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#1 Town of Collingwood (See Clearview)
#2 Clearview #3 Town of Wasaga Beach (See Clearview) #4 Camp Borden #5 Adjala-Tosorontio #6 New Tecumseth #7 Bradford-West Gwillmbury #8 Innisfil #9 City of Barrie (See Vespra) #10 Essa #11 Springwater #12 Oro-Medonte #13 Town of Orillia (See Severn) #14 Ramara #15 Severn #16 Tay #17 Tiny #18 Town of Penetanguishene (See Tiny) #19 Town of Midland (See Tay) |
Bethesda Cemetery, 5th Sideroad and 4th Line
Belle Ewart RC Con 4, Lot 24
Belle Ewart Union/Baptist Con 4, Lot 24
Clement's Con 1, Lot 6
Our Lady of Assumption R.C. Con 4, Lot 24
Private, Gibbons (Abandoned) Con 11, Lot 11
Sixth Line Con 5, Lot 15
Soules (Abandoned) Con 3, Lot 26
St. John's Anglican - Cookstown Con 1, Lot 1
St. Peter's Anglican - Churchill Con 3, Lot 10
"AN INDEX TO INNISFIL HISTORICAL REVIEWS, 1951, 1967, 1984, compiled by Elinor Sullivan, 1993. 99 p. cirlux bound 8 1/2" x 11" As these three REVIEWS have no indexes, Sullivan has performed a valuable service in providing this."
"SKUNKS AND SCHOLARS: MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN INNISFIL TOWNSHIP BEFORE 1940, Compiled by the Innisfil Historical Society, 1987. 240 p. illus. maps. An extraordinary collection of reminiscences by over 100 contributors."
SETTLER Con. Lot ALJOE, Robert 6 17 (W1/2) ALLAN, Gavin 3 16 ARMSTRONG, Thomas 6 3 ARTHUR, John 8 13 (N1/2) BATTERS, Thomas 4 2 BOYS, Richard 5 14 BOOTH, Wm. 10 14 (S1/2) BREEND, George 10 17 CALDER, Thomas 12 12 CLEMENT, Albert 4 12 (S1/2) CLEMENT, Lewis, J. 1 16 (N1/2) CLIMIE, John 2 21 CLIMIE, William 2 21 CLIMIE, John, Jr. 2 17 (S1/2) COLEMAN, John 2 2 Coleman, William 2 2 COLEMAN, Richard 2 2 COSGROVE, George 8 22 CRIPPS, John 4 20 CROSS, Wm. 6 20 CUMMINS, James 2 1 DEACON, William 8 2 DENURE, James 5 19 DOAG, Thomas 7 19 (N1/2) DUNCAN, Thomas 6 19 (S1/2) DUNCAN, Wm. 6 18 (N1/2) EASTON, Thomas 9 3 (Pt.) FERRIER, Andrew 3 1 FIELDS, William 6 21 FIFE, Joseph 7 2 FISHER, William 6 11 (N1/2) FITTEN, Robert 12 26 FLEMING, James 7 2 GARTLEY, Peter 6 21 GIBBONS, David 11 11 GIBSON, Wm. 11 5 GIMBY, John 4 15 GOWERLY, Wm. 10 17 GREEN, Jacob 9 3 GROESBECK, Cornelius 6 18 GROSE, Henry 4 22 HAMILTON, ...... 7 6 HAMMOND, John 13 24 HEWSON, Francis 14 30 HAYTER, Moses 13 25 HINDLE, James 3 6 (N1/2) HUNT, Joseph 12 25 HUNT, George 8 2 (S1/2) JACK, William 5 22 JACK, John 6 22 (S1/2) JACK, James 3 21 JEFFERSON, Robert 10 18 JOHNSON, J. 6 9 JOHNSON, John 8 1 (S1/2) KELDER, Thomas (See also Calder) 12 12 KETTLE, Robert 1 16 KILGORE, Samuel 5 1 LAIRD, Robert 2 15 LAWRIE, John 2 17 LAWRIE, Wm. 2 17 LAWRENCE, Wm. 9 15 (N1/2) LENNOX, Wm. 3 10 (Pt. 9) LENNOX, John 3 8 LESSLIE, Wm. -- (near Nantyr) MAIN, William 2 16 MANEER, Samuel 8 15 (N1/2) MYERS, David 10 15 McCONKEY, James 4 15 McCONKEY, William 5 15 McCONKEY, John 3 16 McCONKEY, Robert 7 21 McCONKEY, Thomas 8 16 McCONKEY, John 8 22 (S1/2) McCORMACK, James 6 8 (N1/2) McCULLOUGH, Wm. 6 17 (N1/2) McGINNIS, James 4 17 McGRUTHER, George 4 17 McKAY, Robert 2 16 McKINLASS, Samuel 2 6 (Pt.) McLEAN, Robert 3 17 (S1/2) McLEAN, James 7 19 (S1/2) McLEAN, Alex 5 20 (S1/2) ORCHARD, Joseph 11 14 (S1/2) Orser, Gilbert, Jr. 8 26 (N1/2) PATTERSON, John 5 14 PATTERSON, Benjamin 8 18 PATTERSON, Samuel 7 20 PERRY, George 1 1 PERRY, John, Jr. 2 1 (S1/2) PERRY, John, Sr. 1 1 PERRY, Thomas 2 1 (N1/2) PICKEN, Robert 1 3 PRATT, John, Jr. 7 15 (S1/2) PRATT, John 11 16 RAY, Thomas 5 3 REID, James 4 19 (N1/2) RENNIE, James 2 4 (N1/2) RICHEY, John 4 6 REIVE, Thomas 5 14 ROBINS, James 9 15 ROBINSON, Robert 12 26 ROGERSON, James 2 19 ROGERS, Patrick 11 16 ROSS, Alexander 5 11 ROSS, Benjamin 8 15 SCOTT, Mitchell 5 11 SHAW, John 8 19 SHAW, Robert 8 20 SHAW, Joseph 8 20 SHILSON, James -- (Tollendal) SIBBALD, John S. 14 13 (N Pt.) SIMMONS, James 2 1 SMITH, Thomas 11 18 SOMERSET, John 9 5 SOULES, James 13 26 SOULES, David 13 26 SUTHERLAND, John 1 4 THOMPSON, John Jr. 9 16 THOMPSON, John, Sr. 9 16 TODD, Davidson 2 20 TODD, Ebenezer 2 19 TODD, Charles 3 21 TODD, Hugh 5 12 WALKER, John 7 1 WALLACE, Robert 5 22 (S1/2) WARNICA, GEORGE F. 12 15 WARNICA, John 12 14 WARNICA, George F.H. 12 13 WARNICA, Joseph 7 15 (N1/2) WARNICA, William 12 12 WILSON, James 10 18 (N1/2) WILSON, Charles 2 15 WICE, Henry 10 13 (N1/2) WICE, Samuel 12 13 WOOD, Nathaniel 12 16 WOOD, Jonas 12 16 WRAY, Thomas 5 3 WRIGHT, Samuel 6 3 |
Lewis J. Clement, a "Dutch Canadian," arrived upon N. half 16, con. 1, from Niagara, in June, 1829, with his wife, one child, a hired man, and a yoke of oxen. He built a temporary brush tent, which was by them called "home," for a brief period, until a more substantial and commodious dwelling place couold be erected. Clement's house, built by the carpenter, James Soules, was the first frame house in Innisfil, and is still standing. In subsequent years. Mr. Clement became a magistrate. He died April 9th, 1873, in his 74th year. A large family then survived him, of whom the best known, perhaps, were Dr. Lewis Clement, of Bradford, and Stephen Clement, who was for a time deputy-sheriff of this county, under Sheriff Smith, and who afterwards became sheriff of Shoal Lake District, at Birtle, in Manitoba.
Robert McLean, an Irish soldier settled upon lot 17, con. 2, in May, 1829, a month earlier than Clement. Dugald McLean, a son of this pioneer, and John Lawrie, jr., were the sawyers of the settlement, and they were drowned about 1840 off De Grassi Point. Both McLean and wife died from an attack during an epidemic of cholera, which carried off numerous settlers in that section in September, 1849.
Another notable pioneer, though not one of the earliest, was Charles Willson, (S. half 15, con. 2), who arrived and settled in 1833. In company with the Maconchy brothers, of lot 15, con. 5, he came from the North of Ireland, (Tyrone or Derry), and to a member of that family he became married. He was one of the three Wardens of Innisfil for the year 1841, before a Township Council was organized, and filled other important positions, at different times. But in 1850 he removed to Tecumseth.
On a corner of his farm, Robert Laird, who had settled at an early date, opened a store about 1835 -- the first store in Innisfil. This was the nucleus of Cherry Creek.
James Rogerson, (N. half 19, con. 2), a native of Scotland, arrived in 1833. Of his family, which was large, several members of it became residents of this neighborhood.
Alfred Willson, the son of a U.E. Loyalist, came from Holland Landing after the Rebellion and took up the north half, lot 16, con. 2, at Cherry Creek. He was the representative of Innisfil at the meetings of the Simcoe District Council from 1843 until 1849, both years inclusive. He also contested this county in December, 1851, with the Hon. W.B. Robinson, but was not successful. Some time later he moved to Bell Ewart, where he lived until his death, in 1888, at the aage of 77 years.
Hiram Willson, his brother, with two sons, Lambert and Wellington, came from Sharon, in York County, later, and purchased S. half, lot 16, con. 3, near Cherry Creek, also becoming settlers of long standing.
Innisfil, like West Gwillimbury, had its "Scotch Settlement," but the group of settlers which it comprised came from another quarter, and at a later date -- the autumn of 1832. We turn off the main Road now to notice this group of interesting pioneers. Previous to that year they had settled in the Township of Dalhousie, Lanark County, but finding its rocky surface anything but a congenial dwelling place, and seeing no prospects of making a permanent home there, they deserted in a body and settled in the south-east of Innisfil.
Their native place was Glasgow and its vicinity, where some of them had belonged to the recalcitrant brotherhood of Glasgow weavers, so notorious in British history. They had left Scotland at the time of the intense public excitement preceding the passing of the Reform Bill. Most of them had taken part in the agitation; and, like the Pilgrim Fathers of an earlier time, they preferred to live beyond the sea rather than endure the grievances of their native land. Most of them, too, were platform orators, and enthusiastic Reformers, which their descendants are to this day. The individuals who, with their families, composed this interesting group of settlers were: -- John Lawrie, N. half 17, con. 2, Rev. John Climie, S. half 17, con. 2, John Todd, S. half 19, con. 2, Hugh Todd, N. half 12, con. 5, Gavin Allan, 15, con. 5, Robert Wallace, S. half 22, con. 5, William Duncan, S. half 18, con. 6, William Cross, 20, con. 6, James Jack, N. half 21, con. 5.
They settled closely together; and this circumstance, together with the fact tha a number of their descendants remained at the old homesteads and in the same neighborhood, gave the south-east part of Innisfil the Scotch-Presbyterian character which it possessed.
At the Rebellion of 1837 some of these settlers did not desire to go to the front and assist in the quelling the uprising, as they naturally sympathised to some extent with the principles advocated by William Lyon Mackenzie and his party. As the "Dalhousie" settlers were not outspoken in their opinions on the matter, they were suspected of having non-pacific intentions. One of them possessed an old rusty musket, which was promptly taken from him lest he should aid the rebels' cause, and he was forced by loyalists to go to the frontier. This circumstance attached the name of "Rebels in Disguise" to the "Dalhousie" people and their descendants for some years after the Rebellion. Another report was circulated that they had been banished from Glasgow to Dalhousie, and that they had fled from their place of banishment to Innisfil. This report was chiefly made to do duty at municipal elections, when any of the "Dalhousie" settlers were candidates.
John Lawrie, the first on the list given above, was a prominent person in his neighborhood, and a platform speaker of ability. His two sons, John and William, together with Dugald Mclean, were the three sawyers of the settlement, for which they manufactured almost all the lumber for the district with a whipsaw in one of the old-time saw-pits. About the year 1840, John Lawrie, jr., and Mclean obtained a canoe near De Grassi Point one Sunday afternoon and set out to cross the lake to Roache's Point on the opposite shore. They were never heard of afterwards, and it was supposed that they had been drowned off De Grassi Point.
The other son, William Lawrie, probably became better known at one day than any other member of the group. A few years after his arrival in Innisfil he married a daughter of Rev. John Climie, and filled a variety of callings. At one time he preached occasionally; at another he occupied the position of chief constable of this county, after having served a term in Bradford as Bailiff of the Division Court, and another in Barrie in the office of Sheriff Smith. At other times he was bailiff, auctioneer, etc., and travelled throughout this county to a considerable extent in these capacities; few men in his day knew it better than he. One of his most notable exploits was the arrest, in 1858, of Robert Coulter, the outlaw, charged with murder at Holland Landing. On another occasion he was in company with John Rose, of Bradford, when they were beset by robbers, near the place, but the two succeeded in warding off the attack. Subsequently he removed to Wroxeter, Huron County, where he carried on a conveyancing business for some years, and reached an advanced age.
Rev. John Climie, the second individual on the foregoing list, had been a weaver in a village seven miles from Glasgow. A brother of his started the famous Clark spool firm of Glasgow, the name of the firm continuing for several years to be Climie & Clark. His family consisted of four sons and some daughters, who came with him from Scotland. One of the sons died in Innisfil soon after their arrival. Rev. John Clime, jr., of this family, was a Congregationalist minister, ans was stationed from 1840 onward for sometime at Bowmore (now Duntroon), in Nottawasaga, and subsequently at Darlington, 1851; Bowmanville, 1856, and Belleville, 1861. It appears to have been difficult for him to abstain from taking part in politics. His son, Mr. W.R. Climie, was secretary of the Ontario Press Association, and editor and proprietor of the Bowmanville Sun until his death in 1894. William Climie, another son of the pioneer, lived on the homestead, on the second concession line. The two remaining brothers, George and Andrew, went to Perth County, and have left there a numerous line of descendants.
At Churchill Galvin Allan, one of the "Dalhousie" settlers, took up lot 16, con. 3 (N. half), in 1832, and lived there for about eight years, when he moved a mile further north, his sons have been identified with this neighborhood from the beginning of the settlement.
On the opposite corner of the cross roads, (on S. half, lot 15, con. 4), John Gimby, a native of England, settled with his family in 1833. Three children of this family died during the local outbreak of cholera in the autumn of 1849.
This family removed to the Township of Derby, near Owen Sound, where John and Joseph hewed out new homes for themselves in he unbroken forest. These two men in their neighborhood became well known, the latter of whom died on Nov. 21st, 1889, at the agoe of 63, leaving a large family. In the early years of its existence Churchill was known as "Gimby's Corners," and subsequently as "Bulley's Acre," from the rough characters who often congregated there and held a "Merry Dublin."
One of the best known citizens of Churchill for many years was Henry Sloan. By trade he was a waggonmaker, and pursued his calling at this place. He was a prominent Orangeman, one of his ancestors having come with William of Orange from Holland, and settled in Ireland. He was second deputy-reeve of Innisfil for two years (1869-70).
In the neighborhood of Lefroy, Henry Grose, who had arrived in the county in 1832, after some time spent in West Gwillimbury, settled on S. half, lot 21 con. 4, Innisfil, and had a sawmill there at an early date. He was a native of England, became a justice of the peace, and was at one time a member of the Township Coucil. His death occurred in 1888.
The village of Lefroy was named after Gen. Sir John Henry Lefroy, who, from 1844 until 1853, was in charage of the Magnetic Observatory in Toronto. Gen. Lefroy's first wife was a daughter of Chief Justice Sir John Beverley Robinson.
Johnn Cripps, who arrived upon S. half 20, con. 4, about the same time as the other pioneers of this neighborhood, at first performed all his farmwork with one ox; then, after fortune had smiled more graciously upon him, with a horse and an ox yoked together -- which presented a spectacle rather more amusing than convenient. Some years later he sold his farm, and shortly afterwards a false report was circulated by some one that gold had been found upon the farm which he had just left, causing him sorely to regret the sale of his possession.
While in this neighborhood, it may be proper to say a few words upon Bell Ewart -- once the commercial metropolis of this Lake Simcoe region. For a long time, immediately after the opening of the Northern Railway in 1853, it was the busiest distributing point in the north; for there the taffic of all Lake Simcoe centred. It was the headquarters of the boats, and the shipping, of the lake. In 1852, Sage & Grant, two capitalists from the United States, built a large sawmill there -- the largest in these parts at the time. While good timber was plentiful around the lake, a large business was carried on; but after a few years the timber limits became partially exhausted, the large mill was accidentally burned down, and Bell Ewart dwindled in size.
With regard to the orthography of the word Bell Ewart, a curious circunstance arises. The place was named after the late Mr. Bell Ewart; and the word is so spelled in all records of the post office department. But for some reason or other the most frequent rendering was Belle Ewart; and a majority of the older books and records persisted in using the final "e."
It is recorded, though with what degree of correctness we have been unable to learn, that a pioneer named Jacob Gill pitched his habitation, in 1821, on lot 23, con. 2, near DeGrassi Point, "just in from the lake shore, where for a number of years he was left the sole disturber of the woodland peace."
With Bell Ewart the list of deserted villages is not exhausted, for about three miles to the north of that place, beyond Cedar Point, on the shore of a small bay, was once the village of Lakeland. Here was a sawmill and two or three dozen houses, but the place lost its human habitations.
Returning now to the Penetanguishene Road, from which we have deviated, and still advancing on our way northward, the fifth concession is next reached, where a few settlers arrived quite early. The Maconchy brothers settled upon lot 15, con. 5, in 1833, having come from the North of Ireland with Charles Willson, as already stated. The career of the late Thomas Maconchy was sketched in our chapter on Bradford, whither his family went from this farm about 1840.
In 1832 came John Patterson and located upon lot 14, con. 5. Patterson was accompanied by Thomas Reive, who returned to Scotland, coming again to Canada in 1834, with the late Richard Boyes, of Churchill. The latter in that year became a settler on the same farm with Patterson, but Reive did not permanently settle on it until 1846, remaining there until his death on October 13th, 1889.
Other early settlers of the same neighborhood are included in the following list: -- Mitchell Scott, (1833), N. half 11, con. 5, Alex. Ross, (1835), S. half 11, con. 5, William Fisher, (1835), 11, con. 6, J. Johnson, (1835), S. half 9, con. 6, James Reid, (1830), S. half 19, con. 5, Alex. McLean, (1832), S. half 20, con. 5, Peter Gartley, (1833), S. half 21, con. 5, John Pratt, (1835), S. half 15, con. 7, W. McCullough, (1831), N. half 17, con. 6, James McLean, (1832), S. half 19, con. 7.
Where the eighth concession crosses the Penetanguishene Road, a group of well-known settlers located at an early period. "Squire" McConkey settled upon lot 16, con. 8, in the early part of 1829. His family was the first to settle upon the Main Road here, after it was opened. His son, Thomas D. McConkey, was a merchant in Barrie from 1843, onnward, M.P. for North Simcoe, and finally Sheriff of Simcoe.
"Squire" Benjamin Ross also arrived upon S. half 15, con. 8, in the autumn of 1835. For about thirty years he was clerk and treasurer of Innisfill Township, and the Innisfil post office of which he was postmaster during the same time, was the first in the township, and the only one for several years until the opening of the railway. He died at an advanced age in 1875, leaving a number of sons and daughters, one of whom being ex-Mayor C.H. Ross, of Barrie.
Samuel Maneer, a native of England, located upon N. half 15, con. 8, with his family in the autumn of 1831. A large number of descendants of his family are now residing in different parts of the province. A few other settlers took up lands near him about the same time, including James Robins and John Thompson.
James Wilson, William McCullough and William Booth were soldiers of Irish birth, who in 1831 were disbanded from Niagara or Toronto and did not return to their native country but took up lands in this township. With them was Joseph Orchard, a native of England, who also as a veteran soldier obtained land and turned his attention to farming in Innisfil. In the fall of each year when the turnip crop was ready to harvest, Mr. Orchard (and Mr. Wilson likewise) used his sword for "topping" the turnips, i.e., cutting the leaves off them, thus coming as near as possible to a fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy that the sword shall be turned into a plough share, and the spear into a pruning hook. It was the writer's privilege once to find another sword in this county used as a stove-lid lifter.
While in the southeast of Innisfil there was a distinctly Scotch immigration, in the west and southwest parts of the township there was a large influx of Irish settlers from Ulster. The two settlements were separated from each other by the "Big Swamp," which almost amounted to isolation, and on this account they have ever since largely retained the distinctive social features impressed upon them by the first settlers. These Irish settlers in the southwest arrived by way of Perry's Corners, (Cookstown), to the south of which, at a short distance, was the only road across the "Big Swamp," which extended far up into Innisfil.
In the autumn of 1824, John Perry located upon the corner lot of Innisfil. This man, it appears, and his sons, were inclined to follow Nimrod's pursuits, and in their early hunting expeditions wouold wander over the adjoining townships, which were then but thinly populated, calling at the settlers' houses. For several of its first years Cookstown was known as "Perry's Corners." Subsequently, one Dixon kept a tavern there, and it was then called "Dixon's Corners," which name in turn was changed, in 1847, to "Cookstown."
John Sutherland, a native of Sutherlandshire, Scotland, was an early settler in the first concession. He died May 8, 1888, aged 82 years.
Amongst other settlers who came at an later date to Cookstown was Thomas R. Ferguson, formerly M.P. for South Simcoe, who was also of Irish birth. He came to this country when quite young, and subsequently engaged in mercantile business at Cookstown for a number of years, with success. He first became reeve and representative of Innisfil in the County Council in 1852, and held the position for many years, during seven of which he was Warden of the County. In 1857 he was first elected member of Parliament for South Simcoe, and remained its representative till 1873.
Thomas Bathers, with his family, located upon the first concession, also, at an early date, and like the Perrys, their neighbors, were given to Nimrod's pastime
Henry Hindle, an emigrant from England, arrived upon N. half 7, con. 3, in "33 or '34. He was the first white man to cross the "Big Swamp" on the fourth concession line of Innisfil. Upon the occasion in question he was on his way with a grist to Holland Landing, with his oxen and a sleigh. Everything went well, until, on his way home he reached the swamp, where he was attacked by a pack of wolves. To save himself and oxen from being devoured, he was obliged to chain his oxen to a tree, and run around them all night, brandishing his axe and shouting all the time to keep the wolves at bay. When dayight came the wolves fled, leaving the sturdy pioneer to pursue the remainder of his journey unharmed.
In the same neighborhood, which has usually been known as "Hindle's Settlement," there arrived about the same time two brothers from the Borth of Ireland -- John and William Lennox. The former located upon N. half 8, con. 3, and the latter upon S. half 9, con. 4. Both have left numerous descendants. Haughton Lennox, a grandson of John, was first elected M.P. for South Simcoe, in 1900, and is the present member.
Thomas W. Lennox, who served as first deputy-reeve of Essa in 1886 and for several years afterward, is a son of William.
Amongst other early settlers from the North of Ireland, who took up lots near these men, may be mentioned: - John Scroggie, Matthew Gray, John Sharp, James McCormack, Stewart Wright, and others, all of whom came by way of Perry's Corners, and have left descendants in the neighborhood in prosperous positions.
The first person to disturb the woodland peace in Innisfil was Mr. Francis Hewson, of Big Bay Point. This man came to Canada from Ireland in 1817, leaving his family in their native country until he should prepare a home for them in the forest. At Big Bay Point he purchased 500 acres of land, and in 1820 the family arrived there becoming the pioneers of the township. Shortly after their settlement, he was appointed a magistrate, and in this capacity for some years he tied all the matrimonial knots of the district. He was the first magistrate in the county, and performed the first marriage ceremony. The children of this familw were: -- Fannie, Francis, William, and Anna. Francis removed at an early date to Duntroon, in Nottawasaga, and became, in 1850, the first treasurer in that township. William became a millwright and built saw and grist mills in 1852 at Painswick on the large stream thenceforth known as Hewson's Creek. Anna, the youngest, was the first white child born in Innisfil; and became Mrs. Davis, of Galesburgh, Illinois.
Owing to the lonely situation beside the Lake Simcoe waterway, over which passed the entire traffic between the frontier and the upper lakes, the house of the Hewson family sheltered many early travellers, fatigued by the toil of the journey. Amongst them were Sir John Franklin and his party, who passed through in 1825. After a residence of a few years at Big Bay Point, the family removed away, their farm became deserted, their fields were again overgrown with woodland, and nature once more reigned supreme. The forest of second growth trees which then appeared upon the scene of their first experiences, makes the place so attractive at the present day for those desiring to find retirement in the heated months of midsummer. In early years, Big Bay Point was called Hewson's Point from the connection of this family with the place. In 1834, Mr. Hewson left the Point, and with his family became a resident of Barrie.
Attention has frequently been called in these sketches to the fact that the pioneers mostly settled in groups, according to nationality. Several instances of this feature have already been found; and we now come upon another group of early settlers who had been pioneers in Markhan Township in the vicinity of Thornhill, but who re-settled in the northern part of Innisfil, just in from the shore of Kempenfeldt Bay. One of this Markham group, and the second man to arrive for permanent settlement in the township, was David Soules, who, with his brother, James, in 1823, purchased a block of land west of the Hewson Tract. The Soules brothers were of Nova Scotian descent, and were members of a family of twelve residing at Thornhill.
During the war of 1812-15 David had taken an active part in its stirring events, although he was then but young. He was at Little York when it was taken by the Americans, in April, 1813; he went with Major McDouall's party for the relief of Michilimackinac, in March, 1814, and assisted them in building fourty batteaux on the Nottawasaga River; he was present when the two American frigates were captured with their crews of sixty men; and he assisted in taking them as prioners to Kingston. He was also one of those who opened the military road from Kempenfeldt to Penetanguishene, towards the close of the war. While thus on duty during war time in our county, he formed a high opinion of its superior advantages for settlement; and, as we have seen, afterwards carried his ideas into effect by locating at Big Bay Point, almost before any others had disturbed the Simcoe forests. He settled there in preference to any other place, thinking that if a town should rise in his part of the country, it would be there. Unexpected changes are wrought by time; and the farm which he selected is now far from the beaten paths of commerce.
Soules, upon his arrival, built a small log house about three miles west of the Point, on a portion of his land (lot 26, con. 14), quite near the shore of Kempenfeldt Bay. This log cabin was replaced in 1838 by a frame one constructed of boards cut with an old-time whipsaw. At this place he continued to live for 52 years until his death in 1875, passing through all the experiences of Canadian forest life. With his ox team he assisted Sir John Franklin and his party across the Nine-Mile portage in 1825; and he often earned, in those early years, a few dollars, by teaming over the portage. His wife, Miss Youmans, of Scarboro Township, shared with him the trials of backwoods life through all these years; and their only child, Samuel Lount Soules, was born in 1823. Soules was a brother-in-law of the ill-fated Samuel Lount, and the part which he took in the Rebellion was one of importance and interest.
James, his brother and companion and those years, brought his wife from Thonhill in 1822. He was frozen to death near Hammond's Point, in the fall of 1833. His house was the second frame house in Innisfil.
The next settler, and also one of the Markham group, was George F.H. Warnica, a Dane, who had seen many parts of the world before settling in the U.S. Leaving New York State about 1815, he temporarily resided in Markham, but permanently settled in Innisfil, and became the first settler at Painswick, (N. half lot 13, con. 12), where he and is family arrived in February, 1825. No other settlers lived nearer than David Soules, at Big Bay Point, at distance of six miles; and many were the hardships which they experienced in reaching their forest home over the ice at Kempenfeldt Bay and through the deep snow to their land. Mr. Warnica died in 1847, at the advanced age of 83. His family consisted of four sons: John, George, Joseph and William, who have left a number of descendants.
John, the eldest, was the first assessor of Innisfil, his duties in this capacity having been required as early as the thirties; and on different occasions during the forties he also performed the duties of that office. In 1850 he moved to Wisconsin, where he died in 1882. George, the second son, became the first settler of lot 15, con. 12. It is said at one day he was champion axeman of the township, and the large size of this man, and the strength of his muscle, would seem to indicate the truth of the statement. As in the days of Asaph, "a man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees," so here in the pioneer days of Innisfil, it was of some moment to be a good axeman. He was the first representative, or district councillor, of Innisfil at the meetings of the Home District Council, at Toronto, in 1842, and was a member of the first councils of Innisfil in 1850-1-2, besides being connected with municipal affairs in various other ways. He was also a justice of the peace. His death occurred in 1886. Joseph and William were constables for the district, and as such attended some of the earliest courts at the county town. They were large, fearless and resolute men, not easily overcome in their efforts to kep the peace. Joseph was one of the constables. Joseph was one of the constable at the famous Steele-Robinson election at Barie in 1841. He was a carpenter by trade, and after living some years in Barrie, moved to Michigan, and perished at the close of the Civil War in the U.S., in which he had taken some part. William, the youngest son, was as intrepid as the others. One night, early in the thirties, while living at home at Painswick, the dog made a great uproar, from which William knew that something was wrong. He rose from bed, seized an axe, and without dressing marched forth into the darkness. The dog led him to where their cow was standing over her newly-born calf, keeping at bay a large and famished wolf which was trying to seize it. There was just light enough to see what was taking place. With one blow across the back from the axe he crippled the wolf so that it could not travel, and with another blow on the head he finished its career. The wolf was large, but very gaunt and famished, as wolves often were in the springtime, and this made it so bold. He became the settler of N. half lot 20, con. 10, where he resided till his death in 1876.
Amongst others who came from Markham and took up land in northern Innisfil were Nathaniel and Jonas Wood, two brothers, who settled upon lot 16, con. 13, in 1833, the former on the north half. The baptism of his child by Rev. Father Mayerhoffer, a minister of the Church of England, from Markham, who occasionally came in those early years to visit his former parishioners, was the first event of its kind in the settlement. The services on that occasion, and indeed on many other occasions, in those early years, were conducted in the loft of Warnica's Inn at Painswick, which appears to have been the only available place of meeting in the neighborhood for adherents of all denominations, unti as late as the Rebellion of '37.
Another of this Markham group was Samuel Wice, who came to Innisfil (lot 13, con. 12), in 1833. His brother, Henry Wice (N. half 13, con. 10), was also among the earliest arrivals. It was customary in olden times to have a very large fireplace and chimney in one end of the log cabin; but Henry Wice appears to have outstripped everyone else in that line by having the fireplace and chimney so large as to occupy the whole end of his house. In other words, the chimney was the fundamental feature against which he built his log caabin.
Following closely after these Markham pioneers came a small group of colonists from England, and located in a cluster near Big Bay Point: -- John Hammond, lot 24, con. 13, Moses Hayter, lot 25, con. 13, Joseph Hunt, lot 25, con. 12, Robert Fitten, lot 26, con. 12, John Pratt, lot 16, con. 11.
Hammond was a London carter, who had gathered considerable means, which he invested in Canadian woodland on the shores of Kempenfeldt Bay. He did not enjoy his property for many years, but died in 1840.
Moses Hayter constructed the first sawmill of the neighborhood, at the lake shore on his farm. He afterwards became the first jailer of this county. A sketch of his career appeared in the Pioneer Papers, (No. 1), of the County Historical Society.
To these families of English colonists may also be added the names of Webb and Cullen, the latter of whom, Samuel Cullen, was one of the earliest residents of Vespra, but soon removed to Big Bay Point. Another early resident of the same neighborhood was Robert Robinson, )N. half 27, con. 12). It is related of him that on one occasion, when the family ran out of breaed and were pinched for food, he threshed some wheat over a barrel, winnowed it in the wind, and carried the grist all the way to the nearest mill, at Holland Landing, on his back, and home again. Mr. Robinson was a zealous Orangeman, and the first Orange Hall in the township was built on the corner of his farm. The last years of his life were spent in retirement at Craigvale, where he died in 1865.
Tollendal had its origin with the erection of a sawmill -- the first in Innisfil Township-- in '29 or '30, by George McMullen. With him was associated in this work George Emes, a man of some experience in mill construction, who came from Roache's Point, in North Gwillimbury, for the purpose of building it. The mill was soon purchased by Captain Robert O'Brien afterward Admiral O'Brien, cousin of Lieut.-Col. E.G. O'Brien, of Shanty Bay, who in turn disposed of it to Mr. Edmund S. Lally. The latter gentleman became, therefore, one of the first residents of Tollendal.
Mr. Lally had come to Canada in 1835, with letters of introduction to Sir John Colborne, the Lieut.-Governor, and had joined his brother, Meyrick Lally, at Shanty Bay, who had preceded him by three or four years. Shortly afterward he purchased from Captain O'Brien the mill property at Tollendal, and resided there until 1845. Being unaccustomed to the conditions of life in a new country, he, at times, in common with all pioneers, had difficulty in providing for his family; but with time all these difficulties were overcome. He was appointed County Treasurer in 1845, and thereupon moved to Barrie.
His sawmill at Tollendal was then leased and carried on by Alex. Sibbald. A grist mill had been erected in 1835 beside the sawmill by three men who had united their efforts for that purpose. The water power at this place was good, and its proximity to Kempenfeldt Bay rendered it easily accessible by water to a large number of settlers. This was the first grist mill in the township, the settlers up to that time having been obliged to carry their grists to the Red Mills at Holland Landing. This early grist mill at Tollendal was rented and operated by Jas. Priest, who was a resident of the place for a number of years.
It was from Mr. Lally that Tollendal received its musical name.
At an early date when the County of Simcoe was about to be severed from the Home District, Tollendal partook in the strife to become the county town, it being at that time as large a place as Barrie. An agitation had been previously started to make Kempenfeldt the county seat; thereupon Tollendal also became a competitor for the honor. Mr. Lally decided that the capital should be located at the head of the bay, which was about midway betwen the two rival villages. And thus was determined the fate of all three places; Kempenfeldt and Tollendal dwindled, while Barrie, at the head of the bay, sprang into sudden importance and life. Some time after, Mr. Lally moved to Barrie. He held conjointly with the County Treasurership, the agency of the Bank of Upper Canada. Upon the failure of that bank, in 1866, he was instrumental in establishing a branch of the Bank of Commerce at Barrie, of which he was manager for a long time. Mr. Lally retired from banking, and died at Barrie, June 17th, 1889, at the age of 83. During his life he was commissioned Lieut.-Col. of the Simcoe Battalion.
Amongst the early figures of Tollendal was John Chantler, who was born in England in 1816, and was at first a member of the Society of Friends. He emigrated in 1832 and settled in Newmarket, but removed to Tollendal in 1839. For a time he operated the grist mills at the latter place; and with him resided his sister, Elizabeth, who was united in marriage on Jan. 10th, 1842, to Rev. George McDougall, the Methodist missionary to the Indians of the North-west, sketches of whose life have appeared from the pens of Rev. Dr. John McLean, and his son, Rev. Dr. John McDougall. Shortly after her marriage, and at the time when Barrie was experiencing a boom consequent upon its selection as the county town, John Chantler removed thither and became one of its first merchants. At a later time he left Barrie, and was for many years a resident of Stroud.
Other early residents of Tollendal were the Sibbalds. John came with his wife and family of small children to Canada in 1832. They arrived at Kempenfeldt, in November, when the weather was to rough fpr the steamer "Colborne" to land at Tollendal, so they had to cross the bay in a small boat to their destination after the storm had abated. They came from Edinburgh, although Mr. Sibbald was a native of Roxburgh, and his wife a native of Fifeshire, the two having met and married in the Scottish capital. Mr. Sibbald died, Sept. 26th, 1865, aged 65 years.
Alexander Sibbald, as we have said, was for some time the tenant of the Lally sawmill. John Sibbald, his brother, was also for many years a resident of Tollendal. Andrew, another son, of the same family, followed the teaching profession, and in 1875, when Rev. George McDougall, the North-west missionary, was on a visit to his friends in Innisfil, Andrew Sibbald accompanied him to the far North-west, where he has been a teacher of the Indians since that time. The father of this family, John Sibbald, was the proprietor of the earliest public-house in Tollendal.
Robert Simpson, in 1841, built a brewery at Tollendal, but it was destroyed by fire Jan. 1st, 1848. Inducements were than held out to him to locate his business at the county town, which he did. Thirft Meldrum also had a distillery at Tollendal, in its pa;my days, which was also destroyed by fire.
Among the later arrivals in the northern portion of Innisfil was William C. Little, a native of Gloucestershire, England. He had received an education as a surveyor, in which calling he served for some time in Australia, and was also in India, where he was engaged as a young man's private tutor. He came to Innisfil in 1847 and settled on lot 6, concession 13. In 1853 he became a member of the Innisfil Council and in 1856 was chosen one of Innisfil's representatives to the County Council. He served the township at the County Council for many years, retiring at the end of 1879. He was first elected M.P. for South Simcoe in 1867, and continued to represent that constituency in the House of Commons until his death, December 31st, 1881. Of his sons, E.A. Little represented Cardwell in the Ontario Legislature from 1894 to 1906, and became registrar of the Surrogate Court for this County. Another son, Alfred T. Little, joined the medical profession, and is Medical Health Officer in the county town.