fire "007 OF THE r Bi. EARLY HISTORY OF GALT — AND THE res p os SETTLEMENT OF DUMFRIES. 230 PIWVACWWAN WAAC NAAAATALVASANS
he ? CHAPTER I. . Dumfries originally Indian Lands—The Iroquois or Six Nation Indians—
; The brave Thayendanega (Col. Joseph Brant) their Chief—Dumfries et 4 purchased by Philip Stedman, in 1798—Ninety-four thousand acres for ta £8,841--Stedman dies Intestate—The Hon. William Dickson—-A
glimpse of his Character and History—Duel with Mr. Weeks—How Dumfries was obtained by him.
THE Township of Dumfries, in which the Town of Galt is situated, was originally part of the lands granted by the British Crown to the [roquois cr Six Nation Indians, at the close of the American Revolutionary War. They were composed of the Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Tuscarora, and Onondaga tribes, and for at least two cen- turies previously, under the name of the Iroquois Con- federacy, they had been united and acted together for mutual protection and advantage. Their shrewdness,
10 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
bravery, and, it must be confessed, cruelty, made them the terror of the Hurons, Algonquins and other tribes, and the dreaded foes of the early French colonists. But from an early period in the history of the American colonies they became the warin friends and allies of the British settlers. .
Under the leadership of the brave and good Chief, Joseph Brant,* (Thayendanega), they clung to the for- tunes of Great Britain all through the Revolutionary War. Brant was born on the banks of the Ohio River, in 1742, and was of pure Mohawk blood. He was edu- cated in the State of Connecticut, and was possessed of abilities far above those of the generality of hisrace. At the close of the struggle, when the independence of the Colonies was recognised, the Six Nations crossed over into Upper Canada, and Governor Haldimand, represent- ing the British Government, awarded them valuable tracts of the lands of the Province as a recompence for their ser- vices and fidelity.
These grants to the Six Nations comprised some of the most fertile and beautiful lands of the Province. They were situated on the Bay of Quinté, the River Thames, and the Grand River. The latter was the principal re- servation, and the chief mustering place of the tribes was at a beautiful spot on the river, about two miles be- low what is now the City of Brantford, where the
* The heroism and virtues of Col. Brant are about to be honoured by the erection of a monument to his memory in the City of Brantford, the' deri- vation of whose name was Brant’s ford, or crossing-place. The estimated
cost is about $20,000, most of which is already subscribed, and it has been decided to place it in Victoria Square, a very pretty place for the purpose.
‘COL. JOSEPH BRANT It
quaint little church which Brant erected in 1786, as well as the unpretending grave* which covers his remains, can be seen to this day. This grant gave to the Indians six miles on each side of the Grand River from its source to its nouth—a noble expression of the good faith and gratitude of the British Crown to the weakest of its sub- jects—and embraced within its limits what ultimately became known as the Township of Dumfries and the Town of Galt, the early settlement and history of which form the subject of the present sketch.
For several decades after its cession, the Grand River and its tributaries continued to be the principal hunting- ground of the Six Nations, and during their expeditions, which were numerous and constant in earlier times, the place where Galt now stands was one of their favourite ‘camping-grounds. The locality abounded in fish, game, and fresh water. These were the chief objects of Indian pursuit, and they lingered long in places where they were plenty. The forest primeval, the scores of wigwams lining the river's banks, the hundreds of painted red ‘men, with the other surroundings of semi-savage life, ‘which then frequently filled up the beautiful valley in which Galt is situated, must have made 2 wonderfully picturesque scene, and one strikingly in contrast with. the peaceful and prosaic character of modern, every-day life.
Through course of time the expeditions of the Indians
* Col. Brant died at Wellington Square, November 24, 1807, in his 65th year,
12 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
assumed a more regular character, and were chiefly con- fined to upward trips in the fall in pursuit of fur-bearing animals, and the return downwards in the spring with their furs and other products of the chase. They con- tinued to be made in very considerable bands, however, till long after settlement had commenced, and the axe of the backwoodsman began to denude the country at once of its forests and its game. There are those still surviving who remember their later encampments in Galt, which were chiefly on an unwooded piece of ground on the west side of the river, near where the Soap factory now stands. Their visits were not regarded as absolutely dangerous, but their absence was generally preferred to their company.
‘The title of the Six Nations to the upper portions of the Grand river was not long retuined by them. The fertility of its banks soon attracted the attention of specu- lators, and the Government offered no opposition, if they did not encourage, the extinguishment of the Indian title.
On the 5th February, 1798, Colonel Brant, on behalf of the Six Nations, and acting as their legal attorney, sold to one Philip Stedman of the Niagara district, that por- tion of their lands known as Block number one, compris- ing 94,305 acres, and which, by an Act of the Legislature of the Province, became known as the Township of Dum- fries. The stipulated price was £8,841.
Several other tracts of Indian land were sold by Colo- nel Brant at the same time as the Township of Dumfries,
DUMFRIES PURCHASED BY PHILIP STEDMAN. 18
From Smith’s “Canada; Past, Present and Future,” we learn that on the 5th “February, 1798, a formal deed was : made in the name of the Six Nations, surrendering all their interest in the lands mentioned below :—
“ Block No. 1, now forming the Township of Dumfries, containing about 94,305 acres, was sold to P. Stedman for...............+ £ 8,841
Block No. 2, sold .o Richard Beasly, James Wilson and John B. Rosseau, 94,012 acres,
Be vb eOUEC GK. -csc.neenes Setkeinreresovcn, Gee Block No. 3, sold to William Wallace, 86,078
GOROR eoee cco diciicccsacks Bivbeweekices cree cbtesthek 16,364 Block No. 4,no purchaser or price named,
BO UPN eis ha cc ue eteabScecesedtuccioeuceses
Block No. 5, William Jarvis, 30,800 acres 5,775 Block No. 5, given originally to John Dock- stader, by him sold for the benefit of
his Indian children, to Benjamin Canby, 19,000 acres........ees.ceees ciccbepeaenio bubenbke
Total, 352,700 acres.......ss000. 0... £44,867
The making of these contracts with the individual purchasers, and the fixing of the ccnsideration money, were, as it appears, the acts of the Indians themselves, either concluded upon in their Councils or negotiated by their agent, Brant, who was fully authorized for the pur- pose.”
As the fee simple of the Indian lands remained in the Crown, some time elapsed before the transaction with
14 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
Stedman could be completed. The Indians surrendered their rights, and petitioned His Majesty George III. to issue Letters Patent conveying to Stedman the block of lands which he had purchased from them. This was finally assented to, and in the Crown Patent it was re- cited that the purchaser had given security to the Hon, David William Smith, Captain William Clause, and Alex- ander Stewart Esq., Trustees for the Indians, for the payment of the purchase money or the annual interest thereof.
It does not appear what efforts Stedman made to turn his purchase to account. Indeed, little could be done with it at that time. Upper Canada was then (1798) little better than a wilderness. When separated from Lower Canada in 1792, and given a separate government, the total population was estimated at 20,000 souls, most of whom were settled around Kingston, the Bay of Quinté, the Village of Newark (now Niagara) and at Amherst- burg. Kingston and Newark were the only places. of any size. Toronto was in its infancy, having just been founded by Governor Simcoe, and the progress of settle- ment was extremely slow. All the interior of the Pro- ~ vince, now cleared and cultivated, dotted over with cities, towns, and villages, and the abode of nearly two millions of people enjoying all the blessings of civilization, was then an almost unbroken solitude. It is difficult to re- alize that eighty-seven years can have wrought such a wondrous transformation !
Stedman died within a few years after obtaining the
the
THE HON. WILLIAM DICKSON. 15
Patent from the Crown, and left neither direct heirs nor any devise of his estate. His property was, consequently, inherited by his sister, Mrs. John Sparkman, of, the Niagara district, who subsequently,on the 26th July, 1811, in conjunction with her husband, soldand conveyed to the Hon. Thomas Clarke, of Stamford, in the County of Lincoln, the block of lands obtained from the Six Nation Indians, No part of the principal money agreed upon with Philip Stedman had at this time been paid, for Clarke, on taking possession, executed a mortgage on the lands to the Indian Trustees for the payment of the £8,841 and interest.
There was at this time living in Niagara a gentleman, whose name was destined to become permanently associa- ted with this block of valuable lands, and who found in them an ample fortune for himself and family. This gen- tleman was the Hon. William Dickson.
Mr. Dickson was born in Dumfries, Scotland, in the year 1769. - He came to Canada in 1792, and, having settled in Niagara, began the practice of the profession of the law He took an active part during the war of 1812; was taken
prisoner, and sent to Greenbush, New York State
but was subsequently released on parole. An effort, it is said, was made to retain him a prisoner in consequence of a duel fought with a gentleman named Weeks, also a barrister in Niagara, which took place on American terri- tory. The judge before whom the case came, however, would not allow Mr. Dickson to be detained, on the ground that he was a military prisoner, and had not come
N tec ene
|. d j
5
16 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
voluntarily upon United States territory. As they serve to throw some light upon the “good old times,” as some consider them, when duelling was the recognized mode of settling disputes between gentlemen, the circumstances of the duel, as obtained from the most trustworthy authority, may be briefly narrated, as follows:—
“Mr. Weeks, an Irish gentleman, and Mr. Dickson, were barristers practising law in Niagara, in 1808 (I think), and at the Assizes held at Niagara in that year they were acting as Counsel in the same cause. In the course of the trial, the conduct of Governor Simcoe (then dead) came into question, and was very coarsely and pro- fanely commented upon by Mr. Weeks in his address to the jury.
“At the conclusion of his address, Mr. Dickson rose, and addressing himself to the Court said: ‘ As he was en- gaged in the suit on the same side as his learned friend, it might be supposed that he concurred in all he had said to the jury, whereas he disapproved and condemned the manner in which his learned friend had spoken of Gover- nor Simcoe, and considered the remarks as unjustifiable, and he wished it to be distinctly understood that they did not meet with his approval.
“Mr, Weeks and Mr. Dickson met the same evening, and there was no apparent interruption to the good under- standing between them. During the night, however, some friends of Mr. Weeks impressed upon his mind that Mr. Dickson had insulted him in open court, and that he youst challenge him, which he did. Mr, Dickson accept-
THE HON. WILLIAM DICKSON. 17
ed it, and the duel was fought opposite the Town of Nia- gara, behind the American fort. At the first exchange of shots, Mr. Weeks fell mortally wounded, only living three hours.”
Possessed of much force of character and well educated, Mr. Dickson during his period of active life, was a prom- inent and influential public man. He was called to the Legislative Council of Upper Canada about the year 1816, and was widely known and respected. As an evi- dence of his energetic character, it may be mentioned that on the outbreak of the Rebellion in 1837, although then in his 68th year, he rallied what men he cou}2 at Niagara, went by steamer to Toronto, took an active part through- out the battle of Gallows Hill, and, afterwards, in restoring public order.
Shortly after the close of the war of 1812, Mr. Dick- son, having full confidence in the future progress and pros- perity of Upper Canada, determined to become possessed of some of the large tracts of agricultural lands which were in the market, and open them up for settlement. With this object in view, he placed himself in communica- tion with the Hon. Thomas Clark, who had five years pre- viously, as we have already seen, become possessed of the Stedman Indian lands. The final result of the negotiation — was, that on the 3rd July, 1816, Mr. Dickson purchased the entire block comprising the Township of Dumfries The consideration money was £15,000, and the assumption of the mortgage of £8,841, making altogether about £24,000, or a little over one dollar per acre,
18 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
Mr. Dickson shortly afterwards paid off the mortgage, to the Hon. William Clause, Trustee for the Indians, entered into possession of the township, and, as the next
chapter will disclose, promptly began arrangemcnts to open it up for settlement.
i i i | a . | H | ‘a ‘i Hi ie ! b | ' i | | 1 ut i 1 | ! ! h | hi } i i|\! | i ‘i i ai ‘Bl i j | } i | | : i ' i Ht } at i i fi i | i ; { | il 5 Hi! | i et 4 i 3 ii | i | F } j 4 4 1H} fi ie Hii ee. SiH 4 i 5 | ;
Foeareae
gage, dians, y next its to
CHAPTER II.
Absalom Shade— A man on whom Nature had left an imprint—Meeting
with Mr. Dickson at Niagara in 1816—-Shade fails to get a Contract, but finds a home in the Wilderness—Earliest settlers in Waterloo Township ~Dickson and Shade visit Dumfries—They follow the Indian trail— The valley in which Galt stands selected for a Village—Its Natural Beauty—A Colisseum in Leaves—Shade returns tc the Wilderness,
“ THERE’ a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them how we will.” So at least it is said, and so it appeared, at all events, in connection with Mr. Dickson’s new enter- prize. He occupied at that time the position of chairman of the Quarter Sessions of the Niagara district,and, in con- junction with two other Commissioners, was empowered to take steps to secure the erection of a court-house and gaol in the village of Niagara. They advertised for tenders, and among those who applied for the contract was a young carpenter named Absalom Shade. His residence at this time was the town of Buffalo, where he was engaged in follow- ing his calling as a builder, but he was a Pennsylvanian by birth, having been born in Wyoming county in that State, in the year 1793. His father was a farmer, and Ab- salom was the youngest son of a numerous family.
There are some men upon whom nature has left such an imprint that once seen they are seldom forgotten. Sometimes we are attracted, at other times repelled, but
20 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES,
a man of unusual energy and force of character generally carries some of their insignia about him, and seldom es- capes the notice, and even memory, of close observers.
Absalom Shade was a man of this description. His appearance was striking. He was tall and wiry, straight as an arrow, with regular and sharp features—more par- ticularly the nose—the whole face being lit up with the sharpest of bluish-grey eyes; in short, he possessed a temperament and formation of body and head rarely dis- associated with mental and physical strength and acute- ness. He was then in the full flush of tarly manhood, and looked every inch of him the typical “live” Yankee, minus the dyspepsia, slang, and tobacco.
Young Shade failed to get the court-house contract, but it proved a fortunate failure. The chief Commis- sioner, Mr. Dickson, whose mind was then full of schemes for the opening up of his Indian lands, was so attracted by the appearance and enterprising spirit of the young contractor, that he determined to make an effort to in- duce him to expatriate himself to the wilderness of Dumfries, in the hope of carving out a fortune as settle- ment advanced.
The only settlement in the neighbourhood of Dumfries . at that early period, was in the adjoining Township of Waterloo. Some years previously a few families had come in from the State of Pennsylvania. Amongst the earliest of these were, Messrs. Samuel Betzner, Joseph Sherk, the Bechtels, John Bear, Benjamin Rosenberger,
the Reicharts, and George Clemens, the two first-named of whom arrived in the summer of 1800.*
EARLIEST SETTLERS IN WATERLOO TOWNSHIP. 91
The foregoing families, with the Shontzs, Bowmans, Erbs, Sararas, Cressmans, and other early Pennsylvanian settlers, must forever remain associated with Waterloo and Wilmot, for they were the Pioneers of these fine townships, and their names have ever been synonymous, except in rare cases, with all that is industrious, honest, and law-abiding. Not a few of these early Pioneers came all the way from Pennsylvania in their own waggons. The trials and difficulties of such an undertaking can only be fully understood by those who were acquainted with the wilds of Upper Canada at that early period. Their first clearances were on the Grand River, opposite where the village of Doon now stands, and in the neigh- bourhood of the old toll-bridge.
With the exception of the lands settled upon by these Pennsylvania settlers, the entire surrounding country, including the Township of Dumfries, was unbroken forest. A few persons had, indeed, squatted here and there vhsedieh oa
me , ae
* A correspondent writes us that, ‘‘ In 1799 Samuel Betzner and Joseph Sherk came from Pennsylvania to Ancaster, In the spring (1800), they came up to Waterloo Township, and settled on the Grand River, opposite Doon. The farm is still in possession of the family. The same year (1800), Christian and John Reichart, and their families, settled near the old toll-bridge. In 1801, seven families were added to the number, George Bechtel, wife and seven children, Abram Bechtel and wife, Jacub Bechtel, wife and four ehildren, Dilman Kinsey, wife and one child, Ben. Rosenber ger, wife and four children, John Bear and family, and George Clemens, unmarried. These families settled in the neighbourhood of Blair and Pres- ton. In 1802, there came in Jacob Bechtel, first Mennonite preacher, the Sararas, Livergoods, Salyerds, Cornells, Ruylers, &c., &c.
Seana LTE eS NRT IE:
22 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES,
the banks of the Grand River, but their attention was chiefly given to hunting and trapping. The work of settlement had, consequentlv. to be begun ab initio. The plan resolved upon by Mr. Liickson was, to found a village at some suitable and convenient point, by the erection of grist and saw-mills, and make this the centre of operations for populating and utilizing his lands. And it was this difficult task, as well as the duty of acting as his general agent, which Mr. Dickson asked young Shave, after a few days acquaintance, to undertake.
Ready for any enterprise which promised success, Shade promptly offered to visit the township and “ prospect,” in other words to judge for himself. ‘It was consequently arranged that they should make a joint visit of inspec- tion, Mr. Dickson himself knowing very little of the: quality of his lands, except what had been learned from published reports, or from the statements of other per- sons. Shortly afterwards, during the month of July,. they set out together upon what proved to be an im- portant journey for both of them.
They proceeded westwards by way of the Governor's. road, which was the only leading thoroughfare to the western part of the Province in those days. They reached the Grand River, near where the pleasantly situated Town of Paris now stands. Here an Indian guide became necessary. Under this escort they proceeded up the east side of the river by the regular Indian trail, which in many places a single pony and rider had difficulty in making their way along. As they proceeded leisurely
DICKSON AND SHADE VISIT DUMFRIES. 23
northwards, they examined the country from various elevations, and especially the points where streams inter- sected the river, and which promised to be suitable for commencing operations.
Where Galt now stands was then a forest solitude. Huge pines, cedars, and elms, intermingled freely with oaks,and occasionally with beeches and maples,studded the valley and surrounding hills. Close to the river's banks, cedar predominated. This was particularly the case where the waters of Mill-creek join the river, the cedar being very dense and the ground swampy for a considerable distance up the former stream.
When the travellers reached this point they dismounted, tied their horses, and Mr. Shade proceeded to examine the creek, sufficient water-power for a grist mill being always borne in mind as a necessity to the embryo vil- lage. Near where Mr. James Scott's planing mill now stands, he encountered a small, dilapidated frame build- ing, the only semblance of civilization to be found. This ruin has sometimes been spoken of mysteriously, and apochryphal stories of an old grey-haired trapper, his mysterious disappearance, and the aversion of the Indians to visit the ruin, especially at the full of the moon, have at times had a fitful and misty currency. Careful inves- tigation, however, has taken the romance out of this promising legend. There is no longer reason to doubt that, years before, one Alexander Miller, of the Niagara district, had bargained with the Indians for seveval hun- dred acres of their land, composed of the site of Galt and
24 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
its immediate neighbourhood. He erected the Jittle frame building, the remains of which were found by Mr. Shade, with a view to do rough gristing, and part of a shaft which remained adjoining the structure, indicated that a rude saw mill was either in operution a short time, or had been contemplated.* The weight of evidence favours the idea that neither of them were ever completed, and that | Miller, finding out that his Indian title was worthless, i abandoned the enterprise shortly after it was begun. Wy Passing on from this point, Mr. Shade followed up the | stream as far as the present stone bridge at the head of . | Main Street, and no doubt was tempted io ascend the
i adjoining eastern bluff, the better to observe the surround- ing landscape.
The natural beauty of Galt and its surroundings, has been much admired, and seldom fails to arrest the atten- ia tion of strangers. 1t can boast little, perhaps, of thelgrand a or sublime in Nature, but its scenery may be described, | nevertheless, as strikingly picturesque and pleasing. As. Mr. Shade surveyed the scene stretched out before him during that July afternoon in 1816, it must have ap- peared infinitely grander than at the present time. The gently-sloping, oval-shaped valley at his feet, the waters
SET SIT EY?
* It was currently rumoured when the first settlers came in, that the In-
i dians had, whilst fishing with torch lights on the river, either wilfully or
| | negligently set fire to the woods near the mouth of Mill-creek, and that the
ie proposed or actual saw-mill, and some timber, were in consequence des-
Hi troyed. There is no reason to doubt that a fire occurred, and in all proba- bility it originated in the manner stated,
a
a aR TR Se ee
meee rer
iene acca
satan —
rame hade, shaft hat a r had rs the | that less, 3 ip the sad of id the ound-
ys, has atten- grand ribed, r, As. e him re ap-
The waters
the In- fully or hat the ince des-
proba-
NATURAL BEAUTY OF GALT.
of the Grand River* passing—like a broad band of silver —straight through its centre, the graceful hiils encircling around, and the luxuriant profusion of summer foliage
* The Grand river, spanned as it now is by three handsome bridges, with massive stone piers, is one of the most attractive features of the Galt land- scape, the stream itself, as it flows over its rocky bottom, being one of the prettiest in Canada, The beauties of the river have excited the muse of local Poets on various occasions. The following verses from the pen of “ Jeanie Bell,” a well-known native of Galt but now resident in Scotland, are deemed worth preserving :—
“QO come sweet Muse, and try to sing ‘Lhe praises of my native river, It does not boast a classic name, And yet it will be ‘Grand’ forever,
We cannot vaunt of battles fought Upon its banks ; nor tell the story Of brave deeds done—of martyred dead Who've rested near for ages hoary.
But we can tell of happy days,
When we have seen its waters gleaming Beneath a summer’s sun— and we
Had spent the hours in idle dreaming.
O happy days ! when free from care, We played beside my native river ;
In memory of those joyous hours, We'll love thy sparkling waters ever.
We know thee well in all thy moods, When smooth and calm, when swiftly flowing, When lashed by storm, when clear and bright, Beneath an Autumn’s sunset glowing.
We've seen thee in the sweet Spring time, When Summer winds were softly sighing, When Autumn leaves, grown sere and brown,
So thickly on thy banks were lying.
We've seen thee under sullen skies,
When moonlight’s softest beams were ehining, On rock and bank and streamlet fair ;
All kinds of beauty there combining. B .
26 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES
rising from the centre, tier above tier, until the highest peaks of the sombre pines upon the bluffs were reached —these peculiarities of the landscape, so suggestive of a vast natural amphitheatre, must have made up a striking and beautiful picture. It must have looked like an im- mense Colisseum in leaves! i Shade evidently lingered over the scene, for, before he returned to Mr. Dickson and the guide, they began to wonder, an] even to express some concern, at his pro- longed absence. The emphasis with which he declared, however, that this was the place suitable above all others he had yet seen for a village, soon put his companion in good humour, but the practical difficulties in the way of their enterprise were too many to induce fanciful pictures of the future, even if the gentlemen had been more poetic and less matter of fact than they were.
They were soon mounted and on their way again, fol- lowing the Indian trail up the same side of the river. As Sunset drew near, they sighted a clearing about three miles
We love thee best for sake of friends Who played beside us at the river ; |e Some voices loved are silent now ;
They’re lost awhile but not forever.
t A fleeting day, a few short years,
| i Then parted friends shall meet together
i Where friendship’s broken bands reknit ;
i Nor death, nor ought shall part them ever.
* w * * * *
i Farewell ! farewell to childhood’s-days ; Farewell to thee—my native river ;
i Though far in distant lands we roam,
i We e’er will love- forget thee, never.’’
ware
> Se ceagibthone neadtamda ee a »
ighest eached 7e Of & riking an im-
fore he gan to is pro- clared, others nion in way of ictures , poetic
in, fol- ver, AS e miles
SE Tate eae Da RR te rea > EES meat ¥ cz
A COLISSEUM IN LEAVES. 27
up the stream, the curling smoke arising from which gave them a thrill of pleasure. It indicated the existence of some human habitation, however humble, and helped to solve what was fast becoming a perplexing question—how they were going to find shelter for the night.
After some difficulty they succeeded in fording the river, when they found the clearance belonged to an ad- vonturous settler named Nathaniel Dodge, a Pennsyl- vanian by birth, who had located’ on the flats forming part of what is now known as Cruickston Park. He heartily welcomed them, and “ old Dodge,” as he was long afterwards called, found in future years that he had lost nothing by keeping the tired travellers, and treating them to the best of the humble fare which he possessed.
The next day they returned to the junction of Mill- creek with the river, and re-examined the location. Their first impressions were strengthened, more especially after
ascertaining the water-power which could be obtained
from the river, with a moderate outlay of capital and skill. Both felt satisfied that the selection would bea good one, but Shade desired to prospect further, and so they parted for a few days at this point, Mr. Dickson to
_ make his way as best he could to Flamboro’ by what was
known as the Dutch trail, and his companion to visit the more eastern and western parts of the township.
Shade first struck out in the direction: of what is now the pretty Village of St. George, and from thence south- west until he reached the Grand River again. -This he followed until a small tavern and ferry were sighted in
28 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
the neighbourhood of what is now the City of Brantford. Assisted still by a guide, he next proceeded through the woods to Smith's creek, in the neighbourhood of Ayr-— which was the westerly limit of Mr. Dickson’s lands—ex- amining the country as much as possible as he went along. After satisfying himself as to its cl.-racter, he determined, aided by his compas:, to tuke a straight course eastwards to the river, hoping to come out opposite Mill-creek, more than ever satisfied with his first impressions of this par- ticular locality.
At sundown tie river was sighted, but three miles farther down than was expected. Shelter was obtained for the night in a solitary little log shanty, on the east- side of the stream, traces of which could be seen on the Campbell farm, near the road-side, until a few years ago.
The occupants were one Ephraim Munson and his wife.
They had sailed down the river from Waterloo in a boat some time before, and, attracted by the fine spring enter- ing the river at this point, determined to erect a shanty and locate. They had very little to offer their unexpected visitors for supper but some suckers which Munson had caught during the afternoon. These fish were, however, fresh and abundant, and Mr. Shade frequently declared afterwards that he had seldom relished anything better in his life.
Taking a last look at the site of the proposed village, Shade rejoined Mr. Dickson at Flamborw’, fully pre- pared to make the venture pressed upon him. Satisfac- tory terms were soon agreed upon between them, and
tford. h the \yr-— \—ex- along. nined, wards , more s par-
miles tained > east- on the rs avo. s wife.
a boat enter- shanty rpected on had pwever, eclared r better
village, y pre- atisfac-
m, and
SHADE RETURNS TO THE WILDERNESS. 29
alter visiting Niagara and Buffaio, and making as com- plete arrangements as were possible under the circum- stances, Absalom Shade returned to make his home in the wilderness,* and begin what was destined to become an important town, in the centre of one of the richest agri- cultural districts of Ontario. And thus Galt was fouaded!
* When Mr. Shade made this venture, he possessed only $100 and a chest. of carpenter’s tools, At least, such was the common report throughout the settlement for many years afterwards.
CHAPTER III.
Difficulties of the new Settlement— The first. building erected—Mr. Dickson actively engages in inducing Settlers to take up lands—An old Ruin with a History—A rough and ready Grist Mill—Population in 1817—The Branchton settlement—The Village of ‘“‘ Shade’s Mills ” in 1820—Hoist- ing the Stars and Stripes on the new Grist Mill--Nearly a serious affray -—The price of land sixty years ago.
THE difficulties and discouragements, not unmixed with adventure and jollity, connected with the first efforts to plant a new settlement in Upper Canada, are so familiar that it would be superfluous to fill in every detail. The founders of Galt had of every phase of bush life their full share. With scarcely a tree felled, no roads, no mills nor stores nearer than Dundas or Ancaster—twenty miles distant—and with the almost impassible Beverly swamp between, and only a solitary settler here and there, and these poor in ‘everything but their brave hearts and willing hands, the initial difficulties encountered by Mr. Shade in 1816, and afterwards, were of no ordinary kind. He tackled them, however, with a determination and vigour which seldom fail of success.
One of the most pressing necessities before the tuwn- ship could be brought into occupancy, was to have it pro- perly surveyed. Mr. Adrian Marlett, of Ancaster, Pro- vincial Deputy Surveyor, was promptly engaged by Mr.
iickson in with Fcenl "b e -Hoist- s affray
with rts to niliar The r full s nor miles amp , and and Mr. kind. 1 and
uwn- t pro- Pro-
\ Mr.
THE FIRST BUILDING ERECTED. 31
Dickson fur the purpose, and surveyed a considerable por- tion of the lands in the neighbourhood of Galt during the fall of 1816. He commenced his work again early the following year, and continued it until it was completed.
The first building erected was near the corner of Main and Water-streets, where Mr. Alexander Buchanan’s resi- dence now is. It was constructed of logs, two stories high in front, with a one-storey kitchen attached. The front was enclosed by a log fence. This was deemed quite an ornament in those days, but wouid hardly be esteemed so highly at the present time. For many years afterwards one end of this building was used as a rude store by Mr. Shade, and the other as a dwelling for him- self and wife.*
Mr. Dickson, although still residing in Niagara, took an active part in encouraging, and in some cases assisting, settlers to come in and take up lands. With this object in view, and to plan improvements of various kinds, he frequently spent weeks with Mr. Shade, whose house— the quaint appearance of which is remembered by some persons still living—for many years continued to be the centre from which all operations were projected.
Nothing was more urgently needed at first than some means of grinding grain for food. This was temporarily supplied ‘in an ingenious manner. We have already
*M>. Sila was married twice. First to Mrs. Andrews, of Canandaigua,
New York Siate, who hal two children (Mv. James K. Anlrews and Mrs,
John Miller) by a formar husband. After her dacewe he married Isabella
Jenima, sistes of Mr. Joha Davidsoa, of Galt. Me. Shade had no family by either of his marriages.
$2 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIiS.
mentioned the existence of a dilapidated old building on Mill-creek, near the site of Scott’s planing mill. Mr. Shade speedily converted the remains of this building, by the aid of the adjoining stream, into a rough and ready grist mill. Its product would hardly compare with the famous Princess Louise flour of the Stockwell mills; it boasted not of triple X or other fancy brands, and indulged not in packages with handsomely tinted labels ; but the struggling settlers of those times greatly preferred it to the mixture which resulted from pounding wheat in a hole in a stump, or beating or rolling it by hand in some equally primitive manner. This mill without a name, in the absence of anything better, served the purpose un- til the project of erecting a proper flour mill was carried to completion about three years afterwards.
Shade acted as Mr. Dickson’s agent and attorney, and as soon as it became known in the Niagara district and other settled parts of the Province, that lands could be had on easy terms, a few straggling settlers made their way to the locality, and some returned to take up their abode. Scarcely any persons came in during the fall of 1816, and for several years afterwards, the progress made was not very promising. Report puts down the number of families in the township in 1817 as thirty-eight, com- prising in all one hundred and sixty-three souls, and the whole of the farm stock as less than the number of animals now to be found on a single place. From a Government source, we find that in 1818 the estimate was only thirty- eight settlers, and sixty-three persons in all.
eir heir
l of
POPULATION IN 1817. 33
These statements are doubtless not far astray, but the latter estimate is probably below rather than above the mark, for, besides a few settlers who early took up land in the St. George neighbourhood, a small colony, chiefly from Genesee County, New York State, had located in the bush between Galt and the present village of Branch- ton, as early as 1817. Among these were Messrs. Donald Fraser, Thomas McBean, William Mackenzie,* John Buchanan, Robert Carrick, Alexander Harvie, Daniel McArthur and Dugald McColl, whose descendants, in several instances, still continue to hold and cultivate the lands then taken up.
The village was known as Shade’s Mills in its early days, and, like the Province. generally, advanced very slowly at this period. By examining the illustration to be found on another page, the work of Mr. Homer Watson of Doon, some ideas of the modern Galtonian, not a little proud, perhaps, of the “ Manchester of Canada,” may be roughly dispelled, but some conception may be obtained of the village of Shade’s Mills in the spring of 1820.
Ten buildings, all told, made up the village just sixty
* Donald Fraser, Thomas McBean end William Mackenzie walked all the way from Genesee Co., New York State, to Dumfries, during May, 1817. Mackenzie had assisted Mr. Marlett in surveying near Galt during the previous fall, and piloted the way. While on the road near Hamilton, the elder Dickson and his son William passed them on horseback. They knew Mackenzie, and informed the travellers that they could get Articles of Agreement immediately for any lands they might select, as they were then taking up these necessary documents. After arrival, Fraser, McBean and Mackenzie soun selected farms, and re¢eived the Articles therefor, which
are said to have been the first three ever given by Mr. Dickson for any part of his Dumfries lands.
34 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
years ago, There was (1) Shade’s house and store, already described; (2) the saw-mill, whose site is now occupied by the Great Western Railway bridge, and which was run- ning in the spring of 1817 ; (3) the Dumfries’ mills, built in 1818, which commenced running the following year; (4,5 and 6) two or three log houses and a shanty, between the mills und the dam, the latter building occupied by an easy-going adventurous half-breed, whose name has faded from the memory of the oldest inhabitant ; (7) the distil- lery, which began operations in 1820; (8) a log black- smith shop carried on by one Charles Kitchen, a little south of the site of Mr. William Robinson’s residence ; (9) a small building near Mr. James Scott’s house, which had been originally built on cedar posts, but had after- wards been filled in with dry stones; and (10) the re- mains, at this time chiefly foundation and débris, of the old temporary mill, which, it is needless to say, was de- spised and cast aside as soon as the new, and, for that early period, superior Dumfries mills had been put into operation.
There are, alas! only two solitary witnesses now left in Galt,—Mrs. John Miller,* and Mr. Alexander Buchanan,— who resided in it at this remote period, and the fingers on one hand would probably suffice to count all the survi- vors who then saw it. Despite the disadvantages, not to speak of the trials of “ bush life,’ the time-scarred Veter- ans of those early times, look back with pleasure to the
* Since these lines were’ written, Mrs. Miller has passed away. She died in Galt on 7th February, 1880, aged 70 years.
NEARLY A SERIOUS AFFRAY.
dy town’s early history, and many and curious are the inci- ied dents they relate in regard to it. mn- During the construction of the mills and distillery, the rilt prospects of the village and settlement manifested some ar; scanty signs of improvement. A few more settlers began pen to come in, and the workmen from a distance cmployed al on the new buildings made everything more lively. All led the millrights employed were Americans, and the machi- til- nery had to be brought all the way from New York—a ck- task of the greatest difficulty. ttle Three of the workmen, named Robert Gillespie, Ira White, ce; and John McCleary, were conspicuous for their strong ich American sympathies, At this period, infact, there were er- very few citizens of the United States who did not regard re- the speedy union of Upper Canada with the Republic, as a the foregone conclusion. Among those also employed on the de- mills, were a few French Canadians, who, with others in hat the little village or around it, were just as loud in express- to ing their British sympathies. When the work was nearly completed in 1819, the memorable Fourth of July came in round, and for a lark, more than anything else, the Ame- oe ricans hoisted the stars and stripes from the gable of the ui mills! This so excited the ire of the French Canadians vie and others, that after considerable expression of loyal to feeling—which was of double-distilled strength on the én part of some in those days—an attempt was made to take he the flag down. This was forcibly resisted by the Ameri-
cans, and fora time a desperate fight was imminent, when more serious effects than a few scarred faces might have
36 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES,
resulted. Mr. Shade, on hearing of the melee, hurried to the scene, and having gone on top of the mills and taken down the obnoxious flag, the breeze fortunately blew over.
To complete the description of the village in 1820, it should be mentioned that the Grand River had been bridged the previous year. The first structure was at the same point as the present Main-street Bridge It was erected chiefly at the expense of Mr. Dickson, and was for many years the only place, during high water, at which the settlers could cross from one bank to the other. It was, con- sequently, a great convenience to the whole settlement for many miles up and down the river, and as it brought many people to the village more frequently than they otherwise would have come, the bridge proved a useful adjunct to the place.
The price of land at this early period was about $3 per acre. There is lying before us as we write, in a perfect state of preservation, an agreement entered into for a farm between Mr. Dickson and Mr. John Leece. This gentle- man was a native of Lancashire, England, but had been for some time in Albany, New York, before coming to Dumfries. The agreement was for the sale of the south half of lot number eight, in the tenth concession—being the farm now owned by Mr. William Smith, situated on Mill-creek, about one mile from Galt. The document was signed on the 30th of July, 1817, the signatures upon it being those of William Dickson, by his Attorney, Absalom Shade, and the purchaser, John Leece. The witnesses were William Dickson, jr., and Charles Irwin.
PRICE OF LAND SIXTY YEARS AGO. 37
The consideration money was £75, and it was payable in five years with interest.
Some anxiety was at one time felt among the early settlers of Dumfries, as to the title of the lands they had purchased, one Daniel Penfield or his heirs, laying claim to the whole township. Penfield’s name appears in the Registry Office records, as having bought the township from one Elisha Wells, on the 11th of February, 1805, and Wells is also registered as having bought it from Peter Hogoboom on the 4th of December, 1802. A suit was instituted, contesting Mr. Dickson’s title. This caused much talk at the time, and some anxiety. The case was tried both at Niagara and Toronto, Henry John Boulton being counsel for Penfield, and John Beverly Robinson (afterwards Chief Justice), for Mr. Dickson. The result was favourable to Mr. Dickson’s title, as obtained from Philip Stedman and his heirs, Years afterwards, it was reported that a son of Penfield’s intended to revive his father’s claims to the township, but nothing ever came of it.
CHAPTER IV.
The progress of Settlement slow— Physical features and soil of Dumfries- - Remarkable Geological character of the rocks underlying Galt—Ener- getic efforts to attract Scottish settlers—The Ettrick Shepherd offered a farm in Dumfries—John Telfer visits Scotland as agent—Poverty of the first settlers—Log Houses chinked with clay— New buildings—Visit of John Galt, Esq., in 1827—Its object-- How “alt obtained its name— Mr. Dickson removes from Niagara—A Highland acquaintance.
DuRING the first half of the next decade (from 1820 to 1825), the settlement of Dumfries proceeded very gradu- ally. The physical features of the country for many miles around Shade’s Mills were not very attractive in their uncleared state. The land was thickly timbered,:~ hilly and rugged, in some places stoney, and with not a few small lakes and swamps scattered throughout. It was not the place for a man afraid of hard wor, and conse- quently lost many a settler it might otherwis: '.ave had.
The soil, however, was excellent for the growth of wheat and other cereals, and when once cleared, was not easily surpassed for farming purposes generally. It varies in different localities, from a clay to a sandy loam, the depth of which is generally from one to three feet, although seven feet have been met with in exceptional cases, This rests upon a sub-soil of gravel and sand.
Although it is not generally known, the geological char-
eS- —
ered y of Tisit
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF DUMFRIES. 39
acter of Galt and vicinity is somewhat remarkable. Its site was well chosen so far as economic minerals for build- ing purposes are concerned. Besides having on the east side of the river boulders of granite and other chrystal- line rocks of every variety and in great profusion, there are also exhaustless quarries of limestone; this rocky formation, whilst forming a basis for the town within the valley, extends for miles up the river, forming bluffs of considerable elevation and beauty.
The limestone rocks underlying the town, and partially cropping out on the river's banks,very early attracted the at- tention of scientific men. Before any Geological Commission wasestablished fur Canada, Professor Hall, one of the geolog- ists of New York State, paid the locality a visit, and on the occasion gave names to several of the fossils which freely abound in the rocks. A large bivalve shell (or rather the fossil of it) received the name of Megalomus Canadensis, which has been retained by our Canadian Geologists. Some eighteen or twenty varieties or species of fossils were early discovered, and as these corresponded in a con- siderable degree with those found in the Niagara group of limestone, the formation was regarded for some years as one with the Niagara. The late Rev. Andrew Bell, of . Dundas, who was well-informed on this subject,so regarded this formation. Later on, investigations were made by our Canadian Geologists, Messrs. Murray, Billings and Bell,* _* Robert Bell, C.E., F.G.S.; Elkanah Billings, F.G.S. The latter ranked
high asa Paleontologist. Mr. Bell is still connected with the Geological] Survey. Mr. Billings died in 1876,
40 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
who visited Galt and examined the locality on several occasions, many years ago, and their researches resulted in assigning this peculiar class of rock to a higher and later development than that of the Niagara. It is now known a3 the Guelph group, and is understood to have received this name from Guelph being about the centre of the formation. It extends as far north as Elora and Fergus, and eastwards from Guelph some distance down the Grand Trunk line. It is a Magnesium Limestone or dolomite. What is its depth, or what it rests upon, are facts which remain undiscovered, for no complete outcrop of the rock has yet been found, nor have the borings in the town heen of sufficient depth to determine these points.
Numberless ages—who can count them ?—must have elapsed since the Grand River began to flow. In no other way can the cutting of its channel through these lime- stone rocks, and the formation of the valley in which Galt stands, be intelligently accounted for. Immediately northward of the town, the rock has been cut down at least forty or fifty feet, and it is within the probabilities, that at some remote period of the past, a miniature Nia- gara was in existence a short distance above Galt. The continuous line of bluffs, and the unequal bottom of the channel of the river, favour this opinion.
From about the year 1825, settlers began to arrive more frequently, and before the close of the decade most of the farms in the immediate neighbourhood of Shade's Mills were taken up, and not a little land cleared and cul- tivated, The settlers were almost exclusively Scotch, and
IRE Ge
41
THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD.
were very largely from Roxboroughshire and Selkirk-
veral q ed in : shire. This arose chiefly from the exertions made in later 3 Scotland by Mr. Dickson, to direct the attention of emi- nown q grants to his Dumfries lands, eived 4 Besides articles about the township and the village, f the 4 = published in Chambers’ Journal and the regular press, he rgus, ee wrote freely to leading Scotchmen on the subject, with jrand many of whom he was acquainted. Among others he mite. = communicated with James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, which : who took great interest in the matter, and was the means . rock 4 of securing many of the best settlers which the township town 4 obtained, not a few of whom brought letters of introduc- ‘ f tion from the poet to Mr. Dickson. A nephew and niece have 7 of his own were among the number,* and it would appear other > as if, at one time, some hope was entertained that Hogg lime- “* himself might be tempted to cross the water. However which | this may be, it is a well-attested fact that, during a trip lately > of Mr. William Dickson, jr., to Scotland, he visited the m at x poet, and offered him a farm in Dumfries, if he would ities, s come out and accept of it. Hogg laughingly replied, Nia- 4 | “The Yarrow couldna want him!” and that was the last The @ heard of the matter.
About 1820, Mr. John Telfer was specially sent to Scot- 7 land to induce intending Canadian emigrants to settle in rrive 3 | Dumfries. This gentleman, in conjunction with Michael most ; -Knox,f for at least thirty years one of the “characters” ade’s | a : cul- , and
of the
= * Mr. Samuel Hogg, at one time clerk in Mr. Shade’s store, and his sister, Mrs. James Dalgleish.
| + Having no friends to take care of him, old Knox was removed to the
"Waterloo County Poor House, in 1869, His iron constitution enabled him
q C
42 HISTURY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES,
of Galt, had entered the Hudson Bay Company’s service some years before. They soon tired of the hunt- ing, trapping, and Indians of the North-west—which no one at that time dreamed would ever become part of ‘Canada—but to escape from the Company’s service was at once difficult and dangerous. In company with two others, however, they ultimately took French leave, start- ing together from the Selkirk settlement, and were vigor- ously pursued by officers. of the Company, with dogs and sleds, on the snow and ice. Through the assistance of friendly Indians, who concealed them for three months, they succeeded in making their way out of the country, and ultimately reached Shade’s Mills in safety. Mr. Tel- fer, who was an intelligent, energetic man, soon after his arrival in the village, bargained with Mr. Dickson, in ex- change for part of the plains, about a mile south of Galt, to visit Selkirkshire, Scotland, and bring out a num- ber of new settlers, This duty was, we believe, per- formed in a very satisfactory manner.
It was through these circumstances that Dumfries, es- pecially the northern part thereof, became so largely settled by Scotchmen and Presbyterians. Rough and
to survive till the 11th September, 1878. He was in his 87th year. Many amusing stories of Michael were long current, and the following one has the merit of being well authenticated :—His wife kept house for Dr. Miller, before the latter was married. One day Michael, who was much given to drinking, told the Doctor there was something in his throat, »z.d asked him to look inte ‘+. He accordingly opened his mouth, and» the, Doctor, after exaniining it, said, ‘‘ I don’t see anything, Michael.” ‘* Well; it is very odd you see nothing,” replied the old wag, ‘‘ for a hundred acree of land and a yoke of oxen went down there /”
3; gervice e hunt- rhich no part of vice was ith two ve, start- re vigor- dogs and stance of morths, country, Mr. Tel- after his on, in ex- south of + a num- eve, per-
mfries, es- > largely pugh and
year) Many y one has the Dr. Miller, ch given to
d asked him Woctor, after Nl; it is very ie of land and
43
POVERTY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS.
rugged though the township was, their energy and indus- try, stimulated by poverty, it must be confessed, soon found witness in the disappearing forests, The axe of the woodman, the falling timber, the merry “ Yo-heave” of the Raising Bee, could, at certain seasons, be heard on every side—jr st as now, during the gladsome harvest time, the “ whirr” of the mowers and reapers salutes the ear wherever you go.
Many of the early settlers, when they took up farms, owned little but a trusty axe. Their first endeavours were, generally, to get in a few acres of wheat, and erect ' a house or shanty. The houses were invariably of un- © hewn logs, chinked with clay. The earliest of them were 7} very rude. They seldom had any divisions except the > loft above ; this was ascended by means of a ladder, and it was rare when the daylight could not be seen streaming
through numerous apertures in the roof. There was no = want of ventilation in those days! Whatever else it @ lacked, the house invariably possessed a large open fire- place. Its huge blazing back-logs often served to distract & attention from the earthen floor, and threw a ruddy glare of heat and comfort around the primitive apartment and its occupants. These early log houses, it is true, speedily improved, and were made more warm and comfortable, But many persons can remember dwellings in Dumfries of which this description is not overdrawn.
Being all alike poor, and more or less dependent on each other, the early Pioneers were always open-handed, and ready to assist their neighbours. Though hard was
44 HISTORY OF GALT AND PUMFRIES.
the toil, and many the privations of bush life, there are few of the old men who remain, whose eyes do not light up with pleasure at the remembrance of those early days, and more especially at mention of the generous assistance and warm-hearted sympathy which so largely charac- terized the entire settlement.
The village of Shade’s Mills was the must important place within a radius of twenty miles, but its growth, continued to be very tardy. In the year 1827, however a circumstance occurred, which will be noticed presently, and which somewhat improved its fortunes.
About the year 1$21, what is apt to be one of the earliest “institutions” of a new settlement was erected, namely, a tavern. It was a small one-and-a-half story frame building, situated near the corner of Main and Water Streets, a little north of where Woods and Taylor's store now stands. It was first opened by one Morgan L, Hermonts ; two years afterwards one John Clark* become the landlord, and subsequently it fell into the hands of aman named James Taylor. Some idea of the value of property over half a century ago, may be obtained from the fact, that Taylor offered the hotel, stables and lot, to a gentleman still living in Galt, for $300, and failed to
* Clarke long went by the name of ‘‘Old Johnny Clarke,” and is well remembered for his loquaciousness and other peculiarities. He owned the farm of Rosehill, adjoining Galt, at one time, but sold it, and took up Lot No. 7 in the 5th Coucession of South Dumfries. Becoming old, he subse- quently went to reside with some friends at Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he survived until a few years ago,
here are rot light rly days, ssistance
charac-
nportant
growth, a however resently,
e of the erected, alf story fain and Taylor's a organ L, | become .
ands of value of
failed to
' from Nova Scotia. * rebellion, and the price obtained was $1,600—a very
% had offered to sell it some years previously. “ kenzie sub-divided the acre into lots, and erected a small
LOG HOUSES CHINKED WITH CLAY 45
find a purchaser. Ten years afterwards, however, we find their value had greatly increased.
This acre of ground, situated in the very heart of Galt, was one of the first parts of Dumfries deeded away by Mr. Dickson, and ultimately gave rise to most vexatious legal proceedings. Taylor was related to, and ultimately disposed of the property to Mr. Thomas Lepard, of Wool- wich (afterwards of Dundas), who, at his death, willed it
_ to his daughter, Mary Ann Lepard, who was his only child.
Mr. Thomas G. Chapman was appointed executor. Find- ing the personal estate inadequate to liquidate the debts, he advertised the lot to be sold by public auction, when it was knocked down to Mr. Thomas Mackenzie, who was a mill-wright by trade, and had recently arrived in Galt This was about the time of the
considerable rise above the modest sum at which Taylor Mr. Mac-
frame house on one of them for his own use.
Some time after this, Mary Ann Lepard married a shift- less fellaw named Benjamin Tribe, who resided near Elora. Matters had proceeded thus far, when the ques-
tion arose as to whether the executor, Mr. Chapman, had
igan, where
“% of the debts of the estate. >= W. H. Draper, of Toronto, for his opinion. He decided %@ adversely, which was a most unpleasant discovery for _ Mr. Chapman, and still more so for Mr. Mackenzie, who,
the right to sell the lot, although it was for the payment A case was submitted to Mr.
46 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
with buying and building, had sunk all his hard-earned money. There was a general consultation held by Messrs. Mackenzie, Chapman, Shade and Adam Ainslie (the latter is now a resident of Leith), and it was arranged that the three gentlemen last mentioned should go on an expedition, combining pleasure with business, namely, to drive to Elora, see Tribe and wife, endeavour to get a confirmation of Mackenzie’s title, and then fish down the Grand River home again.
To make a long story short, Tribe agreed to confirm the title for $150, and came down to Mr. Ainslie’s oflice the following week for the purpose. Mr. Ainslie appointed 3 o'clock that afternoon for him and his wife to come and execute the necessary papers. The hour arrived, but they did not. The next day it was ascertained that Tribe had sold out all his own and his wife’s interest to Mr. John Miller, Barrister, had executed a deed for the acre lot, and left the village! This was sad news for Mackenzie, and made the difficulties far greater than ever. |
Two legal suits immediately ensued. Miller began a Chancery suit to dispossess Mackenzie, and Mr. Ainslie re- torted by commencing an actionagainst Mr. Miller for Cham- perty, or buying a disputed title. We need not follow the legal proceedings further than to say, that they occasioned much interestin the courts of the Province, and quite excited the little village whilst the result was pending. Unlike many lawsuits, however, all came out right in the end. Mr. Mackenzie was confirmed in his title, and Mr. Miller, whom the jury amerced in the sum of £500, had the
parned flessrs, » (the nged
0 on mely, get a n the
m the e the inted e and they e had John t, and 2, and
yan & lie re- ham- w the ioned cited nlike > end. filler, 1 the
NEW BUILDINGS, 47
verdict set aside at the next term, as being contrary to law. After the Dumfries Mills had been running for some
time, Mr, Dickson, who found that. his lands required all
his attention, endeavoured to sell them to Mr. Shade. The latter was unwilling to pwchase unless a guarantee was given for a specified number of years, that no lands would be sold in the village by Mr. Dickson for mills, stores, or other businesses which would enter into com
petition with his (Mr. Shade’s) occupations. It is under- stood this condition was ultimately agreed to; at any rate, Mr. Shade purchased the mills, two hundred acres of land, covering what is now the most valuable part of the town on the west side of the river, and an additional hundred acres in the township. The deed was nct ob- tained for these properties by Mr. Shade, until the 11th August, 1838, and in that document, the consideration money is stated to have been £2,500.
In deeding the 200 acres to Mr. Shade, Mr. Dickson made the following reservations: (1) One lot to Dr. Robert Miller, corner west of Water and north of Main Street. (2) One acre to James Taylor, north of Main and east of Water Street. (3) One lot to Adam Ainslie, north of Main and east of Ainslie Street. (4) One lot to Isaac Sours, adjoining Ainslie’s lot. (5) The school-house lot, corner of Church and Main Street. (6) The market- house lot on Dickson Street.
How much is the same property, with all its mills, machinery, stores, and residences, worth at the present day ?
48 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
The old Red store, for many years one of the land- marks of Galt, was put up by Mr. Shade in 1824. It was situated at the east end of Main Street bridge, where the Commercial buildings now are, and jutting out into ° the river between it and the bridge, was a high wooden pier, with a strong, upright post on the westerly corner. This was used as a wharf during the period that barges were employed on the river,and in after times, and for many years after it fell into decay, it was the daily resort of village urchins, who drew many a fine bass from be- neath its rotting timbers.
Mr. Thomas Rich, who had come to Canada from Gib- altar, during the previous year, f \nd his first employ- ment in Galt on the Red store.* » was at first some- what disappointed inthe country, and returned toGibraltar in 1825, where his father was employed by the British Government in the Engineer’s department. Two years afterwards, however, Mr. Rich returned to Galt, and has continued, with the exception of a few years, to reside in it ever since—a period of over half a century.
The comunity was thrown into a pleasurable excite- ment, in 1827, by the arrival in its midst of John Galt, Esq., and party, the latter comprising Dr. Dunlop, a Mr. Campbell and a Mr. Pryor. Mr. Galt was the father of Sir A. T. Galt, of Montreal, and Judge Galt, of Toronto, and was not unknown to fame, being the author of
* The original frame-work of the old store-house, which occupied the site ‘. of the present Commercial buildings, still exists, and now forms the frame- work of the buildings connected with Turnbull’s Knitting Factory,
VISIT OF JOHN GALT, ESQ., IN 1827. 49
“Laurie Todd,” “The Annals of our Parish,” and other works of fiction. He acted as Commissioner of the Canada Company from 1826 to 1829, and his visit had been bruited for some time, and its object discussed with hope- ful interest—which was to open up a road from Galt to the lands of the Company in the neighbourhood of the now royal City of Guelph, but which had remained a terra incognita up to this time.
Mr. Galt had been a school companion of Mr. Dickson’s in Edinburgh, and such had been their attachment, that when the village obtained a Post Office, Mr. Dickson christened it “Galt,” after his early friend and schoolmate. It is scarcely necessary to say that Mr. Galt and party met with a warm reception from Mr. Dickson, and all with whom they came in contact.
Mr. Shade, with his usual shrewdness, was anxious to secure the work of constructing the proposed road, and the furnishing of supplies—indeed, ‘he almost regarced this as a turning point in his fortunes. He remarked to a friend at the time: “If I succeed in getting this con- tract, I will be all right; but its just like tossing up a copper !” He did succeed in securing a large share of the contract from the hands of Mr. Galt, and it is scarcely necessary to add, entered upon the work of cutting out and constructing the road with characteristic push and success. The oversight of the work was left in the hands of Messrs. Campbell and Pryor, the latter of ,whom con- tinued his connection with the Canada Company, in God- erich, for a long period afterwards,
50 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMERIES,
The Guelph road gave employment to many of the settlers, and enabled them to earn a little ready money’ which was a very scarce commodity in those days. Nota few ox teams from Dumfries foundemployment in opening the road to, and clearing the site of the proposed village of Guelph, and among those who helped to ‘‘slash” out the timber along the line of road—which extended about sixteen miles through the bush--were Stephen Moffat, George Telfer and John Lockie, well-known Dumfries names.* By this enterprise, and others equally worthy of commondation, Mr Galt became the founder of Guelph, and gave a much needed impetus to the settlement and development of the country.
This visit of Mr. Galt settled for ever the question of the name of the village. Prior to this time it continued to be known as Shade’s Mills, and notwithstanding the selection of Galt as the name of‘the Post Office, the people appeared bent on adhering to the old and early name. The pleasing manners of Mr. Galt, however, made him quite popular witk all the villagers with whom he came into contact, and thereafter the name of Galt met with cordial acceptance.
*How immeasurably the circumstances and comforts of the commu- nity have improved since the days when this road was constructed, may be knowa from the fact, that Mr. Moffatt and other workmen employed upon jt, sometimes had to eat the fattest of pork, raw; their bread was baked in the hot ashes of their camp fires—the quality of which, therefore, needs no remark—and they drank, at their meals, hemlock tea ! To make up for such 1‘wre—we suppose—a barrel of whiskey, with a tin cup attached, always stood ay, the roadside, and each workman or passer by was allowed to partake ad libitum.
f the oney’ Not a ening age of it the xteen Teifer y this lation, much ont of
jon of tinued ng the people b, The
quite he into
ordial
o
commu- , may be ed upon baked in needs No for such ays stood rtake ad
M® WILLIAM. DICKSON.
MR. DICKSON REMOVES TO GALT. 51
During the same year (1827), Mr. Dickson temporarily removed from Niagara, and took up his residence in Galt. He first occupied a quaint little rough-cast cottage on the south side of the west end of the bridge. It was situated on a pretty sloping knoll, and was partly surrounded by a well-trimmed Scotch thorn hedge, which extended down to the river’s brink. He subsequently removed to a new house* which he erected on the beautiful western hills overlooking the village.
The residence of the Hon. William Dickson, in Galt, only continued till 1836—a period of nine years. He was then in his sixty-seventh year, and the labours of an unusually active life had begun to make inroads on his once vigorous constitution. He determined, therefore, to return to Niagara, and leave the charge of his affairs in Dumfries and Galt in the hands of his son, Mr. William Dickson, jun., who subsequently inherited the greater portion of the estate.
The latter gentleman, with his tall, spare, but com- manding figure, and reserved manner, is so well remem- bered, that a minute description of him is unnecessary. He was born in Niagara, in 1799, and was the second of three sons, the Hon. Robert Dickson being the eldest, and the Hon. Walter H. Dickson the youngest.f William spent
* This building stood almost directly west of the Queen’s Arms Hotel. The writer of this sketch was born in it on the 24th May, 1835. It was removed about twenty years ago.
+ The Hon. Robert Dickson died at Leghorn, Italy, on the 27th Novem- ber, 1846, in his 51st year. A tablet to his memory was erected in Trinity Church, Galt, shortly after his death, The Hon, Walter H, Dickson, of
52 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GALT.
several years at College in Edinburgh, Scotland; and on his return took up his residence permanently in Galt. For a brief space he had a joint interest in one of Mr. Shade’s stores. He had no taste, however, for general business, and soon confined his attention to his father’s affairs, or spent his time in travel.
From the time the old gentleman removed to Niagara, the management of the property of the family in Dum- fries and Galt—already largely increased, and steadily augmenting in value—devolved chiefly upon Mr. William Dickson, although Robert and Walter generally spent some portion of each year in: the village. During these visits the brothors occupied the twc cottages on the Queen’s Square owned by the family—one of which is yet standing behind Mr. Gavin Hume's hardware store, and the other was situated opposite thereto, on the north- east corner of the square. Mr. William, Dickson soon became closely associated with the Township, and as well known to the settlers as ever his father had been. _
His office was at the west ead of the bridge, and often presented a busy scene about the beginning of the New Year, at which time the settlers were expected to pay
the instalments due upon their lands. Ever to be asso-
Woodlawn, Niagara, was born in 1805. He has been married twice, first to Miss Augusta Maria Geale, and secondly to Mrs. Armstrong. He was called to the Bar of Upper Canada, Hilary Term, 1830. He was Member for Niagara in the Canadian House of Assembly from 1844 tu 1851. Was a life member of the Legislative Council from February, 1855, until Confedera- tion, when he was called to the Senate of Canada by Royal Proclamation, ® in May, 1867,
A HIGHLAND ACQUAINTANCE, 53
ciated with this office must be the name of Mr. Kenneth
Robertson * who, from a very early period, acted as Mr. -
Dickson’s clerk and agent. This gentleman was of Highland birth, but unlike most sons of the Gael, pos- sessed an unusually cold and calculating manner. The annual interview with him, therefore, was not an occasion which called up feelings of pleasure in the settlers’ minds, particularly if, through unfavourable weather or other causes, they were unable to meet their engagements.
* It was probably Mr. Robertson’s misfortune that he had often to perform the ungracious duty of insisting upon payments. However this may be, he was extremely unpopular, and always went by a nick-name so familiar as not to require repetition. He did not marry till well ad- vanced in years, which was the occasion of a charivari, which produced the wildest excitement in the village for several nights, and which the magistrates were quite unable to quell.
CHAPTER V.
The Trading period of Bush life—-Money scarcely ever seen—Marriage under difficulties— The want of roads oppressively felt—The terrors of Beverly Swamp— Early stories of the Benighted Region—Mr. Shade determines to float the produce of the Settlement down the Grand River—Galt’s first and only Fleet—The ‘‘ Arks”’ as a freight line.
Mucu of the business of the settlement, during the first ten years, was carried on by barter. It might be called the “trading period.” It was so many yards of cloth for so much pork, so much calico and cotton for so many pounds of butter, and so much tea for so many dozens of eggs. The farmer could not get cash for wheat or wool at every cross-road as at present. The miller took his toll from the wheat, and returned the balance in flour; when the old-fashioned carding mills came in, he got so much rough grey cloth—and rough it was—or so much yarn, in return for his wool. And it was pretty much the same in-all transactions. Even the minister and the doctor were sometimes paid in trade ! Money was rarely seen. At certain seasons there was literally none in circulation. An English shilling was almost a curiosity. Battered brass buttons passed readily as coppers, and it is said that,in a hard pinch, they wereocca- sionally cut off the coat for the purpose! Although money
MARRIAGE ttINDER DIFFICULTIES. 55
_ was so scarce, the farmers, fortunately, soon had abun- ‘dance to eat, and not a little to barter in exchange for
their other wants.
An amusing illustration of the scarcity of money may be mentioned here. People were so infatuated as to get married in those days, just as they do now; but the operation was by no means so easy as at present. The clergy of the Church of England were the only ministers at one time who could marry; magistrates could do so, however, when there was no Episcopal clergyman within a radius of eighteen miles, and Squire Ellis, of Waterloo, and Squire Murray, who resided near St. George, for many years did a thriving business in the matrimonial line.
But to our story. It was customary then, as now, for the bridegroom to hand the officiating clergyman or magistrate a small fee on the completion of the cere- mony. However difficult it was to procure, at least one dollar was generally scraped together for this purpose. But even this could not always be obtained. Indeed, on one occasion, one of the clergymen of Galt (Rev. Dr. Boomer), after tying the marriage knot, was surprised when the bride stepped briskly up to his side, and whispered in his ear that they had no money, but would, on the morrow, send him the marriage fee in sausages ! He accepted the offer with the best grace possible, but could scarcely suppress his merriment at the unexpected and unusual character of the douceur.
Few can realize in this age of railroads and easy .com-
a a —_— = a
56 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
munication, what satisfaction the completion of the road to Guelph created, or the acclamations with which the subsequent proposal to construct the Dundas and Water- loo macadamized road was greeted. The want of roads had become oppressively felt The production of farm produce was annually increasing, but it was nearly impos- sible to get it to market. Galt was almost hemmed in— a place without an outlet. The natural route was east- wards to the head of Lake Ontario at Dundas, but be- tween the two points was a literal slough of despond in the shape of the far-famed Beverly swamp, whose bot- tomless mud-holes and almost impassible “ corduroys,” were the terror of travellers for many a year thereafter.
This benighted region had a most unenviable reputa- tion. It blocked the way between the head of navigation at Dundas and Hamilton, and the fertile lands of Dumfries and Waterloo. It could not be avoided, therefore, and the blazed* road through its long desolate morasses, was seldom passed without accidents and delays innumerable. A dozen teams all “stuck” (to use the expressive term of the period) within a few miles of each other, was no un- common occurrence, and only the marines could believe the stories of the sizeand depth of the mud-holes which - have been handed down to us.
Once upon a time a reckless rider attempted, contrary to advice, to pass through on horseback in the middle of the spring floods. A few hours afterwards a pedestrian
*A term in common use, indicating chips choppod off the wae of trees in early settlements to show travellers the road,
THE TERRORS OF BEVERLY SWAMP. 57
found what at first glance he took to be a blue Scotch bonnet floating in the middle of a treacherous-looking pool. On attempting to recover the bonnet, he was hor- rified to find it covered the head of the reckless rider, who had plunged into the fatal morass, and, astride of his horse, had gradually sunk down, until arms, neck, mouth, and eyes, had been engulphed in the oozy, treacherous, almost fathomles: abyss. Before assistance could be ob- tained, horse and rider had entirely disappeared !
How far this and similar stories can be relied upon, the reader can judge for himself, but certain it is, that the passage through Beverly swamp was greatly and justly dreaded. These feelings were increased by current ru- mours of an old peddler and even of other benighted travellers whohad undertaken to pass through the swamp after dark, having mysteriously disappeared. These ru- mours hecame crimes of blood to the active imagi- nations of those days, and so widespread and strong had they become, that when Mr. Alexander Buchanan, a man certainly not deficient in courage, came in from New York State in 1819, he started through the wild and trackless woods after dark to his father’s clearance near Branchton, rather than linger in Beverly swamp, with its dismal surroundings and evil reputation.
Pressed by increasing supplies of farm produce, which were mostly obtained in exchange for goods out of the Red store, Mr. Shade determined ubout 1831 to endeavour to find an outlet to Lake Ontario by means of the Grand River. Through the enterprise chiefly of the late Hon.
D
58 HISTOKY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
William Hamilton Merritt, the spirited project of connect- ing the waters of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario by means of the Welland Canal, had been accomplished four years previously. Mr. Shade conceived the idea of taking his produce down the river to Dunnville, towing it through the canal to Lake Ontario, and then shipping it from Port Dalhousie to its destination.
When this project was announced, it became the event of the season. The farmers, not less than the villagers, were all agoc, and a good many doubting Thomases shook their heads wisely. But Mr. Shade quietly proceeded with his plans. He built several flat-bottomed boats which were called “ Arks.” These were each of sufficient capacity, being eighty feet long and sixteen wide, to carry about four hundred barrels of flour. They could only be used during the spring floods, and it was an exciting time at the little wharf at the end of the bridge when they were being loaded.
The cargo consisted chiefly of wheat, coarse grains, flour, highwines, pork, and furs, and was of considerable value, embracing a large portion of the results of the year’s business, Each Ark was in charge of several men, one of whom had special control, when Mr. Shade, who always accompanied them, was not on board himself. The boats were difficult to manage, and in ~onsequence of the rapid current, numerous islands, and occasional shoals especially between Galt and Brantford, they required as skilful navigation as their great prototype to which the whole human race is so greatly indebted.
Al's
his
vent gers, hook eded boats cient carry ly be iting when
alls, erable of the everal Shade, iroself, nce of shoals red as ich the
THE “ARKS” AS A FREIGHT LINE. 59
The Arks, as a freight line, could hardly be called a success, though it must be admitted they served to tide over a pressing difficulty. They were only used for three years, and as evidence at once of the difficulties of the navigation and the energy of Mr. Shade, the mis- hap which befell the last expedition may be mentioned.
Seven Arks started from the Galt wharf, all well laden. Everything went smoothly until a short distance below the village of Glemorris, At this point the boat on which Mr. Shade himself was, ran upon a rock, and narrowly escaped becoming a total wreck. By great ef- forts, however, the flour with which it was laden was removed to an adjacent island, as quickly and with as little injury as possible. Mr. Shade immediately returned to Galt, worked almost night and day till a new Ark was made, started down to the scene of the accident, took on board the flour, and caught up to the first and only fleet which Galt ever possessed, at Port Robinson, about the middle of the Welland Canal.
Whatever the reasons may have been, this was the last occasion on which the Arks were used. Possibly a dove had returned with a sprig from Beverly swamp !
CHAPTER VI.
Canadian Backwood’s life—-Its merry-makings and jolly character— Bears and Wolves—Mr. Bruin, a slandered animal—Singular Bear Hunt in Galt, in 1834 - -Winter the liveliest season of the year— Christmas ehoot- ing matches for Turkies and Geese—Early Drinking customa—‘‘ In Devitt’s fall, we sinned all "—Temperance Reform.
THE circumstances of the people began visibly to improve about 1830,* but there was ample room for improvement,
* Many of the principal settlers of Dumfries came in about 1830. We earn from Mr. William Cowan, River Road, that the following well-known Dumfries families all sailed in the ‘‘ Argus” of Workington, England, on the 3rd June, 1829: those of Francis Hogg, Walter Cowan, James Cowan, George Barri» and Hector Rennelson. The voyage was only nine weeks and two days {
The families of the following persons also came out together by the ‘* Sarah Mary Ann,” of Maryport, England, in April, 1831: George Land- reth, James Bunyan, Thomas Adams, John Kerr, David Brown, Adam Kersell, Robert Cranston, James and Walter Deans, John, Thomas and William Henderson, John and William Veitch, Robert Laidlaw (father of James Laidlaw M.P.P.), Paisley Block ; James Little and Robert Aitkin, Blue Lake, and James Davidson, Keg Lane, near Paris. With possibly one exception, all these families were from Roxburghshire, Scotland. Voyage —five weeks and four days.
A friend has handed in the following as the dates when the families men- tioned arrived in Dumfries: 1820—David Thornton ; 1823—John Lockie, Henry Aussam and George Stoddard ; 1824—John Mackenzie, the Moffats and Andrew Lake ; 1825—John D. Campbell, long familiarly known as ** Duke” Campbell; 1826—Duncan Ferguson and the Scrimgers ; 1827— John Milroy and David Potter; 1829—James McPhail ; 1831—Thomas Chisholm and Arthur Burnett; 1832—William S. Elliott, the Lees and George Bruce ; 1833—George Moore, John and William Dickie ; 1834—
UANADIAN BACKWOOD’S LIFE. 61
and many hard struggles were still before them. The whole settlement was, however, hopeful and cheerful. There had been no lack of good humour, and even of jollity, from its earliest days. And this, it may be addeds is one of the peculiar characteristics of Canadian back- woods’ life. It makes Mark Tapleys of men who would never have been “jolly” under any other circumstances.
The hard work of chopping, logging and bush-burn- ing* seemed to add zest to social gatherings. They were frequent throughout Dumfries, and always lively. A!- most every raising “Bee” terminated in mirth-making of sorce description. The long winter evenings were often beguiled with dancing, in which all classes and ages united after the Scottish fashion, undisturbed by the “latest cut” «f Beau Brummel, the correct attitudes
James Cowan, Clochmohr, Hugh Wallace, John Thompson, Cruickston Park, Robert L. Wilson and Hugh Rutherford. The Goodalls came in 1833 and ’35.
It would have been gratifying if our friend had been able to extend his list, and taken in other well-known, early settlers, but it is difficult to get correct cates, after the lapse of half a century, and, besides, a volume like
these Reminiscences, does not admit of too much matter of a technical character.
* The Scotch are credited with being very canny, and able to look a long way ahead. It is possible, however, to overdo it. This, a highly re- spectable settler named Goodfellow, illustrated in a very amusing way. About 1834, when the woods in every part of the township were being chopped down at a very rapid rate, Goodfellow took it into his head that in a few years the entire forests would disappear, and that no wood would be left for winter use. Anxious to take time by the forelock, he determined to secure a substitute in the shape of a good peat moss. He ultimately purchased, much to Mr. Dickson’s surprise, the mucky edge of a swamp
some distance this side of Ayr, but the peat, we need hardly say, remains unneeded and untested to this day.
62 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
of Professor Fanning, or other restraints of the modern votaries of fashion. The quilting “ Bee”—another vener- able institution of the past—also contributed its share to the amusements of the period.
Towards the fal! of the year a fruitful source of amuse- ment was shooting. Water-fow] and partridges were abundant. So were foxes, mink, and other fur-bearing animals. Ten or twelve deer in a single herd, quietly browsing at the edge of the clearance, was not an uncom- mon occurrence, and occasionally the bear and the wolf were bagged. Many persons tock part in the sport, and a few, like old John Garrison—who might justly be called the Leather-Stockings of the settlement—did little else all the year round.
The Grand River and the Speed, not to speak of the smaller streams, were then abundantly supplied with trout and other fishes, and amusing fishing adventures frequently happened. Mention has already been made of an expedition of Messrs. Shade, Chapman, and Ainslie, to Klora, “combining pleasure and business,” and Mr. Ainslie has related to usin his own inimitable way, how the party “ fished down the Grand River, home again.” He says:
“We constructed a raft about four miles below Elora, A large stone tied to a rope served as an anchor, and we used it at the foot of the rapids. We were most success- ful in fishing. The dry cedar logs of the raft having be- come water-logged, and the raft inconveniently low, Mr. Shade determined to replenish it with an additional supply of logs from a large collection of drift stuff at the
MERRY-MAKINGS. 63
head of a rapid we were nearing. When we arrived at it, he called to me to jump off, which I at once did with my coat over my left arm, a bottle of whiskey in my left hand, and my fishing-rod in my right. At the same instant Chapman threw the stone on the bank, but the current being very strong, pulled it ofi, «<1 before I had time to turn round, Shade in a loud v>ice vrdered me to jump on again— ‘“Time and tide for no man bide.”
I fuily realized on this occasion the truth of this adage. Suddenly wheeling to the right about face, I saw the raft rapidly receding from the shore. I made a desperate spring to regain it, but alas! merely touched it with my foot, and was then and there bodily immersed in the ra- pidly flowing fluid!
“When I regained my feet, my fellow voyagers were along way down the rapid. On arriving at still water they came to anchor, and had their risible faculties in- tensely excited by seeing me wading to my middle down the rapids to rejoin them. I still, however, held on to the coat, the rod, and the bottle of whiskey, and I found the latter most acceptable when I regained the raft. I thought I had been ill-used, and had a right to complain of » »me- body, but the more I complained, the more they laughed, and replied to my remonstrances by recommending me to take cnother pull at the bottle! We took up our quarters that night at old William Davidson’s in Woolwich, where I got my clothes dried at the kitchen fire. The next after- noon we reached home.”
Gt HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
“This brings to my recollection another acquatic occur- rence. Many years ago, New Hope (now Hespeler) was a favourite place of resort to fish for trout. One day I was one of a party to go there. My cor:panions were the three Messrs. Dickson. After fishing some time, the Hon. Robert Dickson, in crossing the streams, slipped off a plank into the pond of Oberholtzer’s saw-mill. After scrambling out to the bank, he deliberately divested him- self of his clothing, which he hung up on stumps to dry. He then improvised a sort of Zulu costume, and with the utmost sang froid, continued to pull the trout from the stream until his clothing was fit to put on again! Those were jolly days, and they seem now to have passed all too quickly.”
For a few years bears and wolves were numerous. Most of the settlers brought with them from Europe great fears of these beasts, the result, chiefly, of reading thrilling narratives of their ferocity, to be found in books of travel and newspapers. They found them, however, not the fierce creatures they expected, more especi- ally Mr. Bruin, who was a much slandered animal. With the exception of stealing a pig or sheep occasion- ally—not a very serious offence for a bear—he was gene- rally very docile, and his rapid disappearance in the forest, when he chanced to meet human beings, showed that he had as little desire to make their acquaintance as they had to make his. The howling of the wolves, and occasionally the sight, through the chinks, of a peck of them examining your log shanty in the moonlight—as if
SINGULAR BEAR HUNT IN GALT. 65 they expected to dine before leaving—was not a very sleep-producing or pleasant midnight exercise. But the history of the township, so far as the writer is aware, does not furnish a single instance of a human being hav- ing been attacked by them.*
Many of the most cherished stories of our youth, even those supposed for ages to have a sound historical basis, are being roughly dispelled under the light of the present day. The narratives of John Smith and Pochahontas, and of William Tell shooting the apple from his son’s head, have now little left of them but romance. The thrilling stories of the ferocity of Canadian bears and wolves must, we fear, also take their place among il- iusions dispelled. The truth is, unless when wounded, as every hunter knows, they not only do not attack, but flee from the presence of human beings with all the speed at their command.
Speaking of bears, Galt enjoyed a genuine bear hunt in the fall of 1834; and it arose in a rather singular way. About four o’clock in the afternoon, a full-grown black bear came down the then muddy, cross-wayed road, which is now the main street of Galt. It is alleged the animal
* The wolves were, for a few years, very destructive to sheep, if not en- closed at night. One night, during 1831, the wolves drove the sheep of Mr. Thos. Moffatt, immediately south of Galt, up the side of the creek, and killed no less than twenty of them. Many other farmers also lost sheep. v:"ulves have been known to run deer down. One afternoon a deer and a wolf ran right through the barn yard of Mr. James Cowan, Clochmonr, although persone were working in the barn at the time. The next morning the deer was found dead at the edge of the little swamp suuth of Mr. Cowan’s house, where it had evidently been worried to death by its merciless pur- suer,
\ } H a it) 1 { a i Wi ‘2 Cu 4 ;) iS
66 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
laid down in a shed—that it glared through a cottage window, and played other startling pranks; but what is certain is, that the creature leisurely passed across the corner of Main and Water Streets, where the little tavern stood, and ultimately made its way up the latter street.
Such an unusual circumstance soon created a lively ex- citement in the little village. Several dogs starting after the daring intruder, an exciting chase took place up Wa- ter Street, in which villagers, armed with rifles, shot guns and even clubs, followed after the bear and the dogs as best they could. At that time the island in the dam, as well as the banks of the river, were densely covered with large pines, and bruin, being pressed, took to the river and swam to the island.
How this adventure ended is, unfortunately, shrouded in some uncertainty, as is frequently the case with thrill- ing events. Our authorities differ radically in regard to it. One declares that after searching all the trees on the island the bear could not be found. Another feels cer- tain that bruin was discovered high up in the crotch of a huge pine, whence a bullet brought him down with a thundering crash, and that it was quite dark before the carcass was borne down in triumph to the scared little village. Athird does not remember whether the bear was captured or not. They are fortunately all agreed, however, that they each took part in the chase, and that this singular circumstance* actually occurred, which is, after all, the most material point.
* Bears were unusually plentiful during the year ofthe cholera. In the | spring of the same year (1834) one of these animals attacked a pig one Sun-
Bis ts Be ok Ae
CHRISTMAS SHOOTING MATCHES. 67
The winter was—as it continues to be in Canada —the liveliest season of the year. The snow-fall was abund- ant, the sleighing steady and good. Farmers could not cet out their crops till the Frost King had paved the roads, This rendered business in winter lively. It also brought its special amusements. On Christmas and New Year’s, and sometimes both, Galt seldom failed to have its shooting matches for turkeys and geese. The sportsmen Sometimes shot through between the stumps in rear of the little tavern on Water Street, but more frequently west of the Queen’s Arms, the birds or the target being placed at the foot of Dickson’s hill. It was not uncommon, then, to shoot at the turkeys and geese themselves. On some occasions the birds were entirely exposed to the marksman, at a long range; at other times their bodies were placed be- hind a stump or log, or in such a way that only their necks and heads were exposed above the snow, and it required a skilful marksman with the rifle to hit them. These matches excited the liveliest intcrest.* Then, winter had day morning at the north end of the village. The intelligence spread like wildfire, und Messrs. Chapman, Shade, Burnett and quite a number of other villagers, started in pursuit, many of them carrying nothing but sticks, guns being by no means so plentiful as at the present time. Bruin was ultimately overhauled in the woods back of Moscrip’s Farm, where Mr. Chapman shot him. He was borne by the party down to the village on two poles, and, according to our informant, himself among the number—it quite disturbed the services in Mr. Strang’s church, as the dead animal was borne past; but it would, a. that time, have been difficult to get their load into the village by any other way. Bruinwas soon cut up and divided among his principal captors, and his skin for some time adorned Mr. Chap- man’s house, which still stands, near the Baptist Church.
* Among the best rifle shots at these matches were, John Garrison,
Andrew Mercer, Absalom Shade, Thomas G. Chapman, James Fargus, Adam Hood, and James Kay.
ns
NIE LT ELIE NT
Se a ee NE NE NE REIS TES TE II 7
y mr Tess TT Se Rian OEE
~ Sm ——— an |
68 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
its visiting and sleighing parties, in short, whatever its drawbacks, and it doubtless had many, the settlers found it to be the liveliest season of the year.
The baneful custom of drinking was all but universal. The distillery was a profitable investment, even when whiskey was only 20 cents per gallon. On special occa- sions, such as the Galt Spring and Fall Fair days, the quantity of spirits consumed, it must be confessed, would be considered enormous nowadays. It was regarded as a want of hospitality not to offer visitors something to drink. At marriages, christenings, and, sometimes, even at funerals, the black bottle regularly made its appearance, and whilst engaged in most kinds of work, more particu- larly during harvest-time—which then lasted four or five weeks—-workmen regarded their employer as a very mean man if a “horn” (as it was suggestively called) was not forthcoming every few hours.
Whilst the Dumfries Mills were being erected, the work- men demanded, and received, a daily supply of rum, which liquor was much in use before the distillery and “ white- eye” made their appearance. Mr. Shade, who only wanted a good opportunity to refuse to conform to this custom, adroitly turned an accident which occurred, into a ground of refusal. One day one of the masons, named Devitt, partook rather too freely, and, falling from a considerable height, was taken up insensible. It was at first feared that the vital spark had fled. Devitt fortunately recov- ered, however, but his fall put an abrupt termination to the supply of rum. On the ground that some one might be
69
TEMPERANCE REFORM.
killed, Mr. Shade point blank refused tosunply any more ; this resolve the workmen sharply criticised and mur- mured against, but finding Shade inc-xorable, their feelings found vent in a couplet, which was kept up for many weeks thereafter— “In Devitt’s fall, We sinned all.” The opinion is frequently expressed by superficial ob- servers, that Temperance has made little progress, and that drinking, with all the evils of its train, continues to be as rife as ever. There could hardly be a greater mis- take. The locality, whose history we are now narrating, may be regarded as a not unfair criterion of the whole Province, and the change in the drinking usages of society in and around Galt, within the memory of the present generation, amounts almost to a revolution. The baneful effects of drunkenness are, alas! lamentable enough yet, but it is believed to be no exaggeration to say, that more liquor was consumed in Galt during a Fall or Spring Fair day thirty years ago, than is sold in all the present hotels in a week.* There is, doubtless, ample room for further improvement, but it is undoubted that habits of sobriety have greatly increased, and the social reformer has reason to thank God and take courage.
*It is only fair to the settlers of Dumfries to say, that they had very active assistance on these occasions from the settlers of Puslinch and Beverly, some of whom were noted, above all others, for their drouthiness,
CHAPTER VII.
Character of the first Settlers of Dumfries--Education and Love of Know- ledge- A Debating Society forty-five years ago—The names of its members—Subjects discussed—Would an Iron Ship Sink or Swim ?— The Society’s Annual Dinner—Making a Haggis with Dundas oat- meal—The courage and energy of the early Pioneers—A tribute to their memory.
THE first settlers of Dumfries were generally of a superior class. With few exceptions, they had received a good
education at the Parochial Schools of their native land, and many of them brought with them to Canada a thirst
for knowledge which even the necessities of bush life could not eradicate. This led to very early endeavours to combine instruction with amusement during their Jeisure hours.
It will surprise many to learn, however, that as early as 1834, when clearings were but few and far between, and when the wolf and bear were not unfrequent visitors, that a Debating society was in full blast during the winter evenings. Such was the fact, however, and long and excit- ing were the discussions which took place.
The scene of these intellectual combats was the house
of Mr. John Reid, after whom the clachan of Reidsville has . been called, and who only passed away to his rest a few months ago. The members of the society were Messrs,
A DEBATING SOCIETY. 71
John Black, John Reid, Thomas and James Dalgliesh, William Veitch, Alex. Turnbull, Thomas Ritchie, Wil- liam Hastie, Andrew Mathieson, James Cunningham, Andrew Elliott, John Currie, John Johnston, George Cunningham, Alex. Beckett, James Oliver, Thomas Cleg- horn, and occasionally a few others, A majority of these gentlemen still survive, and the mere recital of their names will awaken in the minds of those acquainted with them, many pleasing, and possibly some sad, reminis- cences of the past.
It is needless to say that this Society was an excecd- ingly vigorous one, and that the questions discussed were characteristic of the time. Among them were the follow- ing: (1) Which is most benefit to mankind, Agriculture or Commerce? (2) Whether is the profane man or the hypocrite most injury to society? (3) Which is the most destructive element, fire or water? (4) Whether does wood or iron most benefit mankind? and (5) Would a ship made of iron sink or swim? The debates upon these and similar subjects, which, in the absence of candles, some- times took place by the light of burning pine knots, were characterised by deep interest and not a little talent, and, to use the language of one of the partici- pants: “Nothing could exceed the enjoyment of these gatherings.” 3
The annual dinner of the Debaters was an occasion never to be forgotten. Jt was also held at Mr. Reid’s house, but the viands were provided by the members of the Society generally. It could not boast of the cuisine of Del-
72 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES,
1] | | monico, nor of bills of fare in French and perfume. It | | was considered, however, a veritable feast at that time. | | The Society unitedly purchased a sheep. That was the iy first step. From this was made soup, a haggis—the oat-
i| meal for which had to be brought from a drug store in Vi Dundas—and roast and boiled joints. Add to this de- | scription, a few “cakes of the period,” and you have the i dinner, gastronomically considered, in all its glory ! | It was, however, “the feast of reason and flow of | soul” which followed, that gave the occasion its princi- | pal attraction. The speeches—the songs—the hilarity— | | can be be! er imagined than described. As an illustra- i tion of the mirthful spirit which prevailed, it may be mentioned that, on one occasion, whilst ladling out huge tf platefuls of the steaining haggis, John Black, the chair- | man, vigorously recited Burns’ address to that famous q dish :— : ‘* Fair, fa your honest, sonsie face, ‘ iii Great chieftain 0’ the puddin’ race ; ed / Aboon them a’ ye tak your place, iy Painch, tripe or thairm,
Weel are ye wordy of a grace As lang’s my arm.”
i Nothing could better illustrate the character of the | i early settlers of Dumfries than efforts at intellectual im- provement under such formidable difficulties, It is not | too much to say of them, that no part of Canada has
i been settled by a class of men of greater physical and A | mental energy. “None but Lowland Scotchmen would | ever have cleared North Dumfries,” is a remark which
Tt ‘ime. , the -oat- re in 3 de- e the
yw of rinci- ‘ity— ustra- ay be huge chair- AMOUS
COURAGE AND ENERGY OF EARLY PIONEERS. 73
has frequently been made. This may be an exaggeration. But those who remember how heavily timbered, how stony and how swampy its rugged hills and valleys were forty years ago, will readily admit, that only the highest courage, and most indomitable energy and perseverance, could have made the township what it is to-day in the same space of time. Had their work to be done over again, could a magician’s wand once more make Dumfries the tangled forest it was when this history began, we venture to say their descendants would never undertake to per- form it!
The old Pioneers who came into Canada forty or fifty years ago, are our true Canadian heroes. They found the country a wilderness, and by their toil and sweat have made it blossom like the rose. They are as true heroes as those who have won a nation’s gratitude on the battle field or on the deep, and should ever be held in vrateful remembrance. They are, alas! rapidly passing away to “that bourne whence no traveller returns,” and in a few short years more, our Dominion will be as bare of them as our forests are of their beautiful foliage during the winter's snow and ice.
CHAPTER VIII.
Early Churches and Schoolsa—Rev. William Stewart arrives about the Fall of 1831—-First Presbyterian Church in Galt—Early Missionary Visits —Rev. James Strang—St. Andrew’s Church begun in 1833—The old- fashioned Camp Meetings—Divine Service in West Dumfries—-What fashionable Church-goers will be surprised to learn—‘‘O why will ye die, O House of Israel ”—-The early Schools of Galt—Mr. John Gowin- lock—Glimpses of School Life forty years ago.
THE want of suitable churches and schools was much felt for many years. At the present time, the minister and teacher follow closely upon the heels of settlement. Sixty years ago the case was different. It was fifteen years after Galt was founded before the services of a regularly-placed clergyman were obtained. The name of the first minister of Galt was the Rev. William Stewart, and he was sent out by the Church of Scotland as a mis- sionary. He was lame, and delicate in health, but, to use the language of a contemporary, he possessed “a fine mind and deep piety.” It was in the fall of 1831 or spring of 1832 when he arrived.
An incident which occurred shortly after Mr. Stewart’s arrival in Galt well illustrates his pious character, as well as the loose notions regarding the observance of the Sab- bath which had crept in among a few in the absence of religious services. Finding workmen busily engaged in
he Fall
Visits ‘he old- --What will ye Gowin-
ch felt er and pment. fifteen s of a ame of ewart, a mis- to use a fine spring
ewart’s as well e Sab- ence of ; ged in
Py
REV, WILLIAM STEWART, 75
loading the Arks at the wharf one Sunday morning, Mr. Stewart sent down a short note, courteously expressing the hope that they would desist from labour on the Lord’s day. The reply sent back was: “Tell Mr. Stewart if he’ll mind his business, we'll mind ours!” And the loading of the Arks went on.
Churches were then unknown luxuries, and Mr. Stewart, as well as the missionaries who had previously visited the locality, found difficulty in securing suitable places in which to gather the people together for divine service. The principal places used were the old Red store, in which Mr. Stewart held the first communion of his congregation ; the storelouse of the Dumfries’ Mills ; the old rough-cast school-houseatthe head of MainStreet; andthechairfactory carried on by one Alonzo Bliss. The latter building stood on the present site of Scott’s Planing mill, and it may be mentioned, en passant, to the credit of the handicraft of Bliss—and as possibly not altogether without relevancy to practical religion—that some of the chairs made by him are stil in possession of Mr. Thomas Rich, and are as struny as ever after fifty years’ wear and tear! Mr. Stewart soon succeeded in building up a strong congrega- tion, saw St. Andrew’s Church begun and finished, but at the expiry of several years’ faithful service, performed often whilst suffering under much physical weakness, he accepted a:call to Demarara, in the West Indies. He was attracted to these Islands by their genial climate, but his constitution was too much shattered for recovery, and he shortly afterwards died.
76 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIE..
Although Mr. Stewart was the first regular minister in the village, it must not be supposed that the people were entirely destitute of ministerial instruction previously. Thanks to the United Presbyterian Church of North America, missionaries were sent to the settlement as early as 1822, and divine service was conducted by these de- voted men for at least a portion of almcst every year.
The first clergyman who ever preached in Dumfries is believed to have been the Rev. Alex. De Noon, of Caledonia, New York, to whose congregation several of the first settlers near Branchton had belonged. A member of his church named William Forbes, had removed about 1818 to the head of Lake Ontario, where his family was attacked by what was then called lake fever-— a species of fever and ague—and, sad to relate, himself, wife and nephew, all died. Mr. De Noon, accompanied by one of hiselders, Mr. Donald Mackenzie, father of the late Simon Mackenzie, of Branchton, came over to Upper Canada in 1819, to look after Mr. Forbes’ property, and being within thirty miles of his former parishioners, he determined to make his way through the bush to Dumfries, and see them and their new home. He remained over one Sunday, and preached in the house of Mr. Alex. Harvie, which the handful of settlers in the neighbourhood greatly enjoyed and appreciated.
At the meeting of the Synod of the United Presby- terian Church, held at Pittsburg, in May, 1822, the Synod appointed the Rev. Thomas Beveridge, the Rev. Mr. Hanna, and the Rev. Alex. Bullions, “to itinerate in
er in were yusly. North early ge de- iT. mfries yon, of several dd & »moved ere his fever-— imself, panied r of the Upper ty, and ers, he mfries, ed over ry. Alex. ourhood
Presby- e Synod ev. Mr. erate in
EARLY MISSIONARY VISITS.
Canada three months or thereabout, the expenses incur- red by said Mission to be defrayed by the Synod.” ‘This Mission was a somewhat memorable one. Thirty-seven years afterwards (in 1859) Mr. Beveridge gave an inte:- esting account in the Lvangelicul Repository, of the journeyings of Dr. Hanna and himself through the wilds of Upper Canada, all of which was done on horseback, ex- cept in such places as they had to dismount in order to get themselves and their horses through. After describ- ing their travels on horseback from Philadelphia, their visit to Stamford, near Niagara Falls, and the difficulty of finding settlements in Upper Canada with sufficient peo- ple to preach to, Mr. Beveridge describes at some length his experience in Dumfries, and the narrative throws such a flood of light on the condition of the settlement in 1822, that the following extract therefrom will be appreciated :
“ So it was at last arranged that Mr. Hanna would re- main at Stamford, where he occupied the pulpit on the ensuing Sabbath, while I would endeavour to hunt up the people at Dumfries. This wasa settlement consisting chiefly of Scotch Highlanders, and about eighty miles from Stamford. My route lay through Ancaster and Dundas. So far I had no difficulty in finding my way. After this T had to depend on what information I could get along the road, both about the road and the people. As I drew near to the settlement, I found that there was among them an aged Scotch gentleman by the name of Harvie, who had removed from Caledonia, New York, and was regarded as rather the leading man in the settle-
78 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
ment. I accordingly obtained directions to his house. On my arrival I knocked at the door, and heard some one in a somewhat gruff voice invite me to come in. As I entered, the old gentleman was engaged either in mak- ing or mending shoes with his back towards the door. He never looked round to see who was there, but continued busy at his work. After I had stood in silence for a few moments, he called out to me without getting up, ‘What’s your wull, sir?’ As he appeared somewhat blunt in his manner, I replied in somewhat of the same style, by asking, ‘Do you want any preaching here?’ He immediately dropped both shoes and tools, and springing to his feet, exclaimed in accents which I shall never forget— Oh, yes!’
“He and his neighbours had commenced a settlement in the forest about five years before, and had never had a sermon preached among them all that time. The nearest approach to it had been by a Unitarian, or Christian, who had once preached in their neighbourhood; but that was a kind of preaching on which they felt no disposition to attend. Here, then, was an opportunity never before enjoyed by me, to build where no other had laid a foundation since the beginning of time. Another singularity in my situation was, to be upon the very verge of the inhabited world. One of the families in which I spent a night, told me that they knew of no in- habitant between them and the North Pole.
“Mr. Harvie had been an elder in the Asscviate Reformed Church of Caledonia. Some of the High-
Ouse, some
As mak - door. _ but od in o me As he ed in want | both
ned in
ement had a earest n, who at was tion to before laid a nother e very ilies in no in-
gociate
High-
ae
Bean aE
ad
ees eieoe
EARLY MISSIONARY VISITS. 79
landers, if I ree iisct rightly, were members of the church of which Mr. De Noon, of Caledonia County, was pastor. But neither he nor they were disposed to be very fastidious about my ecclesiastical connexion. It is un- doubtedly wrong to disregard any principle or usage which pertains to true religion; but long destitution of the Gospel by those who love it, tends to lessen very much the alienation which too often exists between Mr. Harvie did not wait to ask me if I were a minister of the Associate Reformed Church, nor did the Highlanders first enquire whether I belonged to the same ehurch with Mr. De Noon or the Establishment of Scotland, to which they had formerly belonged, but they were all ready to take me into their arms as a minister of Jesus Christ.
“My time here was chiefly spent at the house of Mr. Harvie. An incident occurred the first night of my sojourn with him, which, though not of importance, afforded me some amusement. His cabin consisted of two apartments: the larger one for general purposes, the smaller one affording barely room for a bed on the one side, and a loom on the other, with a very narrow passage between them. This was my sleeping apartment. It was hardly to be expected that in such a new country feather beds would be very plenty. I think it not im- probable that I slept on the only one in the settlement. It was not, however, as copiously filled as a straw bed beneath it. This latter was so completely stuffed that it had fairly assumed a round figure, and the feathers very
cifterent evangelical denominations.
SO HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
naturally divided themselves in the centre, and lay over the straw like a pair of saddlebags upon a horse. When I went to bed I poised myself as well as I could upon the centre, but with a good deal of doubt about my ability to retain my position, My fears were not groundless, for no sooner had I closed my eyes in sleep, than down J rolled upon the floor. There I Jay for a little, reflecting upon my whereabouts. After going over the history of my life for some time past, and pursuing it up to the time when I had gone to bed, I came to the conclusion that I must have landed somewhere between the bed and Mrs, Harvie’s loom. So I picked myself up, fixed the bed in a flatter form, and slept very comfortably for the rest of the night. This little affair afforded some amusement to the family and me in the morning,
“The people in the settlement consisted of about twelve families. With the ception of Mr. Harvie and an aged Highlander, they were young, married persons, having generally families of two or three small children. Several things respecting them were very encouraging. Although without any access to public ordinances, they had formed themselves into a society for prayer and conference, which met regularly on the Sabbath, aud was well attended. Whether they had any meetings on the com- mon days of the week, I am not now able to say. Wor- ship was also observed in their families; and their general character, so far as I could learn, was unex- ceptionable.
“They were exceedingiv grateful to the Associate
over When in the
ity to 38, for ywn | scting ory of e time that I i Mrs, dina rest. of ent to
welve aged aving everal ough rmed rence,
well com- Wor- their unex-
ociate
i
Dil 5
if
. i, me
f, + a it & i ae et a ¥ EY is eo z
BARLY MISSIONARY VISITS. 81
Synod for haying sent them a missionary; and though none of them had belonged to this branch of the Church, they were anxious to be connected with it. This, with them, was ono of the most powerful arguments, that this thurch alone had sought them out, and taken compassion on thelr destitute vunditio, As it was doubtful whether the synod will proaeetite # mission for which there seenied so little encouragement, I dissuaded them from forming a connexion with us. But the more I urged them against it the more intent they became. Accord- ingly, after preaclitiy lu them on the Sabbath, I appointed a day on which I would meet with them for conference and for sermon, At this meeting | explained to them, as fully aa T could, the principles of the Associate Church, the testimony of which they had nob seen. The aged Highlander above mentioned, after listenity lo tie a while, would address himself to the youtiyer members of the society in thelr tative Gell, giving his views of what had been said. The result was that they gave their assent to the standards of the Associate Church, so far as they were acquainted with them, and were received into communion. After sermon, somewhere about twenty children were bap- tized, most of the families having two or three to pre- sent for that ordinance. This was the beginning of the large and flourishing congregation of Galt, as it is now called, for many years under the ministry of the late Rev. James Strang and now of the Rev. Robert Acheson. Dr. Hanna having,arrived from Stamford, we set out together from Dumfries for Esquesing, where we had heard there
82 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
was another settlement of Scotch people who might be desirous of preaching.
Two years after the visit of Mr. Beveridge, his colleague, the Rev. Alex. Bullions, visited the settlement, having previously been prevented from doing his share of the mission work in Upper Canada. Before starting out, he said to Mr. Beveridge, “ You have planted the seed and I want to see how it grows!” This gentleman, afterwards well known throughout the United States as Dr. Bullions, preached for some time with great acceptance, although the services had frequently to be held in barns—and these not the warm, handsome, frame structures of the present day, but the genuine, old-fashioned article, between whose logs the day-light streamed on all sides. Two missionaries named Goodwillie—who were brothers—also one named Campbell,* were subsequently sent to Dumfries by the
—_ enenain See. see a
* Two incidents are well recollected in connection with Mr. Campbell's missionary labours in Galt, which are so redolent of those early days, that they deserve to be recorded. Among the first settlers on the west side of the river were a good many Americans, or Yankees, as they were then in- variably called. One Sabbath, when Mr. Campbell was conducting Com- munion service in the Dumfries’ Mills, a tall Yankee from the west side en- tered the mill, walked through the congregation to where a number of bags of flour were standing, searched out one with his own mark on it, hoisted it on his shoulder and walked through the congregation out ayain without say- ing a word! On asking our informant if the congregation were uot indignant at the intrusion, he replied, ‘‘ Well, no— probably his family had nothing to eat until he took the flour home!”
On another occasion, Mr. Campbell, who was a man quick to speak and just as quick to act, was very much annoyed by a farmer’s dog which had entered the mill and would persist in barking. Finding tio one moved to put it out, Mr. Campbell seized the dog by the nape of the neck and the back, threw him about ten feet out of the door, and after shutting it, quietly went on with his sermon. This circumstance recalls the story of the Seottish
ht be
acue, aving of the ut, he and I wards lions, hough 1 these resent whose
mpbell’s ys, that side of
REV. JAMES STRANG. 83
United Presbyterian Church, who preached in Galt in the Dumfries’ Mills and other places already mentioned.
The result of the labours of these missionaries was the erection of the first church* in Galt, the credit of which belongs to the United Presbyterian body, although others of the villagers contributed something to the expense incurred in its construction. The building was begun in 1830, on the site of the existing church belonging to that body.
The first regular pastor was the Rev. James Strang, who came to Galt within a year after the Rev. Mr. Stewart began his labours. Mr. Strang was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, in 1793, and emigrated to the United States in the month of May, 1832. He was shortly afterwards sent over as supply to Galt by the Presbytery of Albany, and was called and ordained Minister of the church in July, 1833. The first regular precentor of the church was Mr. Duncan Shepherd, who officiated in that capacity for ten years—gratuitously. The practice of sacred song must surely be productive of longevity, for Mr. Archibald
minister, whose stentorian voice aroused a dog in the gallery, which, placing its feet on the book-board, barked every time the minister gave his loudest and thrillest shouta. The minister paused and ordered the beadle to remove the dog. The beadle, however, had no little fear of dogs, and was loathe to interfere. The minister had scarcely again reached his loudest notes when the dog briskly answered from the gallery, and a second time the minister peremptorily ordered the beadle to put out the troublesome animal, ‘The beadle, rising in no amiable mood, replied ; ‘‘ I’) dae it, sir, but | maun say ye be-good it first yersel ! ”
* The contractors for the erection of this church were Messrs. Thomas G. Chapman and Thomas Rich.
B4 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
Hunter* and Mr. Stephen Moffatt, who officiated to oblige the congregation before Mr. Shepherd’s selection, continue to enjoy, in company with the latter gentleman, a green old age.
Mr. Strang was a man rather under the medium height, dark-complexioned, with a well-formed head and face. He was quiet in speech and manner, but possessed great earnestness of purpose, and strong opinions on political as well as religious subjects. He soon became a warm sympathizer with the movements going on throughout the Province in favour of Responsible Government and Religious equality, and though too zealous as a minister of Christ to allow anything to interfere with his usefulness, the impress of his opinions on affairs of State was marked among his congregation, and may be traced even to the present day.
After nearly a quarter of a century's faithful service, Mr. Strang died in Galt on the 22nd Ovtober, 1857, highly respected and much regretted by the whole community +
* Since this paragraph waa written, Mr. Hunter has been called away, He died suddenly on the 7th January, 1880, in his 85th year,
+ The writer said of Mr, Strang (see Dumfries Reformer, Oct, 28th, 1857) at the time of his death :—'' Zealous, earnest and a living example of the truths of Christianity, Mr. Strang’s ministrations were productive of much good. He never shone as an orator, and made no prevensions to the osten- tatious display of modern pulpit eloquence. His sermons were delivered more in the style of a loving father instructing a happy family cirele, but were carefully written expositions of the Word of God. Few excelled Mr. Strang in expounding the Seriptures, which he seems to have made a parti- cular subject of study, and which he spoke with earnest simplicity and truth. The meekness with which he submitted to the Divine Will in all his bereavements, and the confidence and happiness he experienced while
oblige ntinue 1 green
height, d face. 1 great olitical . warm ughout nt and ister of fulness,
narked
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH. 85
He was married three times, and left behind him several sons and daughters, one of whom—now Colonel John Strang—served with distinction as an officer during the Civil War in the United States, and now holds a respon- sible official legal position in Genesee County, New York State.* |
St. Andrew’s Church, which was deemed an architec- tural model in early times, was begun in 1833.¢ It made very slow progress, however. It stood with only the frame up during the whole of the succeeding winter, and the prosecution of the work was again arrested by the fearful visitation of cholera during the succeeding summer. Not until 1835 was it seated and
passing through ‘the dark valley of the shadow of death,’ afford strong hopes that while earth and all its vanities were passing from view, he could justly appropriate to himself the words of Pope :—
‘* The World recedes ; it disappears, Heaven opens on my eyes ; My ears with sounds seraphic ring ; Lend, lend your wings; I mount! I fly! O Grave! where is thy victory ? O Death! where is thy sting.”
* Mr. Strang’s successor as Minister of the United Presbyterian Church in Galt, was the Rev. Robert Acheson, of Galena, Illinois. He was inducted on She 17th June, 1858, and continued pastor of the Churcb until the year 1873—@ period of 15 years. On his leaving his charge in Galt, Mr. Acheson was presented with a purse containing $500 and a most flattering address. His family also received presents. He is now pastor of the United Presby- terian Church at Stamford, near Niagara Falls.
+ Messrs. Angus Stewart and Abraham Walker were the contractors for St. Andrew’s Church. ‘he former was killed, one summer evening in 1848, by falling from a limb of a tree on the hill south of Craigie Lea. Walker afterwards returned to New York State, where he formerly resided, and survived until the year 1877,
SRE EAT Se RTE YATE EET RM a AO eA NE AR ROT ee NP nO
86 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
finally completed. The first bell* which ever awoke the echoes of the surrounding hills, was placed upon the tower the following year, and Sunday after Sunday, for nearly half a century since, it has seldom failed to send forth its joyous announcement that the worship of God was about to begin :—
**Oh ring, glad bells, ring glad and sweet, The song the ages shall repeat ; Which angels sing on Sabbath still, Of ‘ Peace on earth, to men good will,’”
The attendance upon religious ordinances, after proper places of worship were obtained, was large and regular. The locality has always been conspicuous for this, par- ticularly on the Sabbath, which was in earlier times, with very few exceptions, observed with a Scottish strictness quite in contrast with modern ideas.
Occasionally, during the summer, when the woods had donned their mantle of green, the monotony was broken by acamp meeting. These gatherings were conducted in very primitive style. Sometimes no preparations were made except drawing in a waggon to an open part of the bush, standing in which the minister or lay brother preached, the people standing or sitting around on the ground as best they could; on more important occasions, an enclosure was made with evergreen boughs around the sides, a small platform erected for the speak- ers, and a few temporary seats furnished. These meet-
*St. Andrew’s Church bell was placed in position by Messrs. John Man- son and Duncan Shepherd, in 1836,
7oke the pon the \day, for | to send
of God
r proper regular, his, par- r times, Scottish
ods had
OLD-FASHIONED CAMP MEETINGS, 87
ings generally originated with some zealous Methodist preacher from a neighbouring station, for the settlement was too intensely Calvinist in those days to make a settled Arminian charge a hopeful enterprise.
The camp meetings were generally held in the woods, a little east of Knox Church manse, That part of the town was then covered with heavy pines, and except a large mound-shaped stone structure, erected by one fami- liarly known as “ Wattie” Jackson—who hoped to make a fortune by burning charcoal—it contained neither buildings nor clearance. There was little underbrush, and, taken altogether, these woods were attractive as a ground for camp meetings. They brought together many people of all classes from the surrounding districts, some attracted by the impressiveness of divine worship amidst the grand, old, winding avenues of towering, sombre pines, others by the novelty of the scene or desire for amusement.
In parts of the township too remote for the people to come conveniently to Galt, religious services on Sunday were generally observed.
The settlement between Cedar Creek and what is now the Village of Ayr, as we saw in the last chapter, was an unusually intelligent and active one. They frequently held service in Mr. William Currie’s log barr, and during the winter of 1834, the first congregation formed in the locality was begun in this very place by the late Rev. George Murray,* and sixteen members. This was the
* The Rev. George Murray afterwards became minister of one of the Presbyterian churches in Blenheim. Long after being superannuated, he
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88 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
beginning of what is now Stanley Street Church in Ayr. The fashionable churchgoers of to-day will pro- bably be surprised to learn, that these services were held not only in barns, but without fires, and this, too, as we have seen, during the rigours of winter !
The succeeding year (1835), the zeal of this small but devoted congregation was manifested by the erection of a log church, the site of which was adjoining the grave- yard which still remains to be seen on the Ayr road. This locality had then very few clearings. An eye wit- ness of the scene describes the raising of this building as having been “a great time.” As the church was re- garded as a public benefit, the raising “Bee” was an unusually large one, and it may justly be remarked that, though Solomon’s temple was doubtless grander, it was not erected by more zealous hearts or willing hands.
An incident occurred before the raising was completed, which was characteristic and worthy of being narrated. The shades of evening were beginning to gather before the last plate or log was hoisted into its place, and the workmen were becoming tired after so much heavy lift- ing. Twice they tried to lift this plate to its place and failed. Greatly discouraged, some hesitated about a third attempt, when the only Irishman present, in rough and ready style, sang out, “Oh, why will ye die, O! House of Israel?” After a hearty laugh at this truly Hibernian
occasionally preached in Union Church, Galt, and elsewhere. His dis- courses were marked by much ability, and were listened to with great acceptance until his latest years.
urch in vill pro- es were this, too,
nall but ction of e grave- yr road. eye wit- building Was re- was an ked that, r, ib was nds. pmpleted, narrated. er before and the pavy lift- blace and t a third ough and House of
». His dis- > with great
EARLY SCHOOLS OF GALT. 89
sally, the third attempt was made, and the last plate shoved clean on top of the building. This achievement, after so many failures, was hailed with three rousing cheers, which resounded through the darkening forest until lost in plaintive echoes.
The establishment of schools throughout the settle- ment proceeded slowly at first. After much time and trouble spent over the matter, it is impossible to say with absolute certainty who was the first teacher in Galt, or in what building the first teaching took place.
The first school erected by the villagers was the result of a “ Bee,” and was a diminutive log building, situated where the Merchants’ Bank now is. A Miss Dobbyn, of Garafraxa, is said to have been the first teacher in it. Some time after this, the late Mr. James Dixon, si., com- menced a school in a little log building at the west end of the bridge. Mr. Dixon had been a teacher in Scotland, at a place called “The Crag,” up the’ Yarrow river. Those acquainted with Selkirkshire will remember i. as
being just across the stream from the Ettrick Shepherd’s residence. Not finding bush farming altogether to his liking, Mr. Dixon naturally took to the ferule.
The old rough-cast school-house at the head of Main Street was erected in 1832. Its first teacher was Mr, James Milroy, who removed to Iowa in 1856, and the se-
: - cond, Mr. William McColl, who taught until Rebellion _ times. With this school, however, must ever be associ- . ated the name of Mr, John Gowinlock, who was its solo | teacher for‘many years, He was an excellent specimen
F
90 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
of the old-fashioned dominie, before the days of County Boards and periodical examinations. His teaching was eminently practical. He knew what the birch was for, and he applied it. He frittered away no time on physi- ology, botany, or philosophical abstractions. He professed to teach the three R’s, and he did it, and did it well.
It is not a little singular, notwithstanding the im- mense superiority claimed for our schools of to-day, that many of Mr. Gowinlock’s scholars compare in point of education very favourably with those turned out under our much-vaunted modern system? May the secret of this not lie in the fact, that whilst the attention of scholars in those days was strictly centered uj n the essential requisites of education, their studies are now so numerous and diffuse, as to prevent that mastery of each subject, without which instruction is of little practical use, and readily passes from the memory ?
Many of the present farmers* of Dumfries residing’ near Galt, were educated at this school. They attended chiefly in the winter, their assistance during the summer months being required on the farm. During December, January,
* Among those remembered as attending Mr. Gowinlock’s school, are Messrs. David, John and James Potter, Andrew Taylor, George and Walter Ford, James and Alexander Wilson, Gideon and John Scott, William and Thomas Wallace, Thomas and James Lake, the Barries, Walter and William Scott (Sandy Knowe), Richard Common, George Cowan, Samuel Huber, Adam and James Warnock, Alexander and James Young, James and George Hogg, the McPhersons, George Graham, the Grohs, now residing near Wa- terlvo Village, Peter and Ralph Marshall, William and Gavin Goodall, John Henry Watts, George Graham, James and John Lee, the McElroys, Peter Sproat, John George Reid, the Meikles, the Richs,; Thomas Cowan, James McFeiggan, John Allan, James Ker, Robert and John Longan, John
County ng was was for, n physi- rofessed ell. the im- lay, that point of ut under et of this F scholars essential numerous subject, use, and
ding’ near ed chiefly pr months January,
s school, are band Walter Villiam and and William uel Huber, sand George ng near Wa- oodall, John oys, Peter owan, James ongan, John
. room.
SCHOOL LIFE FORTY YEARS AGO. 91
February and March, the school was filled to overflowing. Mr. Gowinlock was then in his glory, and everything manifested fresh life and vigour.
It must not be supposed, however, that this school did not suffer from some drawbacks, as compared with those of the present day. A few of these may be mentioned. There were no caretakers then to heat and sweep the The boy who first got to school wes expected to put on the fire! The first girl to arrive had to water the floor and sweep out! These attractions—the reader may be surprised to learn—hardly contributed to promote early attendance. Mr. Gowinlock lived on his farm between Galt and Blair, and when there was a snow
SS
Turnbull, Hugh Cant, Walter S. and William Burnett, the Johnsons, Dun- can Shepherd, William and Robert Veitch, Charles McCarty, and David Morrison, who lived with the Potter family.
‘* Some are in the church-yard laid,
Some sleep beneath the sea ;
But few are left of our old class, Excepting you and me.
And when our time shall come, Tom, And we are called to go ;
I hope we'll meet with those we loved, Just twenty years ago.”
This notice of Mr. Gowinlock’s scholars,"would be defective did we fail to mention the name of the once noted vaurien—Nick Walton! For truant- playing, fighting and mischief-making of every description, it is doubtful if any boy ever excelled Nick, and constant whipping only seemed to whet his seemingly irresistable tendency to play mischievous tricks on his teachers and companions. His pranks would take up a whole chapter to narrate. He was a regular Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn rolled into one, but with a stronger spice of wickedness. It was once reported that Nick had turned a preacher, and it is possible that his‘ending is, or was, better than his beginning. Who knows!
92 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
storm over night—which was more frequent then tha now—his walk of two miles through the snow was apt to put him late, and sometimes a little out of humour. On rare occasions, too, during the hot summer afternoons, he was known to take a little nap—but then, the occasions were rare, and the nap a little one !
Many other glimpses of early school life in Galt might be added, but they would extend our narrative too much, The foregoing reminiscences bring out a few of the draw- backs of the first Public Schvol, and serve as a back- ground to throw into bolder relief Mr. Gowinlock’s un- doubted success in imparting a sound, practical education to numerous scholars under somewhat difficult circum- stances.
1 than apt to r. On ons, he casions
, might ) much, . draw- 1 back- k’s un- ucation “ircum-
CHAPTER IX.
Galt in the Spring of 1834—Its principal Citizens—New arrivals—Dr,. Miller—Improving prospects of the Settlement—A travelling Menagerie visits the Village--A fearful calamity comes swiftly and fatally down— Terrible ravages of the Cholera—Graphic description by Mr. Alex. Burnett, written at the time— Painful incidents of the fearful ordeal— The Village left a pitiful scene of mourning and woe.
THE spring of 1834 found Galt an active village of about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, with a gradually de- veloping country around it, and improving prospects. Besides Messrs. Dickson and Shade, the following cre remembered among the citizens of that day :—-
Messrs. William Stewart, minister; James Strang, min- ister ; Thomas Rich, builder; Thos. G. Chapman, builder; Andrew Malcom, cabinet-maker; Joseph Purvis, black- smith; John Legge, shoemaker; Alonzo Bliss, chair- maker; Paul G. Huffman, chair maker; James Welch, farmer; Samuel Hogg, clerk ; John Hall (afterwards of Ayr); Thomas Turley, (with Shade); William Shepherd, carpenter; Henry McCrum, clerk ; William Kay, waggon maker; John Cheeseman, carpenter; H. G. Barlow, inn- keeper; Jarvis Barraclough, miller; Robert Cranston, farmer; James K. Andrews, merchant; James Fargus, merchant; James Smith, saddler; Archibald Hunter, blacksmith ; John Veitch, plasterer; James Harris, brewer;
94 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
Augustus Harris, brewer; David Shiel, farmer; John Warnock, miller; James C. Longan, tailor; Andrew Goodell, teamster; John Garrison, fiddler ; Robert Turn- bull, tailor; Joseph Simmonds, wool carder; Matthew Palmer, workman; William Wyllic Wilkinson, pail maker ; John Davison, butcher * and Andrew Scott, machinist.
Besides these gentlement there had been recently added to the population three others, who afterwards became closely associated with its history : these were, Dr. Robert Miller, Walter H. Benn, and Alex. Burnett.
Dr. Miller was born in the parish of Stewarton, in Ayr- shire, Scotland. He was educate”. at Andrew’s College and the University of Glasgow, where he took the degree
* Davison was the only butcher in the place in 1834, and he and his sister
both old) lived in the log village, as that portion of the suburbs was called. His old log house is still standing. His system of business was to receive applications for meat, but uot until the demand was equal to the carcass, would he take the hazard of buying and killing an animal. The time of killing was genera)!y made known some time previously, so that those who made application for meat could attend and take it away. This primitive mode of doing business lasted for years.
+ All these persons were residents of Galt during the cholera or imme- diately before it. Three or four of them may have taken up lands shortly before that event. For instance, John Hall and David Shiel were em- ployed by Mr. Shade in the Distillery for a considerable time, but the latter, at least, had removed to his farm in West Dumfries, before the cholera broke out. Several old residents came to Galt in the fall of 1834. Their names have been placed in a subsequent list. Whilst absolute exactness cannot be expected when the memories of informants so frequently differ, it is believed, nevertheless, that few or none are incorrectly placed, although some may have been forgotten.
There are very few survivors at the present day amongst those mentioned in the above list. The following persons, still living in Galt, were in the village during the cholera, now over forty-five years ago: Mrs. James An- derson, Mr. and Mrs, Andrew Malcom, Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Burnett, Thos, Rich, John Veitch, and Andrew Scott,
- John \ndrew , Turn- atthew maker ; inist.
y added became Robert
in Ayr- College ‘degree
his sister as called. to receive ®@ Carcass, he time of hose who primitive
or imme- ds shortly were em- he latter, e cholera
. Their exactness y differ, it although
mentioned ire in. the ames An-
DR, MILLER. 95
of Master in Surgery in 1832. He arrived in Quebec on the 10th June of the same year, and came gradually west- ward, looking for a suitable place to commence practice, At Toronto, he was detained nearly four weeks by an attack of fever, and hearing in the meantime that a phy- sician was needed in Dumfries, he determined to have a look at the place. He came up by way of Ancaster, Brantford, and Paris. A letter, received from the Doctor, says :—
“ Between the prairie and Galt, I think there were only two houses in sight of the road. I arrived at Galt about the 18th August, 1532. The appearance of the village was very discouraging. So far as I remember, there were only about twenty-six buildings in all, including the flour-mill, saw-mill, distillery, two stores, hotel, school- house, and two blacksmith shops. With regard to the number of houses, I am writing from recollection, and may not, therefore, be altogether correct. But I think I am pretty near the mark.”
The Doctor came, saw, and remained. In settling in Galt, he found he had a wide field all to himself. Dr. Stimson had practised in the village for a short time, but had gone to London, whence he afterwards removed to St. George. Except Dr. Cattermole, who settled in Guelph about the same time that Dr. Miller came to Galt, there was no medical man nearer than Dundas, Brantford, or Woodstock.
Through his skill and success, Dr. Miller became widely known as a physician, and for many years his two shaggy
96 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
French ponies—one white and the other black—were among the most noted “ institutions” of the village. The white one, which was universally known as Sawbones, had an unusally rough and shaggy coat, but had the merit of being able to “rack” with astonishing speed. In 1850, Dr. Miller took the degree of M. D. at the University of New York, and in 1860 became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians, London. After making a compe- tency, he retired and took up his residence permanently in London, England, but, until quite recently, retained property in Galt, and every few years has returned for a brief space to the scene of his eariy practice and success.
The easy-going, genial, oratorical Benn—with his “warmest side of the fire,” and the “biggest potato in the pot”--who does not remember him? He was a native of the County of Kerry, Ireland, and came to Galt in 1832, as foreman in Mr. James Smith’s (a brother of Sidney and Henry Smith) harness and shoe shop. Hav- ing walked from Dundas up through Beverly swamp, he put up at a little inn in the neighbourhood of what is now the village of Sheffield. Bright and early the next morning he set out for Galt. Reaching it shortly after sunrise, few of the villagers were astir, and Benn crossed the bridge and was making for Dickson’s hill, think- ing the bulk of the village must be on the opposite side of tke steep, and could not be seen.
Here he encountered Mr. Archibald Hunter, the village blacksmith, whose smithy stood at the east end of the bridge, a little north of Lutz’s drug store. Hunter
PROSPECTS OF THE SETTLEMENT. | 97
had sallied out without his cap, to take a breath of the morning air.
“The top of the morning to you,” said Benn, in that off-hand way for which he was remarkable, and without waiting for an answer to his salutation, followed it up with the question, “ How far is it to Galt?”
Hunter eyed the new comer for a moment, and seeing he was in earnest, replied, “ Hoot, toot, man, there's Galt ahint you.” Benn’s surprise at this unexpected answer may be better imagined than described.
Mr. Burnett, who was destined to take an active and leading part in the growing political movements of the period, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He emigrated in 1832, spent about eighteen months in New York State, and then, crossing over to Niagara, determined to make his way to Guelph, which was beginning to attract much attention. On his way thither, he remained over night in Galt, and being offered employment in Smith’s shoe shop, already referred to, he determined to accept of it. He has ever since resided in Galt or its neighbourhood.
It was not until 1830 that the chief influx of settlers into Dumfries took place. During that and three or four succeeding years, the township filled up rapidly. These circumstances had their effect upon the village, whose prospects had never previously looked so promising as in the spring of 1834. As the summer came in, the buoyant feeling continued. Promising crops, new settlers, new buildings—these, and other circumstances, seemed to in- dicate a brighter era for Galt, when suddenly, like a bolt
98 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES,
out of a clear sky, the most terrible calamity which ever befell the locality came swiftly and fatally down upon its ill-fated inhabitants.
Amusements in the nature of travelling companies were then almost unknown in the new settlements of Upper Canada, and the announcement that a menagerie of wild beasts would exhibit in Galt on the 28th July, caused universal interest far and near. For nearly twenty miles around, the coming exhibition was talked about, until it became the topic of absorbing interest.
When the day arrived, there was—consiJering the cir- cumstances—a large attendance, peope coming from Waterloo, Beverly, Woolwich, Blenheim, and other places more distant than could have been attracted by any- thing less exciting than a menagerie was in those early times. The day proved intensely warm, in fact a regular “scorcher,” and from all accounts, the collection of wild animals was meagre, and the dens and their occupants extremely filthy. The odor was so marked as to detract seriously from the comfort of the audience, and the en- tertainment was hardly over, when rumours began to prevail, that the company had brought the much-dreaded disease of cholera with them to the village.
The report first arose from the illness of one of the showmen. He had been brought to the village a day or two before the menagerie arrived, and fears that his com- plaint was cholera induced some of the villagers to go to Mr. Shade, who was the only magistrate at the time, and ask him to consider whether the exhibition should not be
1 ever pon its
ag Were Upper of wild caused y miles until it
the cir- g from r places yy any- se early regular of wild upants detract the en- pgan to Hreaded
of the day or is com- o go to ne, and not be
a ne a ee en ee mn mee tee
M& ALEXANDER BURNETT.
| |
PO Ae ee EIS CREE ON
A FEARFUL CALAMITY. 99
prevented. Mr.Shade, however, doubted whether he had the power to do so, and seemed, besides, rather disinclined to interfere with an exhibition which appeared to add importance to the village, and would certainly cause the circulation of a good deal of money. After examining the showman, Dr. Miller pronounced his complaint to be real Asiatic cholera, Shortly afterwards, the Doctor said to Mr. William Buchanan, of Branchton, who had been in at the show from the country: “Gohome! You'll hear of this. That man’s dying of Asiatic cholera!”
His fears, unfortunately, proved too true. Thatfrightful | plague, in its worst form, had been introduced by the menagerie, and already the seeds of death were develop- ing in many of those who had attended the fatal enter- tainment.
The exhibition took place on Monday, and by Wednes- day night and Thursday, the cholera was raging with almost unparalleled malignity and fataiity. The harrow- ing scenes which occurred gan never be erased from the ruemories of those who passed through them. The agony of the stricken, the swiftness of death, the rude board coffins and the hasty burials—in some cases. within a few minutes after the last breath was drawn—turned the re- cently hopeful village into a very charnel-house, from which many fled in despair, whilst all but a few were paralysed with fear.
Chiefly before Friday night, but certainly within a week, nearly one-fifth of all the villagers had fallen vic- tums to the plague, whilst not a few from the coxntry,
100 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
who were present at the exhibition, had also succumbed to the ruthless destroyer. Dr. Miller, who had seen one hundred persons per day die of cholera in Montreal, de- clared that “he had never seen a place of the same popula- tion as Galt suffer so much, nor the disease appear so vir- ulent.” Such wide-spread mortality, in so small a com- munity, and in so brief a space of time, recalled the ravages of the plague in London, and is almost unprec*- dented on this continent.
The whole circumstances connected with this dire event in the history of Galt were graphically described by Mr. Alex. Burnett, in a letter written at the time to a gentle- man named Mitchell, in Hamilton, whose acquaintance he had made six months before, when on his way to take up his residence in the village. The following is Mr. Bur- nett’s letter, which is doubly interesting in consequence of its being the production of an eye-witness, and written at the time:
‘* Were I able to give you any idea of the state of things in Galt during the cholera, I would, but do not find myself equal to the task. Yet having once begun, I shall make a feeble effort ; what is wanting you can fill up for yourself.
‘On Monday, the 28th July, all was life, and each was on the tiptoe of expectation. Thore was to be, and was, exhibited such a collection of wild animals as never was in these parts before. To- wards noon, the steady and honest Dutchmen of Waterloo, began to canter into the village, with their well-fed horses, and thrifty wives, attended by plainly-dressed, chubby-cheeked children. Dum- tries, from its utmost verge, poured in its tribute of sturdy Scotch, studded here and there with a whiskey-loving wight, who was glad to
101
A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION.
ped. make the show his pretended errand, although he in truth only ne wanted soimething to wet his wizzen. Beverly, Blenheim, and te, more distant townships, sent in their sight-seeing sons and daughters. “ In the afternoon al! was bustle and confusion, nothing doing, no- la thing saying, but—‘ Have you been in at the beasts !’ ‘ What a beast ir- the Lion is !’ and ‘ how large that there Bear !’ and ‘ what creatures ; m- the monkeys are!’ So passed the afternoon, with now and then f the an enquiry about the showman who had come to Galt sick with i er. the cholera ; but this was hushed down lest it might injure the { Show, or hurt the stir of the tavern. Things went along until the ; gathering dispersed, the sun setting on many a son of intemperance, F ont rolling homewards under the influence of the ‘wee drap o’ barley : Mir. bree.’ Those more xegardless of their home, and equally regard- ‘ le- less of themselves, hung about the tavern and the village, while by he their joint efforts the loud voice of mirth had given way to the up q rude and boisterous roar of riot. Such was the state of things s, when I bade one and all of them ‘good-night,’ went to bed and slept soundly. state ‘* Tuesday was just like other days, with various conjectures as en to the value of the establishment of beasts, what cash they might have got, and so on. ‘* Wednesday came, and with it a certain dubious expression might alt be seen on the countenances of some of the villagers. Others, a thoughtless of the lurking foe, followed their usv.al avocations. aa Before noon there were to be seen clusters of three and four toge- ther, whispering their doubts and fears, even then afraid to speak ne the name of the horrid pest aloud. The Doctor of the village ap- & peared to be more than usually busy, by his pony standing by hours bi at his door, saddled and girth unslackened. Soon after noon the secret was vut! The cholera, with all its horror and all its malig- y nity, was upon us, Two persons had died, and several were sick,
By sundown three more had fallen, and others were victims to the scourge. Fear now began to lay her timorous hand upon us, and each thought he felt symptoms that he never felt before. Our sleep
102 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
was unsound and unrefreshing. Long and dreary was the night, while with doubt and anxiety the morning came.
“ That (Thursday) morning the sun rose upon nine of our neigh- bours and acquaintances who had settled all their worldly affairs and paid the debt of nature. These were unburied, and yet lay as death had met them. Now was the hour of trial. The arm of in- dustry became powerless, and the hum of business ceased to meet the ear. Nought was heard but the sound and stroke of the coffin- maker’s hammer, as he nailed the rude and unsmoothed boards to- gether, that the dead might be gathered to their fathers who had gone before them. Even the noise of the waggons to and from the burying-ground, struck you as having something ominous in the sound they made. Now and then your attention was arrested by the echo of the distant trampling of a coming horse, whose lathered sides and expanded nostrils showed his headlong haste, while the anxious features and sunken visage of the rider, tuld he was no mes- senger of fun, or heedless follower of a thoughtless frolic. He came for the assistance of the Doctor, but alas! how vain! The demon of Death, now triumphing in his strength, and glorying in the number of his victims, laughed to scorn the healing art, and bade defiance to the powers of drug or medicine. Yet still, glad to cling to hope, the Doctor was sought and sent for.
‘*So passed Thursday, and the sun of that day had not set, wis the last of thirty-five unceremonious burials had taken place in the neighbouring burying-ground —those from our village and suburbs in the short space of thirty-six hours! Twilight came, when all who had a chance reluctantly prepared for bed—yes, reluctantly, for, believe mea, each had a secret dread and heart-felt fear that ere to-morrow’s dawn, he or she should also be numbered with the dead, The night passed sluw and restless.
‘* With the morning of Friday, those who were first stirriug were afraid an:! yet anxious to know what had been the events of the last few hours. On enquiry, glad was the heart when it was heard that few comparatively had been attacked, and fewer dead. Hope,
night,
neigh- affairs lay as of in- » meet coffin- ‘ds to- 10 had m the in the led by shered Je the > mes-
A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION. 103
the steady friend of man, again beamed in our eyes, while our hearts beat high with exultation. 1t seemed as if the monster Pestilence, had gorged itself with the number of its victims, and fatigued its
energies with the work of destruction. Those who were under its
power appeared to have greater strength to struggle for existence.
It was less quick in its action and operation. Yet, steady to its pur-
pose, and unrelenting in its grasp, some near and dear ones were
suddenly attacked, and unexpectedly carried off, which cases, as they occurred, nearly extinguishe 1 the rising flame of hope. Never- theless, it was abating.
‘Saturday, Sunday and Monday it sought its prey and found them, although fewer in number. Two or three showed symptoms of recovery, and two actually recovered. From out among the little circle of villagers, thirty-three had gone to their long homes. Among these was the smiling infant, the man of grey hairs and ex- perience, the stripling just budding into manhood, and the maiden blooming into woman’s state, just beginning to be conscious of her power and influence over the rougher part of creation ; the man of steady habits and sedate behaviour, with the intemperate and the profligate, fell easy victims to the dreadful and afflictive malady.
‘*Oh, my dear sir, this was the time to divest us of our high- flying notions of our consequence and importance. This was the time I felt the curse of being a bachelor. My fears and anxieties were centred in myself, and became a burden to me, bearing me almost to despondency and despair. I was alone and none to care for, and no one to care for me, or such as me. The husband and the father divided his cares and his fears amongst his family. He saw in his wife a sympathizing nurse in sickness, and an interested friend whispering hope in approaching death. His wife, in turn, looked to him as her protectur and friend, while the children, who were conscious of their danger, looked to each and both for succour and support. Life’s cares are said to be comforts, I believe it. Happy he who has one who is sharer of his joys and partner of his sorrows !”
104 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES
This graphic picture of the cholera in Galt, however sad and sombre, comes short of the dread reality. The mourn- ful scenes which occurred, especially during Thursday and Friday, those who have survived can scarcely yet recall without a shudder. The violence of the disease was un- precedented. In some instances death occurred within two, and even in little over one hour after the first symp- toms. An aged negro named Milo, who was hostler in the hotel, was among the first victims;* but Mr. Andrew Simpson, who then occupied it, and his niece, were soon after stricken down. There were five or six persons all lying dead in this single building at one time.
This was the worst infected place in the village, and one Marshall, a cooper, undertook, for a consideration, to clean it out. Passing down the street some time after- wards, Mr. Burnett called to Murshall that he had not burned Simpson’s clothes, which were lying on a wheel- barrow in the yard. Not much more than an hour after- wards, on returning, Mr. Burnett was salutea by Walter H. Benn, who was then standing on the bridge, spade in hand :
* As the names of the victims of the cholera possess a melancholy interest, particularly to the older inhabitants, we insert such of the names as those persons still surviving are able to remember. They are as follows: Mrs, James K, Andrews, Harriet Rich, Joseph Aussam, James Maxwell, a clerk in Fargus & Andrew’s store; Dorothy Marshall, Andrew Simpson and niece, Alonzo Bliss, Mrs. Archibald Hunter, Macgregor, Hunter’s apprentice ; the brothers Lamberton, Thomas Keachie, William Shepherd, wife and son, Daniel Forbes, one Vincent, a little daughter of H. G. Barlow, J. Willits, Milo, the coloured hostler, and Marshall the cooper. Many deaths from cholera also took place throughout Dumfries, Near Branchton, Alexander Simpeun, three of his family, and hi brother-in-law, were all buried from the same house.
raver sad
2 mourn- sday and et recall was un- 1 within st symp- er in the Andrew ere soon rsons all
and one ition, to ie after- had not wheel- r after- Walter pade in
interest, as those s: Mrs, ll, a clerk nd niece, tice ; the and son, Willits, bs from exander ed from
PAINFUL INCIDENTS, 103
“Come on, come on!” said Benn. “ Another of our fellow mortals gone! Death was written on your forehead and mine before we were born!”
Then, turning on his heel, he started for the graveyard to prepare a place for poor Marshall, who had been at- tacked and died during Mr. Burnett’s absence of a little over an hour. It was not uncommon to meet persons be- fore dinner and learn they were buried before night, and the cry of everyone became, “ Who next ?”
Mr. Strang’s church was stripped of its temporary board seats, and turned into a hospital, where as many as possi- ble of those attacked were taken. Dr. Miller was soon overdone with work, and at his solicitation, one Dr. McQuarrie came to Galt and rendered good service. Most valuable assistance was also given by Dr. John Scott, then a young man of about twenty-one years of age, who, with his father and other members of his family, had fortunate- ly arrived from Roxboroughshire, Scotland, about ten days previously. He was a brother of Mr. Andrew Scott, of Galt, and afterwards became widely known in Berlin asa skilful practitioner and public-spirited citizen.
Dr. Scott was one of the most fearless of the little band who fought the cholera inch by inch, with their lives in their hands, until it finally disappeared. Besides those whose names have been already mentioned, Messrs. Thos. G. Chapman, Thomas Rich, Alonzo Bliss, Andrew Malcom, Robert Cranston, James Welch, Thomas Shannon and Joseph Simmons (a brother-in-law of Chapman’s) rendered very active assistance. Mr. Chapman’ team continued
G
106 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
all one night carting off the dead, and at times some of those who were not terrified by the cholera, were so worn out with fatigue and excitement in preparing graves, at- tending the sick, and removing the dead to their final resting-place, that they fell asleep at their posts.
An incident well illustrates the condition of terror into which the little community was thrown. The remedy which was generally used for the cholera was brandy, to which was added in most cases, certain drugs which in- creased its fiery, heating qualities, For some time almost every family kept a bottle of this mixture ready for use.
One day a well-known citizen ran hurriedly up to Mr. Rich’s door, declared he had the cholera, and excitedly asked for the medicine. The applicant was in the habit of using stimulants, and Mr. Rich gave him, therefore, an unusually large dose, fearing that otherwise no effect would be produced. Before he could return across the lot, the sufferer fell down on the grass, roaring anil groaning, not so much with the cholera, as with the intense burning sensation and fecling of intoxication stealing over him. The remedy was a severe one, but the gentleman, who still lives in a neighbouring county, highly respected and in comfortable circumstances, frequently declared that nothing but this immense dose of brandy mixture saved his life.
Some stories long current about the cholera cannot be traced to any reliable source. But the floating rumour that four men who died ‘of the pest were buried in one grave, near the eastern end of the stone bridge on the
some of so worn ves, at- ir final
ror into remedy andy, to hich in- » almost or use. p to Mr. xcitedly 1e habit fore, an t would lot, the ing, not burning er him. an, who pspected eclared mixture
not be rumour | in one on the
THE VILLAGE LEFT A PITIFUL SCENE. 107
macadamised road, north of the town, is perfectly true. Two of those buried were named Lamberton and Vincent, and among those who took part in the burial was Alonzo Bliss, to whom reference has already been made. On returning home, Bliss said to his wife, “If cholera is catching, I will take it.” This prediction, alas, proved too true. The next :aorning he was dead.
The particular locality of the quadruple grave is marked by the two tall pine trees which stand opposite to each other like sentinels, on the road side. Opinions differ as to which side of the road the grave is on, but the weight of testimony favours the view that it is near the foot of the tree on the south side.
Such were the ravages of the cholera in 1834 in Galt and vicinity. On that fatal morning the menagerie entered the village, its future had never previously looked more hopeful; within a few days it was nearly decimated, and a pitiful scene of mourning and woe. For several weeks the feelings of the villagers bordered on despair, but time —-the healer of the deepest sorrow—came ultimately to their relief, and although nothing could ever obliterate from the minds of eye-witnesses, this dark and terrible chapter in the history of Galt, before hoary Christmas came round—such are the vicissitudes of human feeling— a stranger might have come into the village without find- ing anything to remind him of the fearful death-scathing through which it had passed.
CHAPTER X.
From the time of the Cholera to the Rebellion—The population-- Business of Galt improving-- Break-up of the old-fashioned Mercantile monopoly —Early prices--The Dutchman’s one per cent-—-Richard Irwin—Names of prominent Galtonians who arrived during this period—Rev. John Bayne--A great man who prefers the backwoods of Canada to the intellectual centres of Europe—Erection of the King’s Arms Hotel and other ancient land-marks—-Early Musicians—Construction of the Macadamized Road—Galt dam—Unrealized projects,
Durina the three years which succeeded the events narrated in the last chapter, from 1834 to 1837, Galt at last began to manifest signs of more rapid growth and prosperity. Not that there were no drawbacks;* indeed, the cholera was not long over, when a fire mysteriously broke out in a little shop adjoining the hotel, erected by one Alderman as a store, and consumed them both. During this period, however, a great change was passing over the whole Province. It was beginning to awaken out of the torpor which had so long enthralied it, and Dumfries and Galt were among the first localities which experienced the change.
Even at the close of 1834, however, there were very few buildings upon Main Street, and the roadway was
* It was suspected that fears of the cholera breaking out again with the return of hot weather, had something to do with this burning, but no evi- dence has been discovered to support this rumour.
2)
-- Business 2 monopoly in—Names ‘Rev. John ada to the irms Hotel tion of the
3 events , Galt at wth and * indeed, teriously ected by ’m both. 8 passing awaken
it, and
es which
ere very vay was
n with the but no evi-
THE POPULATION. 109
rough, and generally very muddy, particularly in the vicinity of Johnson’s pond (which stood beneath and in the rear of the shops now occupied by Messrs. Taylor, Smith and Robinson) and the “corduroy” at the south: end of it. A description of the appearance of Main Street at this time, appears in the letter received from Mr. Adam Ainslie which has been already adverted to, and we make use of his apt phraseology :—
“ When I came to Galt in November, 1834, Main Street was defined by a dry stone dyke, running down each side from the pond at the creek. On the north side there was H.G. Barlow’s tavern (now the Galt Hotel), opposite to the entrance to J. K. Andrews’ Grist Mill, now Gavin Hume’s. Next to the tavern was a house occupied by Isaac Sours (no doubt Scrimger’s Feed Store,) who acted then as a hatter. There was a gate in the wall where Ainslie Street connects with Main Street. On the south side of the street, whereabout Strong’s and Fleming’s stores stand, there was an enclosed yard, with a barn in it. Here Mr. Shade kept his working oxen, &c. At the corner was Mr. Shade’s White store, which was called the Cash store, and on the opposite side, where the Com- mercial Buildings now are, there was the Red store, also his, which was a Credit one. About half way down from the tavern, there was a shocking mud-hole, which foot passengers had to cross on a plank since it extended across the street, and there was no getting around it. These were all the buildings on Main Street, except the old school-house at the edge of the pond, which was being plastered.”
aE Ee,
SS RRP ER OS AR ir i wea al ahs . 1 ~ ‘
Re ae
SECC
ST TH ee RI IN em a
SR eS ae NET I
*
110 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
This is not a very flattering picture of what is now the principal street in Galt, but it is, no doubt, a faithful representation of what it was just after the calamity of the cholera, and before the subsequent revival took place. Until after 1834, indeed, it was not the principal thorough- fare. The road chiefly used prior to this time, took down past the Dumfries Mills to Chapman Street, some of the early buildings of which still remain, and which was the principal thoroughfare of the village for many years.
Until the beginning of the period we are now de- scribing, mostly all the settlers had been largely depen- dent upon Mr. Dickson and Mr. Shade. The business of the place was almost exclusively controlled by these gentlemen. Almost everyone was indebted to them more or less. They owned all the lands except what they chose to sell. There existed, practically, a mon- opoly in the mercantile line. With the exception of the burned shop, whose business was but trifling, there were but two stores: the Red or Credit store near the bridge, and the White or Cash store, which was erected in 1832 immediately opposite, on the corner where the Wilkins’ stone block now stands. Mr. Shade was for many years the sole merchant in the village. When his business be- came too extended for one person’s attention, he ad- mitted his nephew, Mr. James Fargus,f as a partner, and
+ Mr. Fargus was an enthusiastic rifle shot, and several stories of his ad- ventures were long current. One evening about the darkening, a bear seized one of Mr. Dickson’s pigs and made off with it. The pig—as pigs always do when frightened -squealed its loudest and shrillest, and atten- tion being attracted, Bruin was seen carrying him off into the pine wocds
ow the aithful rity of place. rough- -down of the as the 3. w de- epen- ess of these them what | one f the ere idge, 1832
BREAK UP OF MERCANTILE MONOPOLY. 111
ultimately sold out to Fargus and Andrews his entire mercantile interest.
It was impossible to obtain building sites for stores for many years. Some persons from Hamilton tried and failed. It is said that the Hon. Adam Ferrie, who subse- quently built up a large business in Preston—which for a time became a dangerous rival—was prevented from locating in Galt on this account. The ruling spirits evidently endeavoured to keep control as much, and as long as possible, in their own hands. This was certainly very natural, and possibly not altogether without excuse, considering the early sacrifices which they had made.
Forces were at work, however, destined to bring about rapid business as well as other changes. Population was increasing. Men of education and means began to appear. The farmers were becoming more prosperous. Wealth began to accumulate. New enterprises engaged atten- tion. More independence was daily becoming manifest. In short, before the period of the Rebellion (the winter of 1837), Galt had passed beyond the chrysallis stage of its
near where Mr. Cavers’ residence now is. An investigation next day showed that part of the pig remained there uneaten. Mr. Fargus anda comi- panion determined to lie in wait for the bear's return the following evening. It proved to be a clear, cold winter night, and the snow fairly glistened in the bright moonlight. It was, in fact, almost as light as day. Getting be- hind trees, the hunters waited in almost breathless suspense. After a con- siderable time, the crackling of branches was heard, then a heavy tread ; and, finally, Bruin walked quietly up to where the remains of the pig had been placed by his artful foes. No time was given him even for grace. Two sharp reports followed, and two bullets found their way to the region of his heart. Poor Bruin fell in his tracks.
chasinabinnliiddaeetsidenammmeainoe Sate ee SAECO: ‘
et lI TRE TEN te
112 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
existence, and assumed the more perfect form of an in- dependent, self-governed communitv.
Prior to this time, Mr. Shade had firmly laid the foun- dations of the large fortune which he subsequentiy amassed. This he acquired largely by speculations in property and judicious investments on farms, but in no small degree also, by his various business enterprises, more particularly his stores.
A capital story was long current relative to the prices charged for goods in those early days. As Mr. Shade began to grow rich, and rumours prevailed that he made profits of at least forty or fifty per cent. upon his goods, he was one day visited by a well-known, honest Dutch storekeeper in the southern part of Waterloo Township, who could not understand, but was extremely anxious to learn, how that gentleman obtained such handsome prices.
“Mr. Shade,” said he, “I have come down to ask how it is you can get forty or fifty per cent. profit upon your goods, when I have hard work to get one per cent. for mine? Will you tell me the secret ?”
“Only one per cent.,” replied Mr. Shade; “why you must charge more than that!”
“O no, I don't,” returned his Waterloo friend, deeply in earnest, “ When I pay $1 for an article, I never charge more than $2 for it, and I want to know how I can get forty or fifty per cent. like you?”
Mr. Shade explained as well as his risibility would permit, when his interlocutor departed a wiser if not a
Nn in-
foun- entiy ns in in no rises,
rices hade nade ods, utch ship, s to ome
10W our for
113
RICHARD IRWIN,
happier man. The joke, however, was too good to keep, and there is fun to this day over the Dutchman’s one per cent.*
The first blow given to the early, old-fashioned busi- ness system of Galt, was by an Irishman named Richard Irwin, in 1835. Before this an experiment had been made by one McDonald, agent for a house in Hamilton, to carry on a small store in a building put up by Mr. Louis Lapierre (father of Mr. Louis W. Lapierre, Paris), near where the Galt Hotel now is; the effort had, how- ever, formidable opposition, aud was not at all suc- cessful.
Irwin had been a peddlar, a class which was then largely patronized, and succeeded, to the surprise of everybody, in renting the White or Cash store as it was called. The general opinion was that he could not supply it with sufficient goods, and that it would soon be back in Mr. Andrews’ hands again. Irwin found un- expected hacking, however, which was understood to come from the Stinsons of Hamilton, filled the store with goods of every description, and quite revolutionized the trade in a single month by the reductions made in prices. In many instances articles were reduced one hundred per cent. below the previous prices. The effect of this venture is described as having been “startling ” in many quarters. It was soon noised all over the sur-
*The hero of this story survived, a useful and highly-respected citizen of the County of Waterloo, until about three years ago.
i halt it emeaaetan aerate ae in ee en oe ay,
114 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
rounding country, and marked the beginning of a new era in the business of the district.
Mr. Irwin did not long continue lessee of the White store, but about two years afterwards erected the stone store now owned by Mr. Gavin Hume, where he continued, aided by Mr. Adam Reid, to do a large business. He subsequently married a daughter of Mr. Joha Gowinlock, teacher, and having given up his business, settled on the first farm beyond Gowinlock’s, on the Blair road.
Shortly after this, poor Irwin commenced drinking very badly, and one morning his friends were horrified to "find that he had committed suicide in one of the rooms of his house. He was a short, slender, active, quick- tempered man, and this sad end to his once promising career, created a most painful sensation when it became known.
What a rapid change took place in the circumstances of Galt during the period between the scourge of the cholera and rebellion times, may be understood from the number of new inhabitants which it then obtained. A list of the more prominent of these persons will be found in the next paragraph, many of whom continued for de- cades to be well-known and respected citizens, and their names are inseparably connected with the early history of the town. Not over one-third of them, however, have survived the forty-two or forty-five years which have since elapsed,* and only four—Messrs, Adam Hood, Peter
* The only known survivors among these early residents of Galt, other than the four already mentioned, are :—Messrs. Adam Ainslie, Leith ;
PROMINENT GALTONIANS. | 115
Dinahy, James Scott, and Alexander Sinclair—continue still to reside amongst us! ©
Among these early Galtonians were: — Messrs. John Young, innkeeper; Adam Ainslie, barrister; George Lee, watchmaker; William Trotter, contractor ; James Johnson, grocer; William Ferguson, blacksmith ; Adam Hood, car- penter; . B. Gordon, merchant; Isaac Sours, woollen factory ; John Miller, barrister; Alex. Addison, cabinet maker; Robert Wyllie (afterwards of Ayr); Adam Scott, carpenter ; James Craig, painter ; Andrew Elliott, grocer ; Charles Badenock, innkeeper; Peter Dinahy, workman ; Sidney Smith, saddler; I]. G. Barnaby, tanner; William Chipman, bailiff; Sweden McDonald, road-maker; Alex. Sinclair, workman; Francis McElroy, blacksmith; Robt. Waliace, baker and grocer; Robert Henshelwood, work- man; Thos. Blacklock, butcher; William Stirling, farmer ; James Sproule, shoemaker; Richard Irwin, merchant; Theophilus Sampson, innkeeper ; George Meikle, distiller; John Kennedy, lime burner; Francis Diggins, workman ; Luther Bradish, workman ; Robert Emond, tailor ; Lionel Foster, shoemaker; William Robinson, maltster ; James Scott, carpenter; John Batters, store-keeper; James Fraser, mason ; Timothy S. Treadweii, merchant ; James Kay, carriage-maker, and David McFeiggan, teamster.
Francis McElroy, Michigan ; Robert Wallace, Hamilton; Wm. Stirling, near Glenmorris; Andrew Elliott, Almonte; Robert Henshelwood, Theo- philus Sampson, Port Rowan; Lionel Foster, Icwa ; and James Sproule, Stratford. Thomas Blacklock was last heard of in Iowa, and A. B, Gordon—supposed to be dead—was last seen in California,
116 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES,
A notable addition to the clergy of the village also took place in the person of the Rev. John Bayne. This gentleman was the son of the Rev. Kenneth Bayne, A.M., of Greenock, Scotland. He entered Glasgow University in 1819, where he studied six consecutive sessions, finish- ing a brilliant academical course at the University of Edinburgh. Having decided to come to Canada, he was ordained by the Presbytery of Dingwall, on the 3rd Sep- tember, 1834, and on reaching Toronto was induced to sup- ply the pulpit of the Rev. W. T. Leach* whilst he went on a visit to Scotland. This he did until the following year, when he was called to the Presbyterian Congrega- tion in connection with the Church of Scotland in Galt, to supply the place of the Rev. William Stewart. At a very early day, Mr. George Smith, shoemaker, acted as precentor for this congregation, and subsequently Mr. Walter Gowinlock, now of Paris,and Mr. Alex. Duncan— all well-remembered names.
Dr. Bayne, as he was afterwards familiarly called, was inducted into his first and only charge in the summer of 1835, and soon became @ power in Gait and neighbour- hood. He was a man of fine presence, possessed of a mas- sive and logical mind, cultured to a high degree, and his preaching was characterized by a zeal and passionate elo- quence rarely equalled. So impressed was he with the mighty import of the message of the Gospel, that he
* Now the Ven. Archdeacon Leach, of Montreal, having been admitted to Deacon’s and Priest’s orders in the Episcopal Church in 1843, by the Bishop of Quebec. He was born at Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1804,
REV. JOHN BAYNE. 117
was known to preach for two hours and a half, and some- times his Sabbath services continued without intermis- sion from eleven till after three o'clock in the afternoon ! Hisstyle of preaching vividly recalled the pictures left us of John Knox preaching before Queen Mary, and, although possibly a shade too austere, was characterized by an earnestness, and at times religious vehemence, which ex- ercised a powerful influence on the community among whom he had cast his lot.
The picture of Dr. Bayne to be found in so many homes in Dumfries and Galt, was engraved from a daguerreotype, and is very like him when his face was in repose. It hardly does justice, however, to the intellec- tual power, which, when excited by some inspiring theme, shot out from his usually calm but penetrating eyes ; or the mingled firmness and gentleness which played about his delicately chiselled mouth. Thoughin late years not robust in health, the appearance of Dr. Bayne was at once com- manding and pleasing—a man whose glance, once seen, could seldom be forgotten.
Canada has enjoyed the presence of few men, probably none, of greater talents and nobler aims than Dr. Bayne,* and the wonder always was, and is, how he preferred Galt
* Whilst a remarkably abstemious man, and in ldte years a complete teetotaller, Dr. Bayne had a fondness for the pipe. In studying, he gener- ally thought out his subject, writing little except the mere skeleton of his sermons, and during these periods he enjoyed a smoke. History is full of examples of men of genius and noble character who found satisfaction in this way during their hours of study. Milton, Dryden, Coleridge and Gcethe were great smokers, and the same remark may be made of Carlisle and “ ennyson, the former now in his 83rd, and the latter in his 70th year.
118 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES.
and tne backwoods of Canada, to those intellectual centres of Europe in which nature and education had so well fit- ted him to shine.
With so many accessions to the population, increased energy and enterprise became manifest throughout the village. New buildings went up in all quarters, and Main and Water Streets assumed the appearance of regu- lar thoroughfares. In 1835 Mr. Dickson erected the King’s Arms hotel* (it became the Queen’s Arms when Victoria ascended the throne in 1837), and induced Mr John I Young, who had come to Galt in the fall of the preceding | year and entered his employment, to become the first | landlord. The old Township Hall, an ever memorable land-mark, was erected in 1838. The ground on which it stood was logged and sown with wheat by Mr. Donald Fraser as early as 1817, and is the same as that on which the present massive Town Hall of Galt stands.
Gordon’s store on the Queen’s Square, which was burned . in the winter of 1844, and the old British Hotel, also went up during this period, as well as many other less conspic- uous buildings. ,
Apropos of the erection of the Township Hall, it may be mentioned that the villagers were much elated over its completion, as it settled the question whether the Dum- fries Township Meetings should thereafter be held at Galt
* Mr. William Rankin, Mill-creek, did the mason work, and Mr. Thos. G. Chapman the carpent2r work ui the Queen’s Arms. Mr. Shade was super- intendent.
+ Mr. Alex. Scrimger was the framer of the Township Hall, and Mr. Duncan Shepherd did the inside work.
EARLY MUSICIANS, 119
or St. George, and it was determined to hold a grand ball at its opening. The new hall was elaborately decorated with evergreens and gay artificial flowers for the occasion. The attendance was large from all the country round, and the nimbleness and grace with which some, who are now grey-haired Veterans, then tripped it on “ the light, fantas- tic toe,” would have astonished the languid devotees of Terpsichore of the present day.
Galt’s first amateur. band was in existence at this time, and some or all of them furnished the music at this vil- lage festivity. It consisted of only three members. There was first, Mr. James S. Glennie, who was Clerk of the Di- vision Oourt, and whose silvery white locks will be re- membered by many. He had been a stock-broker in the City of London, England, and was wont, on occasions, to be eloquent on Bulls and Bears, Consols for Account, and other Stock Exchange lore. His favourite instrument was the violincello.* Another of the players was an old High- lander of the name of John Kennedy, who followed the occupation of a limeburner where Mrs. Ballantyne now carries on the same business. He was excellent at strath- speys and reels. The third was John Garrison, an Amer- ican by birth. He lived in what was then called “The Log Village,” and close to Kennedy’s. Garrison made his
* Mr. Glennie composed music as weil as played it. Two pieces, entitled “Galt Frolick” and ‘ Glennie’s Requiem,” he presented to Mr. Adam Ainslie, who has preserved them during all the years which have since elapsed, and has kindly sent us copies of them. The first piece, after being tested by a young lady musician of Galt, is found to be a very lively and pretty air.
a TL eee
ioe
120 HISTORY OF GALT AND DUMFRIES
living by hunting, trapping, and fiddling, but chiefly the latter. At all the dances around, Garrison was the man to supply the music. The three formed themselves into a band, and frequently met at Barlow’s tavern in the after- noon, where an audience would soon collect, and they would discourse those sweet sounds which “ sublime emo- tions kindle,” until the close of the day, and often far into the night.
The macadamizing of the Dundas and Waterloo road, which was commenced during 1837, served also to increase the business of the place. This much-needed work was undertaken by the Provincial Government, the following gentlemen being appointed Commissioners to carry it out : Messrs. George Clemens and Adam Ferrie, Waterloo ; Thomas Rich and James K. Andrews, Galt; Adam Ainslie and John Cornell, Beverly ;* and Andrew Todd Kerby and Peter Bamberger, Flamboro’ and Dundas. Several persons in Galt obtained contracts for sections of the road. Messrs. John Young and William Trotter (father of Messrs. William and James Trotter), were joint con-
* During the year 1877, the twenty oldest Pioneers of the township of Beverly, were photographed in Galt, making a most interesting and sugges- tive picture. The year thev settled in Beverly, their names and ages were as follows: 1800—Jacob Cope, aged 77 years, he was born in the township ; 1808—George Jones, age 69 ; 1808—B. Vansickle, age 79 ; 1810—James Sha- ver, age 68 ; 1813— William Thompson, age 65 ; 1813—Aaron Cornell, age 62 ; 1818—Adam Misner, age 80; 1820 —-James B. Keachie, age 65; 1823—-Alex- ander Weir, age 75; 1826—Malachi Sager, age 81 ; 1828--W. T. Anderson, age 76; 1831—William Riddle, age 76; 1832—John Armstrong, age 66; 1833—James McQueen, age 70; 1833—-Thomas McKnight, age 79; 1834— Daniel Martin, age 78 ; 1834—Gillis McBain, age 73 ; 1836—Thomas Nicol, age 83; 1836—James Wilson, age 70; 1836—John Valens, age 68 years.
GALT DAM. 121
tractors for three miles of the work immediately below Rockton, and the three-quarters of a mile nearest Preston ; Robert Wyllie (afterwards of Ayr), James Wyllie and Nor- man Ramsay, had the intervening section between the latter and the tollgate, one mile east of Galt; and James Welch, now farming near Strasburg, and Robert Henshel- wood, had the mile between the toll-gate and Galt. This undertaking afforded employment to a large number of men, and its completion gave the quietus forever to the terrors of Beverly swamp, and greatly advanced the pros- perity of the entire district through which it passes.
Among the other improvements which went on at this time, should be mentioned the construction of Galt Dam and Canal,