"TRAVEL DOWN A STORIED ROAD: Highway 27 from Cookstown to Dunkerron and Highway 9, by Bernice Merrick Ellis, 1984. 24 p. illus. maps. Highlights and some history. Well illustrated."

The following history is verbatim from the book "The History of Simcoe County" by Andrew F. Hunter. First published in 1909 and reproduced in 1948 by the Simcoe County Historical Society.

The settlers who first crossed the Holland River arrived in the fall of 1819, and were three Irishmen - James Wallace, Lewis Algeo and Robert Armstrong. Armstrong came from the County of Leitrim, with a family, and settled on lot 13, con. 6, within two miles of the present site of Bradford. He had a large family, chiefly boys, Christopher Thomas, John, Robert, William, Simon, James and Allan, from whom have come a numerous lineage. Christopher, the eldest, did not take up with bush life, but studied law, and afterwards became a judge in Carleton County.

James Wallace, was a native of King's County, Ireland, and on arriving in West Gwillimbury he settled on the S. half, lot 14, con. 6. Near his place was the "Old Wharf," or "Wallace's Wharf," as many called it - the first crossing on the Holland River, used by the earliest settlers, until 1824, when the corduroy and floating bridge came into use. There was a ferry here, and a rope strung across the river, by which all the early settlers crossed in a boat. After Mr. Wallace arrived he married Martha Walker, whose family (Walker) became pioneers in Tecumseth. The first beef killed in the Township of West Gwillimbury was in Wallace's log barn. During the night following, a wolf crawled into the barn through a hole and ate so much beef that he could not get back through the hole, so they shot him in the barn next morning. Mr. Wallace died in March, 1848, aged 48 years. His family consisted of five sons and seven daughters, most of whom reached manhood and womanhood.

Lewis Algeo, the pioneer of lot 13, con. 7, wore with him to the backwoods a belt or girdle containing seven hundred sovereigns, according to a custom of the time to carry one's coins in a belt. As it was easy to get rid of money fast in such a place and at such a time of hardship, his little pile of gold soon grew less. He was of Italian extraction, but immediately from Irlenad, his wife being a daughter of Robert Armstrong, his pioneer neighbor. It is said she was the first white woman to cross the Holland River. Their children were partly grown when they came in 1819. The Algeo family made some clearing on the land mentioned, then sold it to Hugh Scobie, and afterwards had a small store in Bradford in its early days. Mr. Algeo's death occured in or about the year 1839, and his family mostly became permanent settlers in this county.

In the vicinity of Coulson's Corners the brothers Milloy - William and Timothy - (adherents of the Roman Catholic Church), settled at an early date. After this, William became the pioneer of Bradford, in this way. While living near Coulson's Corners, his wife died, and he subsequently married again, and for a time lived in East Gwillimbury; then, in the fall of 1829, he built a small log tavern at the fork of the main road - where one branch led to the Scotch Settlement, the other northward - and this was the beginning of Bradford. A year or two prior to William Milloy's advent at the forks of Young Street, a small log house had been built to the west of it by Theodore Sherwood on the property of Litia McGee, where ha made spinning-wheels, wooden chairs, and other articles for a few years. He had bought half an acre from her, but was of a roving disposition, and did not stay permanently at the place. The small Tavern of Wm. Milloy at the forks of the road, was in a field, to the east, for the first road did not run in its proper place. In '31 or '32 John Edmanson built another tavern on his own lot, at the proper corner, and promoted the opening of the correct survey. As it was in opposition to Milloy, it created great annoyance to him and one or two others who had built at the original fork of the road in Mr. Stoddart's field. Great was the rivalry for some time, on account of this projected change. In the end the road was opened in the proper place and straightened; an settlers immediately began to locate at Edmanson's Corner. The superseded hamlet became known as "Old Bradford." William Milloy, after this rivalry, built at Amsterdam {on the south side of the Holland River}, a hostelry, which the settlers dubbed "Bullfrog Tavern," and where a hundred or more soldiers were quartered during the winter of the Rebellion.

Acting on instructions from the Surveyor-General, dated Decembr 23rd, 1836, George Lount had surveyed Amsterdam on the south side of the Holland River, near Bradford, for the purpose of building a store-house to be used in connection with the boats on the lake, and a wharf. But only a few people ever "located" in Amsterdam, which had streets named De Ruyder, De Witt, Van Dyke, Rubens, Keyser, etc., all good Hollandish names. Finally, in 1869, Thompson Smith, the lumberman, obtained from the Government the patent for the unused site of the "Town of Amsterdam," and devoted it to the benefits of sawlogs and lumber.

Among the first inhabitants of Bradford were: James Drury, merchant; James Campbell, shoemaker; Thomas Driffel, blacksmith; and John Gordon, wagonmaker. About the same time, Isaac B. Rogers, a farmer living a concession farther north, built a store in the village, but did not occupy it himself. This building he sold to John Peacock, an old soldier, from London, England, who settled in the village as a merchant. Mr. Driffel built a small log blacksmith shop, and commenced work in December, 1831, continuing at his trade for about twenty years. He then started a hardware and general business, which he carried on, and in 1858 was the first reeve of Bradford. On May 23rd, 1871, with about a hundred other inhabitants, he was burnt out with heavy loss.

All these men arrived within two years after Milloy's advent at the original bend in the road. Letitia McGee also built a dwelling house on her own lot at this time, or shortly afterwards. A family of Maconchy's, who had previously settled on lot 15, con. 5, Innisfil, removed to Bradford about 1840, when the place was still quite young. They had a sawmill at the bridge, (the first mill there), about the year 1848, and carried on a general store business under the name of Maconchy Bros. for some years. Thomas, one of the family, became, 1845, the second representative to the District Concil and a member of the Municipal Council. In 1857 he contested South Simcoe, as the Liberal candidate, against Hon. W.B. Robinson and Thos, R. Ferguson, the election resulting in the return of the latter. Subsequently Thomas Maconchy moved to Gilford, where he spent the remainder of his life.

A young man, Gibson Cook, came to Bradford in 1852, (or thereabout), before the railway had crossed the Holland River, and began to buy wheat for Mr. Brunskill, of Thornhill. Mr. Cook was probably the first grain dealer in Bradford, and afterwards became a resident merchant.

Arthur McMaster, one of the early storekeepers of Holland Landing, who has been already mentioned, moved to Bradford in 1856, or thereabout, after the railway was built. The construction of the railway caused Holland Landing to decay and Bradford to rise; and McMaster's removal was for the purpose of catching the western trade. The McMaster business afterward passed into the hands of Mr. Driffel.

For some years John Kennedy Falconbridge, J.P., was also a merchant of Bradford. His son, Sir Wm. Glenholme Falconbridge has risen to be Chief Justice of the King's Bench Division.

But with this sketch of the early merchants of Bradford, we have been led down to more recent times. It will now be proper to return to the period before 1830, and to Bradford's neighborhood.

West of Bradford settled John Stoddart and his three sons in 1829. The first Anglican services in the township were held in Wm. Stoddart's house. On the third lot west of Bradford, there settled about this time one who afterwards became well-known in Canadian journalism - Hugh Scobie. He came from near Keoldale, Sutherlandshire, Scotland.

On lot 5, con. 7, there settled in the early twenties, a native of Nottingham, Eng., William Armson, who became the first representative, or councillor of the township. He was an old soldier who had served in the Peninsular campaign, and sometimes wore his medal, to which was attached eight clasps, testifying to the important services he had rendered in the field. At the annual meeting of the inhabitants of West Gwillimbury, in January, 1842, he received the honor of being elected its first representative, or councillor, to the meetings of the Home District Council in Toronto. Simcoe District was then created, and in 1843 he attended its meetings in Barrie. Hr remained representative continuously till the end of 1857. For seven years he was Warden of Simcoe (1846-1853). He died in 1858 at the age of 74 years, and was buried at Christ Church, Middleton. A grandson of Mr. Armson, was the Hon Dr. W.A. Willoughby, who represented East Northumberland in the Ontario Legislature until his death in 1908. John Wright Armson, his son, resided on the homestead for the greater part of his life, and died Oct. 28th, 1908, aged 78 years.

"THE SCOTCH SETTLEMENT"

The first extensive location of white settlers in the Township of West Gwillimbury bears the name of the "Scotch Settlement," and during the first half century that elapsed after it took rise, it was a unique locality in the life of the district, its origin being no less striking.

In the year 1811, Lord Selkirk obtained from the Hudson Bay Company a tract of land for settlement purposes, lying along the Red River; and in the autumn of 1812 Miles Macdonnell brought to it a colony about 100 persons from the North of Scotland - many of them from Helmsdale and its neighborhood - and erected houses. In June 1814, 50 more came, and in September, 1814, their number was about 200 settlers and laborers.

The original settlers of the "Scotch Settlement" emigrated to the Red River with this colony of Lord Selkirk. While there, they experienced great privations and suffering, having nothing to eat except buffalo meat, not even bread, or as the Highland women said: "No nothing but flesh." After remaining there for two or three years, a party of them determined to leave their place of exile, in 1816, and return to the less remote forests of Upper Canada.It is related that the officials heard of their design, and "placed some ordnance to prevent them. The deserters managed, however, to get hold of the great guns, and protected themselves as they left the settlement." The extant literature of these Red River troubles is quite abundant. (See statement respecting the Earl of Selkirk's Settlement upon the Red River of North America; its destruction in 1815 and 1816; and the massacre of Governor Semple and his party. London, 1817; New York, 1818).

For an account of the trials of the prisoners at York (Toronto), see Dr. Scadding's Toronto of Old, p. 299, etc.

After traversing the five hundred miles of rocky wilderness between Fort Garry and Fort William, the fugitives reached the latter place. Here the North-West Company, in order to promote their removal from the country, fitted out a fleet of small boats to transport them down the lakes. In this small fleet they arrived at the outlet of Nottawasaga River, which they ascended, as well as its tributary, the Willow Creek; then crossed the Nine-Mile Portage to the head of Kempenfeldt Bay. Passing across Lake Simcoe, they reached the settlements on Yonge Street. About three years later they went up the Holland River as far as the third concession, landed, and made a settlement on the peninsular portion of West Gwillimbury lying between the river and its north branch.

As far as can be ascertained, the fugitives consisted of the following seventeen men, some of whom had wives and families: -
Sutherland (6) -- Donald, Haman, William, Robert, James and Angus. McKay (4) -- James, Roderick, Robert and Donald. John Matthewson. (There were two men of this name, called "Red" John and "Black" John for the sake of distinction). McBeth (2) -- Andrew, Charles. Geo. Ross, Arthur Campbell and George Bannerman.

These, then, were the pioneers of the "Scotch Settlement" in West Gwillimbury, and, indeed, of Simcoe County. It is related that they did not all arrive at the Holland River at the same time, but that they came in two parties; and that the second party, which came after the final destruction of the Red River colony, consisted of Robert and Roderick McKay, two McBeths, and one Sutherland - five men in all. These are said to have come by way of Parry Sound and Orillia in 1816.

Of the Sutherlands, many of their descendants reside in the neighborhood. Of the McKays, Robert and Roderick, for many years the former was a resident of Innisfil, while the latter was a citizen of Bradford. "Red" John Matthewson was a prominent worker in matters pertaining to the Presbyterian church of the settlement. For many years he conducted the Sabbath school, and is described as an "excellent translator of sermons in the Gaelic tongue, at their Sabath day meetings." After residing there for a number of years, he removed to the Talbot settlement, in the western part of the Province, where he took up his permanent abode. Descendants of the McBeths are numerous. A son of Andrew McBeth (John McBeth), removed, about 1864, to Nottawasaga, where he was a resident until his death on Dec. 4th, 1889, at an advanced age. Members of his family, on various occasions, occupied seats at the Town Council Board of Stayner.

Wm. McBeth was drowned in the North Branch of the Holland River, August 2nd, 1830.

From the first, the success of the members of this Highland settlement was rapid, notwithstanding the privations, common to all Canadian pioneers, which they experienced during the first years after their arrival.

Owing to their poverty, many of them, both men and women, were obliged to work out in the frontier settlements on Yonge Street for the first years after their arrival. Except in the time of the heavy frosts of winter, the Holland River and the wide marshes on both sides of it were almost impassable. One of the great hardships consisted in "backing" in supplies from Newmarket over the wide marsh to their dwellings beyond it. Sometimes the river had to be waded with their supplies carried on their backs above the water. Such hardships as these were all overcome, and the Highlanders and their descendants proved to be a valuable acquisition to the population of the county. Other settlers of Highland Scotch nativity joined these in the twenties, as Hector Grant and Alex McCausland.

THE IRISH PALATINES, AND WESTWARD

At this place it will be proper to mention a small group of Irish Palatines from County Limerick. Although they arrived in this county rather later than the foregoing groups, nevertheless as a group they are deserving of a brief notice. This group of Irish Palatines included the families of Robert and Thomas Parker, John Long, Andrew Herrican, Robert Atkins, George Sparling, and some others. Some of them came in or about the year 1831, although a part of them had come as early as the year 1826. (C.C. James has told the story of the Palatines in Ireland and Canada, in the Canadian Methodist Magazine, March and April, 1902).

Robert Parker and his brother, Thomas, settled on lot 10, con. 8, in 1826. Thomas was captain of the company raised in that neighborhood at the time of the Rebellion of 1837; he was for some years reeve of the township, and was a local preacher in the Methodist denomination, a church of which was in his neighborhood from 1835 onward. He lived in this township until 1887, when he moved to High Bluff, Manitoba, where he died, Sept. 29th, 1889, aged 90 years.

Robert Parker had two sons, both of whom became well-known men. Thomas Sutherland Parker became a doctor, and practiced medicine in Guelph. He was member of Parliament for one of the ridings of Wellington County from 1863 till 1872 (the north riding at first, and then the center riding after the redistribution of seats at Confederation.) He was one of the fathers of Confederation, and it is said that the last speech made in the Parliament of Canada by Thomas D'Arcy McGee was in reply to one made by Thomas S. Parker, of Welington. The other son in this family, William Robert Parker, entered the Ministry of the Methodist Church in 1860, and was stationed in Toronto, Montreal, and many of the larger towns during his life, receiving the degree of D.D. in 1885. He was twice president of the London Conference, and later president of the Toronto Conference in 1893-94.

Farther west in this same group of Palatines, were: - John Long, lot 4, con. 8, Andrew Herrican lot 6, con. 9, Robert Atkins, lot 5, con. 8, George Sparling, lot 5, con. 7.

Robert Atkins came to Canada from Ireland in 1825, and after spending sometime in Toronto with his family came to West Gwillimbury and settled on the farm mentioned, where he died in the sixties. His son, Thomas Atkins, was assessor and collector of the township for some years, afterwards a member of the township council, then deputy-reeve in 1866-7, and lastly, reeve in 1870-1-2-3-4. In 1874, he was appointed Warden of the County. For four years (1880-1-2-3) he held the position of county auditor, and when Beeton was incorporated as a village, he was its first reeve (1885 and 1886). His death occurred in January, 1887, in his 63rd year.

As an instance of the hardships of the settlers here we may relate how Mrs. Kelly, the wife of a pioneer of lot 6, con. 9, got word tht a letter was waiting for her in the post office at Holland Landing. She made ready some butter, carried it all the way to Sloan's store in that village; but when she reached there he told her he had a cow of his own and could not dispose of any of that commodity in this place. He, however, adivsed her to go to the Soldiers' Landing, where some men were camped, who might want some butter. She did so, disposed of her burden for cash, paid the postage on her letter and received it; then travelled to her home, 10 miles distant.

In the same part of the township several others settled in the early period under review, viz., the twenties. These were: - John Ferris (1823) S. half lot 8, con. 6, Adam Goodfellow (1823) lot 8, con. 6, Joseph Hodgson (1822) N. half lot 9, con. 6, Patrick Kearney (Carney) N. half lot 6, con. 7, Cornelius Scanlon S. half lot 7, con. 9, Patrick Scanlan (1825) N. half lot 6, con. 9.

West of these, on lot 3, con. 6, on what was called the "Scotch Line," Edward Jeffs was among the first to make a home in the bush. With his father, Robert Jeffs, and the rest of the family, he had come from the County Armagh, Ireland, in 1820, to Penetanguishene, which was then just beginning to attract settlers, and he saw something of the pioneer life of that northern town. While living there, he was employed sometimes to team furs from that post to Toronto for the trading firm of Borland & Roe, with whom was associated the Hon. Peter Robinson. After spending nine years in the north, sometimes at Penetanguishene and sometimes at Wyebridge, where his brother Robert became one of the first settlers, Edward Jeffs came to West Gwillimbury, in 1829, and settled on lot 3, as mentioned. He soon vecame a progressive farmer, adopting improvements more quickly than most of the farmers of that period. In later years it has become the custom with many farmers to have their stables in stone foundations under their barns. As early as 1834, Edward Jeffs built a barn with a stone foundation underneath it, and in 1837 a stone dwelling-house. He and Thomas West had a McCormick reaping machine (manufactured in New York State), in 1845-7, the first reaping machine in this county, if not in the province, and the sickle of this machine is preserved in the museum of the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph. Mr. Jeffs' son, Edward, born here in 1837, followed in his father's footsteps as a progressive farmer, and represented the township for eight years in the County Council. Still further west, on lot 2, con. 6, James Landerkin was the first to settle at a comparatively early date. He came fron Mova Scotia, and was one of the largest men in the township. His son, George, became a doctor, settled in Grey County, and in recent years was a Dominion Senator.

Along the town line, beside Tecumseth, settlers cames as soon as in the other parts of West Gwillimbury. On the first lot in con. 3, John Davis settled in 1824; Andrew Cunningham, a native of Limerick County, Ireland, settled upon N. half lot 1, con. 5, about the same time. The latter afterwards became a justice of the peace. Joseph Kitley came about the same time to lot 2, con. 3.

Joel F. Robinson and his brother, Richard, settled at the town line in con. 7 about the year 1830. The first named had a store and became post master at Bond Head when an office was opened here in 1837. This village became an important place, especially while the Plank Road connected it with Bradford (1851-8). Besides store, mills, tannery, etc., it had a grammar school in those years, and was a centre for educational work. In 1835, the Rev. Wm. Fraser, D.D., became the pastor of the Presbyterian church, and in the following year the Rev. Canon F.L. Osler took charge of the Anglican church, both gentlemen remaining for several years here. One of the earliest representatives of the medical profession at Bond Head was Thomas Homan Mulock, M.D., whose son, Sir William Mulock, is Chief Justice of the Exchequer Division.

Northward from Bond Head, two miles and a half, another village arose at an early date, and was known as Latimer's Corners from the name of the innkeeper of the place. It was also called Springville, but this name did not adhere to it, and it finally appears on the map as Newton Robinson. At Newton Robinson settlers arrived almost as early as at Bond Head. James Hill settled in Tecumseth here in 1825, near the edge of the wide swamp northward, over which there was a good view. Thomas and Edward Matchett arived amongst the first settlers of the neighborhood and took up lots 1 and 2 respectively in the 10th concession. Isaiah Rogers came to lot 3, con. 10, with his family from King Township in 1827; and John Lee located about the same time on lot 3, con. 11.

The first settler north of the "Big Swamp," on the West Gwillimbury lands, was James Kidd, a native of Ireland, who took up lot 1, con. 14, and became the pioneer of the settlement at Cookstown in 1825. Mr. Kidd's land extended almost to the north-west corner of West Gwillimbury, their being only the "broken front" intervening. His three sons were William, James and Daniel, all of whom may be called pioneers as well as their father, and his daughter, Margaret, became the wife of Henry Morris, of Essa, in 1830. Another daughter, Eleanor, married John Ross, J.P., a pioneer of Tecumseth.

COULSON'S CORNERS, AND NORTHWARD

One of the first settlers north of Bradford, before that town came into existence, was William Robinson, who came to Canada from King's County, Ireland, in the year 1822, though he was of English descent. In the "old country" he had been a lieutenant in the Yeomanry. Soon after reaching Canada, he kept a shoe store in Holland Landing for five years. He bought lot 15, con. 8, (a mile north of Bradford), 200 acres from the Canada Company, and when his wife, with the family arrived in 1829, from Ireland, they all settled upon the land. Their house became the resting place of many travellers and early settlers. At the wedding of their daughter, Mary, the settlers arrived by ox teams; there were no less than sixteen yoke of oxen gathered, and the only horse in the township. Mr. Robinson had four sons - Gilbert, William, George and David, and three daughters. The homestead was the south half, and David, the youngest son, afterwards occupied it. When Gilbert, the eldest son, married in 1835, he settled on the north half of the lot. William, jr., at first settled on lot 14 (N. half), con. 4, Innisfil, and aftewards went to the "Queens Bush" when the tide of settlement flowed in that direction. Mr. Robinson, sr., bought lot 22, con. 1, Innisfil for George, who was accidently killed by a falling tree in 1843.

Prince Belfry, who married William Robinson's daughter, Mary, settled on the opposite lot, viz., lot 16 (N. half), con.8, in 1830. Altogether, there were ten sons on the Belfry family of East Gwillimbury, and six daughters, two or three other sons, besides Prince settled hereabout, about the same. The buring-ground on Ira Belfry's farm, to the west, was the one Bradford people used at first.

About the time William Robinson came, Christopher Burns settled on lot 15 (S. half), con. 9.

At an early date also, two notable settlers took up lots in the ninth concession - John Thorpe and Mark Scanlon; the former, S. half lot 17, con. 9, the latter, S. half lot 16, con. 9. Both men were partly advanced in years when they came, but active. Thorpe, in course of time, became crippled with hard work and even palsied; but infirm and palsied though he was, he once shouldered his gun and shot a large bear that ventured to trespass on his crops.

They went into mill operations soon after their arrival, and, in accordance with the Government policy of the day to grant mill sites, they received grants of land for mills on the stream. They built a grist mill in 1824 or 1825 on shares. About the year 1832 they dissolved partnership, and Mr. Scanlon, alone, then built a sawmill, and afterwards another. The first sawmill was equipped with an old-fashioned "gate-saw," which was one of the earliest kinds of saws adapted to motive power, the driving power in this case being water power, as everywhere else at the time.

Othes thought Thorpe & Scanlon were making money at this business, so opposition mills were established on the same stream. There were on it as many as six sawmills at one time, owned as follows: - Mr. Mackie (whose mill, Mr. Woods ran for a time), Mr. Scanlon (two mills), George Thorpe, Enos Rogers, Issac Rogers (whose mill passed into the hands of Zachariah Evans). The railway company once established a flag station by the name of Scanlon, where the track crosses this useful stream, but afterwards abandoned its use. Mr. Scanlon was a native of the County Carlow, Ireland, was made a justice of the peace in 1847, and died June 26th, 1871, aged 74 years.

George Evans and family came to this neighborhood about the year 1826 from Durham County, Ontario, where they had settled upon coming from County Caven, Ireland a few years earlier. In this family there were seven sons: - John, William, Thomas, James, George, Samuel and Arnold; also two daughters: - Jane and Catharine. James remained on the original homestead, lot 14, con. 10. A son of the latter was George M. Evans, who was reeve of West Gwillimbury for some years, and Warden of the County in 1883. Zachariah Evans, who was clerk of the township for more than 21 years, and who died in 1906, was the third son of James Evans.

In 1822, John Coulson took up lot 15, con. 11, on which he soon made a backwoods home for his family. His name, afterwards, was given to the "corners" there, and to the hill on the "Main Road," where his large conspicuous red house and barn were familiar landmarks to the early travellers along the road. He was a friend of John Carruthers, the travelling catechist, who often stayed over night there on his northern journeys (as he states in his book), as well as did many other early travellers. One of his sons, James, was killed by a falling tree in the winter of 1827, leaving a widow and two children. In the same year, another son, Robert, received a patent for part of lot 13 in the 10th concession. John, the eldest, afterwards lived on the original homestead, and William Coulson was a member of the first Township Council in West Gwillimbury.

West of the Coulsons, on lot 13, con. 11, the Kneeshaws settled early, William Kneeshaw being the head of the family. The settlers of this family were Thomas, John and Robert.

About 1830, James Tindall, a native of Yorkshire, Eng., settled on N. half lot 16, con. 12. He took an active interest in education, and was one of the promoters of Ebenezer Methodist church at Deerhurst. His son, William, was an early teacher at the "Hollows," in this township, and afterwards became a minister in the Methodist denomination.

Near this place, and about the same time, there came an Irish oddity by the name of John Gill, who erected a "Beer Shanty," the first of its kind, along the Main Road. He had no wife, but lived alone. He was a ventriloquist. In his shanty was a great old-time chimney into which he used to "throw" his voice for the edification of the travellers and loafers staying at his "hotel." He also kept the letters for the accommodation of the settlers of this neighborhood before a regular post office came into existence.

Previously to 1825, John Cayton setled on S. half lot 13, con. 12. He was a well-known figure in the early days, and for some time after he arrived he was the northernmost settler. In 1825 a movement was on foot among the settlers of the Penetanguishen distrcit to extend Yonge Street northward from Clayton's farm to the head of Kempenfeldt Bay, and thereby complete the overland communication between York and Penetang. The contract for the construction of the part as far north as the site of Churchill was secured by Cayton, but owing to his slight acquaintance with the forest, he sub-let the work to the Warnica brothers, of Innisfil, who had taken the contract of the remainder, as far as the Bay.

Another well-known resident of the neighborhood will now come under notice, as he settled in '31 or '32 - Joseph Fennell, J.P., at one time a reeve of the township, and a member of the Council for many years. The post office near the townline of Innisfil is named after this pioneer. He was a member of the Church of England, and was the means of establishing a church at Coulson's Corners, where his remains have their resting place.

About this time three brothers, of the name of Cosgrove, located at lot 15, con. 14, - William, Archibald and George. The two former had wayside taverns on the Main Road. Soon after their arrival a large burial pit of the ancient Huron Indians was discovered on the farm of William. The discovery of a large number of human skeletons in one pit associates itself with war in the minds of those who are unacquainted with Huron mode of burial. Perhaps it was on account of this discovery and the popular error with regard to its origin that William named his tavern "The Fortune of War," although another account states that on the signboard of the inn there was the figure of a man with his leg shot off in war.

At the time of the general influx of settlers in 1832, and after it, there came a number of emigrants from England and formed a settlement in the vicinity of lot 10, con. 12. From the hilly character of the neighborhood, the settlement has always borne the name of "The Hollows." John Garbutt settled here in 1823. He was one of the early magistrates of the township. His children walked daily to Churchill school, a distance of 7 miles.

Nathan Jackson, a native of Yorkshire, England, was another early settler at "The Hollows." arriving in 1837 and settling on N. half 11, con. 13. He had belonged to the Methodists in Yorkshire, and kept up his membership on coming to this country. He died, April 28th, 1892, at the advanced age of 91 years.

The following history is verbatim from the book "The History of Simcoe County" by Andrew F. Hunter. First published in 1909 and reproduced in 1948 by the Simcoe County Historical Society.

In taking up the different sections of the county, as we now propose to do after having sketched its public affairs, and the origin and development of its institutions, it will be proper to begin with Holland Landing and proceed northward, following the order of settlement. Yonge Street, the northern terminus of which was the "Holland Landing," formed the original boundary of this county. It was not until 1852 that the lots on Yonge Street, at that place, and all that part of West Gwillimbury lying on the south-east side of the West Branch of the Holland River, were detached from that township and annexed to the County of York. One half of early Holland Landing, then, having been inside the limits of Simcoe, will properly come within the scope of our review, especially as it was the main gateway into the county before the railway. Also, because it was the commercial emporium for a long time, and to all intents and purposes, it was the capital of this county from the passing of the Act of 1821, defining its boundaries, till the Act of 1837 and proclamation, when Barrie became the county seat. The elections all took place there, the Register of Lands lived there, and offical business generally was transacted there.

Holland River took its name from a former surveyor-general of Canada - Major S. Holland - who, in 1791, made a trip by way of Toronto Bay, Lake Simcoe, and the Balsam Lake chain, for the purpose of exploring the country. In the same year he constructed a large manuscript map of the parts visited by him, which still exists in the Crown Land Office of Ontario. This large map is the earliest that we have of the south part of Lake Simcoe (or Lake LeClie," as it was called), and even this one is very crude and shapeless, for the west half of the lake is left entirely undefined.

THE LOWER, or STEAMBOAT LANDINNG

Leaving Cook's Bay, and following up stream the east branch of the Holland River, the first landmark of importance that one finds is the old Soldiers' Landing, also known as the Lower, or Steamboat Landing. This was used during the war of 1812-15; and for many years after the expiration of war a number of cannons were left here in charge of a soldier. They were afterwards removed by the Government. They had been brought here as the "Landing" was the point at which all heavy goods in transit over the Great Portage from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron were placed on board the batteaux for transportation across Lake Simcoe. Here, too, the well-known anchor of such enormous dimensions remained for many years as a memento of the war time. But, like the cannons, it has also been removed, though not to a great distance. A few years ago it was hauled, with much difficulty from the Lower Landing to the village park near the Upper Landing, where it now rests. This gigantic anchor came from His Majesty's dockyards in England, and was intended for a large frigate that was under construction at Drummond Island, in Lake Huron. On its way thither it had reached the Holland Landing by the assistance of sixteen yoke of oxen, when peace came and interrupted all further operations at the "Navy Yard" on Drummond Island. Being too large for transportation (its length is 15 1/2 feet, excluding the ring), except under most urgent circumstances, the anchor brought thus far on its way, was left at Holland Landing, where it now remains to form a curious monument of those early stirring times. A smaller anchor, had in its passage over the Great Portage, reached the Willow Creek, where it remained for a few years, and was then removed.

Afterwards, when regular navigation opened on Lake Simcoe, the Lower Landing was used for the larger vessels and steamers. At this place the Holland River was about twenty-five yards wide; its banks were low and marshy, and thickly wooded with tamarac. It was at this uninviting place that Yonge Street, the great colonization highway, terminated, and merged into the water course across Lake Simcoe. Dr. Scadding, one of our most entertaining Canadian historians, describes in his Toronto of Old the Lower Landing as it appeared before it fell into its present deserted condition.

Many early travellers of distinction visited the Lower Landing in the course of their journeys, and have left records of the scenes which they beheld.

One of the earliest travellers to arrive at Holland Landing was Mr. John Goldie, the writer of a journal which contained remarks relating to Simcoe County. He was by occupation a botanist and gardener, and first came to America on a tour to examine the plants of the country in 1817. His journal was written two years later, in 1819, while he was on a second trip.

Sir John Franklin embarked here in 1825, when on his first overland expedition to the Arctic Seas; and in 1827, John Galt, who was on his way to Goderich, via Penetanguishene, also embarked at this place.

The opened space referred to by Galt and other early writers was used as a camping-ground by the early Indians and fur-traders. Here could be seen encamped at all seasons of the year large numbers of Indians, often from very remote districts on the upper lakes. Many of these came several times a year for the purpose of bartering their furs at Holland Landing, which was a sort of emporium for a large part of the northern country. Whiskey was too frequently the article sought and obtained by them. On one occasion the writer's grandfather counted no less than thirty wigwams of the larger kind clustered on the common adjoining the Landing. Here, too, the annual distributions of presents to the Indians were made at first. The ceremony was witnessed by the distinguished traveller Capt. Basil Hall, on July 20th, 1827, who has described it in an interesting manner in his Travels in North America in 1827-28. The distribution for the year 1828 took place on August 14th, and a description of it has been left us by the native preacher, Rev. Peter Jones. (Life and Journals, p. 164). In Appendix A, of Dean Harris' Catholic Church in the Niagara Peninsula (Toronto, 1895), there is a narrative of the loss of a child in the Holland Marsh, and it shows the skill displayed by Indians in the recovery of the lost one.

THE UPPER, or CANOE LANDING

Continuing our journey up stream, the next landmark reached is the Upper, or Canoe Landing, which is about a mile and a half above the Steamboat Landing. This Upper Landing was the ancient Indian place of embarkation of the war-parties and hunting-parties; and after the white men came upon these scenes it was still used as a landing-place for canoes and lighter craft which could get higher up the stream than the Steamboat Landing. A small bytown, consisting of two or three business places, arose at the Upper Landing at an early date - sometime in the twenties. The cause of its origin was this. The fur trade of Newmarket, which was large in the early years of this century, was chiefly supplied "from the Great Lakes of the Northland"; and the Indians used to effect a landing on the Holland River at this place after travelling with their furs over lakes, rivers and portages for many miles. The business men of Newmarket saw that the nearer they were to the landing-place, the more easily they could catch the trade - "first there, first served." In those early days it was a common sight to see 30 or 40 large wigwams of Indians from distant hunting grounds on the commons adjoining the landing-place. "To get the first bid," was therefore the object of these men in locating as close as possible to the place of landing, for it usually happened that the first bidder became the buyer. In this way the small bytown arose. A day school was opened by the Methodists, amongst the Indians at this place, on Feb. 12th, 1828. It had an average of about twenty scholars, and was kept by Phoebe Edmonds, a young missionary, whose name is familiar in the records of early Canadian mission work.

The Upper Landing was more frequently called "Johnson's Landing," after its first settler, Joseph Johnson, sr. He was one of five brothers of U.E. Loyalist descent, and had orignally settled on Yonge Street, between Thornhill and Hogg's Hollow, about the time of the war of 1812-15. Shortly after this, however, he exchanged this Yonge Street Property with a Mr. Davis, (whose hotel, built upon it, has been a familiar landmark for later travellers), taking in exchange the property at the Upper Landing Place on the Holland River. He at once permanently settled upon the latter, and his name from that time onward was connected with the place.

Amongst other early settlers at Johnson's Landing was Capt. Wm. Laughton, who was more familiarly known as "Squire" Laughton. He came from Newmarket, of which he had been an early resident, and was associated with Borland & Roe, the Indian fur traders. Laughton was the youngest member of this firm. In 1838 he was owner of the steamer "Peter Robinson," and he subsequently became captain of the steamer "Beaver," and of which he became sole proprietor in 1850. He was one of the first magistrates at Holland Landing. In later years Captain Laughton became a resident of Bell Ewart.

Borland, who was also a member of this trading firm, had Indian blood in his veins, an during the Rebellion of '37 he commanded a company of two hundred Indians stationed at Holland Landing. Wm. Roe, the third member of the firm, died in 1879 at the advanced age of eighty-four. Dr. Scadding sketches the careers of these two early adventurers in his usual interesting manner. They were connected in some way with - probably they were agents for - the North-West Company, which had a large storehouse at Johnson's Landing. Alexander Sutherland was another of those connected with the same Company, and was a resident here until his death a few years ago. Philemon Squire, who was more commonly known as "Phil." Squire, may also be enumerated among those who located at an early date in this bytown at Johnson's Landing.

Communication was possible between this place and the Lower Landing either by boat or by the road, which was known as Dalhousie Street. The two places are separated by a distance of a mile and a half.

HOLLAND LANDING VILLAGE

About a mile and a half above the Upper or Canoe Landing arose the village of Holland Landing itself - the early commercial distribution point for Simcoe. Until 1853, however, it was sometimes known as St. Albans, and sometimes as Beverly. Although it appears to have been laid out as a village in 1835, its origin was some years earlier, for about the year 1821, Peter Robinson, of Newmarket, built the far-famed "Red Mill," on lot 106 of Yonge Street, thus forming the nucleus of the village destined to play such an important part in the history of this district. The "Red Mill" was largely patronized for many years after its erection, having been the nearest grist mill to the inhabitants of this county. It was built on a grand scale for those days, all the interior timbers and lining having been planed. In 1822 the Tyson family came from Pennsylvania and located in Holland Landing. Isaiah Tyson became miller in the "Red Mill," and ran it on shares for Robinson. As the mill was driven by water power, their greatest grievance was scarcity of water, which limited the amount of work done; otherwise their patronage from the extensive pioneer settlements away to the north could easily have reached 200 or 300 bushels per day. After Mr. Robinson's death the mill passed into the hands of Thorne & Barwick, of Thornhill, who fitted it with steam power. In later years it was not used except for storage purposes, but stood as a relic of early times, until destroyed by fire, March 2nd, 1894.

Hon. Peter Robinson was an enterprising man of business, and was widely known in his day. Some time after 1822 he built a commodious tavern in Holland Landing, south of and near the "Red Mill," for the convenience of travellers who began to be numerous, and leased it to Francis Phelps, who was one of the central figures of the village until his premature death in 1836 at the age of 42. Phelps' sons, J.A. and Alfred Phelps, became carpenters and remained citizens of Holland Landing. The latter, however, removed afterwards to Omaha, Nebraska, where he prospered and became well-to-do. Other sons were Hugh and Henry Phelps. Mr. Robinson was somewhat of a roving character, and never married. Acting under instructions of the Government of the time, he brought out a shipload of Irish Catholics, in 1824, and spent about a year in locating them at Peterborough. The history of that town, although he did not live there, dates from the time of their arrival. For these services in helping to colonize Upper Canada, he was well paid by the Government, which was tben in the hands of the Family Compact. (Robinson's evidence regarding the settlement of Peterborough may be found in the Third Report of the Emigration Committee, 1827, pp. 344-49 etc.).

In 1827 the Hon. Peter Robinson was appointed Surveyor-General of Woods and Forests in the Province of Upper Canada, and had an office in Toronto. At the same time he was also appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands. He was also a member of the Legislative Council, which was the upper branch of the Legislature in those days, and corresponded with the Senate of to-day. He held these positions until his death in 1837, not having lived to see the Rebellion at the close of that year.

SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE FIRST SETTLERS

In 1822 there were but a few families living in Holland Landing; but during the next years the village grew rapidly. It may be of interest to mention some of these first familes and what became of them.

The Tyson family, already spoken of, contained several members. One of the daughters afterwards became the wife of Sheriff Smith, of Barrie. Thomas, one of the sons, who was born in 1811, married a Miss Pearson and at first settled in Lloydtown in 1832. He was later a resident of Clarksburg, Ont., for several years, where he had mills in operation. Joseph, a younger son, studied law in the office of the late H.B. Hopkins, Barrie; he subsequently settled in the southwest U.S., acquired some reputation in the legal profession, and became Judge Tyson.

The Sweezy family were also early residents here. Betsy became wife of Alexander Walker, one of Barrie's pioneers, in 1828. Her brothers, Peter and William, for many years after this were citizens of Holland Landing.

Eli Beman, a half brother of Peter, William B., and Chief Justice Sir John B. Robinson, was also one of the leading men of the place. Some time prior to 1832 he built a log shelter house on the north side of Kempenfeldt Bay, half way between Barrie and Shanty Bay. This houde was connected with the early traffic to Penetanguishene, as was also the schooner on Lake Simcoe, which Beman owned for some time, before the introduction of steamers. In 1830, the Indians of this district were collected on a tract of land stretching from the Narrows at Orillia to Matchedash Bay; and during 1831, a line of houses was built for their use along the Coldwater Road. These were situated a mile apart over some of the distance from Orillia to Coldwater. Beman was the Government contractor for this undertaking, the work having been superintended by one Wilson. Beman died in 1869 at the age of 70 years.

Amongst other notable men of the place at this time were the Lounts - Samuel and George.

Gabriel Lount their father, was a land surveyor, and came from Catawissa, Pennsylvania, on the Susquehanna River to Upper Canada in 1811, taking up lot No. 84 on the east side of Yonge Street, in Whitchurch. He had originally come as a boy from England, and had to make his own way in the world; but as he did not fall in with the republican ideas prevalent on the Susquehanna, decided to betake himself again to British soil in Canada. His two eldest sons, Samuel and George later took up lot No. 103 on the west side of Yonge Street on the top of the hill south of Holland Landing.

Samuel Lount, his eldest son, who was executed after the Rebellion of '37, was born Sept. 24th, 1791. He did not become a regular land surveyor, like his father and younger brother, George, but was an expert woodsman, or ranger and explorer of the great northern forests, and as such assisted his brother, George, with the surveys of the Townships of West Gwillimbury, Tecumseth and Innisfil, not to mention other work in this line. About the same time he made a special exploration of the Nottawasaga River for the Upper Canadian Government. He was also a proficient blacksmith, and a handyman generally, having become such doubtless in the employ or assistance of his brother-in-law, Benjamin Hawke, who had the contract during the war of 1812-15 for the transportation of the soldiers' supplies across the portage on their way to Mackinaw and the other posts of the interior.

In course of time Samuel Lount became one of the best known men in these northern parts of the country, ultimately, in 1834, being elected one of the members of the Upper Canada Legislature for Simcoe County. In our chapter on old elections and parliamentary representation, his political career is referred to at more length. The part he bore in the Rebellion is familiar to all readers of the history of that period, and need not detain us. After the defeat of the insurgent force at Montgomery's, he tried to make his way to the States, but was captured near Hyde's Point, about a mile and a half west of the mouth of the Grand River. He and some others had been on Lake Erie for some days, vainly trying to cross it in an open boat. Mr. Hyde saw them and went to their rescue, finding them almost exhausted and stupid with exposure to the cold. Some men in the neighborhood secured them as prisoners, suspecting they were "rebels," and took them to Dunnville. The execution of Samuel Lount on April 12th, following, has come to be looked on by all kinds of people, as a kind of judicial murder, for which their was not sufficient justification or warrant. His family moved to the United States, some of them immediately after the insurrection.

George Lount was born Feb. 3rd, 1799, and before he had attained the age of twenty had qualified as a land surveyor. With his elder brother, Samuel, who was an expert man in the woods, he surveyed three townships in Simcoe County, viz., West Gwillimbury, Tecumseth and Innisfil, in th years 1819 and 1820, Richard Birdsall being associated with them in the survey of the last named (Innisfil). Their father, Gabriel Lount, was the nominal contractor for surveying W. Gwillimbury and Tecumseth, but the sons did the work, owing to his increasing years. He died in the twenties. When Simcoe County was erected into a separate county, George became its first Registrar, 1826. He was the first Postmaster at Holland Landing, also a tinsmith, a merchant, a farmer, and what one might call a "jack of all trades," - in fact, just such a man as a new and growing coutry could find most useful. After a few years, when the circumstances required it, (Oct. 1846), he moved to Barrie, which had become the county town. He and his family have become so closely identified with this county that they deserve a full account in our sketches. He was the projector, and directed the survey, of the Minesing Road in 1847, intended to reach Nottawasaga Bay. After serving as Registrar of land deeds for nearly half a century, he resigned in 1872, and was succeeded by his son, Samuel. He died in 1874.

Aaron Jakeway became a resident of Holland Landing in 1830, and lived there for 43 years. He was by trade a tinsmith and was deputy of George Lount, the first postmaster. He spent the last years of his life in Stayner, where his son, Dr. C.E. Jakeway, had a medical practice.

Another well-known figure in his day was Colonel John Barwick, who was the business partner of Benjamin Thorne, of Thornhill; and some time after the death of the Hon. Peter Robinson, when the "Red Mill" passed into the hands of Thorne & Barwick, the Colonel moved from Thornhill and became a resident of Holland Landing. While living at Thornhill, he had, at his own expense, fitted out a regiment of cavalry during the Rebellion, but never obtained remuneration for this service. The annals of the Rebellion are mostly silent as to this troop of cavalry, yet Barwick's Horse Guards, of which he was Colonel, saw some service. After a period spent in Holland Landing, during which time he resided near the mill, he moved to Toronto. For some years he was one of the moving spirits of the Agriculture and Arts Association, under whose auspices the Provincial Exhibition of that day was held from city to city. He was president of the Association in 1861, and the same year he removed to Holland Landing, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Henry Blackstone, a grandson of the English law commentator, Sir William Blackstone, was the representative of the legal profession in early Holland Landing. He died suddenly in 1850 or shortly after that year.

Before the railway was constructed the grain trade was a factor in the life of Holland Landing, and was represented by three dealers - Laidlaw, McMaster and Parsons. All three had general stores; there were other general stores in the village, but these three, only, bought grain.

Douglas Laidlaw was a live business man. John Davidson engaged with him as a chore boy, and subsequently attained to a partnership with Laidlaw, whose sister also entered into a matrimonial partnership with Davidson. The opening of the railway in 1853 caused Holland Landing to decay, and more northerly places to rise. When this occurred, Laidlaw & Davidson removed from Holland Landing, and became merchants in the more modern village of Lefroy. Here they again carried on an extensive business in the grain trade.

While residing at Lefroy, Laidlaw married Elizabeth, daughter of "Squire" Benjamin Ross, of Innisfil, and afterwards removed to Toronto. Davidson was for a few years a member of the Innisfil Township Council.

The same cause that transferred Laidlaw & Davidson to Lefroy - the opening of the railway - brought McMaster from Holland Landing to Bradford.

About the time of the construction of the railway, the largest hotel in Holland Landing was kept by Thos. May, but this institution has gone to decay, along with many other substantial buildings, and the place wears a somewhat worn out appearance.

In the appendix to this volume, the reader will find a list of the heads of families in Holland Landing in 1836.