tALI "" IBSIIY I ' YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 1944 A History of Simcoe County By ANDREW F. HUNTER IN TWO VOLUMES Volume I.— Its Public Affairs BARRIE, ONT. PUBLISHED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL 1909 Copyright, Canada, 1909 By Andrew F. Hunter WARWICK BRO'S & RUTTER, Umiied, Printers TORONTO CONTENTS. VOLUME I. Chapter. Page. I. The Hurons and the Early French 1 II. The Ojibways and their Surrenders of the Lands 10 III. The Days of the Fur Traders 21 IV. The Old Military Route and the War of I8I2 32 V. Surveyings the Land and Preparing- for Settlers 39 VI. The Subject of Land Grants 50 VII. The First White Settlements and the People who made them 62 VIII. The Beginning- of Lake Navigation 69 IX. The First Colonization Roads 80 X. The Roads under the District Council (1843-9) 95 XI. The Common Roads and Bridges of later years 116 XII. The Old Stage Lines, before the Railway Days 142 XIII. The Early Postal Service 152 XIV. The Northern Railway 160 XV. The H. & N. W. R. R. and the Amalgamated Northern and North- Western System 187 XVI. Other Railway Lines 204 XVII. Canals 211 XVIII. Old Elections and Parliamentary Representation 216 XIX. General County Administration '. 235 XX. County Municipal Affairs 257 XXI. Military Affairs 275 XXII. The Schools 281 XXIII. The Early Press 298 XXIV. The Pioneer Churches 304 XXV. The Industries of the Inhabitants 323 [iii] List ol: Illustrations Volume I. Page The first map of North Simcoe (1660) 6 Memorial Church at Penetanguishene 8 Chief Yellowhead's House, Orillia 15 Indian Council House and Church, Orillia (1831) 17 A view of " The Narrows " at the present day 25 The site of Fort Nottawasaga (1816-8) 36 George Lount, the first County Registrar of Lands (1826-72) 43 Jacob .^milius Irving, the first Warden of Simcoe (1843) 57 James Dallas, Orillia, Warden, 1844-5 58 Main Street, Penetanguishene 66 The Steamer "Morning," (1854) 72 Steam Craft in tne Harbor, Collingwood 73 The Inner Harbor, Collingwood 77 The " Midland Prince " in the Docks, Collingwood 78 In Lovering Park, Coldwater 89 Wm. Armson, West Gwillimbury, Warden, 1845-52 97 Lavender Falls 105 The Colonization Roads of the County, 1849-50 113-4 Henry Creswicke, County Surveyor, 1843-83 119 James Sanson, Orillia, Warden, 1853-6 125 Orillia — The Bay from Couchiching Park 129 Archibald Pass, the Pioneer Doctor, 1835-61 149 William F. A. Boys, Junior Judge, 1883-1908 153 John McWatt, the first County Clerk, 1843-52 154 Collingwood Railway Terminus — -The docks with elevator 167 The first elevator, Collingwood (about 1860) 171 The second elevator, Collingwood 171 The railway bridge at Tollend^l — the change from wood to iron, 1863 177 Angus Morrison, M.P. , receiving an Address 181 Lieut.-Col. R. T. Banting, County Clerk, 1860-1902 189 D'AIton McCarthy, M.P. for N. Simcoe, 1878-1898, and County Solicitor, 1873-98 199 W. D. Ardagh, Warden, 1869-71 205 [v.] vi A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Page Capt. Elmes Steele, M.P. for Simcoe, 1841-4 221 Hon. W. B. Robinson, M.P. for Simcoe, 1830-41 and 1844-57... 225 Sir James R. Gowan, County Judge, 1843-83 237 John A. Ardagh, Junior Judge, 1872-83 ; Senior Judge, 1883 241 E. A. Wismer, Junior Judge, 1908 242 The first Court House, 1843-77 246 The Court House after 1877 247 The first Jail, 1840-63 248 The County Jail of to-day 249 John Strathy, County Clerk, 1852-7 255 County House of Refuge, Beeton 271 General and Marine Hospital, Collingwood 272 Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie 274 Armory of the 35th Regiment 279 Rev. S. B. Ardagh, the first County School Inspector, 1844-6. . 287 Collegiate Institute, Collingwood 295 Thomas Fox Davies, the pioneer printer and publisher 299 The first Trinity Church, Barrie (erected, 1834) 308 Introduction. This work naturally divided itself into two parts, distinct from each other in some ways, yet interwoven in other respects. First, a history of the public affairs of the county, and of its material progress, its institutions, etc. Second, a record of its pioneers with brief sketches of their lives, more especially those pioneers who took some part in public affairs. As to the sources from which the material has been gathered for this work, only a few remarks are necessary. In some degree, the work of a person who undertakes to write a history of modern times, whether general or local, consists in going over newspaper files and similar records. The writer did some work of this kind, but he had also to develop the history of the days before the newspapers began in the county, and in so far as any plan could be made it was his chief aim to secure as much material as possible about the pre-newspaper days while it is still possible to get it, since it becomes more difficult to do so as time passes. For parts of the first volume he went through the printed proceedings of the District Council and of its successor, the County Council, from the beginning in 1843 to the present time, and also the Canadian statutes. For the second volume much was gathered at various times during the last thirty years from pioneers, most ot whom are now passed away To cite all the authorities, for the statements made herein, would take space only a trifle less in amount than the work itself. So it has been thought inadvisable to encumber the present text with footnotes stating the authorities, as these can be, for the present, supplied by the author to those who may require them and will apply to him. Attempts at the compilation of a general history of this county have hitherto been confined for the most part to two or three directories issued more than thirty years ago and to an Atlas issued to subscribers in 1880 at the high price of $12.75 each. The Gazetteer and Directory of Simcoe for 1866-7 (McEvoy & Co., Toronto, 1866) had some histor ical notes interspersed throughout its pages, and similar notes appeared in later editions of the same published by W. H. Irwin. A more extended compilation was the Historical Sketch in Belden's Atlas (Toronto, 1880) issued at the unpopular price mentioned above. These [vii] viii A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. compilations, all the work of non-residents, and anonymous, have a high percentage of error, which the conditions made inevitable. They give but scanty aid, as pilots, to anyone aiming at the preparation of a full history. Notwithstanding its faults, the Atlas sketch shows much patient toil and research, and as a first effort it deserves some credit. The printing, in 1895, of the Minutes of the first District Council of Simcoe, 1843-7, which was the period before the advent of the printing press in the county, was accomplished in 1895 under the supervision of His Honour Judge Ardagh, and was an important step as it aroused some interest in the county's history. Besides its utility it discloses some of the quaint proceedings of the governing body of the county in the earliest years of its existence. The first draft of this History appeared as a serial which the author wrote and published from week to week in the columns of the Barrie Examiner, beginning in the issue of that newspaper for October 24, 1889, and concluding in that of February 5, 1891. Appearing in that shape, it had the advantage of a winnowing through the columns of a newspaper, and it underwent the criticisms and corrections which such a process brings. The Hon. J. S. Duff addressed the County Council on January 30, 1908, requesting them to take the initiative in having a History of the County brought to completion. The Council having thereupon resolved to bring out a History, and having appointed a special committee consisting of Councillors A. C. Garden (Chairman), Messrs. Clark, Picotte, Scanlon, Potter, Lawson and the Warden (Donald Currie Barr), who has taken a lively interest in the production of the work, the author placed the original material at their service, with the reminder that much work was required to complete it. This they authorized in the following May, and the work then proceeded. Numerous long extracts were expunged from the original, and the remaining matter fully revised and increased fivefold, the result being the work now presented. The engravings are by the Grip Company, Toronto, and the typography of the work itself by Warwick Bros. & Rutter, Toronto. A History of Simcoe County. Vol. 1.— Its Public Affairs. Chapter I. THE HURONS AND THE EARLY FRENCH. When Samuel de Champlain returned to Canada from France in 1615 he brought with him four friars of the R^collets — one of the three branches of which the Franciscan brotherhood consisted, — to under take a mission work among the Indians of the country. One of these Franciscans, Joseph Le Caron, with twelve French soldiers, the very first summer of their arrival in Canada, made his way from Montre.il to the populous Huron tribes of our own county, travelling hither in the company of a party of Hurons who had been there to trade. Cham plain himself, with two other Frenchmen, followed with another party of Hurons eight days later. Both parties in turn journeyed by the usual route of that period, viz., up the Ottawa River, across Lake Nipissing, and down French River, by which they reached the shores of Georgian Bay ; then, passing down its easterly side, they arrived in the country of the Hurons, landing somewhere on the north-east shore of the Township of Tiny. As the island called Beausoliel's, which is marked on maps as Prince Wm. Henry, lies in the course of a canoe paddled across the entrance of Matchedash Bay, from the rocky islands of the eastern shore to the opposite mainland of Simcoe County, we may infer the most con venient landing place to be somewhere on this mainland opposite the south corner of this island. One of the Ojibway names of this island has a meaning descriptive of its position, lying as it does across the channel. The same island (Beausoliel's), has yielded remains of Hurons, thus affording further proof of having been on the line of travel in that early time. [1] 2 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. On arriving among the Hurons, Le Caron began his missionary work, but made slow progress until he gained some knowledge of their language. Champlain arrived at the Huron village of Otouacha on Aug. I, 1615; next day he went to another village called Carmaron, a French league distant. He next visited two other places with even more frightful names (Touaguainchain and Tequenonquiaye) : thence to Carhagouha, fortified by a triple palisade of wood, thirty-five feet high. They banquetted him at these places, and he describes in his Journal, with considerable detail, the course of events, giving also descriptions of the products of the districts through which he passed. Then, after visits to five more of the principal vihages, he reached Cahiague, with its 200 lodges, on Aug. 17. After some waiting, he went from Cahiague on Sept. i, wilh a war party of Hurons against the Iroquois, passing on his way, the fishing station of the Indians at the Narrows, which he describes, thence proceeding by way of Balsam Lake and the chain of waterways now known as the Trent route. Having returned to the Huron country in December from this expedition against the Iroquois, Champlain repaired to Carhagouha and found Le Caron, who had, in the meantime, continued his labors among the Hurons. After a few weeks' rest, the two made a tour in February, 1616, to villages and towns of the Tobacco Nation in Nottawasaga Township, and to the tribe called "Chevaux Releves," living further west in the valley of the Beaver River. In the succeeding summer, both of these pioneers returned from the Huron country lo Quebec. The Franciscans. After this beginning through Joseph Le Caron, the missionaries of the Franciscan Order labored among the Hurons at intervals for more than ten years. In fact, till 1629, the Order continued their Huron missions, the annals of which are given by Sagard in his two books printed in 1632 and 1636 respectively, and in which he also describes the Hurons themselves, as they appeared to him. The Order of St. Francis was a brotherhood of bare-footed friars, who formed themselves into a fraternity in the Thirteenth century ; and being of a more humble disposition than the Jesuits, their labors in our county have been less known, yet none the less worthy. De la Roche Daillon, a member of the Order, left Quebec in 1626 with a party of Hurons gathered there to trade, and with him Brebeuf and De la Noue of the Jesuit Order, all bound for the country of the THE HURONS AND THE EARLY FRENCH. 3 Hurons. He has left a narrative of his experiences, and Sagard in cludes it in his history. On Oct. i8, Daillon started from Huronia to visit the more remote Indian tribes in this province. He went by way of the Tobacco Nation, and then made his famous tour among the Neutrals, who lived in the territory westward from Lake Ontario to the St. Clair. On his return to the Hurons in 1627 he did not remain long among them, but soon went to Quebec, leaving his col leagues at work among the natives of this county. The once numerous nations of the Huron Indians, whom Cham plain and the Franciscan missionaries found in this county were so important in its early history that they deserve a separate volume. Accordingly, it will be only a mere outline of them which this present work can contain. But as relics of these Indians are to be seen in museums throughout every part of the world, having been taken from the county at one time or another, and for which it has become famous, it would be an omission, even in a general sketch, to pass this subject in silence. The three kinds of their remains best known are their village sites, burial pits, and trails in the forest, to each of which a few remarks must be devoted. Huron Villages. There are evidences in the early French writers of an increase of population in the Huron territory (now North Simcoe), from which we may infer that migrations took place. Champlain and Le Caron, in 1615, reckoned 17 or 18 villages in the area, with 10,000 persons. Bre beuf, in 1635 — 20 years later — found 20 villages and about 30,000 souls. [Relations (Canadian edition), 1635, p. 33; 1636, p. 138. J Here is evi dence of an influx from some quarter into the sheltered peninsula of North Simcoe, between the years 161 5 and 1635. Yet, further, accord ing to the Jesuits, there were in the year 1639 thirty-two inhabited villages of "the" Hurons in the same territory. There is no reason to doubt the accuracy of the statements for those particular years, but there are sites of upwards of four hundred Huron villages within that area. All these, however, were not occu pied at the same time, as the remains show ; some had evidently been abandoned before the arrival of the French, because all research has failed to reveal any traces of French intercourse ; while others yield abundant evidence of the presence of French traders. The Hurons were incessantly harassed by the hostile Iroquois tribes, and compelled to 4 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. shift their habitations from time to time; their filthy domestic habits also rendered it impossible for them to remain long in one place. They were thus obliged to lead a half nomadic life, although they were quite stationary when compared with the Ojibways, Ottawas, and other tribes of the Algonquin peoples. And hence it came that only a few of the Huron vihages, whose remains are still traceable, were occupied at the times of the census returns just mentioned. The sites of nearly all these villages are marked by artificial heaps on the surface of the ground, ashes and debris at some distance below the surface, stone and bone implements, fragments of pottery in great abundance, besides many other relics. Articles of early French manu facture are often found. These villages were of various sizes, ranging from two or three lodges to extensive hamlets. The largest site in the county known to us covers an area of more than fifteen acres. Many of them were palisaded ; but nearly all traces of fortification have been obliterated from the surface, owing to the great length of time that has elapsed since they were deserted. Nearly all the Huron villages were situated on elevated ground where the soil is light, but close to a supply of fresh water, and in several cases it is possible to locate a chain of villages lying along a particular trail, whose direction de pended on the physical features of the region. Their Burials. With many of the more important villages in the Huron country there are associated ossuaries, or bone-pits. Since the year 1819, when Simcoe County first began to receive European settlers, discoveries of Huron ossuaries have been constantly taking place. The number of these discovered and undiscovered, has been variously estimated; more than one hundred and fifty have already been excavated by dif ferent persons, but chiefly by the farmers. As to the number of skele tons in each pit, a great diversity exists. The ossuary of average size contains about three hundred, but a few have been found in the Townships of Tay and Tiny containing, at a moderate estimate more than a thousand, while others contain less than a dozen. These however, are exceptional cases. The Hurons selected light, sandy soil almost invariably for the pits, clearly because they had no good imple ments for digging heavy soils. The Huron mode of burial resembled in some respects that of the Sioux, Blackfeet, and other North-west tribes of our own day. The THE HURONS AND THE EARLY FRENCH. 5 body was placed, after death, upon a scaffold supported by four upright poles. At regular intervals of time the skeletons were collected from the scaffolds and buried in a large pit dug for the purpose. Brebeuf's account of the burial ceremony, (Relations des Jesuites, 1636), has. been fully confirmed by excavation of the ossuaries. In most cases, the small bones of the feet and hands, and such as could easily be blown from the scaffolds or removed by carrion-eating fowls, are not to be found, showing that the bodies were exposed on the scaffold before interment. In a few instances it is possible to find some large bones of the limbs (femora, tibiae, humeri), arranged in bundles of a size convenient for carrying. Although the thongs which bound them together have entirely perished, the surrounding soil kept them in their original position. Further proof of the strange mode of burial among the Hurons exists in the fact that the dimensions of the pit are almost always less than would have been required for dead bodies. No definite arrange ment of the bones in a pit can be traced ; although one sometimes observes that all the skulls have been placed with the face downward — an arrangement by no means universally adopted. The few ossuaries in which entire bodies were buried together, can easily be distinguished from the prevailing variety. When buried in this way, as sometimes may have occurred after a massacre, it was usual to arrange the bodies regularly with their feet toward the centre of the pit. After the arrival of the French, brass kettles were often buried with the bones. These were purposely damaged at the time of inter ment by knocking a large hole in the bottom with a tomahawk. Many of these kettles have been found in some ossuaries especially in those of the Townships of Medonte, Tiny and Tay. Besides kettles, they buried copper and stone axes, chisels, and, in fact, almost everything to be found in a Huron household. Their Forest Trails. The third class of Huron remains — the trails — have been singu larly preserved from obliteration by succeeding Algonquin tribes. These tribes followed the original trails that were used by the Hurons in the seventeenth century, and kept them open down to the clearing of the forest by the white settlers. Our knowledge of the location of these trails comes chiefly from pioneers of the district, who themselves used the trails before opening the present public roads. From the fact 6 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. that the sites of the Huron villages are now found along the same trails, it is clear that the paths recently closed were the original Huron trails. The foregoing remarks on the village sites, burials and trails apply to the Tobacco Nation, which dwelt in Nottawasaga Township when the Hurons dwelt in the. north-east parts of the county. The Old Huron Missions. The story of the Jesuit missions to the Huron Indians has often been told ; but as new facts arise in connection with the subject, such a story will easily bear repetition in the light of the new facts. The First Published Map of a Portion of Simcoe County. From Father DuCreux's " Historia Canadensis " ^1660/ . Intrepid missionaries of every creed, many of them working with out colleagues or helpers of any kind, have ranged far and near among the habitations of all kinds of aboriginal peoples. Yet the labors of none surpass in zeal or in strength of organization those of Brebeuf and his band of associates during their fifteen years of toil between the Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe. Briefly given by years, and in the order of their arrival the roll of these missionaries stands thus : — In 1634, Brebeuf, with Daniel and Davost, reached the Huron country; next year, Pijart and Le Mercier came ; again, three more THE HURONS AND THE EARLY FRENCH. 7 Jogues, Chastellain and Garnier ; then Ragueneau ; and the following summer, Jerome Lalemant, Le Moyne and Du Peron. This brings us down to the year 1639, the date of the building of Ste. Marie on the Wye, as their headquarters, after which a few others came. Father Daniel, in 1648, was the first of these to lose his life. This occurred during the destruction of Teanaustaye, at which Huron town they had established the mission of St. Joseph. At the present day many iron tomahawks have been found near the site of this town ; and at a solitary spot on the way to the next mission town of .St. Michael, the owner of the land found great numbers of these weapons. At this place the ground was bestrewed with tomahawks so thickly as to suggest that it was the scene of an Indian battle. In the destruction of St. Louis during the next year the Iroquois cap tured Brebeuf and Gabriel Lalemant, and took them back to St. Ignace, where they put them to death. The geographical position of St. Ignace has been an open question for many years. As at least half a dozen places had been suggested, the writer, ten years ago, visited all the Huron village sites known to him, within reasonable distance of Ste. Marie on the Wye, and reached the conclusion that it was on lot 11, concession 9, of Tay. Since that time two other places have been suggested, both at greater distances from Ste. Marie, but it does not appear that their claims are as good as those of the one on lot 11. The question is more fully dealt with in another work on the antiqui ties of the district, and so it need not be taken up in this general sketch. A modern post village in Medonte Township bears the name of Mount St. Louis, perhaps meant to commemorate the old mission, al though there is a geographical error in thus naming the place ; it would have been more properly called Mount St. Joseph, as the mission of St. Louis itself was about ten miles further north. Finally, Garnier was among the slain at the capture of the mission town of St. Jean in the Tobacco Nation ; and his companion, Chabanel, was murdered by a Huron a few days later. Thus, there were five Jesuit priests martyred in the Huron country. The remains of the mission headquarters of Ste. Marie on the Wye may still be seen where the River W3'e issues from Mud Lake, being known as the Old Fort. They are in a much-neglected condition." A Memorial Church at Penetanguishene was erected to commemo rate the lives of these martyrs. Built in the prevailing style of the 8 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. continent of Europe, with "turrets twain," which one also frequently sees in the Province of Quebec, it crowns the high ground in that northern town and overlooks the picturesque bay. The parish and church — the handsome new structure also — were named Ste. Anne's at first, after the early mission near there. The indefatigable efforts of the late Rev. Father Laboreau, the pastor, were devoted for many years towards the completion of this work. The corner stone was laid Sept. 5th, 1886, and the building was far enough advanced by 1890 to allow services to be held in the basement. It was dedicated in 1902. Church at Penetanguishene Erected as a Memorial to the Martyred Jesuit Missionaries. (While in course of erection). It would be an omission not to speak, at least briefly, of the "Relations" of these missionaries — the reports of their work in the Huron country (as well as in other parts of Canada), to the heads of their order in Quebec and in France. Like other books written on the field of action, especially books of travel, they breathe the open air of forest, lake and river. Notwithstanding the monotony of the par ticulars about conversions and sacraments, occupying so much space in their pages, and the drawback of having been written amid dangers and interruptions of every kind in rude mission lodges, they have a simplicity and charm peculiar to themselves. THE HURONS AND THE EARLY FRENCH. 9 The original editions of the "Relations" have been for a long time among the rarest of books. The three-volume reprint, made in 1858, by the Canadian Government, has also become a rarity. And the new series, published by the Burrows Brothers Company, of Cleve land, Ohio, will soon follow in the same direction. The latter issue has an advantage for English readers over the former one, inasmuch as the text is translated into English, the original French being given on the opposite page. Besides the fact that they are edifying, these "Relations" have been the chief authorities from which Canadian historians have drawn much information, althoug'h the RecoIIets preceded fhe Jesuits in this country, and also left a few volumes of original materials. In many ways the labors of these Jesuit missionaries, and the books they have left us, will remain a prominent feature in the history of this country. La Salle's Journeys to the West. The great explorer. La Salle, with his party of twenty-five men, passed this way in his expedition to the Illinois, in 1680. Making his way from Fort Frontenac, he followed up the River Humber, then crossed to Lake Simcoe, and thence by the Georgian Bay, he reached Michilimackinac. Again, in his expedition of the following year he took the same route. "At the beginning of autumn," says Dr. Scadding, "he was at Toronto, where the long and difficult portage to Lake Simcoe de tained him a fortnight. He spent a part of it in writing an account of what had lately occurred, to a correspondent in France." He concludes his letter thus : "I have a hundred things to write, but you could not believe how hard it is to do it among Indians. The canoes and their lading must be got over the portages, and I must speak to them continually, and bear all their importunity, or else they will do nothing I want. I hope to write more at leisure next year, and tell you the end of this business, which I hope will turn out well ; for I have M. de Tonty, who is full of zeal; thirty Frenchmen, all good men, without reckoning such as I cannot trust, and more than a hundred Indians, some of them Shawanoes, and others from New England, all of whom know how to use guns." With so many en cumbrances, it was October before he reached the Georgian Bay. Then falls a long silence over the country of the ancient Hurons and its environs, during which (for a whole century) very little is knbwn of what was happening there. 2 Chapter II. THE OJIBWAYS AND THEIR SURRENDERS OF THE LANDS. With the massacres of 1649 and 1650, the Hurons vanish from these parts, and the events therein occurring, for more than a century afterward, are less known. When we begin to hear of the region again the Indians are all Ojibways. Some writers have asserted that these Algonquin tribes came from the north shore of Georgian Bay and spread over the abandoned country of the Hurons ; but one should not forget the populous tribes of Algonquins who, in the days when the early Jesuits had a mission among them, lived in the Townships of North and South Orillia. There are no existing records to show that these tribes were ever completely displaced from their ancient possessions, although it is natural to suppose the massacre perpe trated by the Iroquois in their neighborhood would inspire them with fear and cause them to retreat for at least a brief period. One writer on the traditional history of the Ojibways, George Copway, has asserted that some Iroquois did take up their abode in the land from which they had driven the Hurons, and maintained set tlements, of which the principal one was near Orillia; but the tradition is yet unconfirmed by actual history. The region has teemed with traditions of battles in various places between the Ojibways and their hereditary enemies, the unrelenting Iroquois ; and indeed every burial pit of the Huron tribes brought to light has been accounted for as the result of some battle, by those unacquainted with Huron burial practises. Another writer asserts that soon after the massacres of the Hurons there was a migration, in 1653, to this county and other parts of Southern Ontario of Mississagas who had been inhabiting the banks of a river of that name in Algoma, and after them the Ojibways, from near Sault Ste. Marie. (Canadian Journal, Vol. 3, old series, p. 209). Whatever may be the value of these traditions, the first travellers, after the beginning of British rule in the eighteenth century, found Ojibways in the district now comprised within our county. A Few Old Names of Lake Simcoe. Some remarkable names have from time to time been given to Lake Simcoe, more especially by the Ojibways ; and it may be of 2a L 10 ] OJIBWAYS AND SURRENDERS OF LANDS. 11 present interest to review the circumstances under which they have been applied, more especially as there are some fragments of history in them. The earliest term by which Lake Simcoe was known was "Ouentaron," or "Ouentironk," which signified in the language of the Huron Indians who applied it, "Beautiful Lake," from which we would infer that Huron taste was aesthetic. Lahontan, in 1687, called it Lake Toronto, signifying "gateway," or "pass," in the Huron language; and many subsequent map-makers adopted this name for it. The later French traders gave it the name of "Aux Claies," which referred to hurdles, or latticework, employed in the taking of fish. May not the explanation of this term be found in the rows of stakes, or the "fence" at the Narrows, whose identification with the contrivance seen by Champlain, and described in his journal, was due to the late Joseph Wallace, sen., of Orillia? It is within the range of possibilities that this ancient collection of stakes or fish-weir at the Narrows, had some connection with this name. Lac aux Claies, frequently becoming corrupted into Le Clie, continued to be the name given for many years. The Ojibways of this district in the eighteenth century knew it by the name "Ashuniong," or, as it is sometimes given — Shain-e-ong, Sheniong, or Sinion. The Rev. Dr. Scadding, in a note to his paper on "The Toronto Landing," says this word, Sinion, or Sheniong is in terpreted by some to mean "Silver Lake." For another account of the meaning and origin of this name we are indebted to Dr. A. F. Chamberlain, formerly of Toronto. As stated to him, in 1888, by an aged member of the Mississaga band at Lake S'cugog, which formerly dwelt at Lake Simcoe, "Ashuniong" means "The place of the dog- call," and is derived from the Algonquin word, Ashuniun, "To call a dog." Various words in the Algonquin vocabulary are but the early French words Indianized, and this name of Lake Simcoe is so sus piciously like the French "chien" for "dog" as to suggest some con nection with it. The French "chien" enters into other geographical names, as in "Prairie du Chien," so it might be in this. Be this as it may. Dr. Chamberlain obtained the Mississaga tradition of the naming of Lake .Simcoe thus : "Early one calm day an Indian beside the lake thought he heard some one calhng a dog, Ashuniun ! Ashuniun ! The voice could be heard plainly, but there was nobody to be seen. So our people called the lake Ashuniong, the place of the dog-call." 12 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. In the manuscript notebook compiled at Mr. S't. George's trading post at the Narrows, which bears the date 1802, and is preserved in the Toronto Public Library, Lake Simcoe appears to be called "Tepa- nignon," but the meaning of the term is not clear. Again, in Copway's "Traditional History of the Ojibway Nation," the writer of which once belonged to the Rice and Mud Lake bands, he calls Lake Simcoe, "Wahweyagahmah." This name occurs fre quently throughout parts of Canada where Algonquins have been settled, and means in their language "Round Lake." It is an appropriate one for this lake, as without the bays at the south and west, its shape is quite round. In 1793 Governor Simcoe gave it the name by which it has ever since been known, not in honor of himself, but of his father, Capt. Simcoe. R.N. Buying the Land From the Ojibways. The official document which attests the purchase of the land at Penetanguishene from the Indians, has some curiosities in the way of orthography, for the Indian chiefs seem to have possessed names which no ordinary linguist can be expected to articulate without a good deal of practice : Chabondasheam Reindeer Aasance Otter. Wabininquon Pike. Ningawson Reindeer. Omassanahsqutawah Reindeer The Treaty, which bore these formidable signatures, was made at York, May 22, 1798 and was signed by Wm. Claus, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, on behalf of the British Government, and by George Cowan, Indian interpreter. The bargain was for a tract of land adjacent to the harbor of Penetanguishene. For ;^ioi, Quebec currency, those five chiefs "gave, granted, etc. , that tract butted and bounded as follows : — "Beginning at the head or southwesternmost angle of a bay situ ated above certain French ruins, (i.e., the head of Mud Lake, at the lower end of which is the ruin of Ste. Marie on the Wye, as shown on the sketch of the purchase accompanying the treaty) the head or southwesternmost angle of the said bay being called by the Indians OJIBWAYS AND SURRENDERS OF LANDS. 13 Opetikuoyawsing ; thence north 70 degrees west to a bay of Lake Huron, called by the Indians Nottoway Sague Bay ; thence around the shore to the place of beginning, containing all the land therein, to gether with the islands in the Harbour of Penetanguishene." In the subsequent treaty of 1815, the length of the line from Opetiguoyawsing, which was near Wyebridge of the present time, to Nottawasaga Bay, is said to be seven and a half miles. The tract of land purchased by this treaty of 1798 was all included in the Town ships of Tiny and Tay. Previous to this treaty of 1798, there had been a surrender in 1795 of the land adjacent to Penetanguishene harbor, which was intended as a camping place for the traders. But this earlier tran saction was an "agreement to purchase," as it appears, the actual treaty not having been made till 1798. After the visit of Governor Simcoe to Matchedash Bay in 1793, the harbor at Penetanguishene, which he had the sagacity to recognize as a desirable place for a fort, had continually been coveted by the Government. And the negotiations leading up to the final surrender of the harbor by the Indians in 1798, ah had their origin in his choice. A few years later another preliminary treaty with the Ojibways agreed, for the purchase of the tract of land between Kempenfeldt Bay and the Penetanguishene purchase. And in connection with the boun daries of this new purchase, Samuel S. Wilmot made an exploration of the territory in March, 1808. A stone mark at the water edge, twenty chains west of Kemipenfeldt S'and Point, as described in various Indian treaties of this period, was the starting point for the measurement of their boundaries. From this important spot, Wilmot surveyed the Penetanguishene Road in 1811, and it thus became the southerly end of the Oro-Vespra town line, as well as the point of departure of the military highway. The object in buying this tract from the Indians at this time appears to be to open a road by which the North-West Company could transport their furs from Lake Huron to York (Toronto), thereby avoiding the circuitous route of Lake Erie and the inconvenience of passing along the American frontier. At any rate, this was the object alleged in Smyth's Gazetteer, published in 1813. The preliminary treaty just mentioned was "an agreement to purchase," and this appears to be the tenure during the time of the war, when the road was hastily opened for military and naval pur poses. It was not until Nov. 17th, 1815, that the actual treaty was 14 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. agreed to, and signed. The three chiefs who ceded the new territory were Kinaybicoinini, Aisaince and Misquuckkey — names perhaps all frightful enough, yet in which we have no difficulty in recognizing the more familiar Snake, Aisance and Yellowhead. These three chiefs granted the tract of land bounded as follows : — "Beginning at a stone boundary, 20 chains N., 81 degrees w. from the base of Kempenfeldt Sand Pont, (which is projecting about five and a half chains into Kempenfeldt Bay), thence (i.e., from the stone boundary), N., 40 degrees W. , thirty-six miles and a quarter, more or less, to Lake Huron ; then along the shore to the bottom of Nottawaysague Bay, at the N.W. angle of the Penetanguishene pur chase; thence along its S'.W. boundary seven and a half miles to a small bay called Opetequoyawsing ; thence northerly out the bay, (i. e. , out of Mud Lake), to Gloucester or Sturgeon Bay and following the shore of Matchedash Bay easterly, southerly and northerly until it intersects a line at or near the mouth of a small lake, being the western boundary of a purchase said to have been made in 1785, thence south along the westerly limits of the said purchase, eleven miles, more or less, until it intersects a line produced N. 78 degrees W. from the waters of Lake Simcoe near the carrying place hereinafter mentioned ; then S. 78 degrees E. along the S. boundary line of the said last mentioned purchase to the waters of Lake Simcoe, near to a carrying- place leading to a small lake, distant about three miles westerly ; and then southwesterly along the northwestern shore of Lake Simcoe and Kempenfeldt Bay, to the place of beginning, containing about 250,000 acres of land. " The consideration the chiefs received for this tract was ;^4,ooo. A line from the stone boundary at Kempenfeldt, projected at the angle mentioned in the treaty, would reach the shore of Tiny Town ship somewhere in the vicinity of Six Mile Point, according to our modern maps. The treaty of Oct. 17th, 1818, completed the surrender of the territory from Lake Ontario to the Georgian Bay (then called Lake Huron unreservedly) and was the most extensive of all. Four chiefs, or principal men of the Ojibway nation, took part in the negotiations. Musquakie, or Yellow Head Reindeer. Kaqueticum, or Snake Cat Fish. Maskigouce, or Swamp Otter. Manitonobe, or Male Devil Pike. OJIBWAYS AND SURRENDERS OF LANDS. 15 And a fifth, named, Manitobinince, or Devil's Bird, with some kind of fish as his totem, apparently the pike, also subscribes his "devil ish" name to the treaty, although he does not figure in the text itself. These chiefs for the yearly sum of ;^i,200, granted the tract thus bounded : — by the District of London on the west, by Lake Huron (i.e., Georgian Bay) on the north, by the Penetanguishene purchase (made in 1815) on the east, and by the south shore of Kempenfeldt Bay, the western shore of Lake Simcoe, and Cook's Bay and the Holland River to the N.W. angle of the Township of King. This large tract contained 1,592,000 acres by computation. Chief Yellowhead's House, Orillia, afterward the First St. James' Parsonage. (By courtesy of Miss A. E. Stewart, Orillia). The reader has, perhaps, already observed how the process of buying the several parts of Simcoe County from the Indians took place from north to south, a direction quite the reverse of what we might expect. The annual distribution of presents for these and other land sur renders took place at Holland Landing in 1827 and 1828, as well as in previous years ; then at Orihia and at Present Island near Pene tanguishene and Midland until 1835; then at Manitoulin Island for the first time in 1836, and afterward always there. Thus the busiest 16 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. theatre of Indian life at the dawn of white settlement was just where, in the seventeenth century, Champlain and the early French mission aries had. found so many Hurons. But it was now shifting north ward before the advancing tide of civilization not to return. The most prominent or best known of the Ojibway chiefs who signed the treaties for the cessions of the different parts of the county was Musquakie, or Yellowhead. For many years he was the head chief over all the Ojibway chiefs in the district, and was a famous man in his day, his memory being still kept green in the name of "Muskoka. " The Government built, in 1831, a residence in Orillia for Yellowhead; the building afterwards became the first St. James' parsonage, and still exists, though in a much changed condition, as a private resi dence, having being moved to another street some years ago from its original position near the present parsonage on Neywash Street. In the Council House, also built about the same time, the early mission aries of all denominations of religion held services. It thus became known also as the Old Mission House, and as the Anglican Church was the first to send a regular clergyman to Orillia, in 1841, it was the first church of that denomination in the town, the accompanying illustration of that historic building, having been drawn by the Rev. Canon Greene from plans and descriptions. It was moved to another site, bricked over, and, like the first parsonage, exists at the present day in a modified shape. Musquakie, or William Yellowhead had his jaw shattered by a ball in the war of 181 2, and the wound ever afterwards during his life showed as a defect in the side of his face. He died at an advanced age, the burial taking place on January 14th, 1864. The register of St. James, in Orillia, gives his age at death as 95 years, yet many persons believed at the time of his death that his age exceeded 100 years, and Thomas McMurray gives this current belief in his book on Muskoka and Parry Sound. (Bracebridge, 1871). At page 36, Mr. McMurray says : — "Old Chief Yellowhead died in 1865 (1864) aged 106 years. He was an honest Indian, much respected by all who knew him, and he continued to frequent his hunting grounds (in Muskoka) till a few days before his death. On his last trip he called at the residence of the writer (in Draper Township), and remained over night." His body hes in St. James' Churchyard at Orillia. In his will he professed faith in the Christian doctrines. OJIBWAYS AND SURRENDERS OF LANDS. 17 In the days of the pioneers the Indians were much more numerous throughout this county than they are on the reserves to-day, and in view of their numbers, were of more importance in the life of the new country. In their system for governing themselves, the Ojibways had at least some well defined notions of land-holding and proprietary rights, when the first white settlers arrived and found them in occupa tion of the soil. They had divided off the land among different famihes or bands for hunting grounds, and observed these bounds quite strictly. Thus, John Jack and his brother Jonas had from the lake which bears his name (Jack's Lake) westward to the Blue Mountains ; the band, or sub-band, at Snake's Island, had a portion of the adjacent Township, of Innisfil; Musquakie, or Yellowhead, had his own lake now spelled Muskoka Lake ; and so on. Indian Council House and Church, Orillia. Erected in 1831. (Drawn from plans and descriptions by the Rev. Canon Greene). The first Indian Agent in this district was Capt. Thos. Gummersall Anderson, who had been a fur trader on the Mississippi and its tribu taries till the war of 1812-15. After the war he was placed on the staff of the Indian Department, and lived at Drummond Island. In 1828, when that station passed into the hands of the United States, he came to Penetanguishene, and two years later moved with his family to Cold- water. In 1837 he moved to Manitoulin Island, and on the death of Col. Jarvis (1845) he was promoted to the position of Superintendent of Indian Affairs. He finally moved his family to Cohourg in 1847, in and near which place he spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1875 in his 97th year. A sketch of his career, with illustrations, appears in the Sixth volume of the Papers and Records of the Ontario Historical Society, along with some reminiscences of his times. 18 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The Orillia-Coldwater Reservation. Prior to 1830, the Indians had wandered indiscriminately about the Lake Simcoe region ; but in that year, Sir John Colborne, the Lieut-Governor, collected them on a reserve of 9,800 acres, stretch ing from the Narrows to Coldwater. They consisted for the most part of three bands of Ojibways under Chiefs Yellowhead, Aisance, and Snake, besides a band of Pottawatamies, lately from Drummond Island, or Michigan. They numbered in all about 500, and were placed under the superintendence of Captain T. G. Anderson. The headquarters of Chief Snake's band was the island named after him; Yellowhead's band, which afterward removed to Rama, was then lo cated at Orillia and the Narrows ; while that of Chief Aisance was set tled at Coldwater, the other extremity of the reserve. A road was at once cleared from the Narrows to Coldwater along the famous trail, and during 183 1 a line of houses was built by the Government at a distance of a mile apart over a portion of the route. Shortly after ward the Government also erected, at Coldwater, a store, a school, and a grist mill, the latter of which began operations in 1833. This reserve was on different occasions visited by Rev. Peter Jones, and many are the interesting references to it in his published works. Mrs. Anna Jameson, the distinguished authoress, passed that way in 1837, and records her observations and experiences in Winter Studies and Summer Rambles (Vol. 3). She also recounts at considerable length her visit to the Indians of Manitoulin Island with Capt. Ander son. Other travellers have also left accounts of this early Reserve. John Carruthers, in his Retrospect, has also preserved a glimpse of the locality and its inhabitants as they appeared in 1833. The Indians on this reserve made rapid progress in the peaceful arts of the white men, according to the extant report for 1835 of Mr. Anderson, the Superintendent. There was a threatened outbreak of cholera among them in 1832, as we learn from the following letter, but fortunately it passed over without serious trouble. York, (Toronto), 6th August, 1832. Dear Sir, — The Lieutenant-Governor has just sent me a com munication from Mr. Darling, a surgeon, recently arrived at the Indian settlement at Coldwater, stating that a decided case of cholera had made its appearance among the Indians, and remarking that from the exposure the settlers are subject to, for want of shelter, the disease OJIBWAYS AND SURRENDERS OF LANDS. 19 would most probably spread amongst them. I beg, therefore, that you will, if circumstances should make it necessary, have erected such accommodation for them as you may judge their numbers and situa tions require and afford them all the rehef in your power. However, as the disease does not appear to spread at Newmarket or any other country place, I am inchned to think the settlers will, in a great measure, escape. (Sgd.) PETER ROBINSON. Mr. Wellesly Richey, Medonte. In 1836 the Indians surrendered this Reserve to the Government. Yellowhead's band removed, in 1838, from Orillia and the Narrows to Rama, where they made a purchase of 1,600 acres of land for ;^8oo — paid out of their annuities. According to the surveyor, Chas. Rankin, quoted in Lord Durham's Report (p. 174, edn. 1902), the settlers of Rama Township, after a trial of three years, had abandoned their farms on which they had made improvements. They had met with such serious difficulties from being separated by lands in the midst of their settlements owned by speculators, who had no intention of settling them, that they had not made the necessary roads. In this way Rama had become available for the Indians in 1838. Aisance's band settled at Coldwater, removed to Beausoliel and Christian Islands, where they have resided ever since. With the Reserve thus broken up in 1836-8, werfe connected the names of several teachers and missionaries : Law, Currie, Sawyer, Mulkins, Moffatt, Miss Manwaring, besides Rev. Messrs. Case, Miller, Stinson, Allison, Belton, and Scott. Mr. Anderson, the Superintend ent, visited Manitoulin Island in 1835, and shortly afterwards removed there to take charge of the extensive Indian establishment formed upon the island at that time. Attempts at Removal of the Tribes. In Sir F. B. Head's first year (1836), he removed from this county the annual delivery of presents, and held it at Manitoulin Island, to induce the Indians to retreat before "the accursed progress of civilization," and to retire upon the islands, as far as possible from white men — a course which Sir John Colborne had also strongly recom mended. Yet, from the very despatch (No. 95), in which Sir Francis B. Head advocated this humane service for the red men, it appears he also possessed a knowledge of the fact that manv Indians were living 20 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. on rich lands, with white neighbours execrating their indolence, drunk enness, etc., without making a single effort to improve them. The plan advocated and introduced by Elder Case and his co-workers, viz., to have Indian schools to overcome the degenerating surroundings the natives were living amidst, was obviously not that of Sir F. B. Head. Nowadays, the Government Indian schools everywhere, but more especially in the newer provinces, show that a vast change has taken place in the policy of the Government. Evidences of a different state of affairs in those times were every where plainly to be seen. For example, we read in the Journal of the Rev. Peter Jones, in June, 1827, when the distribution of presents was annually held at Holland Landing, how that Chief W. Snake com plained of Mr. Borland and Philemon Squires, threatening to flog him if he did not leave off attending the Methodist meetings, and how that the traders were exasperated generally at the Indians becoming a sober people. Restriction of a few traders would have been easier than moving the entire Indian nations, yet such was the remedy proposed and partly carried into effect. Placing the Indians on islands and tracts of worthless land was really a practice copied from Maine, New York and other border states, at that day. And although Head execrated everything republican, or what he was pleased to call "the low, grovelling principles of de mocracy," he copied really more from the United States than he thought he did. If in such barren, desert places, Indians failed to prosper as farmers, it does little credit to the white men to find fault with them for it. The question of removing the Indians remained a live one for some years. A General Council of Indian Chiefs and Principal Men was held at Orillia, on July 30th and 31st, 1846, on the proposed removal of the smaller communities, and the establishment of manual labor schools. The minutes of this council were printed in a pamphlet at Montreal, the same year, from notes taken in shorthand, and other wise, hy Henry Baldwin, barrister-at-law, of Peterborough, secretary to the chiefs in council. A number of clergymen, residing in the district, were present at this council, of which the place of meeting is named in the pamphlet as the "Lake Simcoe Narrows." Chapter III. THE DAYS OF THE FUR TRADERS. Some Noteworthy Pioneer Traders. Across the water of Matchedash Bay, from the village of Fesser- ton, or more precisely, opposite Bush's Point, are the remains of buildings known among the settlers there as "The Chimneys." On the shore at that place you could see, as the name indicates, an assem blage of old stone chimneys, which marked the dwelling place in the eighteenth century of an Indian trader and his family. About forty acres of a clearing were to be seen before the settlers came, and the stone foundations of some houses, while quite near the shore were the remains of a larger building, and beside it a stone well. It was near this trading fort — the habitation of an early trader named Cowan — that Governor Simcoe encamped when on his memorable expedition to Matchedash Bay in 1793 ; and although his Excellency visited Pene tanguishene Bay at the time, this was the remotest camp pitched during the expedition. The volume of Transactions of the Canadian Institute for October, 1890, contains the diary of Sheriff Macdonell, who accom panied General Simcoe and party on that occasion. It gives an ex tended sketch of this trader, from which we extract a few sentences : "Mr. Cowan is much liked by the Indians. He was taken prisoner by the French at Fort Pitt, during the war of 1758 and '59, when a boy. He has adopted all the customs and manners of the Canadians and speaks much better French than English. He has been settled at Matchedash upwards of fifteen years without once going to Lower Canada. He makes an annual trip to Michilimackinac to meet his supplies there and forward his furs to Montreal. He has in general six Canadians engaged with him, and is well known to that class of people by the name of Constant." He lived at that spot for many years, and brought up a family, all educated and respected. A cen tury has elapsed since this historic figure passed from the scene of his labours. A grandson of his died on March 23rd, 1892, near Penetangui- .shene, at the ripe age of 86 years. Wm. Cowan was born at Richmond Hill, May 15th, 1806, became one of the earliest settlers of Sirhcoe [21] 22 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. County, and saw a large share of its pioneer life. His father was killed by some unknown parties when he was four years old, and he was brought up by his maternal grandmother, who kept a wayside hostelry at Hogg's Hollow, (now York Mills), at the time of the war of 1812. One of this woman's sons, James Remi Vallieres, became a distinguished lawyer and rose to the Chief Justiceship of Lower Canada. This boy and Cowan were playmates, in youth, at their home on Yonge Street. With his grandmother, young Cowan came to the military post at the mouth of the Nottawasaga River, in June, 1816, where they stayed for two years and kept a canteen for the sale of cookery, whis key, etc., to the soldiers. (The name of her second husband was Asher Mundy, an American and their only son, Israel Mundy, was lighthouse keeper near Penetanguishene for many years, surviving till December, 1888.) When the soldiers removed to Penetanguishene from Nottawa saga, in 1818, she also removed her canteen. She was a noted person in her day and lived to be more than a centenarian. Young Cowan went, when sixteen years old, with the survey party of Captains Bay field and Collins, then engaged in making a hydrographic survey of Georgian Bay and the other upper lakes. He was subsequently two years with the Hudson's Bay Company, at Nipissing, and three years fur trading at Fort William ; always, however, making his headquar ters at Penetanguishene. He received a grant of land south of that place, and with his wife, a woman of Indian blood, settled upon it about 1865, where he remained till the time of his death. He was a most agreeable and mild-tempered man, not given to chasing for notoriety in the slightest degree, and as a result he was unknown to fame ; but the eventful times he had seen, and the experiences he had passed through, entitle him to receive a notice in the chronicles of the district. During the early years of the nineteenth century, the region at the south end of Georgian Bay, and the route by way of Lake Simcoe and the lakes to the east, held among fur traders a favorite position, both as regards their traffic and as a place for development with a view to making it a base for supplies. For instance, we find John Johnston, of Sault Ste. Marie, writing in 1809 in his Account of Lake Superior (in Les Bourgeois de la Compagnie du Nord-Ouest, by L. R. Masson, Vol. 2), in these words : — "A sure market for provisions could easily be accomplished by opening a qommunication with the Bay of Matchedash, from whence to the Island of St. Joseph the distance is only ninety leagues." He DAYS OF THE FUR TRADERS. 23 then compares this route with the Detroit route. Johnston did not doubt but that Matchedash, under this scheme, "would soon become the most thriving place in Upper Canada, and the centre of pro visions and transport trade for the fur countries." The early traders had used the Ottawa and Lake Nipissing route, because, as one writer says, "this (travelling in canoes), was found to be both a quicker and cheaper mode of transportation than in sailing vessels on the lakes." It is recorded that one of the partners of the Mackinac Trading Company of 1778 lived at Matchedash (probably the Mr. Cowan above-mentioned). Since he did not use the Trent or the Toronto route the reason for the disuse of Lake Simooe as the highway of the fur trade in the eighteenth century is perhaps to be found in the canoes travelling by another route. As early as 1785 Lieut. -Gov. Hamilton instructed John Collins, the Deputy Surveyor-General, to make a survey of the communica tion between the Bay of Quinte and Lake Huron, by way of Lake La Clie (i.e. Lake Simcoe). A copy of the instruction appears in Mr. J. J. Murphy's paper on the first surveys in Ontario, printed in Pro ceedings of the O. L. Surveyors, 1898, page 230. As early as 1802, Mr. Quetton St. George had a trading post at the Narrows of Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching for the purpose of bartering with the Indians, who had from time immemorial made that point a favorite rendezvous. This distinguished French gentleman, along with others, had emigrated to Canada in 1798, and acquired an estate in the "Oak Ridges" on Yonge Street; but finding this specu lation rather profitless, as Dr. Scadding informs us, he resorted to trading with the Indians in the remoter parts of the province. For this purpose he established several trading posts in various parts of the dountry, one of which was near Atherley, at the Narrows. In the Public Library of Toronto there is preserved a manuscript note book which did service at this early trading post. It bears the date 1802, and contains a short vocabulary of Indian words, evidently the work of a clerk who, in order to master the words that he was obliged to make use of every day, wrote them down with their English mean ings. Mr. St. George carried on a prosperous trade with the Indians, with whom he was very popular. They called him Wau-be-way-quon, which means "white hat," as it was his custom to wear a white hat in the summer season. Just how long he continued his trading post, it is not easy to say; but he gave up business, it is supposed, some time 24 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. previous to 1820, and returned to France, having amassed a fortune in his enterprises. The well-known firm of Indian traders, Borland, Laughton & Roe, of Newmarket and Holland Landing, had a trading post at the Narrows at an early date, and maintained it for some years. Owing to its being frequented by the Indians in considerable numbers from the earliest times, Orillia, as well as the Narrows, made a favorite point for the operations of the traders. In 1862-3, the Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post at Orillia, and continued it for about seventeen years, with Thomas Goffatt in charg<" At about the same period (1866, etc.), D. J. Mitchell was the agent of the Hud son's Bay Company at Penetanguishene. To a considerable degree, the old Nor'-Westers, who were mostly Highlanders, and their employees chiefly French-Canadians, were crowded out by the union of the two fur companies in 1821. The influence of the original Hudson's Bay Company men became para mount in the new concern, as did the name of the new company itself. Many faithful servants of the late North-West Company were left without a job, as the combined staffs were more than the work required. Many others became dissatisfied and left of their own accord. It was from some such cause as the foregoing that John Mc Donald, the chief factor of the North-West Company, in the early twenties, betook himself to the life of a civilian, and settled on lot 5, on the east side of the Penetanguishene Road, a mile north of the Kempenfeldt town lot. Here James Soules, of Big Bay Point, built a shanty for him; and, as McDonald had a good library, Soules re ceived in part payment for the work some of the books, including such books as Plutarch's Lives, and Jane Porter's Scottish Chiefs. Like many a fur trader of those days, McDonald's wife was a squaw who had (like Pocahontas and Capt. John Smith), saved his life when the warriors of her tribe in the far west were going to end his days abruptly. There was no priest anywhere near them to perform the marriage ceremony, so they were not married except by Indian custom. In the course of time more than half a dozen children were born, and when they came to the Kempenfeldt neighborhood to live, it was a noted sight to see the little half-breed children playing on the mud floor of their shanty with the leather-bound volumes of Plutarch or others, and the gold doins of their father. [25] DAYS OF THE FUR TRADERS. 27 Just before the birth of another child, McDonald began to realize the need for a legal marriage, and, as there was a priest in the country by this time, at Penetanguishene, perhaps temporarily, they became regularly married, the priest having been called to their home for the purpose. After this belated ceremony, one child was born, (Catherine), who was the last one born ; and, as McDonald died without leaving a will a year or two after her birth, she became the sole heiress of all his property. According to the gravestone in the old Church of England ceme tery at Newmarket, his wife died Jan. 15th, 1828, and he died a month later, Feb. 17th, 1828. On account of the fact that McDonald had befriended Sir John Franklin in 1825 on his overland trip, and perhaps also in 1822 and earlier. Lady Franklin sent out this gravestone in after years from England, to mark their resting places. The nature of McDonald's estate which he left was, for the most part, like this. The Hon. Wm. McGillivray, for the North-West Company, had applied as far back as the year 181 1 for a grant of 6,000 acres of land along the then newly-surveyed road from Kem penfeldt to Penetanguishene. There was much delay, as usual, on the part of the Government officials in granting this request. But in 1829, by an Order-in-Council, the land was appropriated to the Hon. Wm. McGillivray, who had assigned his claim to John McDonald, now deceased. In this way, Catherine McDonald, the only legitimate child and heiress-at-law of her deceased father, inherited the property. She was then about three years of age, without father or mother, yet her relatives gave her a good education in Glengarry County, whither they had returned from Simcoe County. When she grew up she became the wife of Angus Grant, and they returned to this county to reside at Wyebridge, where he kept a store for some years. The First English-Speaking Travellers. The first English-speaking traveller to pass this way after Canada became a part of the British possessions was Alexander Henry, who, as a captive among the Indians of the Sault Ste. Marie, accompanied them in 1764 to Niagara. In the narrative of his adventures, which has become a classic work in Canadian history, he mentions their passage through Lake Simcoe (then called Lake La Clie). A Canadian edition of this book appeared in 1901, under the editorship of the late Dr. James Bain, Librarian of the Toronto Public Library. 28 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Governor Simcoe made a passage through Lake Simcoe in 1793 on his famous journey from Humber Bay to Penetanguishene, and return. In Macdonnell's Diary of that trip, mentioned in an earlier part of this chapter, there are several particulars of interest, especi ally the details of his visits and meetings with some of the numerous bands of Indians on Lake Simcoe in that day. Of the early travellers, not connected with military affairs, there was John Goldie, who visited Holland Landing in 1819 as a travelling botanist. The manuscript of his Diary was in the possession of his son-in-law. Principal Caven, of Knox College, Toronto, and his grand son. Dr. James Caven, published it in 1897. The object of the tour made by Mr. Goldie is briefly set forth in the opening words of his Diary: "On June 4th, 1819, I commenced my long-talked of journey to examine the natural but more particularly the botanical productions of Upper Canada and of the States in the vicinity of the Lakes." He set out from Montreal on this date, and in the course of his journey during the summer visited Kingston, York (Toronto), Holland Land ing, and many other places. After travelling from Montreal to York (Toronto), along the lake shore road, he made a digression at the latter place, on June 26th, i8ig, to Holland Landing, which he reached on the 27th. His arrival is thus recorded in his Diary: "Having gone on slowly I arrived in the evening at what is called the Upper Landing Place, which is about nine miles by water from Lake Simcoe. I stopped at the farthest house upon this road, and have bespoken a week's lodging here, as I expect that it is a spot very interesting for the botanist." His entry for July 3rd, is interesting, as it furnishes us with in formation regarding the troops stationed at Drummond Island : "This evening a company of the 70th Regiment from Drummond Island, in Lake Huron, arrived here. They have been up the country for two years, and have been exchanged for two companies of the 68th." On July 4th he made the following remarks, which will be of considerable interest to readers in this district: "This being the last day of my abode here, I shall mention a few things more concerning this part of the country. Lake Simcoe is between thirty and forty miles long, and of considerable breadth, but I could not ascertain accurately how many miles. On the south side there is what is called a river (the Holland), which, although of no great breadth, has yet sufficient depth to allow schooners to come to the Upper Landing Place, which is nine miles from the lake and thirty-six from York. DAYS OF THE FUR TRADERS. 29 The river apparently is stagnant, and the water has more the appear ance of flowing in a retrograde motion, from the lake, than the contrary. "After crossing the lake there is nine miles of a portage, (this evidently refers to the Nine Mile Portage from the head of Kempen feldt Bay), and then there is water carriage all the way to Lake Huron. It is very probable that at no very distant period this will become the most frequented of all the routes to the North West. At the present time there are no houses nor stores on the north side of Simcoe at the portage, which makes it very troublesome, and also much of the goods transported are liable to be injured by the weather. Since the steam boat has commenced to sail on Lake Erie, the cheapest and most expeditious mode of sending down the furs from the interior is by that route, although it is four hundred miles longer than by Simcoe. There is nothing but one schooner upon the lake (Lake Simcoe), which is sufficient for all the trade at present. Since I came here I have seen a number of rare plants, and some of them are nondescripts." Sir John Franklin in 1825. Few distinguished visitors to this section of Ontario left so deep an impression upon the settlers, as Sir John Franklin did, when, in April, 1825, he passed through on his second overland expedition to the Arctic Sea. Recollections of this event, which was rendered still more notable by the subsequent fate of the Arctic hero, remained with the early settlers down even to recent years. And on this account, the following brief description of his visit, gathered partly from the pioneers, who resided in the neighborhood at the time, and partly from Franklin's published travels (now rare), may not be without interest to the present inhabitants : — In 1824, he received instructions from the British Government to find a northern passage by sea between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He immediately sent out orders to Canada for two large canoes, with necessary equipment and stores, to be deposited at Penetanguishene the naval depot of Lake Huron, in the autumn of that year, to await his arrival in the following spring. Acting in accordance with the instructions he had received, he embarked at Liverpool, i6th Feb., 1825, with Lieut. Back, Dr. Richardson, Mr. Kendall, Mr. Drummond and four marines, and in due course of time the party landed at New York City. From that point they at once set out on their journey 30 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. to Upper Canada, traversing the State of New York on the way. The rest of their journey hither is recorded by Franklin himself in the following words : — "We next crossed Lake Ontario in a sailing boat, and came to York, (now Toronto), the capital of Upper Canada, where we were kindly received by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Peregrine Maitland, and by Colonel Cockburn, and the Commissioners then employed on an inquiry respecting the value of the Crown Lands. From York we passed on to Lake Simcoe, in carts and other conveyances, halting for the night at the hospitable house of Mr. Robinson, of Newmarket. "We crossed Lake Simcoe in canoes and boats, and landed near the upper part of Kempenfeldt Bay, but not without being obliged to break our way through the ice for a short distance. A journey of nine miles, performed on foot, brought us to the River Nottawa saga, which we descended in a boat ; and, passing through a part of Lake Huron, arrived at Penetanguishene. At this place we were hospitably entertained by Lieutenant (now Captain), Douglas, during eight days that we waited for the arrival of our Canadian voyageurs from Montreal." From the Head of Kempenfeldt Bay, which Franklin mentions, they proceeded across the "Nine Mile Portage," to Willow Creek, which was then an important highway. In making this portage, they were assisted by David Soules, with his ox-team, from Big Bay Point, where, for a long time, he was the central figure. Frankhn had, at this point of the journey, some French-Canadian voyageurs with him, and these were reinforced at Penetanguishene by others from Mon treal, as he relates. Franklin and his party reached Great Bear Lake in the autumn, and spent two years in exploring the Arctic coast line of Canada ; his travels on this occasion, having been described in his "Narrative of a Second Expedition to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the years 1825-6-7." He returned from the Arctic region by way of the Ottawa River, which he descended in a canoe paddled by fourteen voyageurs. The party reached Ottawa City — then a village called Bytown — on the 15th of August, 1B27. While at Ottawa, he fell in with Capt. Basil Hall, the distinguished traveller, who has preserved in his rare volume of etchings, portraits of three Canadian voyageurs of Frank lin's party — Francois Forcier, Enfant Lavallee and Malouin, the latter of whom was with Franklin during the whole of his journey, as steers man. DAYS OF THE FUR TRADERS. 31 One of Franklin's Canadian colleagues and helpers about this time was John McDonald, chief factor of the North-West Company, who was mentioned on a former page, and who died in February, 1828. Over the grave of this man and his wife, in the Church of Eng land cemetery, at Newmarket, is a headstone sent out from England by Lady Franklin, in memory of the man who had given so many services during these overland journeys. After Franklin's last voyage, in 1845-6, from which neither he nor his crew ever returned, some residents of this county took part in the searching expeditions sent out to find him, receiving adequate land grants for their services. Chapter IV. THE OLD MILITARY ROUTE AND THE WAR OF 1812. MackinaWj and an Important Pass Thither. So frequently does the name of Michilimackinac occur in this country's history in connection with the important early route thither by way of Lake Simcoe, that they are entitled to separate mention. Although, in 1761, the British were the first to build a regular fort at Michilimackinac, the French had maintained a palisaded post there from 1687, when Denonville, the Viceroy of Canada, completed his comprehensive arrangements for the defence of the country. And even from the time of its discovery, in 1610, the place had been the chief resort in the west for the early French bush-rangers (coureurs des bois) and traders who roved about in that immense wilderness amongst the Indians. There were three routes thither, which were, in the order of their importance as well as position, as follows : By the Ottawa River ; by Toronto and Lake Simcoe ; and by Detroit. As early as 1686, Denonville writes that he had given orders to fortify the two western passages leading to Mackinaw. "Sieur du Lhu," (Duluth), he says, " is at that of the Detroit of Lake Erie, and Sieur de la Durantaye at that of the portage of Toronto. These two posts will block the passage against the English, if they undertake to go again to Michilimaquina. " From that time onward the pass to Michilimackinac, 'oy Lake Simcoe, figures more or less extensively in Canadian history, and especially prominent does it become after the establishment of Fort Rouille on the site of the present Toronto, 1749. The important part which this famous pass afterwards played in the war of 1812-15 must be sketched at some length. The Nottawasaga River in the War of 1812. On July 17th, of the opening year of the war, Michilimackinac was captured from the Americans, who fully realized their loss, and towards the end of 1813, their generals began to make preparations for its recapture. News of this design reaching the small British garrison at the place, there was great alarm, and a despatch was [32] OLD MILITARY ROUTE AND WAR OF 1812. 33 sent immediately to the Canadian military headquarters at Kingston, appealing for aid to ward off the coming attack. A relief expedition accordingly left Kingston in February, 1814, consisting of ten officers and two hundred picked men, with twenty artillerymen, and twenty men of the Royal Navy, all under the com mand of Lieut.-Col. Robert McDouall, of the Glengarry Light In fantry. A large part of the route lay through territory then but little known. To this must be added another hardship — the severity of the weather in which the march was made. From Kingston they proceeded to "Little" York, which was still suffering from the grim experiences of its capture. They next advanced northward by Yonge Street to Holland Landing, after which they passed entirely out of the settlements, and crossed the frozen surface of Lake Simcoe. Beyond this lake the forest was then unbroken, except by an Indian portage, which for the passage of their supplies, they widened as they advanced. This road, leading from the head of Kempenfeldt Bay to Willow Creek, a branch of the Nottawasaga River, was called the "Nine-Mile Portage," and afterwards became an important colonization road. At its north westerly end, near Willow Creek, a wooden fort was subsequently erected, and a hamlet flourished there for several years, but it has long since disappeared, and its site is marked by only a few hillocks of earth and stones. Proceeding on their course, the party halted on the banks of the Nottawasaga River, fully thirty miles from its outlet, and erected for themselves a number of temporary wooden huts. Here they cut down pine timber, hewed and prepared it on the spot, and constructed twenty-nine large batteaux, in which they completed the journey 10 Michilimackinac. On the Nottawasaga, a short way below where it is joined by Marl Creek, between Minesing and Edenvale, is the place where the expedition halted. It is known as the "Glengarry Landing," and was a familiar landmark for a long time, on account of the clearing they had made ; but the trees of second growth which cover it are now so tall as to make it almost indistinguishable from the surrounding forest. From the journal of Captain Bulger, who accompanied the expedition, one gets an interesting glimpse of their departure from this place, and passage across Georgian Bay : — "We embarked on the 22nd of April, having previously loaded the. flotilla with provisions and stores, descending the Nottawasaga River — the ice in the upper part of which being still firm, we opened a channel through it — encamped on the night of the 24th of April 34 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. in a dismal spot upon the north-eastern shore of Lake Huron (Georg ian Bay), and on the following morning entered upon the attempt to cross that lake, covered as it was, as far as the eye could reach, by fields of ice, through which, in almost constant, and, at times, terrific storms, we succeeded, with the loss of only one boat in effecting a passage of nearly three hundred miles, arriving at Michilimackinac on the i8th of May. The expedition had occupied upwards of one hundred days, including our passage over the lake." Taking into consideration the time of year, the comparative severity of the season, and the distance to be travelled, one may safely say that an expedition, more hazardous than this, is seldom undertaken. It was almost a continual struggle for nineteen days with the waves of the Georgian Bay, and the floating masses of ice. The commander of the expedition wrote in high terms of the abilities and perseverance of the officers, as well as the endurance of the men. It was not until the 28th of July that Captain Sinclair, the Ameri can commander, made an attack upon Michilimackinac — an attack, however, which resulted in failure. Had not the relief expedition arrived, as it did, some weeks before, the result would doubtless have been very different. But the meditated recapture had been fore stalled, and thus was saved the chief post on the upper lakes. The North-West Company had a vessel on Georgian Bay called the Nancy, which was employed in the fur trade, then so extensive in the district. Having learned that Lieut. Miller Worsley, of the British Navy, with the Nancy, was at the mouth of the Nottawasaga River, Sinclair next turned his attention in this direction. But here also he was doomed to meet with disappointment. Lieut. Worsley had been informed, by a messenger, of the blockade at Mackinaw, and in antici pation of an attack on his own position, began to erect a block-house, about two miles up the river. In a few days the American captain and his vessels arrived at the Nottawasaga, and attacked the small party of British at the place. The brief account of the engagement, by James, in his Naval History of Great Britain, will suffice to show what took place : — "The Nancy was lying about two miles up the Nottawasaga, under the protection of a block-house, situated on the south-east side of the river, which here runs parallel to, and forms a narrow peninsula with the shore of Gloucester Bay (Nottawasaga Bay). This enabled Captain Sinclair to anchor his vessels within good battering distance of the block-house. A spirited cannonade was kept up between them and the block-house, where, besides two 24-pounder carronades on OLD MILITARY ROUTE AND WAR OF 1812. 35 the ground, a six-pounder was mounted. The three American vessels outside, composed of the Niagara, mounted 18 carronades, (thirty- two pounders), and two long twelve pounders, and the Tigress and the Sdorpion mounted between them one long twelve, and two long twenty-four pounders. In addition to this force, a five-and-a-half inch- howitzer, with a suitable detachment of artillery, had been landed on the peninsula. Against these 24 pieces of cannon, and upwards of 500 men, were opposed one piece of cannon and twenty-three officers and seamen. "Further resistance was in vain; and just as Lieut. Worsley had prepared a train, leading to the Nancy from the block-house, one of the enemy's shells burst in the latter, and both the block-house and the vessel were presently blown up. Lieut. Worsley and his men escaped in their boat up the river; and fortunately, the whole of the North-West Company's richly laden canoes, bound across th'e lake, escaped also into French River. Having thus led to the destruction of a vessel which the American commander had the modesty to describe "His Britannic Majesty's schooner Nancy,' Captain Sinclair departed for Lake Erie, leaving the Tigress and the Scorpion to blockade the Not tawasaga, and, as that was the only route by which supplies could be readily forwarded, to starve the garrison of Michilimackinac into a surrender. After remaining at their station for a few days, the two American schooners took a trip to the neighborhood of St. Joseph's. Here they were discovered, on the 25th August, by some Indians on the way to Michilimackinac." A few days later these two vessels were captured by the British, and all the men on board taken prisoners to Kingston. Old soldiers used to tell how Lieut. Worsley and his men, in the retreat up the river, were pursued by several boatloads of the enemy. They went on until they came to a bend in the river where it was unusually narrow. On the east side the bank arose high above the water, while on the west side it was low and swampy. Here the retreating party felled trees into the river to obstruct their pursuers. These came up about dusk, having been detained by scouts, who fired a few shots upon them according to design, at long distances and from safe hiding-places. No sooner had they reached the fallen trees than they became entangled in the branches. The muskets of the small British party in ambush on the shore gave them volley after volley, and compelled them to make a hasty retreat down the river with their killed and wounded. After the close of the war, in 1816, the British officers, recognizing the strategetic position of the place, gave orders for the erection of a fort. The site chosen was a more sheltered spot, and two miles 36 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. higher up the river than the place where the Nancy was blown up. A garrison occupied it for two years, and were then removed to Pene tanguishene. Aug. Porter relates that in 1803 a smah sloop, called the Niagara, of 30 tons, was built at Cayuga Creek, on the Niagara River by the U. S. Government, but not put in commission. Porter, Barton & Co. purchased her in 1806, and changed her name to the Nancy, and she was sailed by Capt. Richard O'Neil. It is not improbable that this was the same Nancy owned by the North-West Company in 1814. The Site of Fort Nottawasaga (1816-18), as it appears to-day. It is stated, however, in a paper by Lieut.-Col. E. Cruikshank on this episode of the war, (the manuscript of which was presented to the Ontario Historical Society, and the article itself printed in the Collingwood Bulletin of Nov. 19th and 26th, 1908), that the Nancy was built in 1789 by other merchants. . This may be correct, although the identity of the vessel is not clearly established, owing to several changes of ownership. In view of the extensive forests hereabout, filled with good timber, which might easily have been kiln-dried in a short time or otherwise seasoned, it is a little amusing that the Lords of the Admiralty gave orders to prepare (in England) the frames of "two sloops" to be shipped to Montreal with materials for rigging and equipping them to sail on OLD MILITARY ROUTE AND WAR OF 1812. 37 Georgian Bay. Their Lordships had previously refused to prepare the frames of "a frigate and two brigs," as they were not aware that it would be practicable to transport from Montreal to Matchedash Bay such large timbers. (Can. Archives, 1896, Lower Canada State Papers, p. 46). David Soules, of Big Bay Point, assisted in building a number of batteaux for Drummond Island, on the Nottawasaga River — per haps on the very occasion mentioned above, when the relief expedition halted on the banks of the river for that purpose. When the two American frigates, or armed schooners, came to blockade the Notta wasaga, an Indian runner was dispatched to Penetanguishene, where a naval depot had just been located, to announce the arrival of the American boats. Their subsequent capture was chiefly made by a band of French Canadians in small boats. These stealthily boarded the frigates, and found on one of them the Americans asleep, whereupon they took them prisoners — sixty men in all, thirty from each frigate — handcuffed them, and led them to Kingston. Soules used to describe these captives, whom he helped to lead away, as a "band of cut throats." It was soon after this time that Fort Nottawasaga, four miles from the mouth of the river, was projected and built. It was estab lished to form a supply depot for Michilimackinac, and prevent the Americans from cutting off communications with headquarters. The establishment of these Georgian Bay posts, as well as that on Willow Creek at the terminus of the "Nine-Mile Portage," are mentioned in the diary of Sir George Head, who was sent hither in that connection. Under date of April 14th, 1815, at which time he was living temporarily in a cabin on the north shore of Kempenfeldt Bay, he writes in his Forest Scenes. "I had it in contemplation, some days past, to make my way through the forest to the head of the Nottawasaga River on objects connected with the duty on which I was engaged. A road had been cut, but it was in a rude state, being a mere track where the trees had been partially felled by the axe, and the stumps, even of these, very imperfectly removed. This road led from the end of Kempenfeldt Bay, straight to the Nottawasaga River, making a portage of eight miles. Keeping along the shore of the bay, till we reached the track, we then pursued it to the head of the Nottawasaga River. We walked a good pace till we reached the point of our destination, and having remained there a short time, so as to satisfy myself as to the objects I had in view, we commenced our return." 38 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Although Head does not say as much here, this tour of inspection is likely to have been the one which resulted in the establishment of the Willow Fort. Fort Nottawasaga. At the close of the war, as already stated, the military authori ties of Canada decided upon establishing a fort near the mouth of the Nottawasaga River. This was accordingly done in June, 1816, or perhaps a few months earlier. The fort was built about four miles up stream, near the end of the well-known tongue of land ; so that, although difficult to reach, it was near enough the shore to spy the approach of danger on the lake, or command the position in case of a naval attack. Judging from the artificial mound which remains at the place to this day, the fort stood upon an elevated position in order that danger could be seen at a great distance. About a dozen sailors in command of a naval officer, and some twenty men of the regular marine service, under Lieutenant Caldwell, comprised the garrison of that post. Of civilians there were a few, conspicuous amongst whom was a widow Vallieres, originally from the old French settlement at the Oak Ridges on Yonge Street. During the war of 1812 she kept a hostelry at Hogg's Hollow, near Toronto. A son of hers, James Remi Vallieries, gained admission to the Bar of Lower Canada, in 1812, practiced his profession with success for many years in the ancient city of Quebec, became a member of the Legis lative Assembly, Speaker of the Lower Canadian Parliament in 1828, and was finally appointed Chief Justice of Montreal in 1842, dying in 1847, universally respected for his amiable and benevolent career. (See Morgan's Sketches of Celebrated Canadians). Widow Vallieres, his mother, married again to Asher Mundy, and when Fort Nottawa saga was established, they removed thither from Yonge Street, and kept a little store or "canteen," for the sale of bakers' goods and whiskey, their chief patrons being the occupants of the fort. Amongst the historical mementos of the war time at the Notta wasaga are the remains of the sunken vessel in the river between the fort and the outlet. It is a current tradition of the place that the marks of the cannon bahs amongst the tops of the trees could be seen for many years afterwards. Some people living in the neighborhood have found cannon balls amongst the sand-hills near the site of the fort. Owing to the bad harbour the post at Nottawasaga was not kept up for more than about two years, and in 1818 the garrison was per manently removed to Penetanguishene. Chapter V. SURVEYING THE LAND AND PREPARING FOR SETTLERS. After the cession of the south part of the county by the Indians, Oct. 17th, 1818, the Government lost no time in staking it out into townships for settlement. In those days there were some wise rules in use for governing the survey of a township into lots with roads at regular intervals. If the township was beside a navigable river or body of water, the concession lines (being more numerous than the "side roads"), ran to the front bordering upon the water. Hence arose so much variety in the directions taken by the concession lines throughout our county, lying, as it does, beside various lakes and bays. A number of surveyors took nart in the surveys of the townships in the county, more than half of whom lived in the older settlements down Yonge Street. For the survey of a township, each received in part payment, or, perhaps, sometimes in full payment, a number of farm lots in the township, and thus, as a surveyor had the best chance to see the quality of the land and make a selection, it so happened that surveyor's script was the best kind of a purchase to make, for any incoming settler who had to buy. Samuel S. Wilmot received instructions, August, 181 1, to survey a road of communication between Kempenfeldt Bay and Penetangui shene harbour, and lay off lots for settlement along the road. His instructions were to proceed to the north side of Kempenfeldt Bay, near to the place at the head of the bay where, in June, 1808, his ex amination of a line for a road commenced, and there select and choose the most suitable position for a town and harbour. He was then to survey the outline of a town plot of one mile in length by half a mile in breadth ; then, a road direct to the south side of Penetanguishene harbour, and within half a mile of that harbour he was to begin to survey the outlines of another town plot. Wilmot 's first exploration, mentioned above, had been in March, 1808, in connection with the boundaries of the tract agreed to be purchased in the late preliminary treaty with the Chippewa (Ojibway) Indians. In accordance with the instructions he now received, he surveyed the outlines of the first town plot on Kempenfeldt Bay, as directed, and allowed half a mile for its depth. This subsequently became a village, and after it began [39] 40 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. to receive inhabitants, was known as Kempenfeldt, but at no time did it develop much beyond the hamlet stage. He then surveyed the road, thirty miles in length (except a small fraction), and finally the outlines of the original town plot of Penetanguishene. A sketch of Col. S. Wilmot, the surveyor of the Penetanguishene Road in 1811, appeared in William Harrison's "Sketches of Richmond Hill and Vicinity," published in the "Richmond Hill Liberal" in 1888., At the time of the survey under review, he lived on lot No. 47, Yonge Street (near Thornhill), and afterwards resided near Newcastle, Ont. Rev. Thomas \'\'illiams (Memories of a Pioneer, in the concluding "Memory") states that Birdsall made a survey of the Penetangui shene Road in 1813 or 1814. In Wilmot's survey during the late summer of 1811, as above described, he merely reported on the suitability of town plots at Kem penfeldt Bay and Penetanguishene Harbour, and marked their out lines. Accordingly, on Jan. 28th, 1812, he received instructions to lay out a town plot on Kempenfeldt Bay (i.e. at Kempenfeldt), at the place which he had reported as suitable for that purpose, and on the following day he also received instructions to lay out the Penetangui shene town plot. In this way the line of communication between the two lakes and its two terminals came into existence. In Wilmot's survey of the lots along the Penetanguishene Road in 1811, every farm lot was made to contain 200 acres, with a front age of 80 rods on the road, and a depth of 400, according to the mode of survey in vogue at that time. But by the time the Indian cessions set free all the land of the county, in 1818, for settlement, a new fashion had come in. A township was then laid out into lots, each having a frontage of 120 rods on the concession line. The result of this change in fashion was that the six townships along the Penetangui shene Road each have the two kinds of surveys within their borders, from which much perplexity arises. The later class of survey just mentioned, having frontages of J20 rods, needed a depth of 2662-3 ''ods to make a lot of 200 acres. In connection with this dimension a singular popular delusion pre vails. If you ask any settler how many rods frontage his land has, he will teh you correctly, 120. But if you ask him what is the dis tance between one concession line and another, he will tell you seven- eighths of a mile. The actual depth of 266 2-3 rods, by vulgar frac tions, is five-sixths of a mile, and yet the odd selection of one fraction for another has become almost universal. SURVEYING AND PREPARING FOR SETTLERS. 41 This is the mode of survey throughout nearly the whole of the county. Yet, still another system came into use in the latest surveys, viz., those of Sunnidale and Nottawasaga, in 1832 and 1833, where a sideroad was placed at every third lot, and the alternate concession lines, called "blind lines," have been usually left unopened. SURVEYORS OF THE TOWNSHIPS. Township. Adjala Essa Flos W. Gwillim'y Innisfil Matchedash (Lots) Matchedash (Road) Medonte Nottawasaga Orillia Oro , Sunnidale Tay Tecumseth Tiny Tosorontio Vespra Year. Sdrveyor. 1820 Samuel M. Benson 1820 Samuel M. Benson 1821 & 1822 John Goessman . 1819 Gabriel Lount. 1820 Richard Birdsall . 1830 Samuel Richardson 1836 James Hamilton. 1820 Jas. G. Chewett. 1832 Thomas Kelly. 1833 Chas. Rankin. 1820 Jas. G. Chewett. 1820 Jas. G. Chewett. 1832 & 1833 Thos. Kelly. 1820 Jas. G. Chewett. Part in 1819 Gabriel Lount. " " 1832 George Lount. 1821 & 1822 John Goessman. 1821 Hugh Black. 1820 Jas. G. Chewett. 1835 John Goessman. It may be interesting to scan the list of those who obtained the patents on surveyor's script, apparently for the surveys of the different townships, and the number of acres received : — Township. Date. Patentee . Acres . Adjala Aug. 7, 1820 Aug. 8, 1820 May 31, 1823 Aug. 23, 1820.... May 2, 1820 Nov. 21, 1820.... Sept. 1842 Dec. 28, 1821 .... tl ll Aug. 24, 1820 .... Oct. 16, 1830 May 6, 1820 May 31, 182S Apr. 18, 1822 .... May 31, 1821 Ezekiel Benson 2000 Essa U il 3400 Flos 2214 W . Gwillimbury . ... Innisfil Gabriel Lount 1900 Jas . Pearson 3800 Medonte Jas. G. Chewett 2900 John McDonald 5600 Orillia (North) Orillia (South) Oro Andrew Borland & Wm. Roe. (( ti It Jas . G. Chewett, Andrew Borland & Wm . Roe. Gabriel Lount 2900 1300 3100 Tay 1925 Tern m seth 2368 Tiny John Goessman 4320 Tosorontio Allan Robinet Jas. G. Chewett 2280 1970 42 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The table shows how small was the market value of land at the time of the surveys, the best lands in the townships having been, of course, selected. George and Samuel Lount surveyed the Township of West Gwillimbury in the summer of 1819. The nominal contractor for the survey was their father, Gabriel Lount, but the actual work devolved upon the sons, especially George, who had the qualifications of a surveyor, but in whose name contracts were not made until he came of age. His older brother, Samuel, on account of his skill in the woods, was a useful helper in the work. The instructions to Gabriel Lount, June 15th, 1819, for the survey of the Township of Tecumseth were elaborate. This was described as a township in the rear of the Townships of King and Albion. He was instructed to measure a distance of nine miles from Yonge Street along the northern boundary of King, to determine the S'. E. angle of the township he was to survey. Minute details then follow as to the staking out of the roads and lots. Some uncompleted portions of the township were attended to by George Lount in 1832, who had, with his brother, Samuel, as in the case of West Gwillimbury, made the original survey for their father in 1819. For the survey of Innisfil, the Governor-in-Council, on Oct. 23rd, 1819, approved of the proposals of James Pearson, yeoman of Whit church. Mr. Pearson was a son-in-law of Gabriel Lount, and thus became the nominal contractor for the work for the Lount brothers. The township was surveyed between the first of February and March 15th, 1820, and Richard Birdsall's map of it, in the Department of Lands, at Toronto, is dated, Newmarket, March 24th, 1820. Mr. Pearson, the contractor, received in part payment the patents for nineteen lots (3,800 acres), on May 2nd, 1820. A circumstance, which is worthy of note, occurred in connection with the survey of Innisfil, according to the narrative of an early settler. The surveyor, named Richard Birdsall, who then lived in "Little" York, (Toronto), was an Englishman by birth, as well as by training in his profession ; and, if he was thorough, he was also slow in his methods. He and the Lount brothers came to an under standing and went into partnership in the contract, he to receive half of the pay if he did the "compassing," and they to chain and receive the other half, by which arrangement they would divide the pay into two equal parts. Their camp was at the Essa line, and the Lounts expected to survey across one concession line to Lake Simcoe in a 4a George Lount. The First County Registrar of Lands, 1826-72, and the Surveyor of West Gwillimbury, Tecumseth and Innisfil. [43 J SURVEYING AND PREPARING FOR SETTLERS. 45 day, and return next day along the next concession line to their camp, thus being out two days at a time. When the work began, Birdsall demanded that all trees and other obstructions should be cut out of the line of sight for his compass, and he would make no off sets either to the right or the left. Being of the old school everything had to come out of his way. This used up three or four days on every trip, and instead of being out two days, they spent double that num ber. The Lounts soon objected to this, as they would lose money by their contract. In the altercation which followed, Mr. Birdsall told the spokesman that if he was not satisfied he had better do it himself. So George Lount took the compass, and after this Mr. Birdsall merely tallied for the chainers, and made the field notes. In this way they carried out the survey so as to lose nothing by the contract. The field notes in the Department of Lands are by Mr. Birdsall. When "proving" the survey of this township, Mr. Lount proceeded along the line be tween lots 25 and 26 across the township from the south side to near Big Bay Point, reckoned the position of the last stake, and probing with his staff in the snow said it ought to be there. Sure enough, he struck the stake at the first trial, showing the accuracy of the survey. James G. Chewett, the surveyor of Oro, Medonte, Tay, Orillia and part of Vespra, in 1820, was the man who made the first survey for the Welland Canal in 1818, although his canal route was after wards deemed impracticable, and was superseded by another. Samuel Richardson, who surveyed Matchedash in 1830, was a native of Wales, and resided in Penetanguishene for some years. He surveyed part of the Penetanguishene town plot in 1829-30, the Orillia town plot in 1839, part of Eldon Township in 1841, and other lands at various times. On the breaking up of the Establishment at Pene tanguishene, he moved to lot 5, a mile north of Kempenfeldt, on the Oro side, and soon afterwards died there, (Mar. 2nd, 1843), at the age of 47 years. He was Treasurer of Simcoe County at the time of his death. It is worthy of note that the town line of Flos and Tiny, also that hetween Tay and Medonte, were surveyed by an officer of the Royal Engineers when this part of the county was blocked out into townships. (District Council Minutes, 1848, p. 94). John Goessman, the surveyor of Flos and Tiny, was a native of Hanover, and had gone through many hardships in the wars of Napoleon Bonaparte. At a later time (1835), he did some work to <:Onlp]ete the survey of Vespra; so also did Robert Ross, who was 46 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. a resident surveyor in Barrie during the early days. In one of these later surveys of Vespra, it is said the surveying party were too much inclined to hang around some low groggeries on the Penetanguishene Road, and did their work badly. At all events, the survey of the town ship was not good. Some of the half-lots have twenty or thirty acres more than their due, while others are short. In some of these cases the Government, at a later period, had to give the short ones script for land in other places to make up the deficiencies. It appears the original survey between part of the third and fourth concessions of Vespra had never been made, or, if so, it be came so obliterated by 1872 that the landholders were subject to great inconvenience. In order to have it made right, several of them applied to the County Council, which sent a memorial to the Lieut-Governor- in-Council to have it done, recommending Henry Creswicke, P.L.S., to make and complete the survey. There is a considerable "jog" at lot 9 on the fifth line, which appears to have arisen out of the same complication in the original survey. At one time there was also projected, and partly made, a second survey of Flos by Henry Creswicke, to correct its inaccuracies, just as in the cases of Vespra and Sunnidale. But this re-survey was stop ped at the instance of Dr. J. C. Tache, the Deputy-Minister of Agri culture, (whose term of office lasted from 1864 till 1888), as he fore saw a heap of difficulties arising out of any attempt to change the lines of the original survey. In the original survey of Sunnidale by Thomas Kelly (1832 and 1833), the portion lying between the Sunnidale Road and the eastern boundary of the township, in the first eight concessions, was either not surveyed or the survey was obliterated. Rev. Thomas Williams, in his "Memories," says Robert Ross also made a survey of Sunni dale in the early ^ days. About the year 1861, a surveyor, William Sanders, also made a private survey of part of the eastern section for some of the inhabitants. But it seemed desirable that there should be an official survey of it; accordingly, the Township Council, in 1868, urged the Government to make a survey of this whole easterly part, and the Commissioner of Crown Lands accordingly appointed Henry Creswicke, jun., to make this survey. The gore shape of Sunnidale, the intrusive survey of lots facing the Sunnidale Road passing north ward through the township diagonally across the ranges of lots which ran east and west, and the presence of different surveyors at the stak ing out of this part of the township, all inevitably led to what might SURVEYING AND PREPARING FOR SETTLERS. 47 be expected, viz., woeful confusion. .\t a public meeting in New. Lowell, Oct. 27th, 1881, sixty owners of land, all interested in the tract in question, attended. Their differences were afterwards satis factorily settled, so that each settler might receive the land he had cleared, and an Act of the Ontario Legislature was passed in 1887 to confirm Creswicke's survey and allotment of the lands in dispute. The survey of Ripon town plot on lots 22 and 23, concession i, was also done away with by this Act. Nowadays, the surveyors can define their lines with permanent stone or iron stakes. In the early days, the perishable wooden stakes they planted rotted off or were burnt off, in so many cases, that sub sequent surveyors often had to travel for miles to find one. In other cases, especially where there was swampy land, it is too true that in some instances no survey was made by the original surveyor. Thomas Kelly made a survey of the Town.ship of Nottawasaga in 1832, and completed a map of it, Feb. 27th, 1833, as far north as lot 32 (inclusive) in the first eleven concessions, the last, or twelfth, concession being omitted. There has been a tradition among the older settlers of the township itself, how that a whiskey bottle bore a con spicuous part in the survey on this occasion, so that, if not the sur veyor himself, at least some of the axemen or helpers were too much addicted to the flowing bowl to make a good job of staking out the lots. The map he left for posterity to ponder looks all right, yet we are reminded to be cautious about what we see on paper. Be the circumstances what they may, Charles Rankin, under instructions from the Surveyor-General, dated March 23rd, 1833, re-surveyed parts and completed the survey of it, more especially the northern end and the western parts, in the ensuing summer. Mr. Rankin's instructions included also a re-survey of Sunnidale. He was furnished from the Surveyor-General's office with copies of those portions of Sunnidale and Merlin already surveyed by Mr. Kelly. And His Excellency's pleasure was also stated to be that Merlin and Java should in future be called and considered as one township to be named Nottawasaga (Java having been the north part, and Merlin the south part). Accordingly, at Penetanguishene, May 21, 1833, Chas. Rankin, for the survey of Nottawasaga engaged (as his Diary relates) Ezekiel Solo mon, Cuthhert Amiotte, Thomas LeDuc and Martin Ploof as axemen at two shillings and sixpence per day. Mr. Commissary Wickens sup plied the party with a small quantity of flour and pork for the journey. 48 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. and they set out by boat for their destination on the opposite shore of Nottawasaga Bay. Mr. Rankin completed the survey of the town ship by Aug. 15th of that year. In the practical results of the surveyor's work, generally, this county, like others, shows some wild surveying, and a large volume would not contain all the records of agitations and fierce lawsuits arising out of blunders in the surveys. There is not a township in it but has an abundance of "jogs" and irregularities of various kinds. Notwithstanding the good intentions of the Government and surveyors themselves, some owners of hundred acre lots actually have only ninety acres, while others have a hundred and ten. The Act of the Ontario Legislature, in 1874, for the limitation of actions by which any disputed line fence which had stood unmoved for ten years became a legal boundary, put an end to a large amount of profitless litigation. It is easy now for us to find faults and see crooked lines, but it was difficult in the woods to run perfectly straight lines and measure distances accurately. In all the townships there were "jogs" in the middle of the concessions, causing obstructions and deviations on the side roads, or "cross roads," as they are called in some localities. These were a grievance, and the District Council in Oct., 1848, pe titioned the Governor-in-Council to remove them. Following this agitation, William Gibbard, the surveyor, was engaged in a portion of 1851-2, in running middle lines (in the Township of Innisfil at least, and probably in some other townships). This Mr. Gibbard was bru tally murdered on board of the steamer "Ploughboy," while on her downward trip from Sault Ste. Marie to Collingwood in August, 1863, and the County Council offered a reward of $200 for the apprehension of the murderer. These sketches of the early surveys would be incomplete without some reference to the numerous town plots which were laid out and named, but which failed to receive any inhabitants. A few of these may be mentioned : — Hythe, near the mouth of the Nottawasaga River, 1833. Ripon, on the Nottawasaga River, near Angus, 1833. Innisfallen, on Shingle Bay, near Orillia, 1834. Amsterdam, on the Holland River, near Bradford, 1836. Port Powell, on lots 9 and 10, con. 9, Tay, on Sturgeon Bay, 1846. Leith, beside AUandale, on the south side of Kempenfeldt Bay. Everton, on lot iii, con. i, Tay, W. of Midland Bay, 1853. Bristol, on lot 24, con. 6, Vespra, W. of Barrie. SURVEYING AND PREPARING FOR SETTLERS. 49 Sudbury, near Collingwood, Feb., 1856. Drumlanrig, on lot 24, con. 12, Medonte, etc., near Coldwater, 1856. Plans of all these town plots were prepared and registered at the time^ mentioned, but only in two or three instances did any actual settlers take up their abode in these paper towns. Maps of the County. As most of the published maps of the county were first prepared by the early surveyors, this will be a convenient place for referring to some of them. The Canada Company issued an atlas of township diagrams of Upper Canada (including a number in our county) in two volumes, on a scale of about a mile and a half to an inch. No date is attached to this atlas, but it is understood to be about 1836. These township maps did not contain many details, but have a value as showing the Company's lots in each township, with a goodly number of rivers and streams traced from the maps of the original surveys. A map of the Home and Simcoe Districts, on one sheet, by Chas. Rankin, Esq., the surveyor, is dated March ist, 1841, and has a number of interesting features. A map of the county, on a scale of two miles and a half to an inch, by Wm. Gibbard, P.L.S., 1853, shows the towns and villages, mills, travelled roads, and other features, as they existed in that time, and has a special value for anyone interested in the history of the county for the sake of comparisons with our more modern topography. John Hogg's large map of the county, 1871, giving all the names of the owners of lands at that time, was an expensive undertaking, from which the publisher never realized its cost. The map compiled and published by John Dickinson, C.E., 1878, on a scale of two miles to an inch, following the extensive railway development of the seventies, showed the new railways then con structed. The latest is that of the Times Publishing Company, Orillia, and it supplies many modern features not to be found in the older ones. Two or three editions of it have already appeared. Chapter VI. THE SUBJECT OF LAND GRANTS. At this point a review of the general subject of early land grants may be profitable ; for it will be useful to compare the former land policies with those of the present day, and from the comparison tb get hints for the solution of modern land problems, or to learn the accom panying dangers and how to avoid them. It will also be instructive and interesting to follow the history of the first settlements in the light of the land regulations, and to note the marked effects which their frequent changes produced individually upon the settlers, as well as in the aggregate upon the face of the country. Indeed there is no subject in the wide field of local history of more vital importance than this question of how the land was granted, as it forms the key to the foundation of every settlement, whether made on free grant lands, or purchased tracts, or on claims that could only be established by the performance of settlement duties. While large grants of land to colonization companies and others have been a feature of the settlement of some counties in this Pro vince, it cannot be said that there were any grants in Simcoe County so large as to affect the whole population at any period of its history. The largest were perhaps the following : — those of the Canada Com pany, which, however, made no systematic settlement in this county as it did in Huron County, its lands being situated here and there throughout the Simcoe townships; the Clergy Reserves, also scattered about the county ; the grant of 6,000 acres along the Penetanguishene Road from Kempenfeldt, northward, to the Hon. Wm. McGillivray, who died in 1825, (sometimes known in later years as the McDonald grant, as it passed into the hands of John McDonald's daughter). Besides these, Mr. Quetton St. George received a considerable grant (for settlement purposes) in Orillia Township. The Townships of Sunnidale and Nottawasaga, having been surveyed some twelve years later than the other parts of the county, had not so many encum brances of Clergy Reserves or Canada Company lands, {i.e., Crown Reserves,) as the older townships. The revenues from the sales of Crown Lands, whenever there were any after paying the officials their fees, went to Downing Street in the first years of the Province's history. This continued down to the Union of the Canadas in 1841, or about that time, the control exercised by the Provincial Government and the Assembly, until that time, having been little more than a nominal one. [50] THE SUBJECT OF LAND GRANTS. 51 The large majority of those who received free grants in the early years of the Province's history consisted of U. E. Loyalists and their descendants, the militia who served during the war of 1812, and the retired officers of the British army. Almost all others who became settlers procured their lands by purchase. From 1783, onward, the Government foHowed the practice of granting lands to the U. E. LoyaHsts and their children. These per sons continued to receive grants of land, free from any expense, and with very little interruption or impediment until 1818, when the Provincial Government imposed a restriction providing that "no grant of land would issue in future to persons of any description until a satisfactory certificate be filed that a habitable house is erected on some part of the land to be granted, and a sufficient clearing thereon under fence in the proportion of five acres per 100." This settlement regulation seems to have materially changed the facilities for location afforded the loyalists, but not being uniformly enforced, it became a grievance — one of the chief grounds of complaint before the Rebellion — as will afterward appear. In addition to these gratuitous grants to loyalists and their descendants, provision was made in 1820 for the location also of the militia of 1812 upon lands belonging to the Crown. Upon presenting a certificate of service from the adjutant-general, each claimant of this class became entitled to receive a ticket of location — a system intro duced in the previous year in connection with grants to loyalists. In. all cases the settlement duty was insisted upon. Several townships in this county, in which locations had been made up to 29th January, 182 1, appear in the lists printed in the Report on Canadian Archives for 1896 (p. 16), and the figures therein given are instructive :— West Gwillimbury (new survey) 186 locations. Tecumseth 181 Innisfil 100 Essa ¦¦¦ 7 Oro 75 Vespra 3° Medonte 7 Flos 5 Tiny • ¦ 7 Tay '15 613 52 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Although there were thus more than six hundred location tickets granted within the first year after the survey of these townships, there were not one-tenth of that number of actual settlers in the county, land-grabbing having been a common practice then as later. Another change took place in 1825 in the regulations in conform ity with a system then adopted in all the other British colonies. This consisted in making a valuation of the lands throughout the Province, and causing average prices to be struck for each district, at which prices thus fixed all the vacant lands were offered for sale. What these prices were may be learned from the Report on Canadian Archives for 1898 (p. 33), which affords information as to the value of the ungranted lands of the Crown in each district, according to the Minutes of the Executive Council at York (Toronto), 9th June, 1826. From the Schedule therein exhibited, the valuations for the different townships in this county, at that time, appear to be — West Gwillimbury and Tecumseth 6 shillings per acre. Adjala, Innisfil, Essa, and Tosorontio 5 " " " Oro, Vespra, Flos, Medonte, Orillia, Tay and Tiny 4 Further orders affecting land grants were issued by the British Government in 1831, in addition to those issued in 1825 respecting conformity to the British colonial system, and a table was formulated whereby grants to British officers on the half-pay of the army or navy were regulated. The despatch to this effect from the Colonial Secre tary, Lord Goderich, had a local application to the half-pay officers along the Oro shore, and elsewhere in the county. A General Order of August ist, 1831, laid down the following graduated scale, according to which each officer purchasing land in the usual way became entitled to a remission of the purchase money to the extent here specified : Field officers, 25 years' service ;^300 £250 £200 ;£'20O £^50^ £^50 ;^ioo 20 " 15 Captains, 20 I i 15 Subalterns, 20 " 7 THE SUBJECT OF LAND GRANTS. 53 Regulations, similar to these, by which officers of the Royal Navy (Commanders, Lieutenants, and Subalterns, respectively), could secure land grants in Upper Canada, were also issued in March, 1832. Unhappy Results. In all these cases the settlement duties applied, location tickets being given at the time of the settler's arrival, and no patent was issued until the settlement duties were complied with. Such, at any rate, were the regulations as they appeared in print ; but there is rea son to believe that in actual practice there was a different state of affairs, and the regulations fell far short of being carried into effect. So many ways of evading the settlement duties were found, that in May, 1832, the Provincial Government cancelled all previous orders respecting settlement duties, and refused to issue patents to any individual until it was ascertained that a resident settler was estab lished on some part of the grant. This was done because the bene volent intentions of the Government in favour of U. E. Loyalists and other privileged claimants were daily frustrated, and the settlement of the province impeded by speculators purchasing the settlers' rights and holding vast quantities of land for higher prices. From this time forth the question of land-granting was a bone of contention. The House of Assembly and the Executive were constantly at war on this subject, and it was a prominent source of friction leading up to the troubles of 1837. The House of Assembly transmitted an Address to Lieutenant Governor Colborne on 28 November, 1833, ^requesting information on the subject of lands to U. E. Loyalists and others. The information requested was laid before the Assembly, December 12, 1833, whereupon the subject was referred to a select committee of the House, which reported February 27, 1834. Their report con tained some strong accusations. The report was accompanied by an Address on the subject of U. E. Rights to King Wilham IV., who was then reigning. The Bri tish House of Commons took action about two years afterward, by merely calling for some information. Meanwhile in Upper Canada, the Executive and Assembly came no nearer a settlement of the burn ing question, and the result was, in part at least, the uprising of '37, as everyone knows. A word remains to be said on the subject of the machinery for locating the settlers and granting their lands. In 1789, even before -54 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. the setting apart of Upper Canada, local land boards had been appointed for the purpose of accommodating persons desirous of forrrt- ing settlements in the province. Under varying forms these land hoards continued to exist for many years. In 1819, the regulations were such that emigrants desirous to become settlers in the province were under the necessity of presenting themselves at York (now Toronto), and great inconvenience was the result. For the remedy of this grievance, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, in that year appointed in each of the districts (there were 12 in the province) cer tain persons to form local boards, with power to locate any settler in the respective district. At a subsequent date similar boards were instituted in the counties. The rapidity of making grants fluctuated considerably ; sometimes one section, sometimes another, was the favourite point for location. An examination of the patents granted in the province between April I and August i, 1836, shows that during that particular period, of the total 1,536 grants, they largely predominated in Simcoe and Kent counties. While 384 of the 1,536 descriptions for patents issued dur ing those four months were for Simcoe County, no less than 461 patents for the county passed the Great Seal of the Province in' the same period. (The patents were issued by the Secretary and Registrar, while the descriptions for patents, of which there were fewer, were issued by the Surveyor-General.) The large number of grants made at this particular period in Simcoe had a cause. Sir Francis Bond Head dissolved the House of Assembly, on May 28, 1836, and just before the elections in June, the Government issued patents to many persons to make new votes and influence the elections. In Medonte, for example, the Government issued 55 patents during the latter part of May and the month of June, 1836. The settlers of Medonte, so many of whom received patents at this time, had gone into the township mostly during the large influx of 1832, and they now received their patents in exchange for politi cal support. How like present day methods this looks ! The election had its influence in the augmentation of the number of patents in the other earlier months of that year, as well as during the election itself. The patents were perhaps nothing more than the just rights to which the settlers were entitled, if they had duly performed their settlement duties (which is doubtful in every case), but to issue the patents in return for votes was wrong, and it raised a great outcry throughout the province at the time. THE SUBJECT OF LAND GRANTS. 55 The U. E. Loyalist Grants in Simcoe County. In those days there were jio free grants to any but the U. E. Loyalist descendants, besides the soldiers and the marines. A large number of persons of both sexes, descended from U. E. Loyalists, received grants in Simcoe County, but in only a few cases did they ever settle on the lands. Speculators bought up their scrip and held the lands for a rise in value. The U. E. Loyalists claimed, whether always truly or not, the loss of much property during the American Revolution of 1776. In the War of 1812-15, their claims to reward were perhaps stronger. The latter war between Great Britain and the United States arose out of a question with which Canada had little to do; and yet the Can adians, whose position made them the principal sufferers, are those who are mainly entitled to credit for repelling the different invasions to which their antagonist subjected them. It was thus largely through U. E. Loyalists (although they were not the only defenders), that Canada held her own in the war, and they preserved by their devotion the lands of the grants for which their descendants after ward came into possession. But if the large number of allotments to their descendants in Simcoe County alone be any criterion for the rest of this province, they appear to have been amply repaid in lands, the face of the country having been laid under heavy tribute to their descendants. In confining the free grants to the descendants of U. E. Loyalists, with retired soldiers and marines, the object of the makers of the regulation was to people the new country with a loyal stock. It was too often the practice of the Governors and their Executive Councils in those days to regard the inhabitants as disloyal if they complained about anything, — as under the influence of United States repub licanism — and as unfit to be trusted with self-government or favours. Speculators a Grievance. The Earl of Durham showed in his now famous Report how nearly half of all the surveyed land in this province had been granted as rewards, or in the attempt to make rewards, for public services ; and of the land thus granted, perhaps less than a tenth had been occupied by actual settlers. In Simcoe County the state of affairs was not different from that of any other part of the province. An inspection 56 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. of the list of patentees for the county shows that a large proportion of those who received land grants never became actual settlers, but sold them to others. The County in .this way came to have its due quota of land sharks, and in the scramble for lands, the honest settler often got trampled. The Rev. Thomas Williams, in his "Memories" (No. 8), relates the story from the settler's point of view. From the first organization of the Simcoe District Council in 1843 onward, the non-resident land speculators were attacked. They had bought large tracts of land, paid one or two instalments, and brought to bear all the influence at their command on the Governments of the day to save their lands from becoming liable to taxation. The actual settler had to open and improve the roads, build the school houses and churches, and otherwise enhance the value of the specula tor's land, while the speculator himself was sleeping. The District Council, as early as May 17, 1844, passed a By law imposing a tax of one penny per acre on all wild lands owned by non-residents, including lands of the Canada Company. But from certain proceedings that took place in the House of Assembly at the time, the Council became doubtful whether they could legally enforce payment of the tax. As a result, they sought power to tax the wild lands, and for this purpose sent a petition to both Houses of the Legislature in the following February. Again, in February, 1847, they passed another by-law to the same effect, and a lengthy report giving an account of the wild land tax question appears in the pub lished proceedings for that time, (at page 356), a perusal of which is well worth the time of any person who desires to know the history of the contest. On account of wild land tax, the County Council received in 1850 from the Canada Company the sum of £970, 9s. The Clergy Reserve lands sold were not liable to taxes, and this state of affairs brought forth a "memorial" from the Council to the Government in June, 1851. Where the wild land belonged to individuals or companies engaged in the lumber trade, they opposed settlement, as their lands would be taxed after settlers arrived. For many years the wild land tax was a bone of contention in this county, each successive County Council having to wrestle with the difficulty, and the owners paying it reluctantly and only after much forcing. There was a regular system of speculating in Crown Lands. Many persons paid only one instalment, paid no taxes, and Jacob ^miliuslrvingi the First Warden of Simcoe District, 1843. (By courtesy of Sir JEmilius Irving and Mr. Gugy jEmilius Irving). [p]^ t:. 1 \ 1 9 ^ 1 n affl H H kJ |^^9u jmH '-.« ^S James Dallas, Orillia, Warden, 1844-5. [58] THE SUBJECT OF LAND GRANTS. 59- held the lands at high prices. This resulted in transferring almost every vacant lot in the county from the Crown to private individuals, thus driving away actual settlers. Accordingly, the problem had to be attacked from a new point of view, and an Order in Council, relating to Crown Land arrearages, was passed. (Crown Land Regulations, No. i6, January 13, 1859.) The renewal of the attack upon the speculators brought forth renewed energy on their part to save their position. Thus, Thomas C. Street, of Welland County, for taxes on wild lands which he had paid in Kent County, recovered them again by a law suit, because the title was still vested in the Crown. He then proceeded to claim from Simcoe County the sum of $534.44, which he had paid on his wild lands here. This brought on a special session of the County Council in November, 1861, at which they decided to get the Hon. Jas Patton's opinion, and began to make preparations to fight. In the end Mr. Street brought an action for $1,600 against the County in the Court of Common Pleas, and obtained judgment for $490. The County Council appealed from this decision to the Court of Error and Appeal. Owing to the decision of Justice Draper in Street v. Kent County, it was now threatened that some $30,000 or $40,000 would be demanded from Simcoe County respecting the sales of unpatented lands for taxes. Some four or five actions were already begun by May 9, 1862. Mr. Street, who had brought the action against this county for tax sales alleged to be illegal, was for some years about this time the member of Parliament for Welland, and used his influence to obstruct in the House all settlement of taxes on wild lands. The amount of friction that arose in the early sixties from the sales of wild lands for taxes was enormous, and the ownership of many farms came into question about that time in this harrassing way. Much anxiety and unnecessary expense was caused to unof fending settlers from the tax sales of former years. By January 26, 1864, there were eight chancery suits in progress against the county arising out of tax sales. When the Government in 1863 resumed and offered for sale unpatented and unimproved lands in the Township of Flos, the non resident holders of which had not paid arrearages, but were holding them for purposes of speculation, the County Council expressed the hope that it would pursue the same policy toward all such lands in the county. 60 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The Muskoka Free Grants. The modern system of free grants to every actual settler, — the happy system inaugurated by the Province of Ontario immediately after Confederation, — had in fact its beginning in Simcoe, which was the mother county of Muskoka where the system was first put into practice. And, accordingly, it would be unfair to omit an account of so important a measure. As early as June, 1865, when a single representative at the County Council Board, viz., for Morrison and Muskoka, was the only mouthpiece for the territory from the Severn River to the North Pole, a definite step was taken in this desirable direction. The Coun cil sent a memorial to the Governor-in-Council asking that all Crown Lands at the disposal of the Crown, suitable for farming purposes, and not above the actual value of $4 an acre, should be offered either as free grants to actual settlers, or offered for sale at a nominal price, sufficient to cover the expenses of survey, accompanied by the most stringent regulations as to actual settlement. They began their memorial by stating that the manner in which the farming lands in this Province had been disposed of by the Crown, had been injurious to the best interests of the country, and had materially retarded its progress and settlement. They then urged the giving of free grants of land as the true policy which the Government should follow. Per haps no county had suffered more than Simcoe from speculators hold ing the wild lands to the great injury of the farming interests. They also asked, in behalf of the new townships of Morrison and Muskoka, then just organized and represented for the first time by a Reeve in the Council, and in behalf of other such townships, that the settlers be relieved from the payment of arrears on their lands. In November of the same year, the Council again urged the Governor-in-Council in a memorial to adopt the system of free grants in the future. This memorial was prepared at the instance of T. D. McConkey, M.P., who was urging on the Government the adoption of the free grant system. The Act to secure free grants and homesteads to actual settlers on the Public Lands was finally passed, February 28, 1868, and became law. While it was passing through the Legislature, viz., in January, 1868, the Council again memorialized the Lieutenant-Gover- nor-in-Council to re-sell lands forfeited for non-payment of arrears, and to forfeit in less than nine or ten years lands in arrears. THE SUBJECT OF LAND GRANTS. 61 In June, 1870, the County Council sent another memorial to the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council to cancel the arrearages on lands in Muskoka that had been located hefore the passing of the "Free Grants Act." The pioneers there had agreed to pay $1.00 an acre, and had made the roads and other improvements, which later arrivals were enjoying, besides having had to pay nothing for their lands. The grievance was one which deserved the immediate attention of the Government, and showed negligence or oversight on the part of the Legislature when it passed the Free Grants Act. In January, 1872, the County Council memorialized the Lieuten ant-Governor-in-Council and the House of Assembly of Ontario to aid in the development of the Free Grants District. The memorial pointed out that the revenue of the Province had been lately augmented by timber dues levied within the district, to a large amount, one township alone having yielded nearly $100,000; that a fair and rea sonable proportion of these revenues should be expended within it, in such public works as would promote agricultural settlement and gen eral trade; and that the most successful way had been to subsidize railways in a district. The rhemorial had in view a subsidy for the Muskoka Extension Railway, which soon after this time came to be a realized fact. The Free Grants system thus inaugurated and fairly launched in its course, and which had been so thoroughly nursed while the dis trict was a part of Simcoe County, was a success in a general way. Yet it had a few drawbacks, which one might expect as inseparable from any system. For example, the squatters in the Free Grant lands of Muskoka were like the half-breed squatters of the Red River at an earlier day. They settled on the first vacant lot they found, remained till the last stick of timber was cut down, and then removed to another lot which they reduced to the same condition as the first. There are whole tracts in Muskoka where settlers are scarce fror^ the adoption of this plan. Chapter VII. THE FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENTS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THEM. Almost the first settlers in the county were a band of fugitives from Lord Selkirk's Red River Settlement. In 1819 they took up farms a short distance southwest of Bradford, in what has always been known as the "Scotch Settlement." There were the families of Sutherland, McKay, Matthewson, McBeth, Ross and Campbell. Three others, natives of Ireland, settled near the Hohand River the same year, viz., the families of Wallace, Algeo and Armstrong. Along the edge of Tecumseth facing W. Gwillimbury, Andrew Carswell, James Manning and one or two others settled in 1819. In Innisfil, Francis Hewson settled at Big Bay Point in or about the same year. In the same year (1819) about a dozen families located on the Penetanguishene Road in Oro and Vespra. Amongst these were the families of Brown, Bergin, Debenham, Drury, Gough, Hart, HickHng, Jones, Lawrence, Luck, Mair, Partridge, Watson, White and several other families, all of whom settled within a short time of each other. These were followed in the next year or two by the families of Bruce, Craig, Johnson, Lang, McLean, Richardson and Williams, who set tled to the north of the last named group. While near Penetangui shene, a few families settled within a year or two after the removal df the Nottawasaga garrison to that place in 1818. All these families and many more will be referred to when we come to take up each neighbourhood by itself. The arrival of settlers was, however, tardy ; and only a few isolated clearings were made up to the year 1831, when a considerable influx of settlers took place. In the next year (1832) the influx became quite general and lasted for about three years, when another lull took place — a calm before the gathering storm of the Rebellion. Many causes are accountable for this large influx of settlers in 1832. The Reform Bill riots in Britain at the time no doubt caused many to emigrate. In addition to this, great excitement, according to Dr. Thomas Rolph in his "Statistical Account" prevailed in Britain in 1832 on the subject of colonial slavery, compelling the British [62] THE FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENTS. 63 Government to legislate in favour of emancipation in 1833. This agitation produced feelings hostile to the West Indies, and more favoifrable to Upper Canada, where the importation of slaves had been abolished in 1793. Besides these, the war of 1812-15 had called attention in Britain to Canadian affairs. The peaceful period succeed ing the war, during which period peace also reigned in Europe, was a time when a number of travellers — Murray, Hall, Mrs. Trollope, Gait, and many others — passed through the United States and Canada. On reaching England, their travels were published, and thus public atten tion there was directed even more extensively toward Canada. The Rebellion of 1837 is a sharp dividing line. Those who settled before it were the pioneers of the county. When the Rebellion troubles were at an end, other settlers began to flock in once more, and the stream of immigration was kept up to present times. Thus it win be seen that the period before the Rebelhon stands out by itself, sharp and clear, — and it is with this period more particularly that we intend to deal in the present work. Settlements According to Nationality. In this county as elsewhere throughout the province the pioneers settled in groups or clusters, according to their nationality. In the course of a journey through the county in its pioneer days, a person would come upon groups of English, Scotch, Irish, French-Can adians, Germans, and Negroes — all of whom appear to have settled in clusters, giving to each neighbourhood its distinctive features, which it will retain for several generations to come. It is interesting to note the progress made by these different national groups or settle ments, for they are favourably situated throughout the county for purposes of comparison. The thrifty Saxon is side by side with his less lymphatic neighbour, the Celt, from Ireland or the Highlands of Scotland, and the two are mutually benefited, politically, religiously, and in many other ways, by the contact. In West Gwillimbury there was a settlement of Highland Scotch refugees from Lord Selkirk's colony on the Red River; while in the northern part of the same township, in Tecumseth, in the eastern portion of Essa, and in the southwest of Innisfil — spread over parts of four townships with Cookstown as a centre — was a large settlement of Protestant Orangemen from the North of Ireland. In Southeast Innisfil, and in West Essa, were small settlements of Lowland Scotch. 64 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Adjala was originally peopled by Irish Catholics, large groups of whom also located in Flos and Medonte, though these mostly since the Rebellion of '27- In Oro and in Nottawasaga are large settleftients of Highland Scotch, most of whom were natives of the island of Islay. Near Penetanguishene a settlement of P"rench-Canadians was made about 1828, and in Oro two dozen Negro families were planted about 1832 on what was known as Wilberforce Street. These, and many more, are the "national" settlements which were formed throughout the county prior to 1837, and it may be added that the greater portion of the county's population at that time was com prised within these "little nations," each having but a few square miles of area. The conditions of life (especially the introduction of railways, which rapidly mix the population) as in every new country, here became such, however, that distinctive national traits of charac ter are giving way to more cosmopolitan manners and speech. A story is told of the early settlers of Essa (and confirmed on good authority), that they would not allow a Roman Catholic to settle amongst them. A few of such, however, did manage to settle, but the almost unmixed Protestant population of this township, down to the present day, tells the story in uncertain language of this "select policy" on the part of its first settlers. The Elements of Our Population. With the groups of English, Scots, Irish, French-Canadians, Ger mans, etc., the particular nationality or creed in each case determines the characteristic traits of the group — traits which are persisting through several generations, notwithstanding the levelling tendencies of modern life. The accompanying lists give, by townships such settlements or groups of the original rural population of Simcoe County, as can be set down in tabular form. The town and village portion of our population is too mixed to be amenable to analysis of this kind ; the only observable rule in this case is that the population of each town is mainly recruited from the rural districts in its neighbourhood. In this county, as elsewhere, names of political and religious sig nificance are often the most convenient for the designation of the various groups. For the most part, those who colonized this county belonged to the peasant classes of Great Britain and Ireland, as the accompanying THE FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENTS. 65 Groups of First Settlers. French-Canadians (begun in 1828), Tiny, Tay. English (from northern counties of England begun in 1820)... Oro and Vespra (25 famihes at first) Medonte, Tecumseth, West Gwillimbury. Scots (from Sutherlandshire at first. Immigrants with Lord Sel kirk's Red River Colonists. Seventeen families, located here in 1819) West Gwillimbury. Scots (from Islay, Argyleshire. Begun in 1832) Oro and Nottawasaga chiefly, and a few families of the same migra tion into Medonte, Orillia, Sunni dale. Scots (Lanarkshire and Renfrew shire, via Dalhousie Township, Ont., in 1832. Many Glasgow and Paisley weavers were among these) Innisfil, Essa. Scots (Dumfriesshire, 1832 to 1850) Innisfil. Irish (begun in 1830. Protestants from Ulster. Extensive set tlement) West Gwillimbury, Tecumseth, Innisfil, Essa, Tossorontio. Irish Palatines (about 10 families in 1831) West Gwillimbury. Irish (Catholics, begun in 1828) ...Adjala, Vespra, Flos, Medonte, Nottawasaga. Irish (from Londonderry in 1850, etc.) Innisfil. Germans (begun with 10 families in 1834) Nottawasaga, Negroes (Begun in 1828) Oro (20 families), Sunnidale. Indians (Ojibways, population ahout 266) Beausoleil and Christian Islands. 66 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. table of groups will show ; and the traits of character so marked in the British peoples have shown themselves in the life of the people of this county. The sea and sea life have the effect of giving to men the virtues of courage and valor in greater amount than other kinds of life; and those peoples, like the British, who hve nearest the sea, furnish sailors of the most courageous types. Speaking generally, the pioneers had more courage than modern people, because there were more occasions demanding the exercise of courage, but our pio neers mostly came of a courageous race. There were a few other kinds of people among the pioneers. When the soldiers, for example, passed to and fro in the time of the war of 1812-15 through the county, it was then in a state of nature. But Main Street, Penetanguishene. as soon as it was opened up for settlement, many of the soldiers who had been impressed by its fair appearance became actual settlers. At the first the rural development in comparison with that of the towns and villages of that time, strikes the observer. The whirligig of time has completely reversed this order of things in the seventy or eighty odd years that have elapsed since the first extensive settlements were made. The incipient towns of Bradford, Barrie and Orillia, in 1837, for example, or rather, these villages, each contained a dozen or two families ; Collingwood and Stayner did not spring into existence until the construction of the Northern Railway in 1854; Penetangui shene was a trifle larger in 1837 than any other place in the county; while Midland was not begun until 1872 at the time of the inaugura tion of the Midland Railway. Nowadays, the towns and villages con- THE FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENTS. 67 tain more than half of the population, but at the first they contained only about the one-twentieth part. At the end of the second volume there are lists of the settlers who had arrived in the county before 1837, numbering some 1,800 heads of families. After seventy odd years scarcely half a dozen of these pioneers survive. New generations in tenfold numbers fill their places, and cultivated fields take the place of the forest openings in the midst of which they lived and labored with their three-cornered harrows and other primitive implements. The brief sketches of some of the first settlers, of which the second volume mainly consists, relate chiefly to the first thirty or forty settlers arriving before the others in each township. Of necessity this plan will include those who came in the twenties into South Simcoe, also those at Penetanguishene and along the military road to that post, in the north half of the county, who mostly came during the same early years. But in the other parts of the county those who came a few years later than the above were the pioneers. The Duration of Life. The increase of population in later years is to some extent due to an increase in the duration of life. Many persons in this county at one time or another, have reached the age of 100 years or more, and a few facts about this subject may be worthy of record at this part of the history. Some Centenarians of Simcoe County. Name. Native County . Death. Age. Residence. John McKay, Kintyre, Scotland, Jan. 31, 1857, 107 years, Nottawasaga. Arthur Gough, Co. Mayo, Ireland, Dec. 12, 1874, 101 " W.Gwillimbu'-y. Daniel McCurdy, Co. Antrim, Ireland, June 3, 1878, 100 " Tecumseth. Wm. Mackie, Co. Armagh, Ireland. Apr. 17, 1879, 104 " W . Gwillimbury. Angus Sutherland, Scotland, Mar. 24, 1885, 103 " Jane Campbell, Tyrone, Ireland, Jan. 29, 1889, 102 " Glencairn. Jarr es Duross, Ireland, May 1,5, 1896, 113 " Adjala. Eugene Smith, Cork, Ireland, Mar. 11, 1908, 101 " Vespra & Barrie. Francis Ruddeh, Glasgow, Scotland, Nov. 11, 1908, 100 " Midland. Mrs. Stewart Scotland Feb. 18, 1899, 106 " Minesing. Cornelius McCarthy, Co Cork, Ireland, Jan. 28, 1905, 106 " Tay. The accompanying list gives such particulars as the writer has been able to gather in regard to a few of these centenarians. This is not by any means a complete list, and it is to be remembered that 68 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. it can be greatly added to, but it is sufficiently representative to be instructive so far as it goes. It is worthy of note that the persons named in the list, almost without exception, came either from Ireland or from the Scottish Highlands, both kinds, in fact, belonging to the most northerly or outlying peoples. Their endurance shows not only the hardiness of the Celtic race, to which they mostly belonged, but also the healthfulness of the climate to which they came. It is also worthy of note that a number of the Ojibway Indians in the county have succeeded in passing the century mark, but the facts of their ages are less reliable than in the cases of the white settlers. Chapter VIII. THE BEGINNING OF LAKE NAVIGATION. The Northwest Company complained to the Upper Canadian Government in 1811 that the forwarding parties on Lake Erie and elsewhere near the frontier had been continually subjected to the vexatious interference of the United States customs officials since 1796, and they had had boats and property seized and detained. They suggested the use of the route across the narrow part of the province by way of Lake Simcoe, and this soon brought about the navigation of that lake, as weU as the establishment of lake ports at the south ern end of Georgian Bay for the convenience of navigation on that large body of water, the first of such ports being the Nottawasaga River outlet and Penetanguishene. At the first the craft in general use was, of course, the birch bark canoe. Then came batteaux, especially in the time of the war of 1812-15; sloops and schooners soon followed on both Lake Simcoe and the Georgian Bay. The inauguration of steamboats on Lake Simcoe took place in 1832, and a "horseboat" was tried in 1838, but did not work well. The First Sailing Vessels on Lake Simcoe. As the Northern Railway was not opened till October, 1853, the early vessels on Lake Simcoe were chiefly concerned with the first settlement of the County, and must, accordingly, come in for a pas sing review. Until the year 1832, a few small boats and one schooner com prised the entire "shipping" of Lake Simcoe. Of the small boats, a sloop belonging to Philemon Squire of Hohand Landing was often used by parties of settlers gxDing to different points on the lake. In 1819, depots were established on the Nine Mile Portage for military stores in transit to the posts on the Upper Lakes ; and about the same time an armed schooner was built to sail on Lake Simcoe for the protection of the military storehouse on Kempenfeldt Bay, and the transportation of the stores. It was kept in commission by the Johnsons of Holland Landing — a family of U. E. Loyalists. [69] 70 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. John Goldie, a traveller who visited Holland Landing in 1819, speaks of this schooner in his journal as follows : "There is nothing but one schooner upon the lake, which is sufficient for all the trade at present. " For some time in the "twenties" Eli Beman also owned a schooner (probably the one just mentioned, the successor of which, in the fifties, was named the Queen.) Rev. Peter Jones mentions it in his Journal, making the following entry on July 7th, 1829 : "We sailed from the Island (Snake Island) this morning in Mr. Beman 's schooner, for Yellowhead's Island." The First Ste-^mers on Lake Simcoe. The increasing influx of population and the consequent growth of traffic created a want of better "shipping" facilities. To meet this want, the half-pay officers who had taken up estates chiefly along the north shore of Kempenfeldt Bay in Oro, formed a joint stock company and built a steamboat. This small steamer, which was named the Sir John Colborne, in honour of the Lieutenant-Governor of that day, was built at Holland Landing in 1831, at the Soldiers' or Lower Landing, and launched in 1832. The Sir John Colborne is said to have been a high pressure vessel, and appears to have made more excitement than speed, as will be seen from the following account of her first voyage : — "The trip from Holland Landing to Kempenfeldt consumed no less than a week, a day or two of which was spent at the mouth of Cook's Bay. Proceeding thence along the south shore, calls were made at Jackson's Point and Beaverton of the present, when the craft, commanded by Captain Borland, endeavoured to make Orillia, but could not pass the Lake Couchiching Narrows. A day was employed in replenishing her fuel hold, but for want of a safe landing place the wood had to be brought off the shore in small boats. Con tinuing her course westward along the north shore of the lake, halts were made at the cabin of every settler along the route, as they were all stockholders in the enterprise, possessed of very convivial dispo sitions, and only too eager to 'celebrate' the advent of steam navi gation upon Lake Simcoe ; so what mattered the fact that a week's cruise was necessary to chain the two termini? Time was not 'of the essence,' and even though it had been, many of the settlers kept a more powerful 'essence' on tap in their cabins, which accounts in some degree for the length of time spent on the pioneer cruise of the pioneer steamer over the most charming of inland Canadian water stretches." THE BEGINNING OF LAKE NAVIGATION. 71 The Sir John Colborne was sold in 1833 to Charles Thompson, and seems to have increased her speed with time, for in Walton's Directory for 1833-4 we find that "The steamboat Colborne leaves the Holland Landing Mondays and Thursdays, at 8 o'clock in the morning, passing round Lake Simcoe." This vessel drawing too much water to pass through "The Narows," she soon gave place on the Lake to the Peter Robinson steamer, which was built in 1834. This boat was conducting the traffic of the lake in 1837, when Mrs. Jameson, the celebrated author ess passed this way. In 1838 the following notice appeared in the Toronto Patriot. "Lake Simcoe — Steamboat Notice — The Peter Robinson will leave Holland Landing for the Narrows, via Barrie and Oro, every Monday and Friday, and via Georgina and Thoriah every Wednes day. On return to Holland Landing will leave the Narrows every Tuesday and Saturday, via Thoria and Georgina, and via Oro and Barrie every Thursday. The hour of departure for the Holland Landing and the Narrows will be eight a.m. precisely. — Wm. Laugh- ton, Managing Owner." After receiving an overhauling in 1839, her name became The Simcoe. Another steamboat, the Beaver, was launched in the summer of 1845. We learn from Smith's Gazetteer for 1846 that "During the season, the steamboat Beaver leaves the Hohand River for Barrie and Orilha every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, returning on the alternate days." In glancing over the files of the Barrie Magnet, we came upon the following notice of an excursion in the issue of July 12, 1849. As it contains some points of contrast when compared with present facilities, it will no doubt have an interest for modern readers : Pleasure Excursion on Lake Simcoe. At the solicitation of .several of the inhabitants of Barrie and neighborhood. Captain Laughton has kindly consented to run the Steamer Beaver for a pleasure excursion, on Thursday, the 19th July. Starting from Barrie at 7 o'clock a.m., the Beaver wih proceed via Georgina, to Orihia; from thence round the beautiful lake "Couchi ching," and return to Barrie in the evening. The Amateur Band, at Holland Landing, have kindly volunteered their services for the occasion. 72 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Single Tickets for the trip 5s. For a Gentleman and Lady, 7s. 6d. Do. with Two Ladies, los. Meals will be provided on board at is. 3d. each. The "Beaver" will proceed to Georgina the same evening. The steamboat landing on the Holland River was seven miles from the lake ; and the river for this distance was so very crooked and narrow that the boat often ran her nose into the marshy banks and had to be pushed off with poles. This was a tedious experience for passengers, and led to the removal of the Beaver in the season of 1850 "from the old landing on the east branch, to the Bradford The Steamer " Morning," 1854. bridge landing place, on the west branch of the river. This branch is said to be much easier to navigate than the east branch ; the water being deeper, the stream broader, and its course not so tortuous or choked with marsh. A new steamboat (the Morning) was started in 1849, which ran from the old landing place. The starting a second boat on a route so remote as it then was, was a matter of doubtful policy, as it was very improbable that Lake Simcoe, or the country bordering it, could at the time support two boats." The construction of the Morning, here referred to, was the result of some misunderstanding between the joint owners of the Beaver, ^-Captain Laughton, her commander, and Charles Thompson of Summer Hih (near Toronto). Mr. Thompson built the Morning in opposition to the Beaver; and when the Northern Railway came steam Craft in the Harbor, Collingwood. 6a THE BEGINNING OF LAKE NAVIGATION. 75 into operation as far as Barrie, in 1853, the former boat ran in con nection with the railway. The next steamer built on the lake was the /. C. Morrison. She was built at Bell Ewart in 1854, by Capt. Hugh Chisholm (afterward of Meaford) and launched in 1855. The Northern Railway Com pany, then the newly started "Ontario, Simcoe, and Huron Railway Company," owned her, and had built her for the purpose of accom modating pleasure seekers from Toronto and other cities. She was commanded by Captain Eraser during the short period of her exist ence. From the Meaford Mirror of April, 1888, we derive the fol lowing particulars with regard to this well-equipped vessel : — "She was one hundred and fifty feet in keel, was fitted with upper cabins, and in every way a magnificent steamer for those days, and had a record of fifteen miles per hour, which is much faster than the majority of steamers on our lakes at the present time. Her cost was $60,000. She was called after the late Judge Morrison, who at that time was president of the Northern Railway Company. Her route was from Bell Ewart to Beaverton and Orillia, making daily trips." This vessel is said to have been exceedingly handsome, but her career was a short one, for about two years after she was launched she took fire while at the wharf in Barrie, Aug. 4, 1857, and had to be sent adrift. A young lady was sleeping in one of the cabins at the time, and was with some difficulty rescued. All ablaze, and drifting on the water for some time she finally foundered at the head of the bay, near AUandale. Following the /. C. Morrison came the Emily May — a steamer built at Bell Ewart by the same builder, Capt. Chisholm. She was launched in 1861, and was owned by the late Capt. May. The Emily May afterward passed into the hands of the Northern Rail way Company, which changed her name to the Lady of the Lakes. She in turn gave place to other steamers, after a long and useful career, and her hull now lies rotting at Bell Ewart. Judge Ardagh, m a paper read before the Historical Society, April 22, 1892, and afterward published in the local newspapers, gave some particulars of the early steamboats on Lake Simcoe ; and about the same date the Orillia Times gave an article containing some further particulars narrated by Capt. Hugh McKay, of Hawke- stone. 76 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Early Vessels and Steamers at Georgian Bay Ports. On Georgian Bay, the first vessels and the first steamers ran, as one might naturally expect, in connection with the naval and mili tary establishment at Penetanguishene. Of the first steamers sta tioned there at various times, there were, in particular, the Midas, the Experiment, and the Mohawk. These had headquarters at Pene tanguishene at one time or another in the forties, but it does not appear that any one of the list made regular trips at stated intervals. Before these, however, there was a pioneer steamer named the Penetanguishene. It was the first steamer built at this place and was launched about the year 1832 by Mitcheh and Thompson, accord ing to the information elicited by Mr. Osborne from the voyageurs. (See p. 145, Ontario Historical Society's Papers and Records, Vol. III.) It was a small steamer, and ran regularly between there and Coldwater, Captain Borland being in charge of her. At Sturgeon Bay, a shipping depot was established at the time the Government Road was made thither from Coldwater, and a blockhouse was erected. Sturgeon Bay had docks, and the early steamers made it a port for calls ; being the terminus of the Cold- water portage, it became a stirring place in the days before the railways. It is claimed, and quite properly so, that the Gore was the first steamer to make regular trips in connection with this port, and indeed with any other port on Georgian Bay. The Steamer Gore (200 tons) was built at Niagara in 1837. Early in the forties she ran regularly from Sturgeon Bay, which was the point of embarkation for travellers going to the upper lakes. On account of the develop ment of the Bruce mines, the lake traffic here grew rapidly for that day, and Sturgeon Bay flourished. Owing to this boom, a town- plot called Port Powell was surveyed in 1846 on lots 9 and 10, con. g, Tay, and building lots placed on the market by family relatives of Chief Justice Powell, after whom the place doubtless received its name. The sailings of the Gore in 1850 will be found in Chap. XII. of this volume. This continued until Collingwood became the port for the Bruce mines and other places up the lakes, at the completion of the Nor thern Railway, Jan. i, 1855. The first regular hne of steamboats, in connection with the railway, began at Collingwood in 1857. At Collingwood, on the opening of the Northern Railway in 1855, one of the first steamers was the Mazeppa, which made regu- The Inner Harbor, Collingwood . (The Blue Mountain Ridge in the background) . The " Midland Prince " in the Docks, Collingwood. (The largest boat built iu Canada to 1907). THE BEGINNING OF LAKE NAVIGATION. 79 lar trips to Owen Sound. She was followed by others, which kept increasing in size as new ones were made. A paper on "Naviga tion on the Upper Lakes, (more particularly that of the port of Col lingwood)" by David Williams, of Collingwood, was pubhshed by him in the Saturday News of that town, Nov. 28, 1908, to which the reader is referred for particulars of the early steamers and an outline of the history of the Northern Navigation Company. At Midland, with the opening of the Midland Railway, in 1872, navigation rapidly assumed an important position. The erection of the first elevator there further increased the shipping trade, to which the sawmills and the position it held as a railway terminus had already added much growth. Other elevators in later years at Tiffin, Victoria Harbor and at Midland itself, following the development of the lumber industry at Waubaushene, Fesserton, Victoria Harbor, and other ports along the Midland Railway, have given to Matche dash Bay and its branches the important place in navigation which the old fur traders of a century earlier had foreseen it would some day possess. Chapter IX. THE FIRST COLONIZATION ROADS. In the years before the Rebellion of 1837, the Upper Canadian Legislature generally made the grants for roads and other public works ; but there was so little surplus revenue, owing to the great undertakings and the profuse and careless expenditures, that the Legislature was compelled to establish a system of local assessments. By this plan they left local works mainly to the municipalities them selves, the inauguration of the works, as well as their supervision, being done through the Quarter Sessions of the magistrates. (Lord Durham's Report, p. 109, edition, 1902). The construction of leading roads through the wilderness was a matter of common concern to the settlers, and they naturally looked to the government to aid them in these necessary public works. In too many cases their hopes were vain. Prior to the Act of 1841, which established District Councils, the deficiency of the Magistrates' Quarter Sessions as the means of local self-govern ment often made it necessary for the people to apply to the Legisla tive Assembly direct for every road or bridge they required, or indeed for almost any other public work. It will be interesting to take up the various colonization roads, one after another, giving their history, as nearly as possible, in the order of their origin and growth. The first wagon road in the county was the Nine Mile Portage, and with this one it wih be necessary to begin. The "Nine-Mile Portage," From Kempenfeldt Bay to Willow Creek. This road, which is now unused and forgotten, was once the most important highway in this northern part of the country. It connected Kempenfeldt Bay with Willow Creek — a branch of the Nottawasaga River — and accordingly formed a connecting link of the route from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron, which has been already mentioned. Just when this road was first opened cannot now be ascertained. It dates back as a trail into the eighteenth century or perhaps earlier, [80] THE FIRST COLONIZATION ROADS. 81 and .was a portage over which Indians used to carry their canoes. In the Gazetteer of 1799, where a description of Lake Simcoe is given, we meet with the first notice of this famous portage: "To the west ward is a large deep bay, called Kempenfeldt 's Bay, from the head of which is a short carrying-place to the River Nottawasaga. ' ' The southeastern terminus of the portage was near the present railway depot in Barrie, but the town itself at that time had no exist ence ; its site was a forest wilderness, nor were there any inhabi tants within several miles of it at the time mentioned. During the war of 1812-15, the portage was widened so that wagons could cross it, to transport supplies on their way to the government posts of the upper lakes. It was about nine miles in length, and hence came to be familiarly known as the Nine Mile Portage. Sir George Head, in his Forest Scenes, has left us a graphic picture of how the Indians used to cross this Portage in 1815. In the spring of that year he was temporarily dwelling in a cabin at Kempenfeldt, but had resolved to move his quarters to a new log house at the head of the bay. So one fine day he set out to walk along the shore through the wood to the latter place, when he saw an Indian passing by in his canoe, with his family, bound for the portage landing at the head of the bay. The Indian gladly took Head on board, and the canoe, paddled by the squaw of course, soon reached the head of the bay, where they landed at the place connecting with the portage above referred to. We give Head's own account of the scene : "The Indian and his family were on their route to Lake Huron, and they had now eight miles to travel to the Nottawasaga. River, all which distance it was necessary to carry the canoe. He immedi ately commenced preparations to take it on his back, and for this purpose he fixed a broad strip of birch bark to the centre thwart, making the ends fast to each opposite gunwale. The thwart then rested on his shoulders, and, having placed a piece of bark doubled under it to prevent its galling, he contrived to lay the greater part of the weight of the canoe on his forehead by means of the strip of bark, which at the same time kept all steady. The _ canoe once poised was neariy horizontal, and on he marched, caring little for the weight. Before he set off, however, the squaw stuck his gun and the fish spear under the thwarts, and then made up her own bundle. She carried this, much in the same way, by means of a forehead strap; and on the top of it the Desmotes rode upon its board, having been first safely tied by the little giri with strips of bark so that it could not possibly faff off. The three children brought up the rear, and the whole party soon disappeared." 82 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. After the termination of the war, the government built store houses (in or about the year i8ig) one at the southeast end of the portage, the other at Wihow Creek. This was done to shelter the supplies tiansported to the military posts which were still maintained at Penetanguishene, Michilimackinac, and other places on the upper lakes. But besides having been used for military purposes, the Nine Mile Portage was the only highway over which traders, settlers, and Indians passed for many years, and was therefore vastly impor tant in the life of the district at that time. Amongst distinguished persons of the time who crossed it, may be mentioned Sir John Franklin, who passed over it in April, 1825, on his second overland expedition to the Arctic Sea. In making this portage, Franklin and his party were assisted by "Squire Soules" with his ox-team, from Big Bay Point, and also by James Johnson of Kempenfeldt. Much had to be transported by teams over the portage at all seasons of the year, and the settlers of the surrounding district often found employment in that way. In consequence of the great amount of traffic, quite a little village arose at the northwestern terminus of the portage on Willow Creek. The late Thomas Drury, Sr. , was married at this village in its palmy days, and the place otherwise manifested the usual signs of social life. But times have changed greatly, for there is scarcely a trace now left to tell the visitor that a village once existed at the place. Many were the tales told by the old settlers of the events that happened at this hamlet now numbered with the dead. The portage continued to be the highway over which supplies for the military posts and for the settlers were teamed until the Northern Railway was built to Collingwood in 1855. This was its death blow ; it has passed out of existence, and is entirely forgotten by the public except by those grey-haired persons who were resi dents before it fell into disuse. A trip across the old portage road is interesting to anyone who may desire a fuller knowledge of our county's history, for it can still be traced across the country from Barrie to Wihow Creek, except in those places where improved farms have blotted it entirely out of existence. On one farm in the eighth concession of Vespra, there were to be seen great trenches beside it which had been thrown up in the time of the war; old spades, chains, and other articles have been found here. Farther on it descended a very steep, stony hih ; THE FIRST COLONIZATION ROADS. 83 this place is still to be seen. To descend this hill with a heavy load was the greatest difficulty to be encountered along the entire portage. In the time of the war when cannons had to be teamed across, they passed ropes around the trees on the roadside, and thus let the heavy loads down with ease. For many years the trees on the hill side showed the marks of the ropes that had worn into them. (This method of descending high hills with a heavy load was called "track ing" by the settlers). On the sandy plains at the foot of this large hill, ruts were cut into the ground by the large amount of traffic over the road in olden times. Beyond these plains, and at the brink of another high hill, the fort or blockhouse itself was built to command the landing on Willow Creek, which was within half a mile of the foot of the hill. This fort was built in this high position to overlook a wide stretch of country ; from it danger might be seen at a great distance, and it was defensible against attack on one side, at least. It was there that the now deserted village arose about the year 1830, but nothing can be seen of the place now, save the outlines of the foundations of a few buildings, covering in all about quarter of an acre. There had been three or four acres cleared just around the fort, and this laid in a common down nearly to the present time. The branch of the Grand Trunk Railway to Penetanguishene runs along at the foot of the hill only a few rods from the site of the fort, and between it and Willow Creek. Descending the hill to the rail way, and then tracing the road through swamp and beaver-meadow over the old cedar corduroy, which after the lapse of more than three-quarters of a century is still perfectly sound, one reaches the landing itself on the creek — the northwestern terminus of this port age. From this point easy access was possible by means of batteaux down the creek to the Nottawasaga River, and thence to the waters of the Georgian Bay. In the Rev. Thomas Williams' pioneer "Memories" (No. 3), he gives some account of the "Nine Mile Portage," over which he teamed goods during the season of 1824, and his description of the road as it was at that time must be interesting to anyone who desires to fohow the history of the road and the locality. Opening the Penetanguishene Road. In 1793, Governor Simcoe, as already stated, visited the shores of Georgian Bay and discovered that the harbour, called by the 84 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Indians Penetanguishene, was a most suitable place for shipping. He thereupon decided to use this harbour in sending supplies to the Government posts up the lakes ; but there is no evidence that his resolution was immediately carried into effect. One of the schemes that he then devised for the opening up of the country seems to have had this object in view, for he planned the opening of a colonization road to connect Lake Ontario with Georgian Bay. In carrying out this plan he put the "Queen's Rangers" to open Yonge Street from York (now Toronto) as far as Holland Landing, which was done in 1796. From this point the route lay by water to the north side of Lake Simcoe. At Kempenfeldt a Government reserve was laid out in 1812 by Surveyor Wilmot, as already stated. A road was then to be cut from Kempenfeldt to Penetanguishene, through the forest. This was proposed in 1813, for we find the following information in the second edition of Smyth's Gazetteer, published in that year, which appears to be the earliest reference to the proposed opening of the road : "The tract of land between Kempenfeldt and Penetanguishene Bays has been lately purchased from the Indians, and a road is open ing which will enable the Northwest Company tO' transport their furs from Lake Huron to York, thereby avoiding the circuitous route of Lake Erie, and the inconvenience, of passing along the American frontier." Here, then, in part at least, is the reason for its opening between the two bays. John Gait, in his "Canadas," (p. 168) states, also, that the Northwest Company improved the road. Dr. Dunlop had charge of the party sent in Dec, 1814, to open the Penetanguishene Road at this time, and he has left an account ¦of it in his "Recollections of the War of 1812." After describing the cutting of this road through the forest, he speaks thus of the great cost of the undertaking: "The expense of a war surprises John Bull, and he only grumbles ; were he to enquire into the causes it is to be hoped he would be shy of so expensive an amusement, where after all he does not get his fun for his money. I would undertake to-morrow to cut a better road than we could possibly do, for forty pounds a mile (a distance of thirty miles), and make money by it, .^ive me timely warning and a proper season of the year; whereas I am convinced that ^^2,500 to ;^3,ooo did not pay for the one we cut." Dr. Dunlop's "Recollections of the War" first appeared in the "Literary Garland" (Montreal) many years ago, and have been reprinted in book form (Toronto, 1908). THE FIRST COLONIZATION ROADS. 85 The next time we hear of this road is when Sir George Head passed over it Feb. 27, 1815, on his way to undertake the commis sariat duties of the proposed naval establishment at Penetanguishene. He says it had been newly cut through the forest and gives a graphic account of his experiences, while passing over it, in his "Forest Scenes and Incidents in the Wilds of North America." From Head's description of it the inference is unavoidable that it was then in a primitive condition and thus it appears to have remained for a few years longer. When the military post at Penetanguishene was removed to the Nottawasaga River in 181 5, this road from Kempenfeldt was in turn abandoned for the Nine Mile Portag'e leading to Willow Creek. But after the post was finally taken to Penetanguishene in 1818, it again came into use, and the next year settlers began to locate along it. For a few years Lake Simcoe remained the only connecting link between the two parts of the great inter-lake highway — that part from York (Toronto) to Holland Landing, and that from Kempen feldt to Penetanguishene. This route, involving as it did the use uf boats in summer for the entire length of Lake Simcoe, was not prac ticable for the transportation of live stock. Numbers of cattle had to be driven from the frontier townships to supply the soldiers sta tioned at I'enetanguishene vvith beef. This was effected by collect ing them at Roache's Point; they were then ferried across the entrance of Cook's Bay to DeGrassi Point on the opposite shore in a scow. At the latter place was a ferry-house, occupied at the time we are speaking of by a Frenchman. From this place they were driven along an exceedingly winding Indian trail through Innisfil to the -head of Kempenfeldt Bay, from where access to their destination was obtained by the road opened in 1814-5. Bit by bit the remaining part of the road was opened. The new settlers in West Gwillimbury at the beginning of 1824 sent a petition to the Upper Canada Legislature, showing that they were separated from the old settled townships (on Yonge Street) by an impassable swamp, and were unable, without assistance, to con struct the bridges and causeways necessary to cross this barrier. They asked aid, and the Legislature, on January 24 of that year, made a grant of ;^i5o for the first main road in West Gwillimbury (4 Geo. IV. , chap. 29). It was on this occasion that Robert Arm strong and his sons built the first corduroy across the Holland Marsh. 86 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. This great colonization road from Ontario to Huron was com pleted in the fall of 1825, when it was extended beyond the settle ments in West Gwillimbury, where it had already been constructed, to the head of Kempenfeldt Bay to join the earlier portion thence to Penetanguishene. The circumstances connected with its complete opening may be briefly recounted in the following way. The removal of the military and naval station from Nottawasaga to Penetanguishene in 181 8, gave the hope of a market at the latter place, and settlers soon began to flock to that quarter in preference to any other. The soldiers there were paid for their services in money, which, accordingly, circulated more plentifully in the sur rounding neighborhood; whereas, in other places, farm produce was exchanged for store goods in those days, it being difficuh to pro cure cash for an article at any point nearer than York (Toronto). On account of this greater abundance of ready cash, the district around Penetanguishene was settled prior to Innisfil. The settlers had gone by the waterway of Lake Simcoe from Holland Landing to Kempenfeldt, and from there by the road which had been opened in 1814-15; and in order to communicate with the frontier part of the province, they were obliged to traverse again the same inconvenient route. As the settlement around Penetanguishene continued to develop, the inconvenience of transit, partly by land and partly by water began to be seriously felt. By the year 1825, Yonge Street had been extended in a rude way northward from Hohand Landing to the Coulson Settlement in the north of West Gwillimbury; but that part of Innisfil where the road subsequently ran was an unbroken wilderness, with the exception of one settler's clearing. If this almost unbroken forest in Innisfil could be pierced so as to join the two other parts of the road already constructed, overland communication with the front would then be secured for these Penetanguishene set tlers. A movement was accordingly set on foot to have the road made through Innisfil; and as the Government of the day took no steps in the matter, these settlers around Penetanguishene raised by subscrip tion a sum of money sufficient to do it. John and George Warnica, of Innisfil, took the contract for the part from Kempenfeldt Bay to the site of Churchill, a distance of eleven miles, receiving for the work five dollars per mile {£1 5s.). They also opened the remaining part thence to West Gwihimbury, as the contractor, John Cayton, was unable to complete his end of the road. This was ah done in T,HE FIRST COLONIZATION ROADS. 87 the fah of 1825. Wilham Richardson and James White, of the Pene- l:anguishene. Road, , near Dalston of the present, assisted the Warnica brothers to reopen, the new road after a severe wind storm had blown many trees across it. In early records this road is called "Main Street," and even at the present day it is often known as the Main Road. When first made it was very rough and winding, especially from where it cuts the twelfth concession line of Innisfil to the head of the bay; but it has been straightened in -succeeding years, and this crooked portion ratified by Act of Parliament. John Gait, in his Autobiography,- speaks of this road being open in 1827, as horses with his baggage came from Holland Landing, and met him at the head of Kempenfeldt Bay. "They had come through the forest by a track recently opened, a great convenience in summer; in winter the lake is frozen, and travellers pass on the ice." Thus was opened one of the earliest and most important colo nization roads in Upper Canada. The condition of this road through the forest can only be under stood by those who have seen a forest road after its opening, and for more than twenty years afterward it remained in much the same condition. Horseback riding was by far the safest mode of travel- hng on such a road and at such a period. It was upon lot 16, con. 3, of Innisfil that Sir John Colborne, Governor of Upper Canada, was thrown from his horse in 1830. The original road was zig-zag throughout its entire length, keeping, however, in a general way to the surveyed lines; at Churchih it made a slight deviation into this farm, and encountered a soft, swampy tract, which was an unwel come place to travellers. Governor Colborne had, upon the occasion in question, been on a visit to Penetanguishene, and was accompanied by Francis Phelps, of Hohand Landing, and a retinue of servants and friends, ah mounted on horseback. The old veteran of Badajos was always reckoned to be a very hard rider, his horse on this occasion becoming perhaps more fatigued than usual. When they had reached the marshy tract at Churchill on the return trip the horse on which Sir John rode plunged, and tossed His Excellency over its head into the mud. Considering the softness of the marsh into which he tumbled, there could not possibly follow any serious results; but the Governor's man-servant, who was riding next behind, rushed forward, shouting: "Are you hurt, sir? Are you hurt, sir?" to which enquiries, however, the Governor modestly made no reply, but scrambled out of the mire on his hands and knees with amazing 88 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. rapidity. To see the Governor of Upper Canada besmeared with mud from head to foot, beyond recognition, was a sight which afforded a good deal of merriment to the neighborhood, and the episode was a favorite topic of conversation for many a day. The Coldwater Road. This was originally a long Indian portage from the Narrows, or rather from Lake Couchiching at the point where Orillia town now stands, to Coldwater on Matchedash Bay, its length being fourteen miles. In 1830, when Sir John Colborne, the Governor of Upper Canada, collected the Ojibway tribes of the district into a reserve here, extending along the portage, the original trail was cleared out as a road for vehicles, and it has remained an important highway to this day. Northwestwardly from the fourth line (S. OriUia), at the Orillia Cemetery, this road now runs through flat ground. But there is a conspicuous bar of gravel and sand, or old lake ridge, across this valley or channel, only 15 or 20 rods north of the present sur veyed road. This bar carried the original Indian trail, and a similar remark applies to the crossing of another channel nearer Bass Lake. Elsevvhere the present course of the road is almost identical with the first trail. The introduction of a steamer on Lake Simcoe soon after the Coldwater trail hadlbeen converted into a wagon road greatly added to its uthity as a line of travel to the north, the Narrows then becom ing a regular port for calls. And we find many of the noted travel lers of that period who have left accounts of their trips, passing to and fro by that route, from Mrs. Jameson, or even before her visit, to Lord Elgin. The main road projected from Whitby past Lake Simcoe to Sturgeon -Bay in 1843, further enhanced the value of the Coldwater Portage, as it could be utilized as a part of this proposed line of travel. The Orillia Packet of July 30, 1908, gave the minutes of a meeting held at Orillia, Feb. .3. 1843, to petition the Governor-Gen eral in favor of the construction of this new road, the documents printed in the Packet on the date mentioned having just turned up in the Bureau of Archives at Ottawa. One of the moving spirits in promoting this road was Elmes Steele, who was M. P. for Simcoe County at the time, and who had been unceasing in his efforts to forward the work. In Lovering Park, Coldwater . 7a THE FIRST COLONIZATION ROADS. 91 It was at this time that the Coldwater Portage was extended as a wagon road from Coldwater to Sturgeon Bay. This portion was known as the Sturgeon Bay Road, and we read of it being open in 1844, at least as a rough track. (Minutes of the District Council, p. 223). Prior to 1843, under the directions of the President of the Board of Works, Deputy-Surveyor Wm. Hawkins had surveyed the Nar rows and in his report had pronounced the construction of a bridge there as quite feasible. Soon after this the Board of Works con structed the first bridge and causeway across the Narrows. While the road from Orillia to Sturgeon Bay was thus completely open soon after 1843, the portion from Whitby to Orillia was still under construction in 1847 (February), as we learn from a report by Frederick Dahas, written at that time. (Minutes of the District Council, p. 361), The Gloucester Road. This ran from the Penetanguishene Road at Hillsdale of the present time, to Gloucester Bay, which was the old name of some part of Matchedash Bay. It was opened as a Government Road in the winter of 1832-3, and the Gloucester Road became the leading highway through Medonte in the early years of its settlement. But it is now closed, except for about two miles between Mount St. Louis and the Township Hall. Along this part of it many signs of Indians, both early and modern, were to be found until recent times ; old tappings, said to have been made by them, were still visible a few years ago on maple trees in one or two places. The trail was near the southerly side of the ridge, because here they found the land higher and drier in most places. The circumstances under which the settlers made the first Gloucester Road are recorded in the following despatch of the Com missioner of Crown Lands to Wellesley Richie, who was employed by the Government at this time in settling the newcomers on their lands : — Commissioner of Crown Lands Office, Nov. 27, 1832. Sir, — In consequence of the distress experienced by some of the pensioners, the Lieutenant-Governor has represented their condition to the Secretary of State, and in the meantime His Excellency author- 92 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. izes you to issue provisions to those actually at work, in proportion to their families, and the number of acres of land they clear till the ist day of April next. That is, you may make advances at the rate of five dollars per acre to those who have cleared or chopped two acres, and so on in proportion to the number of acres they may chop from this date, to the day above mentioned. You will please to make weekly returns of the expense incurred : no outlay whatever will be sanctioned beyond this rate. If you think a useful road can be opened through Medonte dur ing the winter to strike the Penetanguishene Road, His Excellency authorizes you to employ the settlers at the rate of one shilling and sixpence per day, in making a road in that direction. I am, Sir, Mr. Wellesley Richie. (Sgd.) Peter Robinson. When the inhabitants of Medonte petitioned in 1845 to have this road improved, they complained loudly of the original Indian track that had been used as a road, and commonly called "The Indian Path," or "Wood Bridge Road." It was, they said, "an illegal, serpentine and indirect route, and abounded in hills, swamps and rocks, tottering bridges and rotten crossways. " The Sunnidale Road. The first Sunnidale Road was surveyed by Charles Rankin from the Head of Kempenfeldt Bay to the Nottawasaga River, and thence through Sunnidale Township to Nottawasaga Bay in 1833, by Wm. Hawkins. In the Surveyor-General's instructions to Mr. Hawkins, dated 30th May of that year, when directing him to survey a town plot on the Nottawasaga River, he says : — "I have to request of you that you will lose no time in proceeding to accomplish this object which will, in connection with Mr. C. Ran kin's Road from Barrie and that which His Excellency has been pleased to direct to be opened through Sunnidale, afford a line of communication from Lake Simcoe to Lake Huron where a favorable site is also to be selected for the establishment of a town. "You will place yourself in immediate communication with W. Richie, Esq., the agent for settling that part of the country as regards this service and that of exploring, marking, &c. , the intended road to which the enclosed instructions more fully refer, as also with Mr. Deputy-Surveyor Rankin should you fall in with him." THE FIRST COLONIZATION ROADS. 93 After the survey of the road, a town plot at each end of it being then surveyed also (on Kempenfeldt and Nottawasaga Bays), Alex ander Walker and the Drury Brothers, under contract from the Gov ernment, opened the road in 1833. Like all the other pioneer roads, it was a mere wagon track through the forest; for two miles from the head of Kempenfeldt Bay it fohowed the Nine Mile Portage, and then pursued a more southerly direction of its own to the Nottawa saga River near Angus of the present time. At Nottawasaga Bay the smooth sand beach could then be used as a road for wagons for several miles, just as it has been utilized for transit in our own day. Westward it led to the settlements on the good lands in the Township of Nottawasaga, and eastward into the Townships of Flos and Tiny. The First Ridge Road. The Ridge Road through Oro Township from the head of Kemp enfeldt Bay as far as Shanty Bay was one of the first in the district to be opened for vehicles. It was in use some time before 1833, and afforded a means of travel to the Penetanguishene Road which began at Kempenfeldt, for the early settlers along the lake shore in Oro. Further extension of this road was proposed from time to time in the. early years. At the General Quarter Sessions for the Home District, October 7, 1841, there was submitted the Road Report of Horace Keating upon the petition of W. B. McVittie and others, "requiring a road to be surveyed and opened on the shore of Lake Simcoe, from Lot No. 24 in the 12th concession of Oro, toward the Town of Barrie (and) to the Ridge Road." Mr. Keating's Report was read and "confirmed," but the road itself was not then built. A pioneer's trail went from Shanty Bay toward Gilchrist P. O. , and at the west half of lot 17, concession 4, it united with another branch from Crownhill. The latter came from the Penetanguishene Road, at lot 12, and crossed the Crownhill swamp at a narrow part (where a Trespass crossroad through lot 18, concession 3, still marks its course), before uniting with the former. The early Highland Scotch settlers in the northern part of Oro used these trails, or both branches of the one, as the Ridge Road was not open eastward much beyond Shanty Bay in the early days of settlement. This Gilchrist trail might have been used a little by the early Indians ; it evidently led to the east, as the swamps were too extensive to be regularly 94 .4 HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. crossed going by this trail toward the northwest corner. It was used within the memory of living persons, by Indians travelling over land from Barrie to Orihia. Hawkestone Pioneers' Trail. The more important one of the trails from Lake Simcoe into the interior began at the outlet of Hawkestone Creek, and followed up the west side of the stream for a considerable distance, not imme diately beside the stream, but along the ridges a short way from it. The Indians used it from the earliest times, and it was also a deer path; then the early settlers used it, about 1832 and later, on their way to upper Oro from Hawkestone, where there was a landing- place for settlement purposes. Yet, the writer has been informed that it was never widened into a wagon road, but was only a path, although in some places it was wide enough for an ox-team. It crosses Hawkestone Creek, and in the neigborhood of Mitchell Square reappears along the east side of the creek, or at least a branch of the same pioneers' trail. The Centre Road or Hurontario Street. The foregoing list of the earliest colonization roads in the county, except where the Penetanguishene Road left Holland Land ing and a branch of it from Bradford went to Bond Head, all ran from Lake Simcoe to the northward. But there was an exception to this rule in the case of the Centre Road through Mono and Mulmur, having for its destination Nottawasaga Bay. In Etobicoke Township a branch of Dundas Street passed north ward to Adjala and Tecumseth. Another, a little further on, passed in a northwesterly direction through Mono Mills, aiming for Notta wasaga Bay. These were travelled roads from the frontier townships early in the thirties, and about the same time or a little later one also passed to Orangeville of the present day. There was a survey for a leading road through these townships in 1837, so it belongs to the earliest highways of the pioneers. But as some of the northerly portions of this road were opened under the direction of the Simcoe District Council as late as 1848-9, it will come more properly in the next chapter. Chapter X. THE ROADS UNDER THE DISTRICT COUNCIL, (1843-9). In the very first year of its existence (1843) the District Council of Simcoe addressed the Legislature, representing that the ordinary means at their disposal were not sufficient to make and keep in repair the roads and bridges throughout the District, (with the management of which they had been charged by the new Municipal Act of that time), and also representing that the people of the District were unable to bear further taxes. They sought relief, therefore, and requested that the revenue from shops, taverns and still licenses, fees on marriage licenses, and fines and penalties, be relinquished ro them. At the February meeting of the District Council, 1844, on motion of Wm. Armson, of West Gwillimbury, who was frequently the pro moter of progressive measures, the Council divided the District into eight divisions for the purpose of appointing a Road Surveyor in each. It will be of some interest to give the names of the men who were appointed on this occasion, and who corresponded, in some degree, to our pathmasters of the present day, of whom they were the forerunners. Divisions for Resident Road Surveyors. (February, 1844). I. W Gwillimbury & Innisfil Isaac B. Rogers. 2. Tecumseth, Adjala & Mono Wm.Brawley. 3. Essa, Tosorontio & Mulmur George Ruthven. 4. Nottawasaga & Sunnidale Joseph Bowerman. 5. Vespra and Flos Wm. Gibbard. 6. Oro and South Orihia Jas. Tudhope. 7. Medonte and North Orillia Thomas Craig. 8. Tiny, Tay and Matchedash Wm. B. Hamilton. It will be more convenient to take up the transactions of this period under the head of each road, as in the last chapter. [95] 96 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Improvement of the Penetanguishene Road. The Canadian Parliament had granted, on Sept. i8, 1841, the large sum of ;^30,ooo sterling, to improve and complete the "main northern road," and improve parts of it to Penetanguishene, and also on the Coldwater Portage. The District Council complained in February, 1844, that nothing had been done, and that from Barrie to Holland Landing the road was "impassable for wheel car riages;" accordingly, they sent an address to the Governor-General, Sir Charles T. Metcalfe, on the subject. Again, in May of the same year, another Address to the Gover nor-General from the District Council mentioned the ;^30,ooo for merly granted for the main road, but none had yet been expended in the District. They pled that they had a debt of nearly ;£8,ooo, and that the resident inhabitants were taxed nearly 4d. in the ;£¦ At the same meeting, John Coulson and others residing in West Gwillimbury petitioned the District Council to order the surveying of the Penetanguishene Road through that township, in order to straighten the jogs. The Council abruptly reminded the petitioners that they had their remedy by employing a surveyor themselves and reporting to the Council. The transaction, however, tended to increase the agitation then in progress for the improvement of the road. When the Hon. W. B. Robinson for the second time became the member of Parliament for Simcoe, the District Council renewed its appeal (Nov., 1844), this time to him, to expedite the improvement of the main road from Penetanguishene to Holland Landing. But the financial condition of the united provinces was not very flourish ing just at the time, so nothing could be done. In 1845, however, we find the Turnpike road from Bradford to Holland Landing was under a Parliamentary trust. A protest of unusual strength, even for those days, went from the District Council on this subject in 1846. And when the Hon. W. B. Robinson became Commissioner of Pubhc Works in the Draper ministry the improvements so long desired were begun. The road was straightened and widened, and for a few miles from AUandale southward it was turnpiked, in 1847. This gave employment to a considerable number of men, as the work was all done by hand, there being no improved road machinery in those days. Many of those employed at the work were Irish emigrants. It was at this time also Wilham Armson, West Gwillimbury, Warden, 1845-52. [97] ROADS UNDER DISTRICT COUNCIL ii843-g). 99 that the road from Craighurst northward was made directly across Craig's Swamp, a deviation having hitherto existed at this place. Still farther north, above Orr Lake, Rowley's Hill was cut down and improved. In this work the contractor (Morrison, of Craighurst) employed a wooden railway and rail truck wagons, which ran down of themselves when loaded, being in charge of a brakesman, while horses drew the empty cars back to the cutting. The money granted for this work came to an end long before the road was completely improved, and when there was no more money the work ceased, especially after an election which came off that year, the expenditure on public works in those days being very simi lar to what it is in our own times, so far at any rate as elections are concerned. So far as the District Council was concerned, the end had not come, for they petitioned the Legislature in February, 1848, for a further grant of money for the completion of the Penetanguishene Road under the management of the Board of Works. But it does not appear that any further grant was made, the Baldwin ministry taking the place of the Draper ministry soon afterward. Extension of the Ridge Road. This is now the main highway from Barrie to Orillia. It was surveyed by Henry Creswicke, Sr. , and opened as a public road along the lake ridge, in 1848, eastward from Shanty Bay, the westerly part having been opened before. It appears to have been an Indian trail, originally, as there are a few Indian village sites along the ridge, and no swamps to cut off the travelling. The ridge is almost continuous for a long way, and there are no streams flowing into Kempen feldt Bay from the north, but a few small ones begin to make their appearance as soon as the lake itself is reached, near Oro Station. Sir George Head ("Forest Scenes") mentions the ridge running into Oro from the head of Kempenfeldt Bay, which he had found pass able as a trail in 181 5. But the writer has not met with any other tradition of it. James Adam, the representative from Oro to the Home District Council which held its sittings in Toronto, had urged, as early as February, 1842, a survey of a road leading from Barrie to Orillia, and had been promised that as soon as the funds of the District should warrant the Council to incur the expense of surveying impor- 100 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. tant lines of road, this should be one of the first undertaken. At the end of that year Simcoe became a district by itself, and the question took a different turn. In the pioneer days there were three Crossroads travelled through Oro Township, viz. , the Upper, Middle and Lower Cross roads. In the end it came about that the Upper and Middle roads were both opened before the Lower, or Ridge Road. About Decem ber, 1846, Mr. Gzowski of the Board of \\'orks (afterward Sir C. S. Gzowski), while at work on the Whitby and Sturgeon Bay Road across the Narrows, had examined different lines for a direct road between Barrie and Orillia with the view to the construction of one early in the following spring. Following Mr. Gzowski's prehminary inspection for the road, Frederick Dallas, the representative from Orillia in the District Council, brought up the subject at the February session, 1847, and the Council petitioned the Legislative Assembly for an appropria tion for one. It appears from the statements of the Hon. W. B. Robinson, quoted in the Barrie Magnet of Aug. 20., 1847, that he had ;^5oo in the estimates presented to the Legislature that sea son, but could not get it through the House, as there w^ere many districts that got nothing at all. He was promised it, however, the next session. With this beginning, the Ridge Road was finally opsned in 1848, as above stated, the resident road surveyor, James Tudhope, having taken a part in its survey, as well as Henry Creswicke, the District Surveyor. The Middle Crossroad. (Oro and S. Orillia). Early in 1843, or perhaps in the preceding autumn, Neil Mc Lean surveyed the Middle Crossroad or Centre Road through Oro, following along, and in some places, near to, the road allowance between lots 15 and 16. The survey, diagram and petition for the establishment of the road came before the District Council in February of that year, and the Council considered the road as of great importance and "manifest public utility," but in consequence of the obscurity of the surveyor's diagram, (so it is alleged in the Minutes, p. 391), they took no action. Again, on May 9, (at the second sitting), another report and survey from the same surveyor came before them, which they adopted; and in August they passed a By-Law to establish the road. Along the route followed by this ROADS UNDER DISTRICT COUNCIL {iS43-g). lOL road there had been an Indian trail through the forest, leading from Crownhih of the present time to Orillia, and the establish ment of the new road here shows again the necessity the pioneers were under to select for their forest roads the same kind of courses which the Indians had selected, neither of them having the means of runing roads straight through the woods, over swamps, hills and other obstructions, as we do to-day. In the following year (1844) the Council made a continuation of the road from Oro to Orillia town (then a vihage). In May, James Tudhope exhibited a diagram to the Council, showing the survey of a road through part of South Ordlia, beginning from lot 15, con. I, where it connected with the middle Crossroad of Oro,_ and leading to lot 10, con. 3 of S. Orillia. The Council thereupon, confirmed it and passed a By-Law to establish the road. The Upper Crossroad, (Oro and S. Orillia). When Donald Cameron and fourteen others of Oro petitioned the District Council in February, 1844, to be allowed to employ a surveyor for laying out the crossroad between lots 10 and 11 in that township, the Council could see no objections to the petitioners doing so, and the surveyor reporting on the same. At this session James Tudhope was appointed as road surveyor, and it fell to his lot to lay out the course of the new main road, which was now opened from the Penetanguishene Road at White's Corners (now Dalston) throughout the township. It acquired great importance a few years later, as it became the stage road of the Barrie and Orihia route before the railway. In the following year (1845) it was extended across part of South Orillia to join the Coldwater Road, and from this time onward it became known to most per sons as the Orilha Road. This followed the arrangements made in May of that year in accordance with the survey of James Tud hope, when the by-law was passed by the District Counch to establish the road across the first three and a half concessions of South Orillia, at Lot 10. Two years later, owing to the numerous hills on the road allowance in Oro, between lots 10 and 11, concessions 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 the District Council had to establish the deviation at this place and passed a by-law for the purpose (February, 1847). 102 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Two other roads in the north part of Oro were also in evi dence about this time, and are worthy of note here, as they were necessary highways for the pioneers of that settlement and were to some extent auxiliary to the Upper Crossroad. The first was a new road across the easterly six concessions of Oro, south of Bass Lake. The District Council pased a by-law in Nov., 1844, estabhshing it. The lake and other physical obstructions prevented the opening of the road allowance in the proper place along the lot 5 sideroad, so it had to pass approximately between lots 6 and 7, and to this day the new road then opened is the travelled i«oad. The other was a trespass road between lots 7 and 8, con. 3, Oro, which had been in uninterrupted use since about 1837. This was closed in 1846, and the regular crossroad between lots 5 and 6 opened. Improvement of the Gloucester Road. The old Gloucester Road through Medonte, connecting the Penetanguishene Road (at Hillsdale) with the Sturgeon Bay Road near Coldwater, was most unsatisfactory and there was much out cry against it, its condition in 1844 having been already mentioned in the last chapter. In August of that year Capt. Elmes Steele and 113 others of Medonte petitioned the District Council to order the survey of a road instead of the one then existing, at least in some portions of it. The Council politely gave the same answer as they did to other petitioners for roads about this time, viz., that the petitioners have their remedy by requesting a regular surveyor of highways to make the survey, and then apply to the Council to confirm the road. During the next month (September), "at very considerable cost and trouble," several of the inhabitants employed a surveyor (Neil McLean) to ascertain the practicability of a new route by a safe and direct course. A few months before this (viz., in Febru ary) the Council had appointed Thomas Craig as Road Surveyor of the division in which Medonte was placed, and the reason for the employment of another surveyor is not stated in the printed pro ceedings of the Council. Again, in February, 1845, Alex. Dunlop and 105 other inhabi tants of Medonte and neighboring townships petitioned the Coancil ROADS UNDER DISTRICT COUNCIL {1843-g). 103 to establish a new road. The Council granted their petition, but so rigid was their due regard to economy it was only granted on condition that the petitioners should pay all legal expenses incur red in establishing the new line of road. Jas. Burnfield and eleven others had duly required Thos. Craig, the surveyor of highways for Medonte, to examine and report upon the new line of road sur veyed by Neil McLean, Deputy Provincial Surveyor. Mr. Craig did so, and gave in a report on the proposed road, in which he describes its course (Minutes, p. 207). He found this line generally level and dry ground, where a road might be made at light expense ; and thereupon the new road was made. The Owen Sound Mail Road. In May, 1846, the District Council passed a by-law to estab lish a road across the country, from Nottawasaga through the Townships of Osprey, Collingwood, Euphrasia and St. Vincent, these four townships being then within the Simcoe District. David Seaman, of St. Vincent, was the surveyor of this route, the details of which are given in the by-law itself. It passed out of Notta wasaga at lot 25, con. 12 of that township, due west from Bow- more (now Duntroon), crossed the northeast corner of Osprey, entered Collingwrood township in the 5th concession, and pursued a northwesterly course to Meaford. The portion from Meaford to Owen Sound was opened about the same time, and the part through Nottawasaga to Lake Simcoe had been opened a few years before. It soon became an important highway for the pioneers, and had a variety of names in proportion to its importance ; thus it was called the Mail Road, the Mountain Road, the Barrie and Owen Sound Road. Although it was a mail road and had been established by the District Council, it was wretchedly bad and almost impassable at certain seasons. John Hunter, the Mail Con tractor between Barrie and Owen Sound, petitioned the Council, in February, 1849, for a sum of money to repair it; it must have been in very bad condition when he would rise to complain. In the following year it was no better, and from that time until the end of its career, it was a chronic source of complaint. The con struction of the railway to Collingwood town in 1854 put it out of business for the most part, as the railway has also done to so many other pioneers roads. 104 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The Centre Road, or Hurontario Street. When Joseph F. Bowerman and others living in the south parts of Nottawasaga Township petitioned the District Council, in October, 1847, to establish the line of road between the 8th and 9th concessions of that township, along the route which afterward became the important highway known as the Centre Road or Hurontario Street, this leading thoroughfare was either not opened for a long distance south into Mulmur, and north to Glenhuron, or was in a very crude and primitive condition. The petitioners sent a diagram with their petition showing the route, with the devia tions around the hills which they proposed, and Mr. McGlashan, one of the representatives from the township, reported a grant of ;^i,ooo by the Board of Works, for road purposes in Nottawasaga. But as the required notice in such cases had not been given, the Council laid the matter over until the next session. At the same session of the District Council (October, 1847) Daniel Markle and other residents of Mulmur petitioned for the opening of Hurontario Street in that township. It was open at the south end of Mulmur for four miles (10 lots), and the petition ers asked to have it completed to lot 32, i.e., to the base line of Nottawasaga. But they met with the same red tape as their neighbors in Nottawasaga had done. They were politely informed that they possessed "all the requisite power within themselves, and were told to request a District Road Surveyor to examine, survey and report to the Council at some of its future sittings," taking care to give three months' notice of their intended appfi cation to the Council in some conspicuous places in their own neighborhood and in the Barrie Magnet newspaper. Undaunted by the red tape, the pioneers, both north and south of Lavender, set to work, and Archibald McNabb's report on the road through Mulmur and Nottawasaga came before the Council at its very first session after this, viz., in February, 1848. Mr. McNabb was then a District Road Surveyor, and Hurontario Street appears to have been in his division. But some further delay arose over at least part of the route, and it was not until October, 1849, that the District Council finally passed a by-law establishing Hurontario Street through Mulmur, thus making the last link between lake and lake. It was completely open from Orangeville Lavender Falls. ROADS UNDER DISTRICT COUNCIL (11S43-9). ¦ 107 to Nottawasaga Bay in 1850, when W. H. Smith wrote his book on Canada, (Vol. I., p. 280). In the thirties, Hurontario Street had been opened from BowmOre (now Duntroon) as far north, or nearly so, as Nottawa, where, soon afterward, mills were erected on the excehent mill stream known as Pretty River. From Nottawa, an early road passed to the "Old Vihage" near the mouth of Pretty River, at which point mills were also established. The extension of Huron tario Street in393 00 Expenditures 275,675 13 Balance $7^,7^7 87 This balance would pay only a fifth part of the interest on the debts. About the time of the October session just mentioned, a notice dated at Orangevhle appeared in the Barrie Herald, and it unstrung the councihors' nerves not a litde. This was for nothing short of dis memberment of 1,400 acres of the western part of Mono from the County, and included incorporation of Orangeville, with the removal of the place to form part of an adjoining county. The move doubt less arose from the prospective granting of more aid to the Indigent railway, so the Simcoe Council petitioned the government against It. While these events were taking place, the Orillia Township Coun cil, in June, 1857, petitioned the County Council to take stock in a new project called the Eastern Railroad, but their weighty obliga tions under the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Union Railroad stock, which was not paying any dividends, prevented the counch from tak ing any. Under By-law No. 76, the Warden did seh or give away the rail way stock to the townships and villages in the countv, and the Coun- • cil passed By-law No. 83 to explain the former By-law No. 76. In January, 1858, the County Treasurer was authorized to go to Toronto and register the transfers of the stock, which the Warden had made. 176 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. A new difficulty now arose, as the railway company would not register the transfer or sale. At the October session, 1858, a committee of five was appointed to examine the title under which the townships held the stock. An application was made to the Court of Common Pleas to compel the railway to register the transfers of stock to the township corporations in the county, and at the June session, a letter from the solicitor, H. B. Hopkins, stated that the Court of Common Pleas had granted a mandamus compelling the railway company to register the stock transfer. At a later time, the County Treasurer requested instructions for Mr. Hopkins to commence proceedings in the Court pf Chancery on this account ; yet, notwithstanding all this fuss In the law courts, to get rid of the stock, the "white elephant" remained on the county's hands. In the meantime, the affairs of the railway had been taking another turn. In June, 1858, the Legislature had before them "An Act to amend the Acts relating to the O. S. & H. U. R. Co.," the object of which was to postpone the Government lien on the railway. If the Government had stepped in and demanded satisfaction for its lien on the line, there would have been a collapse. But the postpone ment of the Government lien enabled the company to borrow suffi cient funds to place the road In a thorough and efficient state of repair. By the following January, (1859), the continuance of the railway as a working road was extremely uncertain, so the Council appointed a committee of five to go to Toronto to aid in affording speedy relief. The railway at this time was negotiating with the Government to mature some plan to be laid before Parliament at its next session. The indebtedness of the road became so great that there were writs in the Sheriff's hands (by June, 1859), to seize and sell everything belonging to it. The road itself was so rickety and out of repair that life and property were greatly endangered by using it. The arrangement was that ;^250,ooo (sterling) should be advanced by bondholders, their new bonds to be a first lien on the road. The large sums of money subscribed by the County and others were thus irrecoverably gone, or relegated to a secondary place In comparison with the preferred bonds. The Government introduced and passed an Act, taking the road into Its own hands, and everything relating to Its management was regul ated by order of the Government, henceforth. It was during the period of these troubles that the name of the institution became the Northern Railway Company. And it was at this same period that Frederick W. Cumberland became the General Manager. The Railway Bridge at Tollendal. The change from wood to iron. The long wooden bridge, built from Wm. Armstrong's model, and shown on the left, is in course of removal. Photo in 1863, by Mr. Armstrong, Toronto. THE NORTHERN RAILWAY. 179 The Reorganized Railway Company. By the Act and Order-in-Council of 1859, the road was assumed or sequestrated by the Government, but was afterward revested in the company on certain conditions as to raising new capital, which were complied with, and the company reorganized. The Warden, T. D. McConkey, stated to the Counch, June, i860, that the most rigid economy was now practised by the Board and by the Superin tendent, J. L. Grant. The railway company now decided upon spending ;^i7o,ooo (sterl ing) in works on the line before November i, 1861. The contractors were the firm of Peto, Brassey & Betts, railway contractors, of whom the central figure was Thomas Brassey, of London, England, so well known then in connection with the construction of the Grand Trunk and of the Victoria Bridge at Montreal. The contractors were to maintain the road while the contract continued, and the line would be fenced throughout. By June, i860, under the new auspices, the receipts of the road had increased. A reduction of the freight tariff took place, and three cents a mile was now charged for passenger fare. The Warden, on this occasion, spoke of the ;^50,ooo stock as still belonging to the county. The question of ownership of the stock was in "Chancery" and undecided when the Government sequestered the line, so it remained in the County's hands. Contracts for the restoration and maintenance of the road went into effect, October i, 1860. At the date of the Council's session In this month, the new iron had been delivered and operations com menced. There were no steel rails then, nothing but iron, Bessemer steel rails having come into use on Canadian railways about the year 1865 or later. Up to this time, ministers of the gospel, or clergymen, at the beginning of the railway, were allowed to travel over the road at the rate of half fare. The object had been to afford the more remote parts of the county the privilege of hearing the gospel, where they were not able to maintain a clergyman, but the privilege had been abused. The new Board and management of the railway withheld this privilege. During the period of the restoration of the road, the long bridge near Tollendal, or trestlework, was converted from wood to iron. This trestlework was removed arid the space fihed with earth, except across the stream. The engraving is from a photograph shown at the His- 180 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. torical Exhibition in Toronto, iSgg. The bridge on the left, built from the model of Wm. Armstrong, is in course of removal, 1863. The financial difficulties through which the Northern Railway had been passing all this time, kept a troublesome question silent, but on the restoration of the road, this sprang into life again. This was the building of the branch (i mile in length) across the head of Kempen feldt Bay from AUandale to Barrie. Before June, 1855, arrangements for the construction of this branch had been entered into. Barrie had raised ;^3,ooo to purchase the right of way for it. And although a few prominent men were opposed to it, including T. R. Ferguson, it would probably have been built at this time but for the financial troubles upon which the railway company now entered. In 1857, the Barrie Council petitioned the Government for the extension of the boundaries of the town so as to embrace the station grounds at AUandale in Innisfil, together with some 400 acres adjoin ing the lake shore. The County Council, at its October session in that year, condemned the move and petitioned the Government against It. The proposal to annex AUandale to Barrie, came up again in Jan uary, iS5g, with the same result as before. So the branch line slum bered for about three years longer, during the period while the rail way was under a financial cloud. In the early part of 1862 the question was revived. It had been the original intention of the promoters to bring the line into Barrie, and with this understanding the town was to purchase the right of way across the head of the bay. As the company failed to bring the road to the town, it claimed damages against them, and Angus Mor rison, M.P., for North Simcoe, brought a Bih into the House "to compel the company either to refund the amount paid by the town or build a switch into Barrie." Mr. Morrison withdrew the Bill, on the representations of Mr. Cumberland, and submitted the matter to arbitration, the result of which was an award of ;^5,ooo or $20,000 in favour of the town. It appears that when this matter came before the Board of railway directors, Mr. T. R. Ferguson, who as Warden was a member of the Board, voted against the award being paid to the town, which caused a sensation at the time. The commercial and business men of the town each time they went to the railway depot (AUandale) with or for freight, had to travel three miles. The railway directors (October, 1862) entered into an agreement with the town to make the switch and the town purchased a portion, at least, of the right of way; or purchased the whole, and Angus Morrison, M.P., Receiving an Address. Front row, left to right, W. D. Ardagh, Angus Morrison, D'Arcy Boulton. Back row, left to right. Rev. John Finch, Prof. Heinrich, E. S. Meeking. [181] THE NORTHERN RAILWA F. 183 paid only part of the purchase, but gave bonds under seal to make the titles perfect as soon as valued and paid for. The County Council this session (October, 1862) concluded the railway should have made the switch, and it directed the Warden to bring the matter before the directors to make it rather than grant the sum of money under the award. Further delay occurring, the Town of Barrie instituted legal pro ceedings in the Court of Chancery against the railway directors on account of their neglect and refusal to build the branch into the town. .So the County Council (January, 1S63), stepped into the breach and petitioned the Legislative Assembly to compel the Company to build the branch so that all litigation might cease. At the November ses sion, 1863, the County Council loaned $4,000 to Barrie to complete the purchase of the right of way for the branch line, and during the next season the work was constructed. The formal opening of the branch to Barrie for traffic was celebrated on June 21, 1865, and thus was brought to a close a lasting source of unpleasant agitation. To the review and railway celebration on that date, the County Council granted $200, more especially to aid in entertaining the volunteers of this and the adjoining military districts brought together on the occa sion. There was a large influx of visitors, and an exciting time, with the usual mutual laudation after the law had been invoked and had interfered to bring about compliance with an obligation incurred twelve years before. Some financial difficulty arose in the early sixties over the rail way stock, and the method of providing for the payment of it. The debt incurred in December, 1850, to provide $200,000 of railroad stock, when first contracted, was to be paid off In twenty years, i.e. by 1870. The By-law (No. 10) so provided, although the debentures were afterward actually issued on January ist, 1852, and made pay able on January i, 1872. In June, 1861, Mr. Boys, the County Treasurer, sent a report to the Council showing the amounts actually raised by the county for railroad purposes from 1855 tO' i860, viz., an aggregate of $138,758. This Railroad Sinking Fund in the County Treasurer's hands was a source from which money, on different occa sions, was temporarily borrowed to pay other debts. This way of financing went on until it resulted in no Sinking Fund, as one might expect, and has often occurred in other municipalities in a similar way. The outcome was that the County Council, In January, 1867, passed a By-law to consolidate the debt of the County, and extend it 184 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. over a period of 15 years by the issue of a new series of debentures for $141,000, of which $63,000 was for railroad debt. Before the time was up for paying the railroad stock, the county had resorted to the expedient of "consolidation" by Act of Parhament. Soon after the payment of the debentures for the $200,000 rail way stock, it transpired (June, 1S73) with regard to the financial affairs of the Northern Railway that the road was at this time fully able to pay 5 per cent, upon ah its stock. As this would give the County $10,000 annually, the Council advised that steps should be taken to protect the County's interests. Popular indignation at not receiving any dividend on the railway stock again came up to be ventilated the next year, (June, 1874). The Warden and a deputa tion of four reeves had gone to Ottawa in April, 1874, to urge that the County's interests should be protected, and they had an audience from the Premier, the Hon. Alex. Mackenzie. He asked them "what they considered their interests worth, and stated that whatever claims" they may have had from the yj'50,000 stock, he considered they were fully and amply repaid in the running of the road and the benefits conferred thereby. However, the Premier promised that, in the measure for the relief of the road which it was the intention of the Government to introduce, he would not do anything to injure the stock of the county or others, or place it in a worse position than it then occupied. While the County legislators wished to guard the interests of the people in this matter, they were alert to the other side of the ques tion. The railway rolling stock had been notoriously inadequate to the wants of the district, and most of the people knew it. The con struction of the Hamilton & Northwestern line at this time also stimul ated the Northern Railway Company to move themselves and provide better accommodation for the public. Accordingly, in view of the approaching N. R. R. Relief Bill, the County Counch, in January, 1875, memoriahzed the Governor-General to grant legislative relief that the railway could borrow money, re-stock the road and improve the roadway. A new source of alarm, perhaps groundless, soon made its appear ance. The Council, or some prominent member of it, had learned that It was the intention of the Government, or some Member of Parliament, to Introduce a Bill to deprive stockholders in the rail way to the extent of the $200,000, and so the County Council was called together for a special session, March 18-20, 1875, to consider THE NORTHERN RAILWAY. 185 the Bih before the House of Commons relating to the Northern Rail way, which was named the Northern Railway Relief Bill and Con- sohdation JBill. At this special session the Council sent a memorial to the Governor-General protesting against any interference with the standing of their stock, which they would not relinquish unless by way of bonus to the North Simcoe Railway Company. In due course of time, the Northern Railway Act of 1875 became law as 38 Vict., chapter 65. The autumn session (September, 1875) of the County Council was called especially early to consider railway matters. A special com mittee on the disposal of the stock held by the county reported in favour of assisting such a re-arrangement of the railway's capital account as would enable the company to raise the necessary funds for the purposes it had in view. They recommended a commutation of the $200,000 stock into new ordinary stock at 25 per cent, of its value, conditionally upon Toronto commuting also, and there were other conditions added. None of the conditions were satisfied, so the proposition fell through. Again, in January, 1876, a Bih was to be introduced at the approaching session of the Dominion Parliament to provide for alter ations in the management and proprietory interest of the Northern Railway, and the Council were busy watching it, lest something detri mental to the stock should be incorporated in the measure. The County Treasurer reported to the Council, in January, 1878, that the county's stock in the Northern Railway had been, by Act of Parlia ment, converted into sterling, and the new stock for ;^40,ooo (sterl ing) had been handed over to him. In October, 1878, a special committee of the Council, appointed to confer in regard to the stock held by the county, reported that "it would be to the interest of the county, etc., that the stock be surrendered to the Railway Company," so that it could proceed with the improvements it had in view. This report raised a storm of dis sent, and was left over until the January session, i.e., given a 3 months' hoist. In the Warden's address, January, i87g, he mentioned that the Northern Railway Company (the North Simcoe Branch being now complete) had at the time 150 miles of railway exclusively in this county, with station houses, freight buildings, etc., all paying taxes annually. For some years the railway company had desired to change the gauge of the line from the broad gauge to the general standard 186 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. gauge of Canadian and American Railway systems, and thus open the traffic of the hne to the markets of the continent generally, without transshipment of goods. The cost of making this change on the lines of the Northern Railway was estimated at $300,000, and the Council lors were now approached with a proposal to aid in this undertaking. F. W. Cumberland, the Managing-Director of the Northern Railway, had twice addressed the County Council during the preceding year (1878, in June and again in October) on matters relative to the rail way, and had advocated its interests. He had even proposed that the County's stock in the railway ($200,000) should be written off, to enable the company to carry out the improvement. But there fol lowed, a few weeks later, the amalgamation of the two railways, and this event, which is described more fully in the next chapter, deferred the question of changing the gauge for at least two more years. Chapter XV. THE H. & N. W. R. R., AND THE AMALG.AMATED NORTHERN AND NORTH-WESTERN SYSTEM. The Hamilton and North- Western Railway. \\'hen the project of building a railway from Hamilton to Simcoe County, first came before the public, the County Council petitioned the Ontario Legislature for a charter for the new line, which was to run from Hamilton to Hogg, Mundy, Sturgeon or Matchedash Bays, (January, 1872). The same year the Act was passed In due course as 35 Vict, Chapter 55, (Ontario), chartering the new line as the Ham ilton & North-Western Railway. At the January session, 1S73, the County Council introduced a by-law and gave it two readings, preparatory to advertising it and submitting it to the ratepayers in the several townships concerned in passing it. Under this by-law, the rahway company had to construct and complete the road w.'thin four years from the final passage of the by-law, and they were to receive a bonus of $300,000, the debentures for which were issued for twenty years (i.e., extending to 1893). The municipalities undertaking to grant this bonus to assist the new rah way were the townships of West Gwillimbury, Tecumseth, Adjala, Mulmur, Tosorontio, Essa, Vespra, Sunnidale, Nottawasaga, and the towns of Barrie and Collingwood. The Township of Innisfil also granted a bonus of $20,000 on its own account to the rahway, but did not belong to the group. .\fter the session of the Council, a regular campaign commenced for the passage of the by-law in the municipalities just named. One of the most energetic advocates of the railroad bonus was Lieut.-Col. R. T. Banting, the County Clerk, who assisted Messrs. Young and others to "stump" the townships in behalf of the measure. In due course of time it was passed by the people, and at the June session, 1873, the Counch gave it the third reading and finally adopted it. The debentures for $300,000 realized $357,700, or $57,700 more than the face value of the debentures, which was derived from premiums, inter est from the banks, etc. The debentures commanded a premium when ever offered for sale. 13 [ 187 ] 188 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. At the same session, (June, 1873), the Council appointed the warden as director from this county on the Hamilton and North- Western Railway Board, and Whliam Boys, Esq., of Barrie, (after ward Judge Boys), as the trustee on behalf of the county, the deben tures for the $300,000 being deposited with him for safe-keeping. For this year (1S73) and the next four years the warden of the time represented the county on the H. & N.-W. R. R. board. But as he had also to attend the board meetings of the Northern Railway, it was deemed advisable that a different director should be appointed for the H. & N.-W. R. R. Accordingly in January, 1878, the Council appointed by by-law a director for the H. & N.-W. R. R. , and for a number of years afterward, appointed a new director at each January session for the ensuing year. The following list will show the direc tors for tbe successive years. 1S78, Wm. McDermott, Tecumseth. 1879, Wm. Switzer, Sunnidale. 1S80, John Stewart, Alliston. iSSi, David Dunn, Essa. 1882, Dr. A. S. Kirkland, Nottawasaga. 1S83, John Kelly, Adjala. 1884, Geo. Moberly, Cohingwood. 1SS5, Christopher Cooke, Tecumseth. 1886, Jas. Hamilton, Nottawasaga. 1S87, Jonathan SIssons, Vespra. 1 888, John Gallagher, Tosorontio. iSSg, Robert O'Brien, Collingwood. On the absorption of the N. & N.-W. R. R. by the Grand Trunk in 1S88, the latter Ignored the county's right to be represented by a director. Although the Counch desired to assist the undertaking, there was, however, a re-action as a result of the late election to pass the by-law. From the experience gained in the recent proceedings, the County Council complained to the Legislative Assembly of the Act which grouped muncipahties for bonuses. It forced bonuses from muni cipalities uninterested in the railways, in an arbitrary way, and so the Counch asked the Legislature to repeal or amend the Act. For the year 1S74, the townships and towns in the Hamilton Rail way group, named above, paid a levy of three and one-third mills In 13a Lieut.-Col. R. T. Banting, County Clerk, 1860-1902. RAILWAY SYSTEMS. 191 the dollar in addition to the usual levy for other matters. This burden bore heavhy on some portions of the territory involved in making the payments. At the January session, 1875, the Counch passed a resolution of great importance to the company. The company's agreement having been to the effect that they would let the contract for a line from Hamhton to Collingwood and Barrie, and the work of construction proceeded with not later than March 14, 1875, and the time for com mencing it having almost expired without a prospect of the realiza tion of the work, the Council resolved that the directors be requested to call a meeting of the shareholders and resign their trust to others with more energy and determination. At the same session (January, 1S75,) a- special committee of the Council sent a telegram to John Stewart, President of the H. & N.-W. R. R., asking him to explain the prospects and position of the road. He wrote a letter explaining the unexpected delay in beginning the construction of the line. Since they had asked aid from the county, a great change had taken place In the "railway world of Canada." After the panic in the United States, railway earnings had fallen off, railway securities were dis credited, and the stock for the railway had not been subscribed. There had also been delay in getting aid from Halton County. In the mean-. time they had advertised for tenders for the various works. Notwith standing these assurances the Simcoe Council had little confidence in the arrangements. The special committee appointed to obtain the opinion of R. A. Harrison, Esq., and the county solicitor, in regard to the H. & N.-W. R. R. Company, recommended (September, 1875,) that the County Treasurer pay over to the railway trustees no more money. The Town ship of West Gwillimbury filed a Bill of Complaint to have the deben tures issued by the county to the railway returned to the county. The County Council, however, refused to be a party plaintiff in this suit. (January, 1876). For the year 1S75, it required a special rate of three and two-third mihs In the dollar from the municipalities in the Hamil ton Railway group to meet the interest and principal of debentures. At the June session, 1S76, John Stewart, President of the rahway, with Phho Dayfoot, a director, addressed the County Counch on the difficulties and prospects of the construction of the railway. The county's relations with the H. & N.-W. R. R. Company being any thing but satisfactory, the warden was instructed at this session to confer with the county solicitor as to issuing and serving a mandamus 192 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. on the trustees of the railway restricting them from negotiating, touch ing or dealing with the debentures given by the group and by Innisfil. The railway company being unable to complete their line within the time contemplated by their charter, they obtained an extension of the time for that purpose by an Act of the Legislature In 1876, 39 Vict., Chapter 72, 1875-6, Statutes of Ontario. ("An Act to further amend the Act relating to the Hamilton and North-Western Railway.") The company next agreed with municipalities interested to get an advance of $170,000 to enable them to build the portion of their line between Palgrave and Barrie as the main line, and defer the Beeton and Collingwood branch. The County Council in January, 1877, memoriahzed the Legislature to have the company complete both lines together. The last named measure or agreement, which came before the Legislature In the early months of 1877, was embodied in a lengthy Act, which was passed as 40 Vict., Chapter 76, and It divided the $300,000 bonus into two parts, viz., $170,000 for the main line to Barrie, and $130,000 for the Collingwood branch from Beeton. The Act also brought about a readjustment of the burden among the muni cipalities of the group, in accordance with which the County Counch passed a new by-law in June, 1S77, levying a rate on the main line section, and another rate on the Collingwood branch. By a report adopted at the same session, the Council authorized the trustees to pay over to the H. & N.-W. R. R. Company the unexpended portion of the bonus applicable to the construction of the main line [i.e, of the $170,000), on the security of the rails and fastenings on their arrival at Montreal. It appears the times for the construction of the lines were fixed as follows: The main line during 1877, and the branch during 1878. The first passenger train was run from Clarks- ville (Beeton) to Hamilton on Wednesday, October 3, 1877. In January, 1878, just after the main line had been completed and was running to Barrie (it had been opened on December 31, 1877), and the branch as far as Glencairn, the County Counch sent a deputa tion to tbe Legislature at Toronto to prevent the contemplated further extension of time for the completion of the branch line to Collingwood. At the same session, the Council also sent a memorial to the Lieut. - Governor-in-Council to aid the H. & N.-W. R. R. Company in extend ing their line through the northern townships of the county to the Severn River, the intention of which was to connect ultimately with the proposed Canada Pacific Railway. .As well as sending the deputa- RAILWAY SYSTEMS. 193 tion, the council also sent a memorial to the Legislative Assembly, protesting against extending the time for completion of the branch line. The railway company applied for an extension of three years for the completion of the branch, but were refused ; and owing to these delays in the construction of all parts of the line, the levy for 1876 on account of the H. & N.-W. R. R. appears in the books of the treasurer as cancelled for that year. Wm. Boys, Esq., had been appointed trustee on behalf of the county, October 22, 1873, and on the conclusion of his work, January, 1879, the counch voted him a grant of $300. The Amalgamated Northern & North-Western Railways. The first "official" divulgence of the proposed amalgamation of the two railways of the county came before the County Council at Its June session, 1879. The Warden, (Chas. Cameron, of Cohlngwoodl, in his opening address, drew the council's attention to an agreement betwen the Northern Railway and the Hamilton & North-Western Railway which would come into effect on July ist. On the Board of directors of the Northern Railway, of which he was a member in hi.s capacity of warden of the county, he had opposed the agreement, but it had been made between the two railway companies, notwithstand ing his opposition to it. .¦\t an early stage of this session, the council appointed a special committee to confer with the county sohcitor as to what steps it would be advisable to take in view of the approaching combination of the two companies. The special committee, in their report, expressed their belief that the "pooling arrangement" about to be entered upon was owing to financial embarrassments, more especially on the part of the H. & N.-W. R. R. Company, which had led them to make the combination. On the part of that railway it was "a manifest violation of the promises and pledges publicly given to secure the bonuses in aid of their road." This "pooling arrangement" had been entered into by the H. & N.-W. R. R. without acquainting the council, or its representative with its provisions. The committee looked on this as discourteous, to say the least, in view of the large amount of aid it had received from them, and the leniency that had been extended to it. Under the circumstances, they would not advise that any action should be taken. This decision was reached after they had submitted to their solicitor, D'AIton McCarthy, a series of five questions as to 194 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. the agreement. His answers to these questions were printed in the minutes for that session, (June, 1879), a^^d they show a firm grasp of the broad questions at issue. With a view to smoothing the ruffled feelings of the councillors, F. W. Cumberland, the railway manager, addressed the council at this session on the nature of the agreement of union between the two companies. He set forth the advantages the agreement would have in the effective working of both railroads, and the "happy and bene ficial results the county would experience by the union." He promised that If the tariff would not be reduced, it would not be increased. The fair promises just mentioned pacified the indignant counchlors for a brief time, but by the November session (1879) they were incensed more than ever, and the counch now forwarded a memorial to the Provincial Secretary asking him to take action to compel the H. & N.-W. R. R. Company to fulfil the conditions upon which governmental and municipal aid was granted to it. An increase of the tariff, notwithstanding the fair promises, had given so much dis satisfaction to a large portion of the county, that public indignation found vent at this session in more than one strong resolution. The committee on railways expressed their belief that the rates of the Northern Railway had not been increased since the amalgamation, but they regretted that the rates of the H. & N.-W. R. R. had been largely increased. They held several consultations with Mr. Cumber land, who mentioned that the rates were not higher than those of other railway companies. At this session the council sent a memorial to the Governor- General of Canada complaining of the amalgamation and the result ing higher rates. They asked the Government in this memorial to take steps to compel the H. & N.-W. R. R. Company to fulfil their original agreements, and also that the Railway Act of 1S68 be in future enforced and made more stringent. Out of the council's indig nation and public disappointment over the amalgamation grew the bill for a railway commission which was so strongly advocated by D'AIton McCarthy at several sessions of the Dominion Parliament and did not become law in the shape he advocated until five years after his death. This subject, in consequence, is so important, containing as It does the germ of a measure of so much moment to the whole Dominion of Canada, that it deserves rather more than a passing notice in our sketch of this question. RAILWAY SYSTEMS. 195 In the printed Minutes for this same session (November, 1879), which largely took the form of an indignation meeting, there appeared the legal opinions of James MacLennan, Q.C., and of D'AIton McCarthy, Q.C., on the amalgamation of the two railways. They both disagreed with the judgment of Vice-Chancellor Blake dismissing the action in Campbell vs. The Northern Railway Company, and both denied any special powers the companies had to amalgamate. In one way and another, the people of the county had contributed to the construction of the H. & N.-W. R. R. the handsome amount of $435,000 by way of bonus, largely through a desire to get a rah way that would be in competition with the old Northern line and would be a safeguard against its exactions. Hence it was no wonder there was widespread indignation over the formation of the Railway trust. A deputation appointed to wait on the Dominion and Ontario Governments on the amalgamation reported, in June, 18S0, that they learned neither of the Parliaments (Ottawa or Toronto) can or wih give the relief required by the oppressed ratepayers. So in one sense, the plans to overcome the trust fizzled out. The amalgamated railways found it convenient to do as they pleased in more ways than by raising the rates. In June, 1883, we find there was only one train each day running to Collingwood, (and that on freight time) along the branch railway from Beeton. The committee of the County Council charged to look into this matter, could find no authority in the agreements to compel the company to continue the passenger and freight trains. However, it was resolved that George M. Evans, (the warden), John Kelly, (the county's direc tor), and Dr. Kirkland should make a deputation to wait on the managing director to give the usual train accommodation on the Collingwood branch. In January, 1SS7, we also find that the H. & N.-W. R.R. ceased stopping their passenger trains at Victoria station (Vine), to the incon venience of the public. The county's director was instructed to bring the matter before the railway board at tbe first meeting he should attend. Change of Gauge. When the furore arising from the amalgamation began to sub side, the rahway company sent a petition (November, 1880) asking the county to surrender their stock to enable the railway company to change the gauge, and F. W. Cumberland addressed the County 196 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Council on the subject. While the counch deplored, the necessity for break of gauge and the existing barrier to commerce until the improve ment should be made, and saw that a change of gauge would develop the county's resources, they would take no action on this occasion without getting further information. Again in January, 1881, Col. Cumberland addressed the council in relation to the Railway Bih before the Dominion Parliament for powers to raise new capital to change the gauge and add equipment. The Hamilton Rahway had been constructed with the standard gauge, and the new Ontario & Pacific Junction Rahway under construction had it, so the old Northern had to fall Inlo line. The counch's com mittee on Railways reported on this petition that it was in the interest of this county that the Bhls should become law, and they prepared a petition to be forwarded to the House of Commons on this subject. Yet the unpopularity of the rahway with the counch nearly resulted in the defeat of the committee's report, as it passed by only 27 to 20. The Bill passed the Dominion Parliament, and the gauge was changed in 1881. On the death of Lieut.-Col. F. W. Cumberland in 1881, the council expressed its regret in a resolution, referring to him as a glentleman whose labours had raised the Northern Railway from a mere wreck to be one of the best and most productive railways on the continent, and which had added much to the development and prosperity of this county. Walter Townsend succeeded him as manager of the Northern & North-Western Rahway System for a short period, and afterward Mr. Barker succeeded Mr. Townsend. Fusion with the Grand Trunk. .\n amalgamation or fusion of the N. & N.-W. R. R. and the Grand Trunk Railway being In contemplation as early as November, 1882, the County Council, smarting from the late fusion of the two local lines, expressed the opinion that it would be detrimental to the commercial and farming interests of the couniy, and sent "memorials" to the Dominion and Provincial Parliaments to prevent if possible the fusion of the railways. There was no further attempt at that time to bring about the amalgamation. In January, 1887, the Northern, and Hamilton and North-Western Railway, the North Simcoe Railway, and the Pacific Junction R. R. Companies gave notice of their intention to apply to the Dominion RAILWAY SYSTEMS. 197 Parliament for an Act to consolidate the companies. On this occasion the council's committee on railways were advised to guard the inter ests of the county, and they in turn instructed Mr. McCarthy, the county's solicitor, to watch proceedings in the House. The next step was taken in January, iSSS, when Mr. Barker, the Managing Director of the N. & N.-W. R. R. addressed the council on the amalgamation scheme of the N. & N.-W. R. R. with the Grand Trunk. The counch thereupon empowered Wm. Ford, of England, or Wm. Lethbridge to act as proxy and to concur in behalf of the council in the transfer or amalgamation of the railways. The counch also instructed their director to concur in the transfer of the railway to the Grand Trunk Company, when It should come before the Northern Railway Board on January 26. The Grand Trunk thus assumed the N. & N.-W. R. R. system in January, 1S8S. Mr. McCarthy's Railway Commission Bill. As large bonus assistance had been given by the different munici palities in Canada toward building railways, and as uniform rates fixed to suit different localities were of the greatest importance, the County Council, in November, 1882, memorialized the Dominion Govern ment to pass the Act introduced by D'AIton McCarthy at the previous session of Parliament. As already stated, Mr. McCarthy's Bill had its origin in the woeful experience of Simcoe County with railways, — the experience which has just been sketched in this chapter. The object of the Bill as at first introduced was to provide a means whereby the rates and freight charges made by the different railroads in the Dominion could be assimilated, and exorbitant rates regulated. Mr. McCarthy urged this measure with all his power, but it did not pass immediately. As a result of his efforts, however, at the next session of Parlia ment there was passed an important measure entitled "An Act further to amend The Consolidated Railway Act, 1879, ^"d to declare cer tain lines of railway to be works for the general advantage of Canada. ' ' This Act was an important step in the regulation of Canadian railways, and was assented to May, 18S3, as 46 Vict., Chapter 24. The important feature of this Act was the declaration that rail ways were works for the general advantage of Canada, because in a sense it was an assumption of Canadia,2'j(-: thus realized to the county by the sale, the sum of $24,757.84, on July 20, 1904, and In this way passed out of the county's hands the $200,000 stock which had been such a bone of contention for 54 years, and on which the county had never reahzed from the railway company a cent of dividend or interest. 14 Chapter XVI. OTHER RAILWAY LINES. In bonuses and in stock subscribed to the old Northern, the people of this county, through their municipal councils, contributed more than $1,000,000 toward the construction of its railways at one time or another. Accordingly, no apolog'y is needed for dwelling in a third chapter on some of the remaining facts in connection with this important subject. The Midland Railway. The Peterborough and Port Hope Railway Company was originally incorporated in 1847, but did not construct any railway unth some years afterward. The name of the company was changed to that of the "Port Hope, Lindsay and Beaverton Railway Company" by an Act passed December iS, 1S54, as 18 Vic. c. 36, and under this new name it operated for some years, and constructed its line as far north as Beaverton. By another Act passed December 24, 1869, as 33 Vic. c. 31, its name was still further changed to the "Midland Railway," and it was given power by the same Act to extend its line from Beaverton to a harbour on Georgian Bay. Beginning with this last named statute for making the change of name, no less than ten Acts respecting the Midland Railway were passed by the Ontario Legislature up to 1882, (or one at almost every session), not to mention numerous Acts before and since that period. This statute of March 10, 1882, just mentioned, brought about the consolidation of six smaller lines under the name of the "Midland Railway of Canada." Perhaps no other railway, in rela tion to its size, has required so much legislation as this one, which has also operated under four different names. After the construction of Its hne to Georgian Bay, the Midland Railway Company fahed to fence the track, although directed by statute to do so. In consequence of its neglect, the killing of horses and other farm stock was of frequent, if not of daily, occurrence. The County Counch, in January, iSSo, complained to-the Legislative Assembly that the railway company did not attempt to replace or liquidate the losses, and it besought the Assembly to compel the com pany to fence the line at once. 14a [204] W. D. Ardagh, Warden 1869-71 . [205] OTHER RAILWAY LINES. 207 The Muskoka Junction Railway. The extension of the Northern line to Orihia and beyond, from Its point of departure on Lake Simcoe at Barrie, was undertaken in 1869. A. J. Alport, W. D. Ardagh and 45 others petitioned the Ontario Legislature for an Act of Incorporation, and the Act was finally passed December 24, 1S69, as "An Act to Incorporate the Toronto, Simcoe and Muskoka Junction Railway Company," 33 Vic, chap. 30. What would now be regarded as a smah capital for a railway, viz., $250,000, was named in the Act as the capital stock of the company. The list of 47 charter members of the company is itself of his toric interest, as it contains a considerable number of the monied men of that time in this county, or those who were financially inter ested in it. They were : A. J. Alport, W. D. Ardagh, Noah Barn- hart, G. L. Beardmore, A. H. Browning, Hugh M. Clarke, Henry Creswicke, A. P. Cockburn, Dalrymple Crawford, Fred. Cumberland, M. Davis, Wm. G. Deacon, N. Dickey, A. P. Dodge, Wm. Elliot, R. J. Griffith, Wm. Hamilton, Robert Hay, C. Harvie, Alex. Hen derson, W. H. Howland, Robert Leadlay, Wm. Lount, David Morrow, Thos. McConkey, J. D. Merrick, A. R. McMaster, Donald McKay, Hon. J. McMurrich, Angus Morrison, F. H. Medcalf, G. Perceval Ridout, R. J. Reekie, D. L. Sanson, Robert Simpson, John Steele, Frank Smith, Thomas Smith, Robert Spratt, S. B. Harman, J. Teviotdale, D. Thurston, John Turner, John Wallis, Robert Walker, Robert Wilkes, and John World. The construction and opening of this Muskoka branch of the Northern took place In 1870. Another Act to amend the original charter was passed February 15, 1871, as 34 Vic. chap. 53, by which the company could mortgage its line to the extent of $g,ooo a mile. Prior to the formation of this company, there had been a company chartered on January 23, i86g, by 32 Vic. chap. 80, but it does not appear to have accomplished anything. The Muskoka Branch was completed in November, 1871. The North Simcoe Railway. For the construction of a railway from Barrie to Penetanguishene, the Ontario Legislature passed, on March 24, 1874, as 37 Vic. chap. 54, "An Act to Incorporate the North Simcoe Railway Company." 208 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The charter members of the company were : Alexander Manning, A. A. Thompson, H. H. Thompson, George Copeland, Wm. Moore Kelly, H. E. Jeffery, James Saurin McMurray, Thomas Richard Fuller, and Chas. Beck. A further Act to amend the chartering Act just mentioned, was passed December 21, 1S74, as 38 Vic. chap. 53, and gave power to the company to extend the line from Vespra to some point on the line of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway, or the Northern Railway, or any railway in York or Peel counties. The first time the County Council of Simcoe took definite steps in support of the N. S. Rahway was in the following March, (1875), at a special session, when it resolved that the condition on which It would relinquish the Northern Railway stock ($200,000) as a bonus to the N. S. Railway was that It would be constructed from Penetan guishene to connect with the Northern Rahway in King or with the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway (the "Narrow Gauge Line") in Albion Township. Again, in January, 1876, the County Council passed a resolution of confidence in the North Simcoe Railway, but did nothing substantial to aid it. This was doubtless because of the prevailing distrust in railways generally, the H. & N.-W. R. R. being delinquent in the construction of its line about this same period. By this time the minor municipalities through which the N. S. Railway line was surveyed had contributed largely to it by way of bonuses. Flos gave a bonus of $25,000, and Tiny, one of $50,000. In connection with the bonuses given by these two townships, a sub sequent difficulty arose. They did not make the levy necessary to meet the payment of their debentures, which fell due in i8g4, so just prior to that time, it became necessary for the townships to apply to the Ontario Legislature for special Acts to enable them to issue new debentures and take up the old ones. In October, 1876, James Saurin McMurray, of Toronto, Presi dent of the North Simcoe Railway, addressed the County CouncU In reference to the affairs of the railway, showing the utility and prac ticability of a central railway through the county. The council there upon transmitted a memorial to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council praying that aid be granted to It, but carefuUy avoided the giving of any aid themselves. The most difficult portions of the line had by this time been constructed ready for receiving the rails. The Chief Engineer of the N. S. Railway was John Dickinson, who comphed and issued a map of this county In 1878, giving the routes of the OTHER RAILWAY LINES. 209 various new railway lines that had been constructed in this period of rahway building activity. The Ontario Government moved slowly in the matter of giving aid to the N. S. Rahway, so the County Counch, In January, 1877, again sent a memorial to the Lieutenant-Governor praying that aid be granted to the company, as had been granted to other railways in new sections of the country. And as no aid came, the council renewed its appeal to tbe same in January, 1878. By the last named date, a lease of the N. S. Railway had been made to the Northern Railway Company. Upon the completion of the N. S. R. R. the management and officials of the N. R. R. gave the County Counch, at the time of its January session, i87g, a trip along the line, and the council of Pene tanguishene gave them a public reception on their arrival there. Dr. Spohn made a vigorous effort at this same session of the County Council to get the $200,000 stock surrendered to the railway com pany, on condition that they should change the gauge, and that the council should still nominate a director of the railway company, but the council decided not to surrender it. The first regular trains were run on the North Simcoe Railway in February, i87g. The Flos Tramway. Soon after the opening of the North Simcoe Rahway in i87g, a branch was projected from Elmvale to Hillsdale. When the Flos Lumber Company applied to the Ontario Legislature for a Bill of Incorporation for the proposed tramway, the County Counch, in January, 1880, memorialized the Legislature against it, "because it would be detrimental to the interests of the people." The company asked extraordinary powers, and if allowed to build the road, the counch claimed it would prove a monopoly. The counch asked that the Bih be not allowed to pass unless the tariff of the company for freight and passengers be the same per mile as that of the North Simcoe and Northern Rahways. The Legislature, however, passed the "Act to incorporate the Flos Tramway Company," March 5, 18S0. This Act authorized the construction of the tramway from near Elmvale station to Orr Lake, and onward to Hhlsdale. The charter members of the company con sisted of Wesley F. Orr, B. B. Osier, E. B. Osier, and Robert Cochran. 210 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. New Lines of the C. P. R. and the C. N. O. R. The opening of a line of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the county in recent years was an event of importance in rahway affairs, but it did not affect the people so closely as did some of the other railway projects of former years, as it was built without muni cipal aid from the parts through which it passed. In fact, it was buht without either municipal or government aid, and was a short line from Toronto to connect with the main line of the C. P. R. near Sudbury. This line was opened as far as Bala, on Lake Muskoka, in 1907, and completed to Sudbury In June, 1908. A large bridge in Vespra Township near Midhurst is one of the largest trestleworks of its kind in existence. A new route to the north and west, the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway, was opened through a smah portion of this county at the northeast in November, igo6, the part crossed being for about twelve mhes from Washago to the Severn River, across parts of the townships of North Orillia and Matchedash. This line was at first known as the James Bay Rahway, and the first portion opened for traffic at the time mentioned was from Toronto to Parry Sound. Chapter XVII. CANALS. The Georgian Bay Canal Project. The much talked of Georgian Bay Canal, — the object of so much long-continued agitation, — has never been realized, unless we regard as part of it the Newmarket Canal, which has been so much in evi dence within the last few years. As already stated in Chapter XIV. of this volume, the earliest attempt, in 1836, at forming a chartered company to build a line of communication across the narrow part of this Province, from Toronto to Georgian Bay, specified a rahway or canal to Lake Simcoe and a canal for the remainder of the way. This did not result in anything. A period of silence ensued during which railway construction obscured canals, but the project was revived, and the Toronto and Georgian Bay Canal Company was incorporated in 1856 under ig and 20 Vic. c. 118. Prior to its incorporation, at a special meeting of the Simcoe County Counch in August, 1855, the Counch had granted ;^ioo toward making a survey of the contemplated canal, which was to connect the waters of the Upper Lakes with Lake Ontario and the seaboard. The shipment of large timber to the seaboard for ship buhding was then the chief consideration, as this county was finely wooded, but with the construction of iron and steel vessels at a later day, and the removal of the forests, this consideration came to nought. The survey for the canal had not been completed at October, 1856, from lack of funds, but in the following January, the secretary of the Toronto Board of Trade sent the Engineer's Report on the survey, yet the County Counch did not make any further grant to it at that time. The prehminary report of the engineer contained plans and estimates of the undertaking. It placed the cost at from $21,000,000 to $35,000,000, according to the route chosen, the report outlining four routes which might be followed. While tools and machinery might cost less to-day than they would have cost in 1857, and be more efficient, it is equally true that the price of labour has increased, and the engineer's estimates for that day could not be lessened in any calculation of what the canal might cost at the present time. For a time, Kivas Tully was engineer of the proposed canal, and at a later time, Thomas C. Keefer also made a report on the project. [211] 212 .4 HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. In January, i85g, Rowland Burr, the promoter of the undertak ing, addressed the County Council on the Georgian Bay Canal, and the council at this meeting forwarded a memorial on the subject to the Legislative Assembly. The charter would expire shortly, and it was necessary to make a start. The warden called a county pubhc meeting for April 3, i85o, to urge upon the Government and the Legislature the claims of the canal. The meeting adopted a series of resolutions, and as a result of the agitation the Government granted ;^50o toward a survey, or the completion of the survey already under taken. From the first appearance of Mr. Rowland Burr before the County Council, as above mentioned, to address them on the subject of the canal, down to recent times, the councillors were addressed more than a dozen times on this project, by different advocates, chiefly by Mr. Burr, by Fred C. Capreol, and last of ah by E. A. Macdonald, some time Mayor of Toronto. Mr. Burr again addressed the counch in June, 1861, and the usual memorial to the Legislative Assembly fol lowed. In October, of the same year, the council granted $500 for the use of their Special Committee on the subject, and the matter then dropped out of sight for three or four years, the $500 not being handed over to the Canal Company's treasurer until October, 1865. In January, 1S65, a Special Committee of the County Counch memorialized the Legislative Assembly for a grant of land to aid the undertaking. At a conference held in Toronto previous to this time, it had been proposed to transfer the railroad stock to the Canal Com pany, so the Simcoe County Council at this session passed a by-law to sell ;^47,ooo of the stock to the Toronto and Georgian Bay Canal Company, as it was called. The City of Toronto itself, however, not having carried out the agreement to give their stock in the Northern Railway to the Canal Company, the Simcoe Council, in June, 1865, repealed its by-law of the previous session (No. 140). The boring of the "Ridges" for tests was spoken of, and an engineer employed for that purpose. By the year 1865, some of the persons incorporated as the mem bers and directors of the Canal Company had died, others had departed and removed their residence out of the Province, others had become unable to act as provisional directors, and a majority of the remainder were desirous of being relieved from their office. Under these circumstances, a new Act to amend the original Act of incor poration was introduced in Parliament by Thomas R. Ferguson, the CANALS. 213 member for South Simcoe and Warden of the County, and a new list of charter members and provisional directors was inserted in it. This Act, which was assented to September i8, 1865, gave power to the company to extend its capital stock to $40,000,000, and also changed the name of the company to the "Huron and Ontario Ship Canal Company. ' ' New life having been infused into the project, the Simcoe County Council accepted the invitation of the President of the Canal Company to Toronto on January 31, 1866, to discuss the prospects of the work with York County Council and the Toronto Council. In January, 1867, F. C. Capreol presented the Simcoe Council with a print of the first breaking of land for the canal, and the council at the same session me.moralized the Government to make a grant of land in aid of its construction. From this time onward these "memorials" to the Government became almost periodical, and were always unsuc cessful, but Mr. Capreol persevered and frequently addressed the County Council in those years, his address being generally followed by the usual "memorial" to the Government. Another stir was made, and F. C. Capreol, (the president of the company), Warren Kennedy, and others addressed the County Coun cil in June, 1874. The counch, as usual, sent a memorial, recommend ing a canal for vessels drawing not less than 14 feet of water; and they asked the Government to grant 10,000,000 acres of land needed by the company for raising the capital required. "An Act respecting the Huron and Ontario Ship Canal Company" was passed December 21, 1874, tiy the Ontario Legislature, as 38 Vic. c. 64, and related to the passing of by-laws by municipalities in aid of the canal. The next step of any importance was in January, 1878, when the County Council granted $100 to the canal directorate to keep an office open for the information of capitalists and others, on condition that York County Counch and Toronto City Council would contribute simhar amounts (which they did). In January, i87g, Mr. Capreol's periodical appeal to the council had a slight variation. This time he submitted "drawings, plans, photos, etc.," with references to hydraulic lift-lock power, requiring only 12 locks, instead of 48 for the canal as originahy, and at about one-half cf the original estimate of cost. The usual "memorial" went to the Legislative Assembly, as the result. In November, i87g, the ccunch sent a memorial to the Ontario Government asking them to set apart a sufficient sum (say $10,000) 214 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. in the estimates to complete a re-survey of the canal. A re-survey had become necessary from recent improvements in the working and con struction of canals. Probably the last time Mr. Capreol addressed the council on the subject was in January, 1882, when he spoke at great length, strongly advocating the claims of the canal. His appeals had now become pathetic, and the council which had hitherto been In the habit of sending "memorials" to the Ontario Government, although the Dominion Government had in charge the subject of canals, with a Minister of Canals, now divested itself of any trace of partiality and memorialized both the Ontario and Dominion Govern ments for grants of land in aid of the scheme. The final act in the canal drama came in June, 1883, when the council approved of the proposed hydraulic lift-lock, and spoke well of Mr. Capreol. It again memorialized the Dominion and Provincial Governments for grants of land, but a clause granting $100 to Mr. Capreol was struck out of the committee's report, and the curtain falls. Ten years afterward, the project was resurrected, and E. A. Macdonald, of Toronto, addressed the County Council in January, i8g4, on the need for a canal and aqueduct, the water power scheme having been attached to the revived canal project to give it a new form. The council approved of the plan, made a report on the matter, and sent copies of their report to the Dominion and Ontario Parlia ments. There was considerable agitation in the newspapers about this time, but the project fell more quicklv than on former occasions. The Trent Valley Canal. As early as 1822, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council recognized the importance of a line of communication between Lake Simcoe and the eastern parts of Upper Canada by employing Captain MacCaulay in the half-pay of the Royal Engineers to survey and make a report •on the water communications to the Bay of Quinte. (Dom. Archives Report, i8g7. State Papers, U.C. , p. 148.) Various schemes were proposed for the improvement of navigation at different parts of the route from time to time after the survey above mentioned, and some of them carried into effect, especially the construction of locks at places of importance. The proposed Trent Canal as a Government undertaking comes up for the first time in November, i87g, when D'AIton McCarthy, M.P., sent to the County Council certain parliamentary papers rela tive to the subject. In response, the council expressed its belief that CANALS. 215 the scheme was a feasible and important one, especially if (as was stated) the route chosen be by way of Nottawasaga Bay, and they memoralized the House of Commons to open the canal, the cost hav ing been estimated at less than $3,000,000. An amendment to omit recommending Nottawasaga Bay as the terminus was voted down by 15 to 27. The amalgamation of the Northern and Hamilton rail ways a short time before, was what had given an impetus to the canal project. A shence on the part of the legislators then ensues until 1884, when a large deputation waited upon Sir Charles Tupper, the Minister of Railways and Canals, on February 5, and submitted a written peti tion in behalf of the undertaking. The delegates represented twelve counties along the line of the proposed canal route. Sir Chas. Tupper informed them that he had already appointed an engineer to examine into the survey and make a very minute estimate of costs, etc. Simcoe was represented on that occasion, and the councils of 1S85 and 1886 sent memorials to the House of Commons asking for the advancement of the canal. The Dominion Government passed an Order-in-Counch on October 8, 1887, authorizing the appointment of a Commission of Enquiry to examine and report on the question of the expediency of extending the Trent Valley navigation. Under date of December 17, 1890, tbe Commissioners made a report embodying the results of their investigations, and as further enquiry was deemed necessary, the Commission was continued in office. The carrying on of the agitation was in the hands of an organi zation called the Trent Valley Navigation Association, and to this Association in January, 18SS, the Simcoe County Council granted $500 on condition that other counties should vote similar sums. In January, 1891, the County Counch appointed a deputation consisting of the warden (Jonathan SIssons), T. S. Graham, and J. L. Burton, to visit Ottawa with deputations from other places along the route of the canal to press on the Government the importance of continuing the construction of the canal. Thereupon an appropriation of $5,000 was made at the session of the House of Commons for the surveys of the sections proposed to be put under contract, viz., from Rice Lake to Balsam Lake. Some time later, the contracts for the construction of these portions were awarded, into the details of which it is not necessary to enter, the origin of the undertaking having now been sketched. With the opening of the lift-lock at Kirkfield, formally, on July 6, 1907, navigation was then completed from Lake Simcoe as far as Rice Lake. Chapter XVIII. OLD ELECTIONS AND PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTA TION. During the existence of the Ninth Parhament of Upper Canada, Simcoe was set apart as a separate constituency for parliamentary purposes, and the first election to fill the seat was held in July, 1828. Wm. B. Robinson was the candidate of the Famhy Compact in this election, his opponent being John Cawthra, of Newmarket. There was but one polling place for the whole constituency — at Holland Landing — the returning officer was George Lount ; and the poll was kept open for a week. An amusing incident is related of this political struggle which may be recorded as an example of the events that were wont to happen at elections In those days. It appears that Robinson kept an open house at Phelps' tavern for the purpose of furnishing gratuitous eating and drinking to the free and independent electors — especially those who supported him. Cawthra, it is said, did the same in one of the houses at Johnson's Landing. A soldier, who had received for his services in the Peninsular campaign a grant of land somewhere back in the county, and had settled on it, came out on Monday morning to vote and took up his quarters at Robinson's booth in Phelps' tavern. After feasting there all week at Robinson's expense, and making himself generally conspicuous by his noise, he started off on Saturday, the last day of the election, to the pohing place, followed by a crowd of loafers and others, many of them half- intoxicated, but all anxious to see how he would vote, as vote by ballot had not yet been introduced. The voting took place at a wicket, quite high above the ground, and approached by a small stairway leading up to a platform in front of it. After voting, the elector descended another stairway leading down to the other side. The Peninsular veteran mounted this rostrum and presented himself at the wicket. Having been asked by the returning officer how he voted, he replied: — "I vote on this," throwing down the patent deed of his land at the same time, with a flourish. "But which candidate do you vote for?" "Cawthra," was the answer made in a loud voice. Then arose a fierce outcry from the gang of loafers on the ground below, and he stood In great danger of getting hauled down from the [216] PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 217 rostrum and mobbed, because he had feasted at the expense of one candidate and voted for the other. But turning to the crowd in a hurry, he made the following oration: "Gintlemin ! I sarved under Wellington in the Peninsoolar, Moi gineral larnt me to faste on moi inimies, and be d — d if I haven't done it." After this explanation, the pensioned veteran was allowed to return home in safety. At this famous election, the first ever held for the County of Simcoe, Cawthra was elected by the narrow majority of nine votes. Those who contested the county at the subsequent general elec tions, down to the Rebellion of 1837, are given in the following list. (The names of the successful candidates are italicised.) 1830. John Cawthra. — W. B. Robinson. 1834. Samuel Lount, W. B. Robinson, Benjamin Hawke. 1836. Samuel Lount, 11'. B. Robinson, James Wickens. The Election of 1836. Sir F. B. Head dissolved the Upper Canadian Assembly, May 28, 1836 ; the new elections commenced on June 20, and were to be concluded on June 27. In the House of Assembly just dissolved, con sisting of sixty-two members, the Reformers had a majority of eleven, but in the new House they were in a minority of twenty-five. The device of issuing patents to the settlers on condition that they would vote in this election against the party opposed to Sir Francis B. Head, Is notorious, and has already been described in Chapter VI. , (p. 54.) Having been struck by the unusual number of patents Issued by the Government to Medonte settlers in the latter part of May and the month of June, 1836, i.e., during the election contest, or just before the polling, the present writer made an estimate of the number, and found the issues of patents to be In the latter part of May 10 patents. In June 45 Total 55 " besides 53 in all the other months of 1836 combined. By way of com paring this total of 108 for the one township during 1836, it may be noted that In the same township 24 patents were issued during the whole of the year 1835, and 13 during the whole of the year 1837. So the motive is clear enough from the official records and figures 2)8 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. what was the purport of the patent-granting carnival. June 13, 1836, was a memorable day for the patentees in Medonte, no less than 17 having been granted on that day alone. In Nottawasaga, the record is equally damaging. From May 24th to the end of the month, the Government issued 86 patents in that township, besides 24 in the early part of June. It is not known how far these were for actual settlers, and it would not be easy to ascertain at this day. But the writer has been unable to find more than' about seventy families in Nottawasaga at this time, the list being given in the Appendix to the second volume, and yet the patents issued exceeded the whole number of settlers. As a large proportion of the patents issued at this fraudulent time were to women (the settlers' wives, persumably), suspicions may be held as to most of the lot. The issuing of so large a number of patents to women in Nottawasaga in May, 1836, just before the election, had doubtless a significance in connection with the approaching contest. To say the least they have a "fishy" look, many of them being in the first and second concessions. The Government also issued a few extra patents In Oro, Vespra and Sunnidale about this time (May and June, 1836), obviously with the same intention, but not to the same conspicuous extent as in Medonte and Nottawasaga. The fraudulent tactics accomplished the work intended, viz., the defeat of Samuel Lount, who was not favour able to Sir F. B. Head, and there was a short-lived success of the Family Compact, for the time, but the rebellion at the end of the following year, although suppressed, ultimately resulted in the dispersal of the Compact. Since the troubles of 1837 in Upper Canada, there have been many family compacts in Canadian public life. Nearly every county has furnished its example, in which someone in authority has worked into offices all bis uncles, nephews, cousins, and other relatives, and the public conscience has grown hardened by the spectacle. People now take this as a matter of course, and pay no great heed now-a- days to what they repudiated strongly In 1837 and within the next three or four years afterward. The pathetic story of Samuel Lount's defeat is told so tersely by W. L. Mackenzie that It Is worth while reprinting It in this place. "The case of Samuel Lount, who was goaded into rebellion and hanged for high treason." From Lindsey s Life of W. L. Mackenzie. Vol. I, page 394. PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 219 "On the 15th of February, 1837," Mr. Mackenzie related, "Mr. Samuel Lount, the late upright and patriotic member for Simcoe, called at my house, accompanied by Mr. Thrift Meldrum, merchant and innkeeper in Barrie, and I mentioned to them that I was collect ing evidence for a pamphlet to expose the Government, as the exe cutive influence had cheated me out of my right to do so through an election contest for the Second Riding. Mr. Lount took out his pocket memorandum book, and stated that Mr. Meldrum had been requested to open his tavern for Robinson and Wickens, at the time of the late election, and that he did so ; that since the election he (Meldrum) had informed him (Lount) that on one occasion he (Mel drum) accompanied Mr. Wellesley Ritchey, the Government Agent, from Toronto to the Upper Settlement ; that Mr. Ritchey called him (Meldrum) to one side at Crew's tavern, (lot 49, concession i, Vaughan, near Richmond Hih), where the stage stopped, and told him that Sir Francis had employed him (Ritchey) to give the deeds to the settlers in Simcoe, and that he (Ritchey) wanted him (Meldrum) to assist in turning Lount out. Meldrum agreed to do his best, opened his house, and says that Wickens paid him faithfuhy for his liquor, etc. When Mr. Lount had read the above from his memoran dum, I asked Mr. Meldrum if he could swear to these facts ; he said he could, for they were perfectly correct. I then asked Mr. Lount, who gave me a number of important facts, why he did not contest the election, and he told me it would have been throwing ;^ioo away, and losing time, for that no one who knew who the members were, could for a moment expect justice from them." The Famous Steele-Robinson Election. The general election for the first parliament of the United Prov inces was held in the spring of 1841, the union having been formally proclaimed February loth of that year. As in almost every other constituency throughout the country, the election in Simcoe was attended with great excitement. The candidates were Captain Elmes Steele, of Medonte, and Wm. B. Robinson. Barrie was the only polling place for the whole constituency of Simcoe, it being the first election ever held in the town ; and in full keeping with the imperfect voting facilities of that time the poll was kept open for a week. Whiskey was an important factor in the contest, and much of the turbulence may be traced to its influence. It is related that the shout ing of the men, as they came and went on their way to the polling place, in sleighloads, could be heard along the leading roads to a distance of several miles. The scenes at the pohing booth appear to have been much less peaceable and harmonious than those of later 15 220 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. years under the ballot system, for pushing, pulling, and fighting were indulged in to no end. Sometimes one party gained possession of the polling place, and sometimes the other, keeping its opponents from exercising the franchise freely. An amusing story in connection with this election is related of Charles McBeth, one of the early settlers of West Gwihimbury, who undertook to prepare several hundred cudgels for belligerent pur poses. One of his neighbours, John Rose, went into the woodyard of a Barrie tavern, and found McBeth at the wood pile bushy engaged in making these cudgels. Rose asked what he was doing there, and upon being informed, urged him to desist. McBeth, however, replied in the coolest possible manner that "he did not know but that all the cudgels would be needed before the election was over." The late John McKay, of Toronto, recorded his recollections thus : "The greatest election of all was the Steele and W. B. Robinson elec tion, which was held in Barrie. The crowd there was immense ; the Robinson party wore badges, and took possession of the polling place. They seemed to be the strongest party for two or three days, but on Thursday a strong force of Steele's men came from Thorah and Eldon, holding up a great flag, with large letters, "Thorah all for Steele." There was a great giant holding the flag, and waving it over the ribbon men's heads, forced the way up to the polling place; and from that out Steele led the poll. This great man's name was Cam eron. Friday morning you could pick up badges by the dozen, on the street. Captain Irving, of Yonge Street, was one of Steele's great men. He drove a four-horse team backward and forward from Yonge Street to Barrie, and always heavily loaded. I remember the sleighing was good." As already stated, the election on that occasion was attended with great excitement. At the polling booth in Barrie, the voting lasted for an entire week (beginning on Monday, March 8, 1841) ; whhe the marching, counter-marching, and drunken brawling at that election would be appalling to the modern citizen. An amusing story is told of the design on one of the Steele banners. The candidate's name was Elmes or "Elm" Steele; and so to make the words intel ligible to every one, drunk or sober, a banner was inscribed, on which was pictured a woodsman's axe. The handle denoted "Elm," while the axe itself was ' ' Steel ; ' ' and the two parts signified the inscrip tion underneath : "Elmes Steele, the Backwoodsman's Friend." 15a Capt. Elmes Steele, M.P. for Simcoe, 1841-4. By courtesy of Elmes and James Henderson, Toronto. [221] PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 223 His name gave rise to one of the election "poems" of the time, in much the same way as the inscription on the banner just mentioned : Elm is wood. And steel is good. Both are tough, And that's enough. At the polls in those days there was always a great deal of violence. Making a comparison between the elections of the forties and those of the eighties. Sir Francis Hincks ("Reminiscences of My Public Life," p. 133,) gives his opinion thus: "The influence of money has been to a great extent substituted for that of force." Lieutenant-Colonel William E. O'Brien has given some interesting" reminiscences of the Steele-Robinson election in his "Early Recollec tions," which appeared in the Barrie Gazette of January 4, iSgg, and also in Pioneer Papers (No. i, p. 25) of the Simcoe County Pioneer and Historical Society. In both of these papers he recalls how, at the request of county magistrates for military aid, a detachment of the regular regiment then stationed in Toronto was sent up and quartered at Kempenfeldt, but their services were not required. The occasion furnished, as it has been seen, a theme on which those inclined to poetical composition could produce some of their effusions. The most extensive production of this kind that has come under the writer's notice, was one beginning "Bill Robinson, poor Bih, Bih," and purporting to be a song of sympathy with him over his defeat by Steele. It may be of interest to readers of to-day to give the doggerel as it has been recited to us by an aged settler. It is not given here for its literary value, or elevated style, but to hlus- trate the life of a period. Bill Robinson, Poor Bill, Bill. (Tune: "John Anderson, my Jo, John.") Bill Robinson, poor Bill, Bih, You may go down to town, And let the Family Compact know. Your colours were pulled down. By sturdy old Reformers, United they have been. To trample on your orange, Bill, And hoist the white and green. 224 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Bih Robinson, poor Bih, Bhl, I'm sure you'll bear in mind. The rout you got on Patrick's Day, When you got left behind. Also the Durham races. Bill, When you come out of town. With clubs and knives and Orange boys To pull Reformers down. You banished Rolph and Bidwell brave. Unto a distant land. The hanging of brave Van Shultz, And Lount of high renown. But now those times are altered, Bill, And altered they shall be. For Sydenham's our governor, And says he'll set us free. The metre is the same as that of "John Anderson, my Jo, John," and the rhyme, as in this class of literary product generally, had an attraction for the primitive mental life of the people here as well as elsewhere. Although on this occasion Captain Steele was the successful candidate, the heavy expenses incurred in the contest so completely resulted in his financial ruin that he never recovered from the blow, and at the next general election held in 1844 he was not a candidate for re-election. He had been elected as a Baldwin Reformer, but one account states that he gave only a wavering support to the Reform Party. However this may be. Captain Steele was a man who pos sessed much independence of character, worked well in the interests of the county during his term in Parliament, and was disposed to deal with each public question, as it arose, entirely on its merits rather than along strict party lines. This course might not please partisan critics whose first thought would be of defection ; but if he defected, it was on the ground of the merits of the particular ques tion with which he was dealing. At all events, he was accused of having broken faith with the Reform party and of having, after being two years in Parliament, transferred his support to the other party in the House of Assembly. In his later years he was always classed as a Baldwin Reformer. Hon. W. B. Bobinson, M.P. for Simcoe, 1830-57, (except 1841-44). [225] PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 227 Subsequent Elections of the Hon. Wm. B. Robinson. At the next general election, held in September, 1844, which was for the second Union Parliament, there was a contest (whether mock or real is not obvious) between Wehesley Richey and Wm. B. Rob inson, resulting in the election of the latter. A few weeks after his election, Mr. Robinson accepted (on December 20, 1844) the position of Inspector-General (an office known at a later time as Minister of Finance) in the new Draper ministry, and was re-elected on January 13, 1845, by his constituents. But within a few weeks, during the following session of the Assembly, he resigned this office owing to difference of opinion on Mr. Draper's University Bill, which, aftei it was read a second time (March 18, 1845) was then dropped. In 1846, more than a year after Mr. Robinson had resigned the Inspector-Generalship, he accepted the office of Chief Commissioner of Public Works in the Government. upon seeking re-election by his constituents, he was again returned for this county. In one of these two last named bye-elections, he was opposed by William Hume Blake, but was successful, as stated. It was during his term of office in the Chief-Commlssionership of Public Works that he effected the passage of the grants for the improvement of the Penetanguishene Road throughout the entire length of the county, as already described in chapter X. of this volume. During the long term of his membership of Parliament, lasting from 1830 until 1857 (with the exception of the term, 1841-4, when Captain Steele was the member), the Hon. William Benjamin Robin son looked well after the interests of the county. He made a trip through parts of it in 1837 or about that time purposely to settle the vexed question as to the choice of the county town, or at any rate to satisfy himself what the choice should be. As Commissioner, he made the treaties with the Ojibway Indians for the lands east and north of Lake Huron (now Georgian Bay) and Lake Superior, in the year 1850. These were cahed the Robinson Treaties, and are now regarded as important transactions in the history of this Province. He was also the head of the Canada Company for a length of time, and occupied many responsible positions in the affairs of the country. He was married, but left no famhy, and his death took place about the year 1875. 228 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Later Parliamentary Representation. Dissolution of the Second Parliament took place in June, 1S4S, and in the ensuing election Hon. W. B. Robinson was returned with out opposition. The next election came on December 13 and 14, 185 1, and Alfred Whlson, of Bell Ewart, who had been a firm sup porter of Mr. Robinson's unth i84g, now became the Reform candi date ; it having been only on the night previous to the day of nomina tion that opposition to Hon. Mr. Robinson was started. The requisition to Mr. Willson to become a candidate, printed in the Barrie Magnet of that time, shows the questions that were agitating the public mind on that occasion, viz., "the settlement of the Clergy Reserves, the Rectories repealed, the Court of Chancery abolished, law made cheap, and retrenchment in the pubhc expenditure." Mr. Robinson was again successful, and the state of the polls on that occasion may have some interest for modern readers : Townships Robinson. Willson. Adjala g7 26 Artemesia o o Collingwood and Euphrasia 63 i Essa 82 II Gwillimbury 153 44 Innisfil 7g 39 Mono 142 4 Mulmur 43 Medonte 39 24 Nottawasaga and Osprey 35 25 Oro 62 100 Orillia, etc 66 St. Vincent 33 35 Tiny and Tay 65 Tecumseth 120 16 Tossorontio 24 2 Vespra, etc 80 97 1,183 424 Total votes polled, 1,607. Majority for Robinson, 75g. PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 229 In the Fourth Parliament which followed, the Representation Bill of 1853 gave the county two members, and accordingly, the county was divided for electoral purposes into the north and south ridings, continuing so divided down to the Redistribution of seats in 1882. In the election for North Simcoe, which took place in 1854, James Sanson, of Orhlia, was defeated by Angus Morrison. The vote was taken at Barrie, where all voters were entertained during their stay at the expense of the candidates, the polls being kept open for two days. The votes polled on that occasion were as follows : Sanson. Morrison. Barrie 56 45 Flos 33 31 Medonte 42 63 Nottawasaga 35 7g Orllh'a 53 15 Oro 75 143 Tay and Tiny 83 2 Vespra and Sunnidale 28 74 405 452 Angus Morrison who was elected on this occasion was a brother of the Hon. J. C. Morrison, the President of the Northern Railway at that time, which may have assisted him to win the election, and in subsequent times he was mayor of Toronto for a term of three years, (1876-7-S). The candidates at the general elections succeeding that of 1851 are given in the following list, the names of the successful ones being italicised. North Simcoe. 1854 — Angus Morrison, James Sanson. 1857 — Angus Morrison, (by acclamation). 1861 — D'Arcy Boulton, T. D. McConkey, Angus Morrison. 1863 — T. D. McConkey, Angus Morrison. 1867 — T. D. McConkey (by acclamation). 1S72— if. H. Cook, D'AIton McCarthy. 1874 — (January 29th), H. H. Cook, D'AIton McCarthy. 1874— (December) H. H. Cook, D. McCarthy. 1878— H. H. Cook, D'AIton McCarthy. 230 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. North Simcoe was in 1882 divided into east and west ridings, the contests since then being as fohows : North (West) Simcoe. 1882 — Chas. Drury, D'AUon McCarthy. 1887— Hon. T. W. Anglin, D'AIton McCarthy. 1891— H. H. Cook, D'AIton McCarthy. 1896 — Haughton Lennox, D'AIton McCarthy, E. Stewart. 1898 — Leighton G. McCarthy, Jas. Martin. igoo — Chas. Cameron, Leighton G. McCarthy. igo4 — J. A. Currie, Leighton G. McCarthy. 1908 — /. A. Currie, D. Wilson. D'AIton McCarthy, the member for North Simcoe, came into rather more than usual prominence throughout Canada in 1887, on account of an attack he made in Parliament upon the Jesuit Estates Act of the Province of Quebec. That Province, before the Union ot 1841, had misapplied the Jesuits' estates, — which was property destined for purposes of education, — to other services. Many years afterward, this misappropriation came up for settlement, and the measure for redress passed by the Provincial Legislature of Quebec, gave rise to the discussion above mentioned. Mr. McCarthy's motion in the House of Commons received only thirteen votes. East Simcoe. 1882— H. H. Cook, J. Quinn. 18S7—H. H. Cook, J. Quinn. 1891— W. H. Bennett, P. H. Spohn. i8g2—W. H. Bennett, P. H. Spohn. iSg6 — D. Anderson, W. H. 'Bennett. H. H. Cook. igoo — W. H. Bennett, Geo. Chew. 1904 — W. H. Bennett, R. D. Gunn. 1908— W. H. Bennett, W. Manley Chew. South Simcoe. 1854 — Hon. W. B. Robinson, (by acclamation). 1857 — Thos. R. Ferguson, Thomas Maconchy, Hon. W. B. Robinson. 1861 — A. Armstrong, T. R. Ferguson. PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 231 1863 — T. R. Ferguson, (by acclamation). 1867 — W. C. Little, Thos. Saunders. 1872 — W. C. Little, (by acclamation). 1874 — W. C. Little, (by acclamation). 1878 — George Fletcher, W. C. Little. 1882 — David Dunn, Richard Tyrwhitt. 1887 — Richard Tyrwhitt, . i8gi — Richard Tyrwhitt, (by acclamation). 1896 — Thos. W. Lennox, Richard Tyrwhitt. 1900 — Haughton Lennox, Joseph Whiteside. 1904 — W. C. Henry, Haughton Lennox. igoS — ^James Campbell, Haughton Lennox. It may be noticed in the above list that the Hon. W. B. Robin son, who had represented Simcoe County, or some part of it, for so many years, was defeat -^d in 1857 in a "three-cornered" contest by Thomas R. Ferguson, the Reeve of Innisfil Township. In subsequent years, "Tom" Ferguson became noted for having a personal follow ing of young men from Cookstown and its vicinity, who acquired the name of "Ferguson's Lambs" from their readiness to "baa-a-a-a"' loudly in the public meetings when their political opponents were speaking. He himself had perhaps something to do with fixing the nickname of "Lambs" upon them more securely, as at a public meet ing once, when they were "baa-ing" too loudly, he arose, waved his hand, and called to them, "Peace, my Iambs," and there was silence after it. After Confederation, he chose to represent South Simcoe in the Ontario Legislature. Since Confederation, in 1867, the different contests in tbis county for the Ontario Legislature have been as follows : North Simcoe. 1867 — Il'm. Lount, Angus Morrison. 1871 — W. D. Ardagh, H. H. Cook, William Lount. After this time, the riding was divided into West and East Simcoe. West Simcoe 1875 — Thomas Long, T. D. McConkey. i87g — Thomas Long, O. J. Phelps. 1883 — (February) G. Moberly, O. J. Phelps. 232 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. 1883— (December) O. /. Phelps, Thos. Wyhe. 1S86 — (December) W. J. Frame, Thos. Wylie. iSgo — Jos. Hood, Thomas Wylie. iSg4 — Archibald Currie, J. S. Duff. I SgS— Archibald Currie, /. S. Duff. 1902 — /. S. Duff, A. B. Spencer. 1905 — J. Bifnie, /. 5. Duff. 1908 — Joseph A. Akkt, /. 5. Duff. On the acceptance by Mr. Duff of the position of Minister of Agriculture, in October, igoS, and seeking re-election by his con stituents, he was returned without opposition. Centre Simcoe. 1886— Wilham Harvey, O. J. Phelps. iSgo — Arthur Craig, Robert Paton. 1894 — Jas. Coutts, R. Paton, A. B. Thompson. 1898 — D. Davidson, A. B. Thompson, A. Train. igo2 — D. Davidson, A. B. Thompson. 1905 — C. E. Hewson, A. B. Thompson. 1908. — R. Graham, A. B. Thotnpson. East Simcoe. 1875 — John Kean, Hugh Sutherland. 1S79 — H. H. Cook, John C. Steele. 18S2 — Chas. Drury, Dr. Slaven. 18S3 — Chas. Drury, H. H. Thompson. 1 886 — J. B. Clarke, Chas. Drury. iSgo — Chas. Drury, A. Miscampbell. i8g4 — W. M. Harvey, W. Lawson, A. Miscampbell. I SgS — W. M. Harvey, A. Miscampbell. igo2 — R. H. Jupp, /. B. Tudhope. igo5 — J. McCosh, /. B. Tudhope. 1908 — Jas. I. Hart, /. B. Tudhope. South Simcoeu 1867 — T. R. Ferguson, (by acclamation). 1871 — T. R. Ferguson, (by acclamation). 1873 — (December) D'Arcy Boulton, Thomas Saunders. PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 233 1875 — D'Arcy Boulton, Richard Snelhng. 1875 — George Dinwoodie. Hon. Wm. McDougall. 1878 — William J. Parkhill, J. W. H. Whson. 1879 — William J. Parkhill, (by acclamation). 1883— J. G. Hood, Geo. P. McKay. Cardwell. 1886. — W. H. Hammell, — Proctor. 1890 — W. H. Hammell, H. Lennox. 1894 — E. Jeffs, E. A. Little, Chas. Robinson. i8g8 — E. A. Little, Wm. Wright. 1902 Hutton, E. A. Little. 1905 — E. A. Little, John Semple. 1906 — Alex. Ferguson, (by acclamation). igoS — Alex. Ferguson, (by acclamation). The County During the Period of an Elected Legislative Council (Senate). For a period of ten or eleven years the Legislative Counch, or Senate, as it is now called, was made elective. By an Act of 1856, (ig and 20 Vict. chap. 140), making the Legislative Council elective, the Saugeen Electoral Division was made to consist of the counties of Grey and Bruce, and the North Riding of Simcoe. The Midland Electoral Division was to consist of the North Riding of York, and the South Riding of Simcoe. Members were to be elected for eight years, but only twelve constituencies were to return members at the first elections to be held under the Act, in 1856, and twelve more every second year thereafter. The Saugeen Division was in the first group, but the Midland Division did not come intO' the list of elec tions unth 1862, when the Hon. Wm. McMaster, of Toronto, was elected over Mr. Gamble, and represented the Division unth Con federation, and then a new order of things came in. In 1S56, when the Legislative Council first became an elective body, the Hon. Jas. Patton contested successfully the Saugeen Divi sion (Bruce, Grey and North Simcoe), against John McMurrich and Mr. Beaty. The Macdonald-Sicotte Ministry offered the Hon. Mr. Patton a seat in the Cabinet as Solicitor-General, West, but when he sought re-election from his constituents for the Saugeen District, 234. A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. May ist, 1862, he was defeated by a majority of 76g, by the Hon. John McMurrich, who held the position for the unexpired term of two years. David L. Macpherson (afterward Sir David) was then elected to represent the Saugeen District in the Legislative Council from 1864 until Confederation. Chapter XIX. GENERAL COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. The Formation of Simcoe County. As early as 1798, Simcoe came into existence as a distinct County, by the Act, 38 Geo. III., chap. 5. This Act created some new counties, one of which was Simcoe, but these were for mhitary purposes, and related to enlistment; they were counties projected on paper rather than with an actual existence, being merely the division of the map of Upper Canada into shires with a Lieutenant for each shire. The military mapping or setting apart, in 1798, was a theoretical one so far as Simcoe was concerned, but it was the first distinct separation of the county, from which the later separations sprang. More definite boundaries were laid down for Simcoe County in 182 1, most of its townships having been surveyed by that time. These definite boundaries appeared in the Act, 2 Geo. IV., ist session, chap. 3. Another Act in 4 George IV., (2nd session), providing for elec tions for the Assembly, still further set apart Simcoe County "for bet ter representation and registration of property." In accordance with this Act, Simcoe County obtained a Member of the Assembly at the next general election, and as elections then depended on a man's land deed, it was In accordance with this Act that George Lount of Hohand Landing was appointed Registrar for Simcoe in 1S26 for the registra tion of land deeds. The next step In the development of the county was the passage ot an Act, 7 Wm. IV., chap 32, (March 4, 1837), by which the Legisla ture of Upper Canada set apart Simcoe District, naming the townships therein, and gave authority to raise ;^4,ooo for the erection of a jail and court house. The next year, another Act, i Vict. (2nd session), chap. 39, gave authority for levying an additional tax on the ratepay ers of the county, not to exceed id. in the pound, until the payment ol the ;£'4,ooo should be completed. A further Act was passed in 1841, (4 and 5 Vict., chap. 78) to authorize a debt of ;^3,ooo more, in addi tion to the former loan, as the earlier sum of ;^4,ooo had not proved sufficient to erect the county buildings. 16 [235] 236 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The Act of 1837 provided for the issue of a Proclamation by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-CouncIl "to declare the County of Simcoe to be a separate and distinct District." After the Court House and Jail had been erected, the Governor-General's Proclamation was duly issued on January 11, 1843, and Simcoe, thereafter, was a fully established new District. The officials appointed by the Government for the new District, were the following : — James Robert Gowan, Judge. Benjamin Walker Smith, Sheriff. Jonathan Lane, Clerk of the Court. William B. McVity, Clerk of the Peace. Moses Hayter, Jailer. These officials were appointed by the Baldwin Government. The game of politics was much the same in that day as at the present day. There had been a list of men prepared, ticketed and slated for the new offices, but there was a change of Government before the time came for appointing the officials, and the Baldwin Government took office in time to make the appointments. Then followed much disappointment on the part of those who had been expecting office in the new county. The Magistrates in Quarter Sessions were largely of the disappointed party, and threatened to make matters run otherwise than smoothly, but in course of time all difficulties were overcome, and the county's affairs began to proceed harmoniously. County Judges. Judge Gowan, afterwards Sir James R. G-owan, was a native of Ireland, having been born there In 1815. He came to Canada in 1832, entered the profession of law in Toronto, and while still a young man, received the appointment of Judge in the newly erected County ol Simcoe. Throughout his long career as a Judge, he proved to be a jurist of much ability, and acquired miore than a county reputation. He gave amended particulars for the Division Courts Act framed under the direction of Sir John A. Macdonald, and on various occa sions gave assistance to develop the growth of the other legal institu tions of the country. After 40 years' service as Judge of the County, he resigned in 1883, and about a year later he was elevated to the Senate of Canada. In this position he became useful owing to his varied legal knowledge and experience. He took an active interest in the Codification ol the Criminal Law in 1892, and in various other 16a Sir James R. Gowan, County Judge, 1843-83. [237] GENERAL COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. 239 measures of importance. He resigned the Senatorship in 1907, and died March 18, 1909. Up to the year 1872, Judge Gowan carried on, without aid, the arduous work of his judicial territory, which included the districts as far north as the French River. In October, 1872, the Government appointed a junior judge to assist him, in the person of John A. Ardagh, son of the Rev. S. B. Ardagh, who has been mentioned else where in this work. Upon Judge Gowan 's resignation as Senior Judge in September, 1883, Judge Ardagh was promoted to the position of Senior Judge, and Wihiam F. A. Boys was appointed Junior Judge. When Judge Boys resigned in 1908, E. A. Wismer, of Essex, Ont., was appointed Junior Judge. Sheriffs. Benjamin W. Smith, 1843-75. Thomas D. McConkey, 1875-90. Orson J. Phelps, i890-g4. Charles Drury, i894-igo5. William M. Harvey, igo5. Clerks of the Court. Jonathan Lane, 1S43-70. James C. Morrow, 1870-7. John McL. Stevenson, i877-igo6. E. A. Little, igo6. John McCosh, Deputy Clerk of the Crown, 1907. Clerks of the Peace. Wilham B. McVity, 1843-77. James R. Cotter, 1877. County Crown Attorneys. (An office created in 1858). Henry B. Hopkins, 1858-62. Jarnes R. Cotter, 1862. Jailers. Moses Hayter, 1843-52. Alexander Lang, 1852-96. Jonathan SIssons, 1896. 240 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The "Old Survey" of West Gwillimbury. The County had not been in existence any length of time before an agitation arose to annex the part of West Gwillimbury called the "Old Survey" to the County of York. The agitation probably gained strength from the excessive cost of the new county buildings and the crookedness in connection with the payment for them. Although the Holland River was a natural boundary, and a proper one to divide two counties, for some years the Simcoe District Council fought hard against dismemberment to the smah extent of this corner of its ter ritory. In February, 1845, a petition was before Parliament to attach the above mentioned portion of West Gwillimbury south of the Holland River to the Home District. The Simcoe District Council viewed this as seriously injurious to Its interests, and drew up a strong peti tion against the proposal. The House thereupon disallowed the measure. After the undertaking by Simcoe in December, 1850, to subscribe for stock in the Northern Railway, and the prospect of an increase of the taxes, the question of separation again came up, and was a lively topic when the Simcoe County Council met in June, 1851. The advo cates of separation represented that an impassable swamp separated this tract from the rest of the county. Although the Simcoe Council planked the main road through the tract during the same summer, the separation came Into effect this time, and the strip of land was there upon annexed to York County. In settling the claim for the "Old Survey" set off from Simcoe at this time, some difficulty arose. The united Counties of York, Ontario and Peel, which then formed the York County Council, appointed John W. Gamble as their arbitrator, while .Simcoe County Council, In June, 1853, appointed the Hon. W. B. Robinson as its arbitrator. The two disagreed or failed to reach a decision, and an umpire or third arbitrator was appointed, viz., John H. Hagerty, Esq. The sum finally awarded to Simcoe In the arbitration was ;^536 15s. 2d, the items considered in making the award being the new Jail and Court House, the Railroad debt, and the Plank Road debt. This sum was far short of what the Simcoe County Council demanded or expected, and Mr. Robinson withheld his signature from the award, as he considered it unjust to the county. John A. Ardagh, Junior Judge, 1872-83, Senior Judge, 1883. [241] E. A. Wismer, Junior Judge, 1908. ¦2421 GENERAL COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. 243 Muskoka and Parry Sound. After the Treaty with the Ojibway Indians of Lake Huron, made by the Hon. W. B. Robinson in the year 1850, the Government passed an Act (14 and 15 Vict, chap. 5) in 1851, known as the Territorial Divisions Act, by which the extensive tract from the Severn to French River newly acquired from the Indians was added to Simcoe County. This territory in later years has been divided into nearly seventy town ships, lying mostly within the Districts of Muskoka and Parry Sound. The Simcoe County Council, not knowing what their newly acquired territory was hke, petitioned the Government in May, 1852, for an immediate survey of it for settlement. Settlers of Morrison Township, in course of time, petitioned the County Counch (in October, 1862), to be estabhshed as a separate municlpahty. But the Council could only unite them with Muskoka Township if the two had 100 or more resident freeholders and house holders. A renewal of the request was made a year or two afterward, and as there were fully 150 settlers in Morrison Township, and 60 in Muskoka Township, the County Counch, at its session, June 30, 1864, united and organized them fpr municipal purposes; and the first reeve for the united townships (Roderick Stewart) took his seat at the County Council in January, 1865. A further By-law was passed in June, 1868, to separate the two townships for municipal purposes. The District of Muskoka was organized in 1868, for certain judicial purposes, by an Act of the Ontario Legislature, 31 Vict, chap. 35. This provided for the appointment of a stipendiary magis trate in Muskoka, and for Land Registration, but the administration of justice in Muskoka, generally, was left with Simcoe, and the munici pal connection remained as it was. A similar Act was passed for the judicial organization of Parry Sound District, in i86g, 33 Vict., chap. 24. A By-law of the County Council passed in June, 1870, united Watt and Cardwell townships for representation. Another By-law was passed to separate them, June, 1877, although the same By-law had been defeated in the preceding January for some reason. The County Treasurer brought before the notice of the councihors in June, 1873, the fact that Simcoe County had to administer justice In the wide unincorporated territory to the northward. In the year mentioned, a case of supposed murder, committed as far from the Court House at Barrie as the City of Kingston is, cost the County 2M A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. $1,500 or more. The County Council sent a memorial in January, 1874, to the Lleutenant-Governor-in-Council asking him to bear the charges in the administration of justice in Muskoka and Parry Sound. And for making public improvements (bridges, etc.) in the Muskoka District, the Council also' asked the Government to make grants. When the Ontario Government, In 1877, annexed some further territory, lying in the same direction, to Simcoe, the Council objected to having jany more of the Muskoka District added to it, for judicial purposes, and sent another memorial on the subject to the Lieutenant- Governor-in-CouncIl. This question of tbe administration of justice in the unorganized territories became a chronic one for a while. The County Treasurer again complained in January, 1S78, that the adminis tration of criminal justice was bearing very unfairly on the County. According to his statements, "not only do we administer criminal justice in all the unorganized territory north of us, but in organized townships attached to other counties ; we pay for criminal justice and another county collects the revenue." Failing to get redress of the grievance, the Council sent another strongly worded memorial to the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council in November, 1879. There were 44 townships In the Districts of Parry Sound, Muskoka and Nipissing annexed to Simcoe for judicial pur poses, from which Simcoe derived no income, yet it was called upon to pay their bills connected with the administration of justice. Nine of those townships formed part of Victoria County for municipal purposes, the reeves of which went to Lindsay, while the offenders against the law came to the jail at Barrie for Simcoe to bear the expense of having the law vindicated. The Council asked the Govern ment to free them from further liability In the matter. The Ontario Government now began to pay some heed to the continued appeals for redress. In January, 1881, a special committee of the council authorized a statement to be prepared by the County Treasurer, and they sent it to the Attorney-General, after which some slight relief was afforded. A special committee was appointed in January, 1885, to urge the further claim of the County upon the Government for the large amount then paid for the administration of justice in the new districts. This committee, which consisted of the three members of the Legislature then in the council, viz. Messrs. Drury, Phelps and McKay, reported in June that the Government had paid the full amount of SImcoe's claim, viz., $500 for 1884. GENERAL COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. 245 An Act was passed in 1888, by which the Muskoka municipalities were detached from Simcoe at July ist, of that year. In view of the passing of this Act, the County Council in June, 1888, appointed a committee of seven to arrive at some settlement of the affairs between Simcoe County and the Muskoka municipalities, as provided under R.S.O. 1887, cap. 184, sec. 43. This was done amicably, and the Muskoka members severed their connection at the close of the same session with a complimentary resolution. The Five Townships in East Grey. The Townships of Cohingwood, St. Vincent, Euphrasia, Artemesia, and Osprey became part of the Simcoe District in 1845, and under warrant of the Warden in July of that year, James Robertson was elected District Councillor for St. Vincent. Before this year these five townships had been part of the Home District. They continued to send representatives to the Simcoe Council, but after January ist, 1852, they are detached from Simcoe County to form part of the new County of Grey. One of the chief reasons for the change was the burden assumed by Simcoe in connection with the Northern Railway, just then undertaken. Some delay arose over the settlement of the financial affairs between Simcoe and Grey arising from the separation. In 1S53, or the beginning of 1854, the Government appointed James Wright, as an arbitrator on behalf of Wellington and Grey to arrange the existing debt between Grey and Simcoe. The award is not stated in the documents and printed proceedings which the writer has examined. But it would appear that the compensation paid by Grey to Simcoe County amounted altogether to the sum of $5,885, which included Interest. The last Instalment received by Simcoe appears to have been obtained on April g, 1864. Mono and Mulmur. On November 10, 1863, the Simcoe County Council passed a By-law to take a census of Orangeville with a view to incorporation. Three days later (on the 13th) the census had already been taken and the special committee in charge of the matter had examined the cen sus returns and recommended incorporation. A By-law was passed for that purpose, and another By-law to annex the new vhlage to the County of Wellington. o GENERAL COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. 247 The next step was in 1874, when the Ontario Legislature passed an Act, 38 Vict., chap. 31, defining the new County of Dufferin, the townships of Mono and Mulmur being included within it. These two, however, remained in Simcoe six years longer, for various purposes. Finally, at the end of 1880, in accordance with an Act passed in the early part of that year, Mono and Mulmur, after many years attach ment to Simcoe County, were detached from it and became part of Dufferin County for both municipal and judicial purposes. The settle ment of financial questions, by representatives, having been provided for by 43 Vict. , chap. 37, an agreement between the two townships and The Court House after the remodelling in 1877. the County was reached on December 16, 1881, and a By-law was passed by the Simcoe Council in January, 1882, to confirm the agree ment. The ;^4o,ooo (sterling) stock in the Northern Railway was exchanged and Mono and Mulmur given their shares. Besides this, on the General Account, Mono received $1,004.81 from Simcoe County, and Mulmur was found to be indebted to it by $471.51. Mulmur's further indebtedness on account of the bonus to the H. & N. W. R. R. (Cohingwood Branch) was $20,450. These sums Mulmur settled in fuh with the County before January, 1883. 248 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The County Court House. The Magistrates in Quarter Sessions authorized the erection of a Court House, on September 2, 1841, and approved of the plans of Horace Keating for the building. The contract was awarded to Charles Thompson, who erected it in 1842. Mr. Thompson was also the contractor for the jail, then in course of erection, and the settle ment of his claims for the two buildings afterward gave rise to much trouble and litigation in the District Council, which came into existence at the beginning of 1843 ^^'^ ^^'^ charge of the financial affairs of the District after their appointment. The Court House building, with frequent repairs, served the pur poses for which it was intended for 34 years. But in the seventies, sr-;^.^^ . ,^, ^^^ The first County Jail, 1840-63. when the administration of justice for the Muskoka District belonged to Simcoe County, the business of the courts had grown so much that increased accommodation for them became necessary. To attain this end, the Council erected a new wing in 1877 at the west of the old building, giving a second court room and chamber for the meetings of the County Council, with committee rooms and other apartments. Other changes and additions were also made at the same time. Owing to the changes in the construction of the roof of the building, the original court house was completely obliterated in the architectural designs of the remodelled structure. The new addition had offices on the ground floor for the County Treasurer and the Clerk of the Peace. John Beardsley became the caretaker of the building in 1843, but he died In 1848 and his widow occupied the same position for more than fifty years afterward. GENERAL COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. 249 The County Jail. A rather quaint entry appears in the Minute Book of the general Quarter Sessions for the Home District, under date of May lo, 1837. It reads as follows: — "On the motion of Edward F. Davis, Esq., J. P. for the County of Simcoe, seconded by Meyrick Lahy, Esq., J. P. for the same county, that lots No. no, in, 112, 113, 117, 118, iig, 120 in the Town of Barrie be approved of as the site of a Jah and Court House for the New District of Simcoe." A patent was issued from the Crown to the District for this jail block of 4 acres, on Sept. 14, 1844. Tiie County Jail of to-day. The Magistrates had charge of the erection of the County Build ings, so they appointed a Building Committee from amongst them selves to supervise the work. This Building Committee obtained plans and specifications for the Jail from an architect, Thomas Young, of Toronto, which they approved of, and the contract for erecting the Jail was signed May g, 1840, the contractor being Charles Thompson, the stage coach and steamboat owner. Lake Couchiching stone was conveyed by boat from the quarry and used in the construction of the Jail. The original structure was unlike anything else in the country, an octagon in shape, something like the Mosque of Omar on the site of the Temple at Jerusalem. 250 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The Magistrates of the District, as already shown, had let the con tracts for the erection of the Jail and the Court House before the Dis trict Council came into existence at the beginning of 1843. The last named body, on its formation, assumed the financial engagements of the District, and found the settlement of the contractor's claims for the buildings In a hopeless muddle. The original agreements had been for ;^4,ooo for the Jail, and ;^i,87o for the Court House, but before the District Council finished paying for the buildings, the cost had reached nearly ;^g,ooo, law suits having resulted from the failure to reach settlements with the contractor and the architect. The appointment of a Government Board of Prison Inspectors brought about a change In the management of jails throughout the Province. The Prison Inspectors had been promised in the early part of 1S58, or a Government Commission on Jails, but two years elapsed before the long promised officials were appointed. This change of affairs to a Government Board took the responsibility off the shoulders of the County Surveyor, in whose charge the supervision of jail affairs had hitherto been placed. Two of the recently appointed Board of Prison Inspectors made their first visit to this section of the country on February 24, i860, viz., the weh-known Dr. Wolf red Nelson, who had taken so con spicuous a part in the Rebellion in Lower Canada, and Donald E. McDonald. On tbe same occasion they visited the Penetanguishene Reformatory and the Orillia Asylum building, then recently purchased. In January, 1S60, the County Council had passed a By-law appoint ing a special committee of their members to confer with the new Prison Inspectors, and arrange for any alterations and additions to the jail that might be deemed necessary. This committee did so, and recommended to the Council in June the erection of a wing 64 ft. long by 32 ft. wide, two storeys high, and the addition of new outer walls. The County Surveyor prepared a draft and plan of the proposed new wing. The Government architect's plans for the work were received by October, i860, and as" the plans contemplated a cost of $20,000, the amount was so large that the Council laid the matter over till January, 1861. The Council reduced the architect's plans for the extension to a more moderate, but amply extensive, form, and returned them to the Prison Inspectors ; but the latter sent a negative reply, and there was a pause In the negotiations for more than a year. The Board of Prison Inspectors, then at Quebec city, had demanded $14,000 of the Simcoe Counch for the jail extension. Mr. Ferguson, GENERAL COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. 251 M.P. for South Simcoe, informed them that the Council were not in a position to meet the demand, but if they would moderate their plans to within $12,000, he thought the Council would meet it, $6,000 to be paid by the County and $6,000 by the Government. To this the inspectors agreed. Mr. Horsey, the Government architect, was Instructed by the Special Committee of the County Council in June, 1862, to prepare plans, specifications, etc. And the Council at the same session passed a By-law to raise $6,000 for the purpose. The special committee on jail extension received plans and specifi cations for the new east wing in September, when they met, and they found a third storey had been added in the plans. The lowest tender received afterward on the basis of these plans was $15,573, with jailer's residence, or $14,776 without it. The third storey and resi dence were dispensed with and John Damp given the contract. Sub sequently, he withdrew his tender, but tbe Council instructed the Warden to carry out tbe contract according to By-law No. 125 (ot June g, 1862), and Mr. Damp remained the contractor. In the end, the actual cost of the jail extension was $13,253.46, of which the Government paid $6,000. Mr. Damp, who was a small sized man, had worked faithfully in the carrying out of the contract, but was a loser by his contract, so the County Council, in January, 1864, voted him $500 as a gift, in addition to the sum above stated. At the time of the extension it was discovered that the large central tower, which is shown in the accompanying engraving of the original jail, had become dangerous, so it was taken down at some extra cost more than was at first estimated. About October, 1862, the Government began to pay into the county treasury on account of jail supplies, in accordance with the Act for the payment of Criminal Justice. There was an edifying uproar in June, i860. In the County Coun- cil over the good food allowance to the prisoners. Each prisoner had been getting daily, i lb. of bread, i lb. of meat and i^ lbs. of potatoes. "Consequently," as the records allege, "the jah is not what it is Intended to be, viz., a place of punishment" It was accordingly resolved that, after July ist, the rations should be: — Breakfast : i pint porridge. Dinner : i^ lbs. of bread. Supper : i pint porridge (Indian or oatmeal). No other condiments were to be allowed the prisoners, but as much salt and water as they required. Ten cents a day was deemed to be quite suflficient to board each prisoner. 17 252 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The report immediately following this one to starve the "mentally and morally blind" prisoners on porridge, bread, salt and water, granted $140 to the society for the education of the blind, in Toronto. Nothing, however, came of tbis decree to starve the Simcoe prisoners, as the Magistrates in the Court of Quarter Sessions interfered in their behalf. This little tempest over food in i860 gives us a glimpse of what the functions of a jail were held to be, in those days. To stint a man's nourishment, and undermine his nervous system, will not improve him ; and improvement is necessary no difference what his crimes might be. Improvement is the fashionable view taken at the present day, as against alimentary punishment in i860. The County Council, in 1902, erected a residence for the jailer in the southwest corner of the institution. The Land R^istry Office. In January, 1873, the County Council took steps to build a fire proof Registry Office. After making some preliminary arrangements, they approved of the plans in January, 1S74, the County Surveyor was authorized to advertise for tenders, and the building was to be com menced as soon as possible. The new Registry Office was completed by October, 1874, at a cost of a little over $8, 000. The Lockup Houses of the County. The erection of lockup houses in different parts of the county began in 1852, when the County Council constructed one in Orillia and set apart a small salary (;^3 los.) for a keeper or caretaker of the building. The following list shows the years in which some of the earlier lockup houses of the county were established : — 1852 Orillia (renewed in 1873). 1856 Bradford, Collingwood and Penetanguishene. 1S5S Orangeville. 1867 Coldwater. 1869 Stayner. 1870 Rosemont. A lockup at Duntroon, which had been estabhshed at an early time, was abandoned in January, 1870, as totally useless. In 1872, Midland became a harbor for steamboats, schooners, and various smah 17a GENERAL COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. 253 craft. Sailors as weh as laborers employed in the construction of the Midland rahroad, and in the mihs in course of erection during the summer of that year, made up a large portion of the population, and required more attention than the usual farming classes in the older settled communities. Accordingly, a lockup house was erected in Midland in 1872. The County Council received so many applications for grants for lockup houses about this time that it reduced the graining of money for them to a system, in October, 1874, by passing a By-law for the purpose. An inferior class of buildings had been erected, as in almost every instance the County's grant had not been supplemented locally. The Council's By-law made three classes, viz., buddings costing not less than $600, $800 and $1,200 respectively. The County undertook to pay one-half the cost of each, and the locality asking for aid would pay the remainder. This By-law remained in force for a number of years before revision became necessary. In January, 1875, the Council made a grant of $400 for one at Collingwood to replace the one burned down. At the same time a grant of $300 was made for one at Gravenhurst. The latter was built but through some inadvertence a deed of the land on wfiich it was erected had not been obtained, or could not be found twO' years later (January, 1877), when an examination of the county's property and the titles thereto was made. So the committee on County Property on the last named occasion suggested that the Reeve of "the saw-dust city," as the report called the place, should get busy and forward deeds for the land to the County Treasurer. For the erection of a lockup house in Cookstown the Council, as long ago as the January session, 1856, had granted $200, and there was some reaffirmation of the grant in November, 1868, but it had not been apphed up to October, 1877. Owing to the construction of the Hamilton Railway, Cookstown had received a large floating poupulation at that time, and in the interests of law and order the County Council now granted $400 for a lockup house of the second class. The lockup houses established at this period partly owing to the railway construction were the following : — October, 1877. Cookstown. January, 1878. Beeton (then Clarksvillej. January, 1879. Creemore. June, 1885. Tottenham. 254 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The By-law of October, 1874, under which grants had been made to lockups, was replaced by another at the January session, 18S7, VIZ., No. 425. Lockups were subsequently established at the following places : — June, 1887 Elmvale. June, 1890. Washago and Hillsdale. January, 1S94. Wyebridge. The County Council passed another general By-law (No. 545) in January, i8g4, to provide for the erection, size and future manage ment of Lockup Houses. No grant should exceed $400, and all lock ups were to be built of stone or brick with floors of stone or concrete. Some further conditions were attached to the By-law which made a considerable change In the method of granting assistance to minor localities in this particular. John Strathy, County Clerk, 1852-7. [255] Chapter XX. COUNTY MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. In the early years of Upper Canada, before the establishment of either District or township councils, the inhabitants of each town ship met together once a year (mostly in January) for the purpose of choosing officers for the year. Chief of these officers were the wardens, or town wardens, as they were sometimes cahed. Yet the local govern ment of the country was conducted in a somewhat crude manner in those early years, there being no lack of talk and formality, but very little accomplished. The term ''ward" was formerly met with most commonly In the northern shires of England, where it dated back to an early time, and probably also the derivative terms "warder" and "warden" which are connected with "ward." In course of time, the town wardens, i.e., the township wardens, as we now understand the words, came to be transplanted to the soil of New England and the other Enghsh colonies in America, of which Virginia must not be omitted. The duties of the wardens varied in the different colonies ; thus in Trinidad we find the Warden had the roadmaking to do, and he also had large powers as commissioner of Crown lands in his own ward. The practice of electing wardens in Upper Canada, was thus a very old one. It was introduced into this Province at the very begin ning of its history, an Act having been passed by the First Legisla ture of Upper Canada at its second session in I7g3 (phap. 2), to elect township officers, viz., two town wardens, two assessors, two or more highway overseers, a township clerk, a collector and a poundkeeper. The inhabitants of each township were to assemble at the town meet ing once a year, on the first Monday in January, and elect the officers for the year. Two justices of the peace were to issue their warrant for assembling the inhabitants, and the officers thus elected were to make their returns to the magistrates. [257] 258 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. In this county there was organized local government of the kind just mentioned (so far as the writer has been able to learn) by the inhabitants of the following townships : — West Gwillimbury and Tecumseth. Essa, 1S35. Oro, 1835. Vespra, 1837. Innisfil, 1S41. The old minute books of most of these townships still exist ; and they furnish some Interesting particulars of how our ancestors managed the public affairs of those days. For the most part, however, the chief power in local government in those early years lay with the magistrates in tbeir Court of Quarter Sessions. Before the Act of 4 and 5 Victoria, this Court of Quarter Sessions was the central Institution of local government in Upper Canada, the township officers appointed annually by the people them selves in town meeting being subordinate to the magistrates. The Bill for establishing municipal councils in the various districts of Upper Canada was the most important measure of the first Union Parliament, which assembled June 14, 1841. The Justices of the Peace, assembled in Quarter Sessions, had up till then expended the taxes on real property. Under the Act of 1841, the Warden, Clerk, Treasurer, Surveyor and other officers were to be Crown nominees, or in other words, the Crown appointed these officers as the .\ct at first stood. But within a very few years there were amendments which placed the appointments within the power of the Councils themselves. Thus did the establishment of the Municipal System take place in 1S41, according to some, although as Mr. Baldwin's Act of i84g was of a much more comprehensive character, it is claimed by others to be the beginning. Past Wardens of Simcoe County. Below Is given a list of the Wardens of the county from the beginning : — 1843 — Jacob ^millus Irving. 1844-6 — James Dallas, South Orillia. 1847-52 — Wm. Armson. W. Gwillimbury. 1853-6 — Jas. Sanson, Orillia. 1857 — John Craig, Medonte. COUNTY MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. 259 1858 — Thos. R. Ferguson, Innisfil. 1859 — George McManus, Mono. 1860-1 — Thos. D. McConkey, Barrie. 1862-7 — Thos. R. Ferguson, Innisfil. 1868 — John Kean, Orillia Township. 1869-71 — W. D. Ardagh, Barrie. 1872 — -Geo. Davis, Essa. 1873 — John Hogg, Collingwood. 1874 — Thos. Atkins, West Gwillimbury. 1875 — John C. Steele, Oro. 1S76 — Wm. McDermott, Tecumseth. 1877 — W. N. Rutledge, Medonte. 187S — David Dunn, Essa. 1879 — Chas. Cameron, Collingwood. 1880 — C. Cooke, Tecumseth. 1881— O. J. Phelps, Flos. 1882 — Jas. Quinn, Orillia. 1883 — Geo. M. Evans, ^^^est Gwillimbury. 1884 — David Dunn, Essa. 1885 — Robert Paton, Sunnidale. 1886 — Arthur Craig, Medonte. 18S7 — John Stewart, Ahiston. 1888 — Wm. Switzer, Sunnidale. 1889 — Chas. McGibbon, Penetanguishene. 1890 — John Ross, Innisfil. 1S91 — Jonathan SIssons, Vespra. i8g2 — Walter Lawson, Tay. i8g3 — Joseph Wright, Beeton. i8g4 — R. E. Fletcher, Barrie. i8g5 — James Ross, Oro. i8g6 — James S. Boddy, Bradford. iSg7 — Wm. A. Sneath, Flos. i8g8 — Thos. Devitt, Medonte. iSgg — P. Ronan, Adjala. igoo — W. H. Hamilton, Nottawasaga. igoi — Chas. E. Wright, Penetanguishene. igo2 — Daniel Quinlan, Vespra. igo3 — Robert Murphy, Tosorontio. igo4 — Geo. W. Bruce, Collingwood. tgo5 — R. H. Jupp, Orillia. 260 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. 1906 — Joseph Whiteside, Essa. 1907 — W. A. Boys, Barrie. igoS — D. C. Barr, Collingwood. igog — Richard Bell, Essa. The first Warden, the Hon. Jacob y^mllius Irving, during 1843, was appointed by the Baldwin Government, a member of the Legisla tive Council, which prevented his attendance at the November Session of that year and also prevented his further service as Warden. County Clerks. John McWatt, 1843 — ^January, 1852. John S'trathy, January, 1852 — January, 1857. Richard B. Bernard, January, 1857 — January, i860. Robert T. Banting, January, i86o-^igo2. Robert Jas. Fletcher, igo2. County Treasurers. The earhest Treasurers of the County held office under the Magis trates' Court of Quarter Sessions. As early as April, 1838, and per haps earlier, Sydney M. Sanford was Treasurer, and continued in the office until about July, 1841, when Samuel Richardson was appointed. Mr. Richardson died March 2, 1843, shortly after the formation of the District Council, whereupon one of the Councillors, James Adam, was the Acting Treasurer for a while, but his premature death took place in the early part of the winter of 1844-5. Edmund S. Lahy wrote the District Council on February 13, 1845, stating that the Governor- General had appointed him Treasurer. Those who held the office after the District Council came into existence were the following : — Samuel Richardson, 1843. James Adam, 1843-4. Edmund S. Lahy, 1845 — March, 1861. Henry R. A. Boys, March, 1861-1884. Sydney M. Sanford, June, 1884 — August 12, 1885. Sydney J. Sanford, November, 1885-1897. Arthur Craig, November, 1897-1905. Daniel Quinlan, 1905. Anyone who will scan the printed proceedings of the Counch, during Mr. Lally's term of office, will readily see that the Council COUNTY MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. 261 paid much deference generally to his wishes and suggestions, as his care and attention to the business of the Council in the early years were noteworthy. In fact, he was the central figure of the institution during those years, and received the esteem which his upright, intelli gent course well deserved. On February 3, 1848, the Council acceded to tbe request of Mr. Lally to be allowed to act as Bank Agent in his office, this being the first bank opened in the County town. Edmund S. Lally having resigned the Treasurership in March, 1861, the Warden called a special meeting of the Council, at which Henry R. A. Boys was appointed treasurer. - In October, 1876, the County Council passed a By-law appointing Sydney M. Sanford Assistant Treasurer at $500 per annum, and on the resignation of Mr. Boys as treasurer in June, 1884, Mr. Sanford, although advanced in years, was promoted to the office of treasurer. Mr. Boys gave as his principal reasons for resigning the fact that certain members of his family were unable to stand our severe winters. Soon afterward, he moved with his family to California, where he died, September, 1894. On August 12, 1885, the death occurred of the treasurer, Sydney M. Sanford. By his gentlemanly and unassuming manner, he received the highest respect of the County Council of the time. His son, Sydney James Sanford, was appointed his successor. The last mentioned Treasurer, S. J. Sanford, became a defaulter in 1897. An audit of the treasurer's books from the time of his appointment until he absconded, showed the amount of his defaults to be $62,857.02, a portion of which was afterward recovered by the county. County Messengers. Joseph Leslie, after long service as messenger, was compelled through ill-health to resign In November, 1880, and John Beardsley, his assistant, was appointed messenger. Mr. Leslie, who was advanced in years, on that occasion was given $100 as a retiring allow ance. On the death of John Beardsley, the County Messenger, his bro ther, Alfred W. Beardsley, was appointed as his successor in Novem ber, 1885. Mr. Beardsley was also appointed County Detective Ih June, 1891, and High Constable of the County in June, i8g6. 262 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. County Engineer and Surveyor. Henry Creswicke was appointed by the Government as County Surveyor in 1843 and held the office for 3g years. On his resignation in 1881, and completion of his work at the end of the last named year, the oflfice was abohshed. A sketch of the life of Mr. Creswicke, who was a very useful and efficient officer of the county for so long a period, may be found in the chapter on Oro (vol. 2), where he settled on coming to Canada to reside. County Inspectors of Weights and Measures. At the General Quarter Sessions, April 25, 1843, the Magistrates appointed John McWatt, Inspector of Weights and Measures for the Simcoe District. He probably held the office until 1S5S, although the writer has no evidence In the matter at hand. At any rate, in June, 1858, Christopher Wilson of Cohingwood asked the County Council to appoint him Inspector of Weights and Measures for the County which the Council did, the office being then vacant. At the June ses sion, 1872, the Council accepted the resignation of C. Wilson from this office, and appointed two inspectors for the county : — Robinson Morris for the north riding, and C. S. Brereton for the south riding. On Mr.. Brereton 's death in the following year, tbe Council appointed Walter R. Fenton, Inspector for the south riding (June, 1873). In 1873, the Dominion Government passed an Act altering the standards of weights and measures, adopting the Imperial measures, and reservins' the right to appoint an Inspector for each province. However, in June,- 1875, the County Council passed a By-law appoint ing two Inspectors — David E. Bulst for the north riding, and James Hunter for the south riding. Some time later, the Dominion Govern ment assumed the supervision of these officials, and appointed travelling Inspectors. Jail Surgeons. In 1852, Dr. John Russell Ardagh was appointed to this office. On his death In 1S6S, Dr. Arthur Ardagh was appointed to succeed him, and held the position for about twenty-five years. On the death of the latter, Dr. L. Oliver was appointed Jail Surgeon in January, iSg3, who in turn was succeeded by Dr. J. F. Palling, the present occupant of the position. COUNTY MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. 263 County Solicitors. From the large amount of business of the County, It appeared wise to the Council in January, 1873, to have a solicitor appointed, who could be called upon at short notice to act in behalf of the County. A By-law was at that time passed appointing McCarthy & McCarthy, solicitors for the county. On the death of Mr. Pepler, Messrs. Hewson & Creswicke were appointed, and on the removal of Mr. C. E. Hewson from the County to become Judge in Manitoulin, Mr. A. E. H. Creswicke was appointed County Solicitor In January, igog. The Council from 1843 to the Present Time. For a while the new municipal system did not work well. A new source of power had been created, viz., the voice of the people; whereas, before 1841, tbe ruling power In local affairs was the Magis trates' Court of Quarter Sessions. The existence of two powers in each district resulted, as might be expected, in friction between the two, and in various writings of that period we actually find refer ences to tbe clashing of the two sources of authority. Thus in the Life (p. 264) of Wm. Hamilton Merritt, who was one of tbe members of the Canadian Parliament at that period, he writes, under date of November 11, 1843, of the municipal institutions not working well In consequence of the two opposing powers. Once In a while, through out the printed proceedings of the Simcoe District Council, we get glimpses of tbe clash of authority between the two, but in one instance, (October, 1846) the District Council went so far In the other direction as to complain to the Government that there was a scarcity of magis trates. The County Buildings (Jail and Court House) were erected, or at least the contract for them had been let by the magistrates, as we have seen in the preceding chapter, before the District Council came into existence or had any control over the expenditure for them. But the Council was created in time enough to have the exquisite pleasure of paying for them, and they paid very dearly too. One of the first troubles that arose for the new Simcoe District Council to settle in 1843 was the building contract, the full particulars of which appear in the Council Minutes printed for the first time In i8g5. In the end the Council had a lawsuit with tbe contractor, Charles Thompson, and 264 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. another with the architect, Horace Keating. To settle with these men finally, the Council issued debentures for ;£^500 in favor of Mr. Thomp son, and other debentures for ;^256 7s. 2d. in favor of Mr. Keating. A period of activity on the part of the Simcoe District Councillors in local affairs, in keeping with the general activity all over the Pro vince, followed the introduction of responsible government which so many people of all political shades had been pleased to welcome. Those who had been in power so long had had time enough to introduce new measures in the way of progress, but they had not kept pace with the growing needs of the country. The Common School Law, the Muni cipal Councils Act, and other measures of the first importance, at this period kept legislators, both parliamentary and local, quite busy. While the Act of 1841 was in force during the forties, the town ship councils, in the form in which we now know them, had not yet any existence. So the local affairs of the district mostly devolved upon the District Council, which levied the taxes. Common schools and common roads held the chief places in the Simcoe Council's work, as in other districts at the time. The highly punctilious spirit shown in the methods of the District Council, as it is displayed in the printed proceedings, is edifying; but it was perhaps no more than was cur rent in official circles In Canada at the time, where "legality and established forms" were the bane of the country, according to Lord Elgin. There was no pay for District Councillors at the outset of the District system, and yet the Simcoe Councillors passed a By-law (May, 1S44) to impose a fine of six shilhngs a day on everyone who should absent himself. But it does not appear that the Council ever enforced its own ordinance, which was perhaps in the nature of what some people nowadays would call a "bluff," and the By-law was ultimately repealed, October, 1S4S. In February, 1845, the Councihors recorded a protest at getting no pay for their services and having the expense of boarding away from home, so they petitioned the Legislative Assembly to grant coun cillors a pittance of not more than a dollar a day. "In many of the backwood townships," their petition to Parliament went on to say, "the farmer finds it a sufficient sacrifice when he devotes four weeks annually of his time to the discharge of his duties as District Counch- lor, without entailing on himself in addition any outlay of money, which, in a great many cases, he can very ih afford." Parliament, as it was usual for them to do, paid great deference to the Simcoe County COUNTY MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. 265 petitions, and passed an amendment to the Municipal Councils Act giving power to District Councils to grant an allowance to their mem bers during their attendance at meetings. The Simcoe District Coun chlors lost no time in availing themselves of the privilege, for at the October session of 1846 they voted themselves a fixed allowance of six shilhngs and three pence a day. After 1846, by the Amended District Councils Act of that year, the Council met only twice a year for a period, instead of four times as hitherto. According to Mr. Baldwin's Municipal Act of 1849, the reeves of the several townships were to form the Council for the County, and after this time it was not called the District Council, but the County Council. In accordance with that Act, the Simcoe District Council passed a By-law in 1849 (No. 75), dividing the county into groups of townships, with five "wards" in each, and a returning officer for each at the succeeding election, when a councillor was to be elected for each. In this way, the township councils throughout this county were first organized, and the "town meeting" for choosing officers, as well as the District Council itself, thus came to an end. At the first meeting of each Township Council elected in the manner just described, the councillors elected from among themselves the reeves and deputy-reeves to be sent to make up the County Council. This was the method of electing the County Council pursued until the revision and consolidation of the "Act respecting the Municipal Institutions of Upper Canada" (passed August 15, 1866), according to which the reeves and deputy-reeves were elected by the direct votes of the people. This change came into effect with the beginning of 1867. The Simcoe County Council, in August, 1850, repealed the part of the former By-law (No. 75, 1849), which referred to six unions of townships. In a new By-law, (No. 88), they substituted five new unions for the six formerly made, and thus provided for the return of nineteen members instead of thirteen. The new unions were as fol lows : — Tiny and Tay. Orihia (North and South) and Matchedash. Vespra, Flos and Sunnidale. Euphrasia and Cohingwood (townships). Nottawasaga and Osprey. 266 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Some of tbese unions continued in force for several years. In fact, the union between North and South Orihia is not yet dissolved. By dispensing with the October session in 1870, the County Council effected a saving of over $1,000 to the county, and a reduction of $300 in the expense of printing. They accordingly also dispensed with the fall sessions in 187 1-2-3. For a great many years the Warden was elected in the County Council by open voting, but In June, 1884, the Council resolved to elect the Warden by ballot in future, and passed a By-law with this end in view. Hitherto, the election had been carried on by motions, voted upon by the council in the order of their presentation. During the early years of the eighties, murmuring began to be heard about the high cost of the County Council. At this time, some Muskoka townships were still included with Simcoe for Municipal pur poses, which made the numbers in attendance at the council board quite large. In a table compiled for November, 1884, and printed with the minutes for that session, details of the costs of various County Councils are given for eleven years, 1S73 to 1883. But no decisive steps could be taken at the time to reduce the number. The council went on increasing in numbers, and culminated in 18SS with 57 members. When a Municipal Commission was engaged in January, 1888, in the investigation of the working of the Municipal Institutions Act of this Province, the Simcoe County Council resolved that the time had come when a reduction should be made in tbe repre sentation of the minor municipalities. The presence of 57 counchlors at the council board this year emphasized the need for some change. This was effected, and relief obtained, by tbe setting apart of the Muskoka townships into a district by themselves. Notwithstanding the removal of a part of the council to form Muskoka District Council in 1SS8, the numbers continued to increase, and again reached 57 in 1895 and iSg6. Just prior to these maximum years, there was a revival of the agitation for a reduction In the cost of doing the county's business. In deference to public opinion In this matter, the Council, In January, i8gi, passed a By-law dispensing with the November sessions. This had effect In i8gi and i8g2. A "special session" was cahed in November, i8g3, but In the two- fol lowing years (i8g4-5) the By-law continued In force, and the November sessions were dispensed with. Just before the coming Into effect of the new Act of i8g6 a session was held in November of that year. COUNTY MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. 267 In i8g6, the Ontario Legislature passed the "Act to Reduce the Number of County Councillors." The commission of judges divided Simcoe County into nine groups of munlcipahties, or divisions, each division to elect two members or commissioners for a term of two years. The groups were the following : — ¦ I. Oro and Barrie. 2. Innisfil and West Gwihimbury, with Bradford. 3. Tecumseth and Adjala, with Beeton and Tottenham. 4. Essa and Tosorontio, with Ahiston. 5. Nottawasaga and Collingwood, with Creemore and Stayner. 6. Vespra and Sunnidale. 7. Flos, Tiny and Penetanguishene. 8. Medonte and Tay, with Midland. 9. Orillia Town and Townships, with Matchedash. The ten years of the Commissioners, viz., i8g7-igo6, inaugurated a period of several changes and new undertakings. It opened with the scrutiny of the County Treasurer's transactions, which were closely investigated by new auditors, and the result was that he absconded, after which the amount of his defaults become apparent. Then fol lowed soon afterward, the erection of a House of Refuge at Beeton, the Inauguration of steel bridges and the Introduction of a system of county roads. Revisions and Consolidations of County By-Laws. A committee was appointed at the June session, i860, for the con solidation of the County By-laws up to that time. At the October (i860) session, the council gave a number of the earlier by-laws final readings, as a result of the consolidation, and 300 copies of the By laws were printed separately in pamphlet form (82 pages) after the October session. Further revisions and consolidations of the By-laws were made in 1864 and 1873. A committee on Revision submitted a report in Octo ber, 1877, and the By-laws from 1864 to 1877 were ordered to be printed (400 copies). Another revision was made in 18S6, and still another was author ized in November, 188S, as a number of very important By-laws were omitted from the revision of 1886. The special committee in charge of the matter, submitted their report In June, i88g. They had 18 268 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. ehminated from the last edition the By-laws relating to the Muskoka District, as this was no longer a part of Simcoe, and they had pre pared a comprehensive index, giving the subject matter of each By law. 600 copies of this revision were printed. In i8g7, there was a further revision of the By-laws. In January of that year, the Council appointed for the purpose a special com mittee, which submitted in June a revision, of which 600 copies were printed. Financial Affairs. Some doubt arose as to the vahdity of the By-law (No. 157) passed by the County Council in 1867 for the consolidation of the County's debt, so by request the Ontario Legislature passed a statute to legalise the By-law, March 4, 1868, as 31 Vict, cap. 47. The By-law in ques tion provided for the extension of the debt over a period of 15 years. On the approach of the time for paying the new debentures, there was a repetition of the state of affairs that existed in 1867. A special session of the County Council was cahed to meet in September, 18S0, at which a committee was instructed to prepare a By-law. To meet the debentures for $69,000 falling due, January ist, 1S82, a Sinking Fund had been formed which had at one time accumulated to about $37,000, but former councils had allowed the Sinking Fund to be used from time to time in paying current expenses, and had not levied sufficient amounts, yearly. A delegation waited on the Attorney-Gen eral, who consented to the passage of a Bill empowering the County Council to issue new debentures for $69,000 without a vote of the people. Owing to the frequent misappropriation of sinking funds by muni cipal bodies, the County Counch, at its session in January, 1893, passed an important resolution. It provided that in future only such debentures of minor municipalities, the principal and interest of which are payable In annual instalments, should be guaranteed. Some Special and Miscellaneous Grants. The County Council formed a Patriotic Fund in June, 1855 for the relief of the families of soldiers and sailors engaged in the Crimean War, by means of which about ;^i,ooo was collected and forwarded for the purpose. 18a COUNTY MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. 269 At tbe time of the visit ot the Prince of Wales in iS6o, the decora tions at railway stations in the county cost the sum of $730. In October, 1862, the County Council granted $2,000 toward the rehef of the distressed in Lancashire, England, and other manufac turing districts of Great Britain and Ireland. Through no fauh of theirs, these destitute people of the "old country" had been thrown out of work through the cotton famine resulting from the War of the Rebellion then raging in the United States. This had been the sole cause of the distress pervading the manufacturing districts. With promptness and liberahty, the inhabitants of the towns of Barrie, Col lingwood and Orihia, as well as some other municipalities in the county, also contributed at that time to the relief of the suffering opera tives. January, 1867. $200 for aid to the General Hospital,. Toronto. June, 1867. $100 to the Ridgeway monument in Queen's Park, Toronto. January, 1868. $200 to reheve distress amongst Nova Scotia fishermen. The County Council, in November, 1868, granted $400 toward the distress of the inhabitants of the Red River Settlement. The Township of Oro likewise granted $200. The Ontario Provincial Treasurer, to whom the $400 was remitted, refused to receive the money, and the Warden was requested to confer with the Mayor of Toronto as to the disposal of it. In January, 1871, the Council authorized the County Clerk to pur chase 65 copies of Hogg's new map of the County, $434 being expended altogether in the purchase of maps. In January, 1880, the County Council granted $500 in aid of the suffering and destitution prevahing at the time in Ireland, the amount being forwarded to the Duchess of Marlborough, Dublin. After the severe bush fires of August and September, 1881, the County Council granted. In January, 1882, the sum of $500 toward the relief of the Muskoka sufferers, to be applied for the purchase of seed in the spring, or in any way that may be deemed most advisable. In January, 1884, $100 was granted toward the aid of the sufferers in the Humber Railway disaster. The sum of $150 was granted in January, 1886, to assist the suf ferers at a lumber camp lately destroyed by fire in Muskoka. 270 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Owing to tbe calamitous fire in September, 1887, by which the business portion of Gravenhurst was burned, its indebtedness to the County for the County rates was struck off. A severe fire having visited Alliston in 1891, the Council voted $1,000 toward relief, in June of that year. The House of Refuge and Industry. As long ago as 185 1 there was a proposal to estabhsh an indus trial farm for the benefit of the indigent of the county. In June of that year the County Council petitioned the Government for a free grant of land — the west half of lot No. 2, concession i, Oro, for an Industrial Farm and House of Industry ; but the Government had no power to grant more than 10 acres of land for any public purpose. However, the Crown Land Office offered to sell to the County the lot mentioned at 20s. (;^i) per acre, July 6, 1852. But as a Bill was before Parhament for the object of providing for such institutions, the County Council took no action at the following session in October. After a time, the Council decided to purchase the Oro farm offered by the Crown at 20s. per acre, and a patent was received for it dated October 23, 1856, for the sum of $400. A year later, (October, 1857), the Council resolved tb rent the farm to a tenant, and again in Jan uary, i860, the farm was leased for another term. In June, 1869, it transpired that various persons had occupied the lot for a number of years, but the County had not received any rent from them, and the farm itself had by this time been mostly stripped of the timber on it. So the County Council decided to sell it by auction. This plan not succeeding, the Council by private sale disposed of the piece of land (100 acres) to George McLean for $3,000, and passed a By-law to con firm the sale. Nearly eleven years passed before the question came up again in the County Council, new railways having engrossed their attention. In January, 1881, the Council appointed a special com mittee to obtain information concerning the probable cost of building and maintaining a House of Refuge. At that time Houses of Industry and Refuge were maintained in Elgin, Norfolk, Waterloo and Wel lington Counties, and one in York was under consideration. The Committee reported favorably in June, the cost in every instance being not half of what is paid locally on the system of a divided maintenance. The question slumbered for six years longer, until In June, 1887, a special committee of five was appointed to consider the erection of a [271] General and Marine Hospital, Collingwood. By courtesy ot The Bulletin. COUNTY MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.. 273 House of Refuge in connection with an Industrial Farm for poor and destitute people, the committee being authorized to enquire into the probable cost and maintenance of such an institution, and to report at the November session. They communicated with counties having such Institutions, and received replies from five. Without exception these spoke in the highest terms of such an institution. A smah committee was appointed in January, i8S8, to visit some of the counties where they had such in operation. By November this last committee had obtained information, and a further special committee of three was appointed to secure information as to the cost of 50 acres near some town or vihage. The special committee reported in January, 1889, that the cost of a building suitable for 100 inmates would be about $20,000, and the Council thereupon decided to take no further action for that time. Some further agitation took place from time to time, but it was spasmodic. A motion in the County Council in June, 1892, to have a committee or three or five members collect information on tbe sub ject was voted down by 7 to 3g. The advocates of the institution were irrepressible, however, and in June, i8g5, the Council authorized a vote of the ratepayers tO' be taken on the question in January, iSg6. The towns voted in favor of the project, but the rural municipalities against it. In some of the municipalities no vote was taken, but they were against the measure. With the coming into operation of the Act instahing commission ers. In January, i8g7, tbe Warden, by request, appointed a special committee to inspect three or four Houses of Refuge in the Province. These did so, and in June, the Council decided by a vote of 11 to 4 to undertake the erection of a House of Refuge. In November, i8g7, they decided to locate the institution in Beeton, and adopted the plans of Smith & Bird for the building. Aid to General Hospitals. The promoters of a Marine Hospital in Collingwood asked the County Council for a grant in November, 1885, but the Council laid the matter over to the June session, 18S6. The question did not come up again until November, 1887, when a motion to grant $500 to the Hospital was voted down, by 23 yeas to 21 nays, the measure requir ing a two-thirds vote. It was again voted down in the following Jan uary, but in June, 1888, $500 was granted to be paid to the hospital 274 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. on its completion. The General and Marine Hospital in Collingwood, built at this time, was the first institution ot its kind in the county. In January, 1891, the County Council granted $140 to the Col lingwood Hospital for annual maintenance, on condition that one patient should be maintained in the hospital for a year. Similar grants were made to the same institution on the same terms in subsequent years. Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie. Tire Council voted $70 to the Barrie Hospital in January, 1895, on condition that it would keep indigent patients for the council to the amount voted. Similar grants were made to the same institution in succeeding years. In June, 1897, $500 was granted toward the erec tion of the new hospital in Barrie, the Royal Victoria Hospital, and on its completion a further grant of $1,000 was made. Assistance was given more recently, to the extent of $1,000, to the combined hospital for Penetanguishene and Midland, and a similar amount to the new general hospital in Orillia. Chapter XXI. MILITARY AFFAIRS. The Six Hundred Men of Simcoe. Before passing to the subject of the County's Military affairs, a brief reference should be made to the part played in the Rebellion of 1837 by the inhabitants of Simcoe County. Some disaffection there undoubtedly vi^as, especially in the older or southerly portions. But by far the greater part of the county's population remained loyal to the Crown throughout the whole of the unfortunate troubles of that period. So pronounced were they in their professions of loyalty that they mustered in strong force and pushed to the front. This circum stance is mentioned in his Reminiscences (p. 128) by Samuel Thompson, who was an eye witness of the scenes : "The day after the battle (at Montgomery's) six hundred men of Simcoe, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Dewson, came march ing down Yonge Street, headed by Highland pipers playing the national pibroch. . . . With this party were brought in sixty prisoners, tied to a long rope, most of whom were afterwards released on parole. ' ' Another writer, whose name does not appear quoted In the same volume (p. 133), also relates the circumstance as It appeared to him : "A few days after some fifty or sixty rebel prisoners from about Sharon and Lloydtown, were marched down to the city, roped together, two and two in a long string ; and shortly afterwards a volunteer corps, commanded by Colonels Hill and Dewson, raised amongst the log-cabin settlers in the County of Simcoe, came down in sleighs to the city, where they did duty all winter. It was an extra ordinary fact that the.se poor settlers, living in contentment In their log cabins, with their potato patches around^ should turn out and put down a rebellion, originated among old settlers and wealthy farmers In the prosperous County of York." While this was the view taken by a loyal writer, quite a different account of the same event is given by J. C. Dent In his Upper Can adian Rebellion (Vol. II. , page 149), and is partly based upon the description of the march to Toronto in Lindsey 's life of W. L. Mac- Kenzle, II. , 100. The fohowing Is Mr. Dent's account: "Supporters of tbe Government conceived themselves to be fully justified In arresting any one who was known to have professed Radi- r 27.T 1 276 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. cal opinions. This spirit manifested itself in some exceptionally high handed proceedings. iSeveral hundred persons assembled at Brad ford, in the township of West Gwillimbury, and formed themselves into a sort of vigilance committee. Without any pretence of author ity, they intruded into the houses of suspected persons, seized all arms found on the premises, and, in not a few instances, made prison ers of the inmates. They then set out on ,a march to Toronto, pass ing through Davidtown, Holland Landing and Newmarket, and mak ing prisoners on the way of whomsoever they thought fit. Each prisoner, upon being seized, was pinioned by one arm to a strong central rope, and was thus paraded along the highway amid the hootings and jeerings of his captors. By the time Toronto was reached the number of seizures had footed up to between fifty and sixty. The unhappy prisoners presented an ignominious spectacle as they were marched down Yonge Street into the city. Many of them were wealthy, respectable yeomen, and some of them had had no part in the Insurrection. Upon being handed over to the authorities they were thrown indiscriminately into jail, where some of them were doomed to languish for months before being brought to trial." Amongst those who, besides Colonel Hill and Major Dewson, were in charge of volunteers from this district, were Colonel Edward G. O'Brien, of Shanty Bay, and Col. Arthur Carthew of Hawkestone and Newmarket. Col. O'Brien marched for Toronto, but before arriv ing at the city he received instructions from Sir F. B. Head, the Lieutenant-Governor, to take charge of the settlement near the vil lage of Bond Head, for there had been some disaffection in that dis trict. The men of Simcoe responded so promptly to the call that few able-bodied men were left in some of the settlements. Many of the unprotected women and children who remained at home were seized with a dread that they would be massacred by the Indians from the Coldwater Reserve, as they were giving the Government some trouble over the cessions of their lands about that time. The fear was natural, but eventually proved groundless. There were enough veterans among the militia to improve the raw recruits and turn them into good soldiers. The commanding officer of the main portion of the Simcoe Militia, Jeremiah Wilkes Dewson, was born at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, Eng., Feb. 6, 1794. At the outbreak of the disturbances of 1837 he was gazetted a Major of an Incorporated Regiment, and afterward held the rank of Colonel in the Simcoe Militia. He died in West Gwillimbury, Aug. 2g, 1852. MILITARY AFFAIRS. 277 Under Major Dewson were the following Captains with their several companies : — Hugh Stoddart, Rev. Wm. McKIhlcan, and Thomas Parker with the three West Gwillimbury companies. Captains Armstrong, Thomas Duff (Essa), Edmund S. Lahy (Vespra and Kempenfeldt Bay), Keating, Slee (Orilha), Thomas Craig (Medonte), and James Darling (Penetanguishene). The pay roll for 12 days' service of Capt. E. S. Lally's (7th) Com pany shows 38 men at is. 2d. a day, besides the officers. This muster of men for putting down the Rebellion in 1837 laid the foundation of the military organization in this county and was the forerunner of the 35th Regiment of the present time. In most of the pioneer settlements they afterward kept up Training Day once a year for a long time, for all the able-bodied men, each township having a muster of its own. But this system was defective and produced no good results. The Period of the Sedentary Militia. Prior to 1863, mihtary affairs were very different from what they afterward became. As an example of the military organization of former years, we may take the year 1857. The Sedentary Militia of Simcoe then consisted of eight battalions, thus : — I. Lieut.-Col. Elmes Steele, Medonte. 2. " James Manning, Tecumseth. 4. '' John Rose, Bradford. 5. " Thomas Lloyd, Barrie. 6. " John McWatt, Nottawasaga and Sunnidale. 7. " Benjamin Ross, Innisfil. 8. " George McManus, Mono. (The third was either unorganized, or had no commanding officer.) These were cahed Sedentary Battalions. Col. Edward W. Thom son of Toronto at this time had the command of the 5th Mhitary Dis trict in which the Simcoe Battahons were situated. Besides the above sedentary battahons, there were, in that year, also, the following rifle companies :¦ — Barrie, Capt. W. S. Durie. Lieut. H. Bernard. Ensign, Joseph Rogers. Cohingwood, Capt. A. R. Stephen. Lieut. W. D. Pollard. Ensign, G. Moberly. Surgeon, A. Francis. 278 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. (The rifle companies established throughout the Province were the forerunners of the volunteer movement of 1863.) The Militia Bih and the Volunteer Militia Bih, both of 1S63, were the outcome of the War of the Rebellion in the U. S. They were defensive measures and inaugurated a new period in mihtary matters. By the year 1S66 we find that the establishment of volunteer com panies had already been of the utmost importance to the whole Pro^ vince. The Period of the Volunteers. The men of Simcoe turned out at the Fenian Raid in 1866. At this threatening time, John Hogg organized a Cohingwood Battery of Garrison artillery, at the request of the Government, and was given the command. He was afterward gazetted Lieut.-Col. in 1877. The County Council provided for the wives and families of the volunteers of this county called out for active service in the Fenian Raid, by a grant of $2.00 for each wife or infirm adult, and 25 cents for children, per week, commencing with June ist, 1866. The towns of Collingwood and Barrie also contributed to the relief of the families of the volun teers. Thomas C. Scoble, Acting Brigade Major of the 5th Military Divi sion, U.C, Toronto, wrote Lieut.-Col. Thos. R. Ferguson, the warden, in November, 1866, on the necessity for Drill-sheds in con nection with the Volunteer system of the County. The Volunteers of Simcoe would require a Battalion shed as headquarters, and eight company sheds, for which the Government would make up about one- half of the cost. At this time the County Council raised by deben tures a loan of $5,000 for this purpose. At contract prices making an aggregate of $8,038, of which the Government granted $3,200, the Council erected Drill-sheds In various parts of the county. By June, 1867, the whole of the sheds were under way, and some of them about completed, as follows : — A Battalion shed at Barrie. Two company sheds at Cohingwood. One each at Cookstown, Orillia, Oro, Bowmore, (Duntroon^, Bradford, Bond Head, Rosemont. The Battalion shed erected in Barrie was completed by November, 1868, and was said to be one of the finest in the Province. It was built wholly of wood, those being the days of cheap lumber. During the summer, an accident bad occurred while the building was in course MILITARY AFFAIRS. 279 of erection. A storm sprang up, destroyed a large amount of material, kihed one of the men employed, and seriously injured the contractor, Wihiam Graham. The Council granted him $200 as a bonus. This drill- shed of the Battalion, at Barrie was burned down, August, 1886. The County Council granted 25 cents a day to each volunteer of the county on duty, in camp or garrison, in June, 1872, the aggregate grants for 1872 being $i,65g. Similar grants were made for several years afterward by the Council, and in 1S75 an additional $100 for rifle prizes. The latter became a fixed grant from 1886 to the pre sent time. '^^^.'^J^:^^^s Armory of the 35th Regiment. In the sixties Lieut.-Col. Alex. McKenzie was placed in com mand of the Simcoe Battalion. He died at Port Arthur, Ontario, May 18, 1882, in the discharge of his duty as an officer of the Northwest Mounted Police, and the Battalion erected a monument over his grave In the Union Cemetery at Barrie. He was succeeded in the command by Lieut.-Col. Wm. E. O'Brien, who commanded the York and Simcoe Battalion in the Northwest Rebellion of 1S85. In this Rebellion the volunteers of the "Simcoe Foresters" distinguished themselves by their soldierly conduct, and on their return home, the County Council gave them a reception and entertained them in a manner fitting such an occasion. The 12th Batallion, County York, accompanying the 280 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. 35th, were also entertained with the County Battahon. Lieut.-Col. Richard Tyrwhitt who had the command of the York contingent in the Northwest service, died June 22, igoo. The Dominion Government, in 1887, refunded $1,024.32 to this County for kit supplies to the men of the 35th while in the Northwest, the County Council having made a request for the refund. And on receiving it, the Council contributed $500 to the erection of a head quarters armory at Barrie, the Town of Barrie granted $500, and the Dominion Government $1,000. The new armory was required to replace the Battalion drill shed burned in the preceding autumn. As showing the trend of opinion in making provision for military supplies after tbe Northwest Rebellion, it is worthy of note that the apphcation to the County Council, in November, 1890, for a grant of money to assist in procuring new helmets for the 35th Battahon resulted in no action by the Council except to memorialize the Dominion Government in the matter, as the Council thought it was the duty of the Dominion Government to provide the articles. This view of the County's share of responsibility had become current after the North west Rebellion. The Militia Department, however, having refused to supply the helmets, the Council, in June, 1891, did so at a cost of $391. The successors of Lieut.-Col. O'Brien in the command of the 35th have been the following : — Lieut.-Col. James Ward. Lieut.-Col. John B. McPhee. Lieut.-Col. George W. Bruce, (August, 1907). In 1868, the ladies of the county presented the 35th Regiment with a set of flags — the Queen's Colors and the Regimental Colors. Forty-one years later (in igog) the County Council gave the Regiment the magnificent colors now in use, which are worthy of the foremost place the 35th has always held amongst the rural regiments of Canada. A brief historical sketch of the 3Sth, by Lieut.-Col. Ward, appeared in the Barrie Gazette of January 4, iSgg, (Souvenir Number, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the newspaper). Chapter XXII. THE SCHOOLS. The Pioneer Schools of the Earliest Period. Prior to the year 1843, which we may regard as the close of the Pioneer period and the time of the inauguration of the second period in the history of the schools of the county (the District Council estab hshed in that year having assumed the control of school matters), about fifty common schools were in operation. But many of these were kept open for only part of the year, and even then with the greatest difficulty as the settlers were too poor to afford education for their children. The number of schools in the various townships in 1843 were approximately the following : — West Gwillimbury 6 Tecumseth 10 Adjala 3 Innisfil ; ¦ • 5 Essa S Oro 6 Orihia . : ¦ ¦ • 2 Medonte and Flos 3 Tiny 3 Vespra 2 Sunnidale ^ Mulmur 3 50 In school affairs, there was great activity in the eariy forties, owing to the liberal aid to schools given by the School Act of 1841. The number increased to 83 schools by the year 1847. About the year 1823 the "Scotch settlers" of West Gwihimbury united to secure instruction for their children, and ibuilt a log cabin school house on lot 8, con. 6, which also served as a place of worship. Shortly after its erection, Lieut. -Governor Sir Peregrine Maitland [281] 282 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. visited West Gwillimbury and this first school house there, and some of the young scholars never forgot the Governor's visit, and his kind words to them. The first teacher was Wm. Moffatt, but in the spring ot 1826 they obtained' the services of John Carruthers, a tall spare man, who had arrived from Scotland the previous summer. His salary as teacher was paid directly by the parents of the pupils, there being then no provision by the Government for the regulation of public schools. Among those who received their first Instruction in the school from Carruthers may be mentioned Thomas D. McConkey, afterwards Sheriff of the County. Mr. Carruthers taught for two or three seasons at this place, and afterward became a travehing catechist of the Presby terian Church. Susan Cassidy was the first teacher at Bradford, where she began to teach in 1837 at the age of 14. She was born in Paris, France, could use the French language, and now lives at an advanced age near Boston, Mass., where she still teaches French. She taught at Bradford during parts of 1837 and 1838, but as she was young and could not manage the partly grown boys ¦with unruly dispositions, she gave up this position and went to Tecumseth where she also taught. Subsequently she became the wife of another teacher named Thomas O'Flynn, or Flynn, and both taught school. In 184S they were teaching in Tecumseth, in the school near Jared Irwin's, two miles south of Pen- vllle. Thomas Flynn died in 1888 or about that time. Susan Flynn contributed some reminiscences of her pioneer teaching to the Docu mentary History of Education in Upper Canada, (Vol. 4, p. 151). John Dissett taught the Bradford school after Susan Cassidy. It Is said that he would often go to sleep, and during such periods the children would hold high carnival in the school room. After Mr. Dissett's term, George Douglas taught the school in Bradford. About the year 1832, John Garbutt taught the first school on the Sth line of West Gwillimbury (Belfry's schoolhouse), and after him Eli Hough taught It. James Mackay, who contributed some reminiscences to the 4th volume of the Documentary History of Education In Upper Canada, p. 151, began to teach in May, 1837, In the "Scotch Settlement." He also taught in Tecumseth and again in 1S40 or 1841 in A^'¦est Gwillim bury, two miles southeast of Bond Head. In 1848 and 1849 he taug'ht in Bradford, his name being erroneously printed as "Murray" in Vol. THE SCHOOLS. 283 8 of the Documentary History, which contains his reminiscences of the Bradford school. Patience Varcoe was one of the first female teachers in this county, having come from England with her parents in 1842 and settled in West Gwihimbury in the fohowing year. She afterward became the wife of a Mr. Courtney of Lloydtown. Mrs. Courtney gave some reminiscences of her early school-teaching experiences in West Gwihimbury, Innisfil and Tecumseth, from 1S43 onward. In the Docu mentary History, Vol. 6, p. 306. About the year 1834 or 1835, John Macaulay was the first teacher at Fisher's Corner, on the gth line of West Gwillimbury, (lot 5). Joseph Booth succeeded him at this school. Up to the year 1843, six schools had been established in West Gwihimbury, so far as can be ascertained, and in August of that year the District Council passed a By-law to raise taxes for building five more school houses in the township, and another in Adjala. Thomas Doyle was the first teacher at Mount Pleasant in West Gwillimbury on the establishment of a school there in 1844, and remained a year or two longer as teacher at the place. By the year 1843 ten schools were in operation in the Township of Tecumseth, and the District Council made provision in February, 1844, for the erection of five others. The first schools in Tecumseth were in the southeast quarter of the township, where the earhest settlements were made. In the fur ther parts of the township, which, about the year 1836, were stih on the outskirts of the settlements, one of the first schools was on lot 10, con. 5, and there is a school at the place to this day. In early years it was known as Martin's school. About the year 1S45, Henry King was the first teacher at Ham- mill's schoolhouse, two miles west of Beeton of the present day. Mr. King's son helped him with the teaching, while here. In the same school, during the early years, other teachers were Pywell, Sigsworth, McMahon, and O'Leary. In Adjala, one of the most prominent of the pioneer teachers was Patrick Downey. He taught in that township in 1842, or earlier, and also In 1843. Later (in 1845) ^^ began teaching in Eramosa, Welling ton County, and contributed some of his experiences of the pioneer days to Volume 5 of tbe Documentary History of Education. 19 284 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. In the same township (Adjala) James Magee taught six months in 1S42, in a school on lot 5, con. 3, but the school commissioners did not pay him his share of the Government grant. So he asked the Dis trict Council to interfere in his behalf. The first school in Innisfil, and the one to which the "Dalhousie" settlers sent their children, was erected at Gimby's Corners (Churchhl), in 1S37 or 183S. One Harrison was tbe first teacher there, and was employed directly by tbe people, who clubbed together for the purpose. To this school came children from Croxon's Corners, Gilford, and indeed from every place west and east, north and south, within a radius of ten miles. This was tbe first and only school in this part of Innisfil for some years. We have been enabled to obtain the family names of those who attended it ; the list is made up of almost ah those families who were resident in the southern part of Innisfil at the time : Kettle, O'Donneh (Gilford), Clement, Willson, Ross, Scott, Rogerson, Mc Lean, Cripps, Lennox, Hindle, Ritchie, Gimby, Patterson, Todd, Fisher, Garbutt (from the Hollows of West Gwillimbury), Gartley, Wallace, Moore. Wm. Booth was the first teacher at Stroud in the thirties, and was fallowed by Samuel Ross. ' The first school in Essa was held in a log house that was erected on lot I, con. 10, early In the thirties to serve as an Orange Lodge. The first teacher here, or at least the first of which any account has reached the writer, was Andrew Coleman, an old man who taught the children of the pioneers for a time. (He was related to the family of this name on the Innisfil side.) A Mr. Bird also taught them, but only for a few months, as he grew cross, (so the story goes), and they had to put him out of the position in which he had practised his flogging powers too extensively. In the same building James Johns ton also taught for a time, and then went to the Lewis school in the same neighborhood, about the year 1841. Mr. Johnston was a good pensman, and at a later time went to Owen Sound or its vicinity, where his family and descendants prospered. It was about the same time that a union school was erected and called Ross' school. It was on the south side of the broken front in Tecumseth, but did service for the settlers along the townline in both townships. Another early teacher here was a Mr. Macaulay. 19a THE SCHOOLS. 28.5 Oa..the farm of D. Lewis, lot 3, con. 11, a mile north of Cooks town, a school was established at an early date. It is said that a Mr. McMahon was the first teacher here. There were also, at an early date. In the same school, Crawford M. Maxwell (for two or three years) and a Mr. Carter. After these, Mr. Johnston, mentioned above, also taught the school for a time. The school was afterward moved to Cookstown. On the Penetanguishene Road north of Kempenfeldt there were some of the earliest schools in the County. A log schoolhouse was built at Crownhill (lot No. 10), on the Oro side, before the Rebelhon of 1837, and Wihiam Crae was the first teacher in it. He was succeeded in 1S42 by Edward Luck who taught the school continuously for 22 years. Further north, at Dalston, Charles Debenham was the first teacher, also at an early time, and still further on, Thomas Williams, afterward a minister and missionary of the Methodist Church, taught school at Craighurst. Frederick Gatesman taught in the common school at Barrie in 1S42 and probably at an earlier time, after which he went to England. The Government granted land for the erection of school houses, and for school purposes, generally, in the Towns of Barrie, Orillia, and Penetanguishene. In fact, in nearly, if not quite, ah of the three, at the times of the surveys of the original town plots, sites for schools were reserved. At Orillia, during this pioneer period, there were a few teachers, mostly sent by the Methodist Church, Including Thomas Wihiams, besides Andrew Moffatt and his wife. In the western parts of the county, Gilbert Macaulay taught early in the forties at Sunnidale Corners, and George Sneath at Crowe's Corners. At Duntroon Peter Ferguson and Malcolm Livingstone were the first teachers about the same period, the first school in Not tawasaga having been in operation In 1843 or earlier. The Schools Under the District Council (1843-50). The Upper Canada Common School Act of 1S43 created the office of Township Superintendent of Schools, an oflficer of this kind taking the place of the former school commissioners in each township. The 286 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. District Council of Simcoe at the February session of 1844, appointed a Superintendent for each township, the following being the list, so far as the writer has been able to ascertain them : — Adjala Michael Ryan. West Gwilhmbury Rev. Wm. Eraser. Innisfil Lewis B. Algeo. Mono George McManus. Nottawasaga Calvin Throope. Orillia Rev. J. Maclntyre. Oro Edward Ryall. Sunnidale Donald Shaw. Tay James Keating. Tecumseth Rev. F. L. Osier. Tiny Wm. Simpson. Vespra Patrick Smith. At the same session of the District Council (February, 1844) the Council nominated the Rev. S. B. Ardagh as the County Superin tendent of Education, in accordance with the new School Act. Owing to the increased duties placed upon the County Superintendent under an amended Common School Act, requiring a larger share of his time than he could spare, the Rev. S. B. Ardagh tendered his resignation in October, 1846, to take effect at the close of the year. The Council accepted his resignation and appointed Henry A. Clifford of Oro to the office. The increased duties referred to consisted in the change by which the school tax was to be paid to the District Superintendent instead of the Township Superintendents. Mr. Clifford's salarj' as District Superintendent was only ;^7o a year. He traversed the district on horseback and gave interesting reports of the condition of the schools, some of his reports having been printed. In 1S47, he found there were, in Simcoe District, 83 common schools, taught by 7g male and only 4 female teachers. In this particular, it is worthy of note that nowadays female teachers preponderate over male teachers. There were also 14 Sunday Schools in operation. As a rule, teachers of good attainments could not be obtained for the mere pittance which trustees had it in their power to offer them. Mr. Clifford observes, in 1848, that the teachers' pay was frequently less than that paid to a common day laborer. Under the School Act of i84g, township superintendents resumed the place they had formerly held, and Henry A. Clifford laid down his Rev. S. B.' Ardagh, the First County School Inspector. 1844-6. [287] THE SCHOOLS. 289 office, March i, 1850. It was a period of frequent changes in school affairs, some of the changes not being always for the best. Before the use of the bahot at elections, in the days when everybody knew how everybody else voted, there were many instances when teachers lost their positions because they did not vote according to the views of their employers. The Common Schools of Later Years. The Common School Law of 1850 authorized the grammar school trustees and local superintendents to constitute a county board of Pub lic Instruction, to examine and give certificates of qualification to teachers of the common schools. Hitherto, both district and township superintendents had given certificates of qualification to teachers, and the power of granting these did not desirably rest in the hands of a single individual. Hence the need for the establishment of the county board. The first meeting recorded of the Simcoe County Board of Public Instruction was held May 2g, 1851, His Honor Judge Jas. R. Gowan being the chairman. In January, 1852, the County Council considered the question of forming a second Board of Public Instruction, viz., for South Simcoe, which hitherto had been part of the territory of the first Board, but did not then take any steps to form a new Board. It registered a protest, however, against having no power of control over the outlay of the existing board, whose expenses they were called upon to pay. In November, 1S53, Rev. F. L. Osier petitioned the County Council for a Board of Instruction at Bond Head, where a grammar school was established about the same time. The Council deferred action upon the petition unth the next session. A new law came into opera tion in January, 1854, giving the County Council power to appoint the trustees of the county grammar schools. This altered the circum stances, so the Counch at their January session established a Board of Public Instruction at Bond Head, composed of the eight townships In the south half of the county as It was then constituted. One of the changes made by the Common School Act of 1846 (9 Vict, chap. 20) was to abolish the oflfice of Township Superintendent. But the Act of 1849, as it has been already stated, restored these to office for more than 21 years' longer. The names of the Township Superintendents appointed by the County Council for the various years in that period were : — 290 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Adjala. James Hart, 1851, June, 1855-7; Patrick Kelly, 1852-5; Rev. F. X. Pourret, 1858; Rev. Michael Shea, 1859-60; Rev. J. J. Synnott, June, 1860-6; Rev. P. Conway, June, 1866; Rev. J. Mitchell, 1S67-8; Rev. R. A. O'Connor, i86g-7o; Rev. T. J. Sullivan, 1871. Essa and Tosorontio. Thomas Drury, 1851-4. Essa. Rev. Wm. Eraser, 1S55-6; J. W. Norris, M.D., 1857; Rob't. T. Banting, 1S58-71. Flos. Geo. McKay, 1855; Rev. S. Browneh, 1S56; Henry A. Chfford, 1857; Wihiam Harvey, 1S58-71. ^^'est Gwihmbury. Rev. Wm. Eraser, 1S51-71. Innisfil. Rev. Thomas Lowry, 1851-2; Rev. G. Nugent, 1853-4; Rev. S. B. Ardagh, 1S55-6; J. W. Norris, M.D. 1857; Rev. Edward Morgan, 1858; Robert Cox, i85g; John Chantler, i860; Rev. Thos. D. Pearson, 1861-2; Rev. Jacob Poole, June, 1862-71. Medonte, Tiny and Tay. Henry A. Clifford, 185 1-2. Medonte. Henry A. Clifford, 1853-g; James Shaw, 1860-4; Geo. Bush, 1865-7; Rev. R. H. Harris, 1S68-9 and 1S71 ; Rev. Wm. John ston, 1S70. Mono. Abraham Martin, 1851-2 ; Rev. John Fletcher, 1853-6; Rev. Jacob Vanhnge, 1857-8; Moses Harshaw, 1S59-62 ; Rev. John Corbett, 1863 ; Rev. Alex. Henderson, 1864-5 ! R^v. Richard Cleary, i866-g; Rev. W. M. Christie, 1S70-1. Mulmur. John Little, 1851; Rev. John Fletcher, 1852-6; Rev. Jacob X'anhnge, 1857-S; John Cooper, 1859-60; Rev. Archibald Col- quhoun, 1861-6, and 1869, 1S70-1 ; Rev. John McCleary, 1867-8. Morrison and Muskoka. Jas. Bahey, sr. , 1865; Jas. Bailey, jr., 1866-S. Morrison. Jas. Bailey, 1869; Joseph \A'asdeh, 1870-1. Muskoka. Wm. H. Taylor, 1869-70; Rev. Walter Wright, 1S71. Monck. Wm. H. Taylor, 1S70-1. Nottawasaga and Osprey. John Ferguson, 1S51. Nottawasaga. Andrew Jardlne, 1852-6; Rev. John Campbeh, 1857; G. I. Bolster, 1858-g; Wm. Reed, i860; Rev. John Campbeh, June, 1S60-61; Angus Beh, 1S62-3 ; Rev. Jas. Greenfield, 1S64-7; Rev. S. Briggs, 1868; Geo. C. McManus, M.D. i86g-7i. Orihia. Rev. Arl Raymond, 1S51 ; Rev. John Gray, June, 1851-8; Rev. T. Bolton Read, i85g-62; Dr. Geo. H. Corbett, October, 1862; Rev. Alex. Stewart, 1863-71. THE SCHOOLS. 291 Oro. Duncan Clark, 1851; Rev. John Gray, iS52-g; Rev. James Stewart, August ist, 1S59-62 ; Rev. John Gray, June, 1862-4; Rev. Jas. Ferguson, 1865-71. Tay and Tiny. Wm. Simpson, 1853-67; George Mitcheh, June, 1867-8; Rev. S. L. Atherton, June, 1868; Rev. John Flood, i86g. Tay. John Irving, 1870-1. Tiny. Rev. John Flood, 1 870-1. Tecumseth. Rev. F. L. Osier, 1851-6; Rev. Wm. Fraser, 1S57-8; Rev. S. S. Strong, i85g-6o ; Rev. Wm. Fraser, 1861-2 ; Rev. A. J. Fiddler, 1863-8; Rev. John Davidson, 1869-71. Tosorontio. Rev. John Fletcher, 1855-6; J. W. Norris, M.D., 1857; Rev. J. Vanhnge, 1858-9; John Anderson, i860; Wm. Wright, 1861-2 ; Rev. Alex. McClennan, 1863-g; Rev. Jas. Mattheson, 1S70-1. Vespra, Flos and Sunnidale. Patrick A. Smith, 185 1 ; Rev. Thos. Lowry, June, 1S51-2; Rev. G. Nugent, 1853-4. Vespra and Sunnidale. Rev. John Douse, 1855 ; Rev. S. B. Ardagh, 1856; Henry A. Clifford, 1857; Ephraim Dean, 1858; George Lane, i85g. Sunnidale. Wm. Gladstone, i860; Ephraim Dean, 1861-3, and 1865; Rev. John Campbell, 1864; Rev. Jas. Greenfield, Nov., 1S64, and June 1865-7; Alex. Heasllp, 1868-71. Vespra. George Lane, i860; George Sneath, 1851-71. Barrie. Rev. John Douse, 1S54-6. Watt and Cardwell. Christopher Martin, 1871. St. Vincent, Euphrasia and Collingwood Townships. Jason Bur- chell, 1851. Artemesia. Charles Draper, 1851. In more than half of the townships throughout this county, as elsewhere, the local superintendents were clergymen of some Protestant denomination. This gave umbrage to Roman Catholics, and was one of the chief reasons for the Separate School clauses in the Act of 1S53. By the year i85g, there were Separate Schools established in Nottawasaga, Orihia, Vespra and Barrie, and the By-law in that year to raise the levy throughout the county for school purposes specifies the schools of this kind for the first time. Thomas R. Ferguson, M.P. for South Simcoe, introduced a Bih into the House of Assembly to repeal the Separate Schools Act or clauses, March 30, i860. But his Bhl was withdrawn, May 18, and he reintroduced it in 1S61, but with the same results. 292 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The Ninth Volume of the Documentary History of Education contains an account of the early school buildings and accommodation by the Rev. John Gray, D.D., who was School Inspector for Oro and Orillia for several years. It was part of a paper he prepared for the East Simcoe Teachers' Association in iSg2. The County Council, in June, i86g, offered some opposition to the proposal made by the Rev. Dr. Egerton Ryerson, the Chief Superin tendent of Education, to abolish the office of Local or Township Superintendent and appoint County Superintendents. The system of having clergymen inspect the common schools had already produced separate schools and other unfortunate results, and it was deemed to be time for a change. Dr. Ryerson attended a convention In Barrie in January, i86g, and the County Council then in session also attended the same convention, with a view to arriving at an agreement, but this did not allay their opposition or convince them of the need of a change. The Act passed the Ontario Legislature in due course, abolishing the Township Superintendents and introducing a new order of affairs. In June, 1871, the Council appointed, in compliance with the Act, the Rev. V'\'illiam McKee, inspector of schools for the South Riding of the County, and James C. Morgan, inspector for the North Riding. In the following January the Council protested because the new school law Increased the expenses of Inspection and the Board of Examiners. Also because there was a higher standard required for certificates than under the old Board, with the prospective result (in the opinion of the Council) that many schools would be closed. Their fears ultimately proved to be groundless. By the late school changes, a Board of Examiners for the County took the place of the Boards of Public Instruction, North and South. In January, 1876, the County Council set apart tbe District of Muskoka and Parry Sound as a distinct school inspectorate, and appointed tbe Rev. A. Findlay as Inspector, but it would appear that the Education Department did not consent to the change, and no pay ment to the Rev. Mr. Findlay appears in the County records. Hitherto the schools of the new districts had been in the Inspectorate of North Simcoe. In October, 1878, the Counch requested the Education Department to set apart Muskoka District for Inspectoral purposes, and followed up the request in the fohowing January by appointing the Rev. Thos. McKee, school Inspector for the proposed inspectorate, of the Muskoka District. Eariy in the ensuing March, tbe Minister of Education signified his concurrence in the arrangement, and the THE SCHOOLS. 293 Rev. Thos. McKee entered upon his duties. Owing to the diflficultles the people of Muskoka townships had to contend with, they could keep the schools in some sections open only one-half of the year. In 1877, Model Schools were estabhshed in Barrie and Bradford for training school teachers, one in each of the two ridings of the county. At its October session, the County Council granted $100 to each for yearly maintenance. Rev. William McKee resigned his position as 'Public School Inspector for South Simcoe, and the County Council appointed Rev. Thomas McKee as his successor, in June, 1881. Again, in 1887, the Council, finding the schools of North Simcoe required a third inspector, set apart East Simcoe as a distinct inspectorate, and in November appointed Isaac Day to fill the position. In igo6, James C. Morgan having resigned as Public School Inspector for North Simcoe, the Council appointed "G. K. Mills to succeed him. The Public School Act of 1896 having authorized Continuation Classes for pupils who passed the entrance and public school leaving examinations, and certain schools In the county having taken advan tage of the provision, the County Council granted, in November of that year, $2.50 per capita tO' each school for the half year ending December 31, iSg6. This resulted in considerable outlay on account of the Continuation Classes which were established in several parts of the county which had hitherto been unprovided witb fachitles for advanced school training. Grammar Schools, High Schools and Collegiate Institutes. The history of the advanced schools of the county is not without an Interest of its own. On August 3, 1843, the Governor-General, Sir Charles Metcalfe, issued a commission appointing trustees for a District Grammar School, (Simcoe being then called a District instead of a County). And the District Council, on August g, set apart the large room in the lower storey of the east wing of the Court House at Barrie for the use of the Grammar School, to be occupied until suit able buildings could be provided. His Honor Judge Ardagh supplied a sketch of the early grammar school for the fifth volume of the Docu mentary History of Education (p. 283). The Government granted nine lots in Barrie for a school house and master's residence. Frederick Gore, the head master of the Grammar School, received the patents for three lots (Nos. 24, 25, 26, 294 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. making a total of f acres) on the north side of Blake Street, August 20, 1845, also No. 12 on the south side of Collingwood Street, and others at later times. But the undertaking of the erection of new buildings proceeded slowly. By March 20 of the same year (1845) the attendance of pupils at the Grammar School, which was the only one in the county, at that time receiving government grants, had reached 43, according to the report for that year. In October, 1848, the Grammar School was still carried on in the Court House, although not without a growing dissatisfaction at the slowness of the comple tion of the new building, on the part of the District Council. The room in the Court House was in use for the Grammar School until i84g, the trustees having appealed to the District Council for a grant of money to enable them to finish the school house. In the later fifties, Mr. Gore was succeeded as Head Master by the Rev. W. F. Checkley. In June, i85g, the above institution, which at this time was known as the Senior Grammar School, needed enlargement and Improvement. When built, it was calculated for only 30 pupils, but as the attendance had Increased to 66 daily, further accommodation was required. The members of the County Council made a personal inspection of the school and granted $700 for the extension of the building. At a later time (about the year 1868) the name was changed to "High .School," and in 18S0 it became a Collegiate Institute, when the old building was abandoned for the one now in use. There was a Grammar School at Bond Head In January, 1854, it having been built and opened at an earlier date, viz., 1852; but this Is the first time it appears in the county records, the County Council at that time having appointed trustees for the institution. It would appear that It did not flourish. In the Documentary History of Education, (Volume 14, p. 6g), Dr. Egerton Ryerson's letters give some facts in regard to this Grammar School at Bond Head. It was open six weeks In 1856, but vacant the first half of 1857 and the aver age attendance was only six in the latter half of the last named year ; so that Common and Grammar Schools at Bond Head were united into one school. Rev. F. L. Osier, who was the moving spirit of the institution, was removed to Ancaster, Ontario, the same year (1857), and the school languished for a while afterward. In i85g, the school and even the school house, at Bond Head, were moved to Bradford, which had petitioned the Council for a grammar school two years before this time (viz., in June, 1857), but the Council had been prevented from establishing one at Bradford owing to the existence of the one at Collegiate Institute, Collingwood. By courtesy of " The Collingwood Bulletin.' THE SCHOOLS. 297 Bond Head. Even in January, 1857, the Finance Committee of the County Council had disapproved very much of the former manage ment of the Bond Head Grammar School, and more especially of that of the year 1856, it having been notorious that the school had been vacant for the greater part of the year. Bradford raised $2,000 by debentures for enlarging and improv ing the High School in January, iSgi, but It was soon afterward destroyed by fire. Early in i8g2, the citizens raised a further sum of $3,000 for rebuilding the institution, which is now weh equipped and furnished. Collingwood petitioned the County Council in June, 1857, for a Grammar School, and the Council established one in accordance with the request, and passed a By-law for that purpose, on June 20. The first Principal of the School was the Rev. John Langtry, who taught the first classes in his own house. Another teacher in Cohingwood was Frederick Gore, who had formerly taught the Grammar School in Barrie, had afterward gone to Collingwood, where, about 1863, he taught for some three years. Rev. Robert Rodgers became the Prin cipal in 1865, or earlier. In Mr. Gore's time, the school was kept in a building on Front Street, and later, in Mr. Rodger's term, in tbe Council Hall. W. Wihiams, B.A. , became the Principal in 1873, and for twenty-eight years and a half held the position, retiring in August, igoi, when G. K. Mills, B.A. , was appointed. During the long period of Mr. Williams' Principalship, the institution developed rapidly. A brick building was erected in 1874, and an addition was made to it in iS7g, making a well-equipped building. With the beginning of 1S79 it became a Collegiate Institute, the first to receive the name in this county. In January, 1876, the County Counch passed a By-law to estab lish a High School in the Town of Orillia, the first trustees of which were : — Rev. A. Stewart, Rev. John Gray, H. S. Scadding, Melville Miller, D. J. Beaton, and George J. Booth. In June, 1895, the County Council fixed by By-law, the fees to be paid by puphs attending the several High Schools and Collegiate Institutes at $1 per month while in attendance. In more recent years, high schools were established in Midland and Penetanguishene. Chapter XXIII. THE EARLY PRESS. Another teaching force — the Press — next deserves attention ; and although it is not under the care of officials, none the less it is all Important to the people, and should not be omitted. Few persons will dispute that tbe Press of the county has exerted a powerful influence on its material condition. Among the earliest persons of distinction in tbis county to play an important part in Canadian journalism was Hugh Scoble. Coming from the north of Scotland as an emigrant about 1834, he settled on a farm half a mile west of Bradford. But, not finding Canadian forest life congenial to his tastes, he soon changed his abode to Toronto, where he estabhshed the British Colonist, retaining, however, for several years after this, his West Gwillimbury farm. The greater part of the official printing of the District of Simcoe [i.e., for the Court of Quarter Sessions, and for the District Council) was done by Mr. Scoble from 1S44 to 1847. The publishing house which he founded in Toronto at that early date is now the well-known firm of Copp, Clark & Co. Although Simcoe County can thus claim an early adventurer in Canadian Journalism it was not till August 6th, 1847, that the county produced a newspaper of its own. The first journal published north of Toronto was issued in Barrie on that date under the proprietorship and editorial management of Thomas Fox Davies. Mr. Davies' partner was Wm. R. Robertson, but the partnership was discontinued after three months, and Mr. Davies assumed control. This pioneer repre sentative of the press was cahed the Magnet. At first it was neutral in politics, but afterward gave a support to the Baldwin Reform party. Up to this time great inconvenience had been experienced by the Dis trict officials and the business men, owing to the want of a local press, each one feeling that the settlement of this northern country was retarded thereby. Efforts were made to induce some enterprising "typo" to locate in the county town and supply the want; but with out a guarantee of 500 subscribers to start with, none would risk his time and means in a district so sparsely settled, so little known, and so unfavorably spoken of by those on the frontier. The Magnet, soon after it was established, did good service in advocating the first rail- [ 298 ] Thomas Fox Davies, the Pioneer Printer and Publisher. By courtesy of the " Barrie Examiner.' 20 [299] 20a THE EARLY PRESS. 301 way through the county, as It has already been shown in the Chapter on the Northern Railway, and in other ways it promoted the develop ment of the new district. In 1852 Mr. Davies changed the name of his paper to the Northern Advance, and under this name it continues to flourish at the present day. Two years later (In 1854) Richard J. Oliver became proprietor of the Advance plant, and added thereto a book bindery. He owned it for several years, until he was appointed locating agent for the free grant lands in Muskoka. To offset the Reform influence of the Magnet, a Conservative journal, called the Herald was established in 185 1 by the Hon. James Patton in conjunction with Dr. Pass, Hewett Bernard, Capt. E. A. Walker, and others. After an existence of three or four years the Herald expired, leaving the Advance alone in the field. But the Con servative party soon became tired of its milk and water policy, and after the Herald had been dead for about a year, the plant of the Herald expired, leaving the Advance alone In the field. But the Con- stock company consisting of D'Arcy Boulton, D'AIton McCarthy, sr.. Dr. Pass, Daniel Beh, H. R. A. Boys, his Honor Judge Boys, and others. This company established in 1857 a new paper, — The Spirit of the Age, which was placed under the management of Mr. Davies, who conducted it in the Interests of out-and-out Conservatism and Orangeism. After an existence of about five years. The Spirit of the Age expired. During the two last years of its issue it was the prop erty and under the control of Messrs. Hunt & Parks, of Toronto. The person, who has been referred to so frequently in the forego ing remarks, viz., Thomas Fox Davies, the pioneer publisher of this county, and in fact, one of the pioneers of Provincial journalism in Ontario, was born in the City of Manchester, Eng., in September, iSig, and began his career as a printer at the age of fifteen in the oflfice of the Manchester and S'alford Advertiser. In 1837, when the Advertiser added to its plant the first cylinder or power press out of London, Mr. Davies, then a young man, was appointed its first press man. After the close of his seven years' apprenticeship, he sailed to America, landing in. New York, Sept g, 1843. He spent a short period in New Orleans and Cincinnati, afterward settling in Toronto, where he operated the first cylinder press in Canada for Peter Brown of the Globe, in the year 1845. A sketch appeared In the Toronto Globe, Feb. 9, 1901, giving the career of the veteran printer, Mr. Davies, whose death occurred Nov. 10, igo3, at the age of 84 years. 302 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. William Manley Nicholson established the Barrie Examiner In February, 1864. Mann & Richardson established the Northern Gazette in 1868, and soon afterward it became the property of Nathaniel King. At Bradford, R. Goldie started a newspaper cahed the Bradford Chronicle about the time of the opening of the Northern Railway in 1853. It lived for five or six years. Wihiam Donaldson started another newspaper at Bradford in 1855, called the Times, a Liberal journal, which had an existence of about ten years. In 1866, Porter & Broughton purchased the plant of the defunct Times and started the South Simcoe News, which one of the firm, H. S. Broughton, con ducted for more than a quarter of a century, and then sold it to Edmund Garrett of the Witness, whose oflfice and plant had been completely destroyed in tbe fire that visited Bradford early In 1892. The last number of the News appeared on April 7, 1892. At Collingwood, John Hogg started the Enterprise in the begin ning of January, 1S57. He retained some connection with the news paper throughout his whole life, and took a prominent part In the public affairs of the town and county, as It has been shown in another chapter. At a later time, George Foreman started a paper called the Review, but it did not exist for any length of time. David Robson started the Bulletin In 1871, whicb at a later time was purchased by \^^m. \\'illiams. George P. Hughes started at Keenansvihe in 1865 the Simcoe Observer, and after the first three years called it the Sentinel. He moved the plant to Tottenham in 1882, where it has since been issued. The first newspaper published in Orillia was the Times, which made its appearance. May 2, 1867, under the cumbersome title of "The Orillia Expositor and North Simcoe Journal of the Times," or briefly, the Expositor, as it was called at first. To establish this news paper, C. Blackett Robinson, then proprietor of the Lindsay Post, sent Peter Murray, and provided him with a press and plant, for warded by waggon along the Atherley Road. After 26 years' connec tion with the Times, Mr. Murray sold it to the present proprietor, H. T. Blackstone, in the beginning of Sept. 1893. About 1872, Robert Ramsay had a newspaper at Orillia for a while, called the Northern Light. The Orillia Packet was established in 1870 by W. Hale, and is still pubhshed by Hale Brothers. John Curran started the Orillia News-Letter in 18S3. THE EARLY PRESS. 303 At Alliston, M. C. McCarthy established the Star about the year 1 87 1, and E. A. Newton, the Herald, at a later period. Paul H. Stewart established the Cookstown Advocate in July, 1874, and carried it on for a few years, afterward being appointed the Assistant County Treasurer, which office he filled until bis death. At a later time another journal having the same name appeared in Cookstown. A. C. Osborne and his eldest son founded the Penetanguishene Herald in 1881, and carried it on for two or three years, when he sold out his interest to Donald R. McKay. After Mr. McKay had it about two years, he in turn sold out to Wm. H. Hewson. Chapter XXIV. THE PIONEER CHURCHES. Since the incoming of the first settlers, the growth of religious culture has been steady and progressive. The order of arrangement of the particulars which will be presented in this chapter, and which will relate chiefly to the four churches to which the larger part of the county's inhabitants belong, will be according to the age of the church in human history. It will be impossible to bring this subject down to the present time, so our sketches of the various denominations will usually be confined to the period before the year of Confederation (1867). The Roman Catholic Denomination. The first efforts of the Roman Catholics to have places of pubhc worship in this county were made in Adjala and Penetanguishene. On September 4, 1S34, Bishop Macdonneh received a deed from the Crown of lots 10, II and 13, concession 8 of Adjala, (along the Tecumseth townline), where the church of St. James was established. The Rev. Father Edward Gordon had charge of the extensive parish of Niagara to which the station of Adjala and Tecumseth belonged at the earliest time. But a pioneer log church had been already built before the time the Crown Patent was obtained, for we read in tbe Retrospect (p. 168) of a traveller (John Carruthers) under date ol Sept. 29, 1833, that the Roman Catholics of Adjala had by that time built a church, and were to be visited by a priest once a month. The Rev. Dean Harris, (who himself was pastor of Adjala and Tecumseth in 1S70) relates some of Father Gordon's experiences in those townships in the early days, in his volume on the "Catholic Church in the Niagara Peninsula." For a time, also, the Adjala sta tion was connected with Toronto Township and Albion, for which the name of the Rev. Murt Lalor appears as the regular clergyman in 1836. Sometime in the forties, the Bishop erected Adjala and Tecum seth into a separate parish, of which the Rev. P. Rattigan was pastor for some years, and in North Adjala a mission was established at Arlington at an early date. [304] THE PIONEER CHURCHES. 305 The priests in charge of Adjala in succeeding years were : — Rev. F. X. Pourret, Rev. Michael O'Shea (1858-60), Rev. J. J. Synnot (1860-6). Bishop Power made a pastoral tour in the county during his term in the diocese; and his successor. Bishop Charbonnel, visited the northern stations in Medonte and Penetanguishene as much as three times. The Rev. Father James Quinlan was in Medonte about the year 1840, either in temporary charge or on a pastoral visit. At a later time he was in charge of the Newmarket Parish. About the year 1855, a separate parish was formed witb Its centre at Barrie, of which the Rev. George R. Northgraves became Dean about 1865. Some interesting particulars of the beginning of Roman Catholic services at Penetanguishene appeared in a paper read by the Rev. Father Th. F. Laboreau at a summer convention of the Canadian Institute held at that town, September 25, 1891. In February, 1832, Bishop Macdonneh of Kingston, made his first pastoral visit to Pene tanguishene, accompanied by Father Crevier, the resident missionary at the Detroit River. Soon afterward, a log church was built on the site of the present town hall in Penetanguishene. There was no sta tioned priest at first, although the people received occasional visits from travelling priests until one came to reside. In the absence of a priest, a zealous Frenchman named Dedin Revolte (Revol) held ser vices whenever there was no regular instructor in the faith, and he also spent much time and money for the religious instruction of the Indians. The first regular missionary was Father Lawrence Dempsey, but he died suddenly while travelling on the Penetanguishene Road. The Rev. Lawrence Dempsey was a missionary priest or catechist, whose labors have passed Into the same obscurity that envelops so many other worthy pioneers. He built the original Ste. Anne's Church at Pentanguishene. The date given by the Rev. Father Laboreau was 1835, although John Carruthers asserts in his Retrospect (p. 107) that the Catholic Church was there on March g, 1833. The next wbo took charge of the mission was the Rev. Jean Baptiste Proulx in 1836. Father Proulx, wishing to devote himself exclusively to the Indians, and having obtained another priest in 1837, the Rev. Amable Charest of Three Rivers, to reside in Penetanguishene, he went with the Indians in that year when their headquarters were moved to Wlkemi- kong in Manitouhn Island. Father Charest remained in charge of Penetanguishene and adjoining stations for nearly twenty years. 30G A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. In 1 86 1, the original log church at Penetanguishene having become too small and inconvenient, it gave place to another which was dedicated in that year by Archdeacon (afterward Archbishop) Walsh; and this one in turn was replaced by the handsome structure erected to the memory of the Jesuit priests martyred in the seventeenth cen tury. The Episcopalians. The Rev. Adam Ehiott was the travelling missionary of the Epis copal Church in 1833-6; he baptized, married and read burial services for tbe settlers, the records of which are preserved in the Register of St. James Cathedral, Toronto. Mr. Ehiott went to Manitoulin Island in 1836 with Capt. T. G. Anderson as a missionary to the Indians. The missionary. Rev. C. C. Brough, Dr. Darhng and Mr. Bailey, the schoolmaster, also went to Manitoulin Island in 1837 when the Indian Agency was moved there from Coldwater. Mr. Elliott was succeeded as travelling missionary in 1836 by the Rev. H. H. O'Nelh, and after the Rev. F. L. Osier settled at Bond Head in 1837, as the first stationed clergyman in the south half of the county, the services of the travelling missionary were, in some degree, dispensed with. The church records at Bond Head begin with the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Osier, and are carefully preserved by the pre sent incumbent, the Rev. A. C. Watt. Bishop Strachan made his first visit to Tecumseth in 1840, and spoke of the settlers as thriving. The Rev. Featherstone L. Osier, the pioneer clergyman, was a native of Falmouth, Eng., and came to Canada in 1837, proceeding to Newmarket where he stayed for a short time until the completion of the parsonage at Bond Head. He then took charge of the new parish, which Included all South Simcoe, and a great part of North Simcoe. An active and vigorous man in the performance of his work, he built many churches and established several congregations. He labored for twenty years in the large parish, out of which ne^t parishes were formed fro'm time to time, as the county developed, and in 1857 was transferred and became rector of Ancaster and Dundas, where he resided until his resignation in 1882. His death occurred in Toronto, February 16, i8g5, at the ripe age of 90 years. While in the Tecumseth charge, he took an active part In educational affairs, some account of which may be found in the chapter on schools. Several sons in his family have been distinguished in Canadian affairs. Justice F. Osier THE PIONEER CHURCHES. 307 of the Ontario Court of Appeal; B. B. Osier, K.C., one of the most prominent members of the Canadian bar, (d. Feb. 5, igoi, aged 62 years); E. B. Osier, M.P. for West Toronto; Prof. Wm.' Osier of Oxford University, England (formeriy of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, U.S.) At St. Paul's, Innisfil, on the Twelfth Line, a settler, John Pratt, gave an acre of land on the northwest corner of bis farm, (lot 16, con. 11), for the purpose of a church and a cemetery. A frame church was erected here in 1851, as an adjunct of tbe Shanty Bay parish, and in 1865 it was made a separate parish with the Rev. E. W. Murphy as the first incumbent. Mr. Murphy continued In this charge for a period of 3g years. The Rev. George Hallen settled in Medonte in 1835 in charge of St. George's church, but moved in 1840 to Penetanguishene, where he became the first rector of St. James' church, as weh as Chaplain to the Mihtary Establishment. In Penetanguishene, there was a newly erected Episcopalian Church (doubtless built of logs, as nearly ah houses were at that time), "half way between the village and the Estabhshment," as eariy as March g, 1S33, as we learn from the Retrospect of John Carruthers (p. 107). Bishop Strachan, leaving Toronto, July ig, 1842, made a confirmation tour in the northern parishes, in the course of which he consecrated the new church of St. james at Penetanguishene. This church is still in use near the site of the original structure. From the earliest period of the county's settlement Shanty Bay was a centre of mission labor in connection with the Episcopal Church. Col. E. G. O'Brien, who was an adherent of that body, having been the first settler and founder of Shanty Bay, the place naturally became associated with the workers of that denomination. The first Epis copal missionary efforts in the district were, like those of other churches, made by travelling clergymen In the dwelling houses of the settlers. Bishop Strachan made occasional journeys to Penetangui shene before 1830, and the Rev. V. P. Mayerhoffer of Markham and Vaughan sometimes visited former parishioners of his in Innisfil, and held services in their houses. Other clergymen at various times passed through the Simcoe settlements, but only once or twice a year. Among the first stationed clergymen at Shanty Bay was the Rev. T. H. M. Bartlett, afterwards officiating chaplain to the forces at Kingston, who was succeeded in 1842 by the Rev. S. B. Ardagh. By that year the congregation at Barrie had almost dissolved in conse- 308 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. quence of the absence of a minister, but through Mr. .-Vrdagh's exer tions it revived and made rapid progress. The Barrie church was a frame building, had been erected as early as 1834 by Admiral Robert O'Brien, and through Sir John Colborne it was endowed as a Rectory with Clergy Reserve lands. The site on which the church in the county town was built was granted by patent to "The First Rectory of Vespra" on January 21, 1S36. Shortly before Mr. Ardagh 's arrival at Shanty Bay in 1842, a sub stantial mud-brick church was built there, which excehed every other The First Trinity Church, Barrie. (Erected 1834. ) edifice of the kind in architectural appearance, and still stands as a memento of that period. The career of that man is so intimately asso ciated with the early religious and educational life of the county, that it will be proper, at this point, to sketch briefly his connection with the work. Rev. S. B. Ardagh was born in Ireland in 1S03, and after a care ful preparation for the ministry, was appointed in 1S28 to a curacy in Waterford, where he labored faithfully for fourteen years. But the religious differences of the time caused him to entertain the idea of THE PIONEER CHURCHES. 309 removing to Canada. Through the medium of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel he entered into correspondence with Col. O'Brien of Shanty Bay, and eventually decided on entering the exten sive missionary field of which that place was the headquarters. In August, 1842, he sailed with his family from ^^^aterford for Quebec, and in due season they reached their destination. The journey from Toronto northward to Kempenfeldt Bay was performed in the simple fashion o* the day with the facilities then afforded by the route, and is thus mentioned in Rev. Mr. Ardagh's pubhshed memoir: — "There being but one smah stage coach, the greater number of the party were conveyed up Yonge Street on baggage waggons, to Holland Landing, and thence across Lake Simcoe in the steamer Simcoe, to Shanty Bay, where they arrived on October 7th, 1842." The mission In connection with Shanty Bay, over which he came to preside, had a wide extent, embracing the townships of Oro, Medonte, Flos, Innisfil, Vespra, Mono, Essa, Euphrasia, Sunnidale, Nottawasaga, and St. Vincent ; which territory is now divided into twelve or more parishes. In the performance of his missionary duties he had to traverse this area, and search out the widely .scattered habita tions of his parishioners. It fell to. his lot to hold three services every Sunday, in ah kinds of weather, and four services during the week at distant stations. At the time of his appointment the roads in his extensive mission field were of the very worst kind, and it was often only possible to travel on horseback, which mode of travel he found it necessary to adopt. The incidents and hairbreadth escapes in Rev. Mr. Ardagh's missionary life form a thrilling narrative. Now it was a long journey, again he would lose his way In the woods, or again a dangerous fall narrowly escaping death ; then it was a ride for life through burning forests, or breaking through the ice on some lake or river. But these dangers never deterred him from the path of duty. His diary, extracts from which have been published in the memoir referred to, abounds with references to services held at different places. In addition to the regular appointments at Shanty Bay and Barrie, there were a number of others where services were held regularly, though with less frequency. These included : — Gimby's School House (Churchill). Henry's School House (Thornton;. Myer's School House (Stroud). 310 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. White's School House (Dalston). Mr. Alley's (Colored Settlement;. Mr. Campbeh's (Oro). Mr. Craig's (Medonte). Mr. Raymond's School House (Oro). The rapid settlement of the county, and the extension of the mis sion field in new parts rendered his work so arduous that In 1845 ^ travelling missionary was appointed to assist him. This appointment was filled in succession by Rev. Geo. Bourne (1845-1847), Rev. John Fletcher (1847-1S50), Rev. Garrett Nugent (1851-1S54), and Rev. Ed ward Morgan (1S55 — ), who became his successor as Rector of Barrie. By the strain upon his energy in so many missionary labors, his health became shattered so early as 1849, from rheumatic disorders contracted by sleeping in poorly protected houses while on distant journeys in his mission field. With diminishing strength he continued his labors, however, as best he could. Attacks of illness would some times compel him to cease from work for a time, and oblige him to visit Europe to recruit his health, until at last, despite every effort for restoration, his illness proved fatal. His death occurred at his home in Shanty Bay, on October 5th, i86g. Mr. Ardagh belonged to that section of the Episcopalian church known as the Evangelical. During bis residence at Shanty Bay he was closely connected with education In Simcoe County. For some time he was chairman of the Board of Grammar School Trustees. He was also a member and examiner of the Board of Public Instruction for Simcoe. The District Municipal Council appointed him Superin tendent of Schools for the County, a position which he held during 1844-6. In 1873, a Home for the reception of Indigent Women was erected to the memory of himself and wife, at Barrie, by his surviving chil dren, viz. : — Ehzabeth, wife of Henry O'Brien, K.C. , barrister, Toronto; Anna, wife of Sir James Gowan, Judge of Simcoe, and Senator; Martha Letitia, wife of Judge W. D. Ardagh, Winnipeg; Judge Ardagh, senior Judge of Simcoe; Naomi Emma; and Marian Isabella, wife of H. H. Strathy, K.C. The Rev. John Mclntyre became clergyman of Orillia in 1S41. Besides his parish duties, for which the reward that came to him was certainly not of a financial character, he took an active interest in the promotion of common schools, and other benevolent works. The Rev. Mr. Mclntyre went to Australia at a later time, and the Rev. George THE PIONEER CHURCHES. 311 Bourne succeeded him in i84g, but his death occurred in Aug., 1853. He was unfortunately thrown from his horse while going to hold ser vice in Oro, and died from the effects of the accident. The Rev. T. B. Read., D.D., then became incumbent at Orillia, and was succeeded in 1863 by the Rev. Alex. Stewart. A new church was opened in August, 1857, the original one having been inadequate. The Year Book of St. James' Church, Orillia, for igo5 and contiguous years, contained a historical sketch of the congregation from the beginning. By the year 1850, the clergymen in the Simcoe District were the following : — Shanty Bay and Barrie, Rev. S. B. Ardagh, Rector. Rev. Gar rett Nugent, Assistant. Tecumseth, Rev. Featherstone L. Osier. West Gwihimbury, Rev. Arthur Hill. Orillia, Rev. George Bourne. Penetanguishene, Rev. George Hallen. Mono Mihs, Rev. John Fletcher. The Rev. Arthur Hill, who had settled in the West Gwillimbury charge at an early date, removed from the county in 1S56. • The Earliest Presbyterians. The first place of worship opened by tbis denomination was in the Township of West Gwillimbury. About the year 1823, the "Scotch Settlers" united their efforts and built a log cabin on lot 8, con. 6, which was intended for a school and also for a place of worship. They obtained the services of John Carruthers as teacher in 1826, as already stated in the chapter on schools. Mr. Carruthers in 1S32 was appointed, as he relates, a "Catechist and Exhorter, by the Presbytery of York (now Toronto), in connec tion with the Church of Scotland, to visit the destitute settlers in the Western section of Upper Canada." In this capacity of travelling catechist he made several journeys to various parts of the Province. He published in Hamilton in i86i a narrative of these journeys in a small volume, which bears the title : "Retrospect of Thirty-Six Years' Residence in Canada West." This work, which has now become rare, contains many interesting notices of the early settlers, especially those of Simcoe County, into which he made five journeys. Some time after its publication, he died, leaving a wife and one daughter. 312 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. The first minister tO' hold religious services at this log cabin church of the Scotch Settlement, or indeed at any place in West Gwillimbury, was the Rev. Wm. Jenkins, of Richmond Hill. He con ducted services in the settlement about four times a year in connection with the "kirk" of Scotland, to which denomination all the inhabitants belonged. Among the other ministers who occasionally came from the frontier townships to preach or administer the Sacrament in the little log cabin church, was the Rev. James Harris, of York (now Toronto). In or about 1827 a small frame church took the place of the pioneer cabin. This graveyard is now fihed mostly with the Highland pioneers of the neighborhood. The first stationed minister of this place of worship was the Rev. Peter Ferguson, who afterwards settled in the township of Esquesing. He was succeeded in the Scotch Settlement by Rev. Wm. McKIhlcan. When he subsequently left the charge it had been extended so as to Include appointments at Bradford and Cherry Creek in Innisfil. Next came the Rev. Mr. Lamble, a missionary from the East of Whitby, who supplied for a few months tbese three places ; but separate minis ters soon became attached to each of the three places, and It has remained so ever since. The Session Book of the West Gwillimbury Presbyterian Church contains some facts of public Interest concerning tbe pioneer church in the first years of its existence. And as the beginning of a move ment is always the most interesting part, it will be worth while to give a few details of Its early history. The summary given below under various dates Is mostly taken from a preliminary statement prepared by the Rev. Wm. Fraser In 1864, and prefaced to his copy of the Ses sion Book, for the purpose of presenting the principal facts relating to the early church in a concise form, and bringing together matters of interest which would otherwise have required laborious search : West Gwillimbury, January 6, 1822. — A Presbyterian Church was constituted In the "Scotch Settlement" by the Rev. William Jenkins, and fourteen persons were received as members. Feb. 6, 1823. — A site for a church and burying ground was pur chased from John Paris, on the S ^ lot number 8, concession 6. Jan. 2g, 1824. — The following persons were set apart and ordained as elders by Rev. Wm. Jenkins : — .Adam Goodfellow, William Suther land, Alexander Bannerman, and John Mathleson, Junr. On the same day a Church Session was constituted. THE PIONEER CHURCHES. 313 April 21, 1827. — Measures were adopted for building a church. An account appears in the old Session Book for labor performed upon the said church by Ashur Foster, a mhlwright, having no date attached. It is presumed, however, that the house was erected in 1827. September 26, 1S30. — The name of Rev. Peter Ferguson, from the Secession Church in Scotland, appears for the first time as the Moder ator of Session. Mr. Ferguson afterwards took charge of the con gregation as a settled pastor, and was their first minister. The date of his Induction is nowhere on record, but from a minute of a congre gational meeting held on the first day of August, 1S31, at which a petition was adopted praying for the settlement of Mr. Ferguson, and at which Messrs. Adam Goodfellow and John Mathleson were appointed delegates to lay the petition before the Presbytery, it may be pre sumed that the pastoral relation was formed some time in the autumn of tbe same year. April 10, 1832. — The Rev. Peter Ferguson left the congregation, having accepted a call from a congregation in Esquesing. April ig, 1832. — At a congregational meeting a majority of those present resolved to send for a minister of the Estabhshed Church of Scotland, and also resolved that communication should be opened with the Rev. William RIntoul, of York, (now Toronto), requesting a visit and advice as to the steps necessary to the gaining of their object. This step was the beginning of a disruption in the church, which ended with the establishment of two independent churches — one at Bond Head, the other remaining in the Scotch Settlement. April 23, 1832. — A portion of the congregation were dissatisfied with the resolution to seek a minister from the Church of Scotland, and having consulted with the congregations in Tecumseth and Essa, held another meeting at which It was unanimously resolved to abide in connection with the Missionary Synod of Upper Canada, being the body in connexion with which the congregation had at first been organized. May 5, 1832. — A meeting of delegates from the several parts of the congregation, namely : West Gwihimbury, Tecumseth, and Essa, was held at the house of Adam Goodfehow, at which Mr. Goodfel low was appointed to make application to the Missionary Synod of Upper Canada in connection with the United Secession Synod In Scotland, for occasional preaching, and a resolution was adopted for building a new church. 314 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. From various hindrances this resolution was not carried Into immediate effect, although afterward a church was erected at Bond Head in the year 1837. Although without a meeting-house, the Bond Head branch of the original congregation, however, soon secured the services of a pastor, as the following entry attests : — October g, 1S33. — Tbe Rev. Jas. Howey was ordained to the oflfice of the ministry and to the pastoral charge of the congregations of West Gwillimbury, Tecumseth, and Essa. It is known, though not recorded, that Mr. Howey was seized with fatal illness immediately after his ordination ; that in attempting to conduct the worship of the congregation on the succeeding Lord's Day, he was compelled to desist ; and that thereupon he retired to reside with relatives in the township of Cavan, but he never so far recovered as to be able to perform any public service, and was removed by death early in the year 1835. The supply of preaching was for a time irregular, but during the winter and spring of 1S35 the Rev. Alexander McKenzie and the Rev. Wm. Fraser were sent by the Presbytery to fih tbe appointments, and in June, 1835, a call was made out by the united congregations in favor of Mr. Fraser, who proceeded at once tO' the field of labor to which he had been invited. His first sermon as pastor was delivered Aug. g, 1835, and his induction into the charge was made on June 17th, 1836. It has been already mentioned that this Bond Head branch of the congregation was without a definite place of worship for a time. In looking over the Session Minutes we find that the meetings were held in private houses in the different sections of the district : — In Tecum seth, at the houses of John Carswell and James Ellison; in Essa, at the house of George Dinwoody, and also at the school-house near George Dinwoody's. In West Gwillimbury the places of meeting were the houses of Rev. Wm. Fraser and Adam Goodfellow, Services also were conducted In Innisfil at the house of Gavin Allan, Churchill, and a meeting of the Session of the seceding congregation was held at Mr. Ahan's house on July 3, 183S. At this meeting the following 8 persons were, upon examination, received into the Church : — Mrs. Cross, Charles Wilson, Mrs. Hugh Todd, Mrs. Alexander Ross, Mrs. C. Wilson, Mr. Wahace, Mrs. Allan, sen., Gavin Allan. While these events were occurring the part of the original con gregation in West Gwillimbury that had resolved to seek connection THE PIONEER CHURCHES. 315 with the Kirk of Scotland, had secured the services of Rev. Wm. McKihican as pastor, who has been already mentioned. After Mr. McKihican, the Rev. John McMurchy was stationed in West Gwihimbury, 1842-4. In the Minutes of the General Quarter Sessions of the Home District an entry under March i, 1842, states that the Rev. John McMurchy, minister of the Church of Scotland for West Gwillimbury, was ordered to receive the usual license to solem nize marriages. iln the wake of the Disruption of the Church of Scotland in 1843, this congregation was again divided in 1844, the larger portion join ing the Free Church. The pastor of the original church after 1844 was the Rev. Alex. Ross, during whose incumbency Cherry Creek in Innisfil, and St. John's (Coulson's Corners), became regular portions of the charge. After the death of Mr. Ross the Rev. W. McKee filled the appointment until 1871. A congregation of the Free Church of Scotland was formed in Bradford in 1847, of which the successive pastors were : — Rev. Thomas Lowry, Chas. M. McKeracher, D. B. Cameron, E. W. Panton, Jas. Bryant, Frederick Smith. In Innisfil, Rev. Wm. Fraser conducted the first Presbyterian services on Aug. 2, 1836, and continued to hold services regularly to the close of 1849. At first the communicants were nominally members of the congregations at Bond Head and Essa, but In 1844 a congre gation in Innisfil was regularly organized, and a church was erected at the Sixth Line, near Central Church of the present time. This congregation passed at the time mentioned under the pastorate of the Rev. Thomas Lowry as an adjunct to the congregation at Barrie, then recently formed, with Mr. Lowry as the first pastor. Succeeding pastors were : — the Rev. Robert McKenzie and the Rev. Thos. Wight- man, who died in 1871, much regretted. The Rev. Wm. Fraser, D.D., remained pastor of the Bond Head congregation until 1879, having served there for a period of 44 years. The Rev. Wm. Fraser, D.D. , was a native of Nova Scotia, and soon after his ordination to the ministry came to Upper Canada and entered upon his life work at Bond Head. While in this charge, in addition to his regular church work, he took an active part in educa tional affairSf some account of which may be gathered from the chap ter on schools. He was the first Township Superintendent for schools In West Gwillimbury in 1844, and indeed the only one to hold that oflfice in the township, having been again appointed on the resumption 21 316 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. of Township Superintendents in 1850 and reappointed for twenty-one years in succession, until the office was finally abolished and county superintendents appointed. His death occurred at Barrie, on Dec. 25, 1S92, in his 85th year. Several of his sons have been distinguished in church and educational work : — Rev. J. B. Fraser, Annan ; Rev. R. D. Fraser, Toronto; Prof. W. H. Fraser of Toronto University; and Prof. G. A. H. Fraser, of Colorado. The origin of the first Presbyterian Church in Essa has been already noticed under the head of West Gwillimbury, the occasional services held at tbe school-house near George Dinwoody's having grown into a regular appointment. About 1S44 a congregation of the Free Church of Scotland was formed at Barrie with the Rev. Thomas Lowry as the first pastor. He continued here until 1S54 when he went to Bradford. He was suc ceeded by the Rev. Robert McKenzie, and Mr. McKenzie by the Rev. Thomas Wightman. The first Presbyterian Church in Oro was Knox Church, begun in 1844 and finished in 1845, of which an illustration, as it appears to-day, may be found in the chapter on Oro in the second volume. The Hon. Isaac Buchanan of Hamilton, Ont. , soon after the Disruption of the Church of Scotland in 1843, on being asked to give a thousand pounds to endow the Free Church College in Edinburgh, replied that he would give the amount, but that he thought it would be more natural to apply his subscription to assist the Free Church College and churches in Canada. Accordingly, $200 each was offered to the first ten Presbyterian country churches erected in Ontario at this time, and Knox Church was built mainly with the endowment derived from Mr. Buchanan's offer. The first regularly stationed minister was the Rev. John Gray, who came to Orilha in 1S51. At the first, and for some time afterward, his charge' included all those parts of North Simcoe lying east of the Penetanguishene Road, as well as the parts beyond Lake Couchiching and the Severn River. Esson Church was built about the year 1865, by the English-speaking portion of the Knox congregation, for whom the Rev. Dr. Gray afterward held ser vices. Tbe Rev. James Stewart held services for the Gaelic portion of the congregation about i860 and for a few years afterward, and was succeeded by the Rev. J. Ferguson. At Hillsdale and in Flos regular preaching by the Presbyterians began in the fifties. Many of the people of Flos were glad to have the occasional services of a student in the kitchen of John Ritchie THE PIONEER CHURCHES. 317 near Elmvale. The congregation soon outgrew the accommodation, and the barn of the same settler was thrown open for the use of the worshippers. This building was found to be comfortable and com modious during the summer season when students were available. Among the students Mr. Craw soon became the choice of the Hihsdale and Flos congregations, and on the completion of his studies in 1859 he was ordained and inducted as the first pastor in the charge of Flos and Medonte. The Rev. Geo. Craw's work at first covered a wide area, reaching from Craighurst to Penetanguishene, and from the Orange Hall, Medonte, to Elmvale, Flos. As the years passed away the outlying stations were formed into new charges, and his labors became more centralized. After 31 years he resigned this charge in Sept., i8go, and his death occurred on Jan. 17, i8g4. In Nottawasaga, the Presbyterian Icongregation at Duntroion (old Kirk) was established in or about the year 1841, but there was no stationed minister until the Rev. John Campbell came in 1S53. He was the first minister of the Presbyterian congregation of Nottawasaga in connection with the Church of Scotland, but while still in this charge he died Sept. 22, 1864, in his 46th year, and the i2tb of his ministry. His remains were buried at West Church, Nottawasaga, where "a monument was erected over his grave by the congregation. The adherents of the Free Church built a church a little north of Duntroon in 1858, of which the Rev. Jas. Greenfield became the first regular pastor, in the early sixties, with headquarters at Stayner. The First Methodists. The first efforts of the Methodists in this county for the promo tion of religious work can scarcely be associated with a particular spot, of which it could be said "here was the centre of their move ments." The first Presbyterian workers were in connection with the Scotch Settlement of West Gwilhmbury; while the Episcopalians regarded Shanty Bay as a centre for their early mission work. But if any place connects itself with the earliest Methodists, it would naturally be the islands of Lake Simcoe, where their efforts were directed about the year 1825 to christianize the pagan Ojibways, then so numerous. Amongst those who first preached the Gospel to the Lake Simcoe Indians were Revs. Peter Jones, John Sunday, Elder Case, and others whose names are given in the published accounts, which it would be 318 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. impossible to summarize in detail. Many references to the early mis sion work on Lake Simcoe will be found in the Journal of the Rev. Peter Jones. Amongst the laborers in this mission field were also Revs. Gilbert Miller, Jonathan Scott, John and Thomas Williams, and the Rev. Dr. Rose ; while of those who would pay occasional visits to different parts of the county, to perform the rites of baptism or mar riage, and preach to the scattered settlers in their dwellings, there were Revs. Robert Corson, Ezra Adams, J. Richardson, Wm. and John Ryerson, and Henry Reid. There was a controversy of some length in 183 1-2 in the columns of the Christian Guardian (then, as now, the chief organ of the Methodist Church), regarding the Lake Simcoe and Matchedash mis sion to the Indians, in which the participants were Mr. Currie the school teacher, and the Rev. Mr. Miller, the missionary. The Rev. Gilbert Miller was the Methodist missionary at Orilha in 1S32. In 1S24-5, (according to Carroll's "Case and his Cotemporaries." vol. 3, p. 18), Rowley Heyland and Daniel McMuhen, two Methodist Episcopal missionaries In the new settlements of Peel and Halton counties, had an appointment at Andrew Cunningham's in West Gwil limbury. And In 1828, the Rev. John Black, a travehing Methodist missionary, held services at Monkman's in Tecumseth, as stated in the chapter on that township (Vol. II. , p. 40). Simon Armstrong, in a letter tO' John Robinson of Bond Head, gave his recollections of the origin of the old log meeting-house at the; Sutherland appointment, lot 6, concession 8, West Gwihimbury, and of early Methodism in that locality. His remarks are worthy of a per manent place in connection with the history of this subject : — "In the year 1835 a few of the settlers met in the house of Matthew Ney to discuss ways and means to build a meeting-house somewhere in the neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sutherland told of a promise they had made to tbeir friends when leaving Ireland a few years before, that if ever they became owners of a farm in America, they would give a site and help to build a Methodist meet ing-house. Their offer was accepted, being a sort of compromise site between the Parkers on the east and the Atkins and Longs on the west. Sutherland's old log meeting-house may be called a pioneer of Methodism In the County of Simcoe. After all preliminaries were settled a subscription list was opened and each head of family was to subscribe at least two pounds, (to buy lumber, shingles, etc.,) and so many days' work each. A poor man, — Matthew Woodrow — had no THE PIONEER CHURCHES. 319 money to give, but he would hew the logs inside and out after the building was raised, which he did. It faced the east, its side to the road, with two square windows on each side, 7 by 9 inches glass." The Barrie Examiner of March 18, igog, contained a hst of the Methodist ministers in South Simcoe (with special reference to Thorn ton Church) from the earliest period to the present time. It is stated that the hst, or at least the first part of it, was derived from docu ments preserved in the Library of the British Museum. The ministers In the earlier years, as given in the list, are the fohowing : — In .'Vlbion Circuit, 1829-33. Vear. Senior Pastor. Junior Pastor. 1829 Henry Shaler James Currie. 1830 Jacob Poole. 1831-2 John H. Houston Samuel Rose. 1833 Gilbert Miller. In Newmarket Circuit, 1834-9. 1834 Robert Corson Thomas Fawcett. 1835 Horace Dean Cornelius Flummerfeldt. 1836 Horace Dean John Lever. 1837 Simon Huntingdon John Lever. 1838 Edmund Shepard G. R. Sanderson. 1839 Edmund Shepard Jas. Spencer. In Albion Circuit, 1840-5. 1840-1 John Baxter Francis Coleman. 1842 Francis Coleman Jas. Hutchinson. 1843 Francis Coleman John Goodfellow. 1844 Charles Gilbert. . . J. Hutchinson. 1845 Wm. Coleman Benjamin Jones . In Bradford Circuit, 1846-50. 1 846 Wm. Coleman Benjamin Jones . 1847 Ezra Adams Alex. Campbell. 1848 C. Flummerfeldt W. S. Blackstock. 1849 C. Flummerfeldt John Webster. 1850 Luther O. Rice Thos. Culbert. Cookstown Circuit was formed in 1851 with the Rev. Luther O. Rice as the senior pastor. A list of tbe ministers of the Methodist church who ministered in the north part of this county, from 1836 onward, may be interest ing at the present day. White's log church (Dalston) was the local headquarters during the first years of the labors of this denomination. 320 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. 1836 — Rev. David Hardy was the first stationed minister in this part, making his home with William Larkins, sen., (lot 3, con. i, Vespra), during his period of ministration. At this time Rev. Gilbert Miller was the resident missionary to the Indians, at Coldwater. 1837-S — Rev. Thos. McMuhen — the first resident minister in Bar rie. Rev. Jonathan Scott, missionary at Coldwater. i83g — Rev. Wm. Price. Rev. Sylvester Hurlburt, missionary at Coldwater. In this year a largely attended Centenary meeting of the founding of Methodism was held at Kempenfeldt. 1840 — Rev. Michael Fawcett, who resided at Painswick. About this time Rev. Dr. Green preached at Quarterly meeting in the old log school-house in Barrie, which was then used as a meeting-house. 1841-3 — Rev. John Lever, in whose time the first Methodist church was built in Barrie. Rev. Mr. Coleman was assistant for part of this time, and Rev. Reuben Robinson for another part. 1844-6 — Rev. Horace Dean, assisted part of the time by Rev. Francis Coleman. Notable visitors to the mission field about this time were Rev. William Ryerson and Rev. Hy. Wilkinson. 1847-g — Rev. Luther O. Rice. 1850-3 — Rev. Lewis Warner, chairman of the Barrie district. Rev. Andrew Edwards, assistant for part of this time. 1854-6 — Rev. John Douse, chairman, with Rev. John S. Clark assistant for part of his term. 1856-g — Rev. William McFadden. 1860-3 — Rev. J. C. Slater, chairman. 1864-7— Rev. J- W. McCallum. 1868-70 — Rev. G. H. Davis, with Rev. H. Burwash as assistant for part of the term. There were several other young assistant ministers during these years, many of whom subsequently became distinguished lights in the church. The first Methodist services in Barrie were held in an old log building near the N. W. corner of Dunlop and Mulcaster Streets, which at different times served as Mr. Sanford's store, as a school- house, and as a meeting-house. This building satisfled the require ments of the day until 1841, when they erected their first church. In 1837, Rev. Wellington Jeffers, of the Wesleyan Methodists, preached regularly at Partridge's, near Crown Hill. He was succeeded in 1838 by Rev. Mr. Steers. John, Richard and Thos. Williams some times held services as local preachers, afterwards receiving appoint ments in other fields of labor. These men were amongst the first THE PIONEER CHURCHES. 321 advocates of temperance in the district. In tbe pioneer days, the people went to church at White's Corners (Dalston) ah the way from Innisfil township. Especially was this true of tbe Quarterly Meeting services. Rev. David Hardy, the first resident Methodist preacher in the county, used to travel every week from Holland Landing to Pene tanguishene in the discharge of his clerical duties. The members of his church lived from end to end of the county, and he ministered weekly to them at different places along the route. One of his appointments was at Gimby's Corners (now Churchill). Mr. Hardy performed some of his journeys through the county on horseback, although it is said that he was rather an unskilled horse man. Sometimes when the roads were too bad he would leave his old black nag at a friend's and finish his journey on foot. This pioneer preacher and the two or three others who immediately suc ceeded him were promised the sum of $ioo by the parish for clothes and books, in addition to which their horses and themselves were to be fed by the parishioners. But they seldom received the whole of the promised yearly sum of $ioo in cash, so poor were the people they served in those days. The year 1839 was the Centenary of Methodism — the one hun dredth year after Wesley estabhshed his first societies in England for the promotion of religious work. The memorable event was cele brated in Upper Canada by holding in ah the principal congregations. Centenary meetings, each of which was attended and addressed by a deputation of divines appointed for the purpose. This county was included in the district apportioned to the Revs. Whliam Case, Joseph Stinson, M. Richer, M.A., and Wihiam Ryerson. An important cen tenary meeting in the annals of local Methodism was held at Kempen feldt, and it created a deep interest amongst the adherents of this denomination. This meeting was central both as to its locality and as to the interest manifested in its proceedings. The dedication of the first Methodist church in Barrie took place in 1841, as already stated, on which occasion the services were con ducted by the late Rev. Anson Green, D.D. In his autobiography (p. 247) he has noted the event in the following terms : "We opened a new church at our quarterly meeting in Barrie, 22nd August on the ground which I had aided them in getting from the Government. The site, on the top of the hih, is very command ing From it you see the vhlage lying at your feet, with the lovely bay sparkling beyond it ; while in the distance, and in ah directions, you see the lofty trees of our primeval forest waving in majesty and 322 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. beauty before the Lord. The morning was fine, the house well filled, and the people happy. ' ' This church was about a stone's throw to the eastward of the pre sent Central School, and it is still extant, though in a greatly modified form as a dwelling house. Peter White and others had patented the lot for a Wesleyan Chapel, as early as Nov. i8, 1837. In course of time it became inadequate, and a larger edifice was erected east of the Market House In 1864, at the opening services of which Dr. Green again officiated. Under date of March 26th in that year, he writes in his life : — "Attended the dedication of the Barrie church. Dr. Wood preached in the morning, Dr. Jeffers in the afternoon, and I in the evening. I had the pleasure of dedicating the first Wesleyan church in this beautiful town, and was happy in being able to assist in this richer feast. * * * The church is a plain gothic building with spire, standing on an eligible site, and is an ornament to the town. It has a front gallery, and will seat about six hundred people." This building which was erected upon a site that Adam Bryant of Kempenfeldt had patented for the British Wesleyan Methodist Society in i84g was taken down in igo4. Other Church Workers of the Pioneer Days. As early as 1833, members of the Christian denomination were at work in the neighborhood of Bond Head. On lot 4, con. 6, of West Gwihimbury there was a church erected, which stood as a memorial of their work in that part, and bore the inscription — "Christian Church — A.D. 1855." It was taken down about tbe year iSg7. There was a burial ground beside it, in which the remains of many pioneers of the neighborhood are resting. John Finch, a native of England, settled in the Township of South Orillia some time before the Rebelhon of 1837, and was afterward ordained a Baptist Missionary, becoming the pioneer of that denomina tion in this county. The Rev. Mr. Finch, in later years, lived at Tollendal. In West Gwillimbury, there was a Baptist congregation at an early time, of which the Rev. J. E. Howd was the pastor. In the chapter on Nottawasaga, some account Is given of the Rev. John Cllmie, the Congregational minister of the pioneer days at Duntroon. The Rev. Ari Raymond was also a Congregational minis ter in Oro Township, near Edgar, where he preached for some 5'ears In the forties and fifties, and also took an active Interest in educa tional matters. Raymond's school-house was a landmark in the early days of that township. Chapter XXV. THE INDUSTRIES OF THE INHABITANTS. The greater interests and industries of the country at large, — lumbering, agricultural, manufacturing and commercial, — have been represented in Simcoe, and their history in the county is only a part of their history in the whole country. There are a few special features, however, of local interest, and they deserve our attention in this chapter, especially in connection with the lumber trade and with agriculture. In the case of the first, the lumber manufacture does not now hold the prominent place amongst the Industries that it formerly did. And to sketch the great changes in agriculture would be need less, as the changes here are the same as in every other county. Nowadays, more capital is employed in developing this source of wealth than formerly, owing to the use of so much machinery. The Receding Lumber Trade. After the fur trade, of which some mention appears in a former chapter of this volume, the next industry of importance for the export trade was the timber. Early in the nineteenth century masts of Can adian pine were regularly used in the Royal Navy. And when the Hon. Peter Robinson was appointed Surveyor-General of Woods and Forests in Upper Canada In 1827, the instructions he received from the British Grovernment directed him to make a survey of the woods and forests, to find where there was timber for masts and for other use in tbe Navy. Iron shipbuilding superseded all this, long ago, yet the search for mast timber marked a distinct period in the history of the county. The first timbermen to arrive in this county after the opening of the Northern Rahway were those in search of masts, which they loaded on the freight cars at full length. The largest mast, which was obtained in the Township of Innisfil, was 118 feet long, and required fourteen teams to draw It to the rail way track. The construction of the railway was the means of stimulating the lumber industry, which, although by no means a new industry in the part of the county through which the railway passed, yet it gave the [ 323 ] 324 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. Industry a tenfold increase. About the same time, also, white pine, which was five times more plentiful In this county than red pine, came to be recognized as of equal value with the red in the world's market. The amount of foreign capital brought into the county as a result of the development of the lumber industry, was large. During the winter of i85g-6o for example, the people engaged in the lumber business in the county expended about $76,000 in purchasing timber, paying wages, etc. In common with the chain of smaller lakes east of it. Lake Simcoe is situated in what was the great Canadian pine belt. A brief consider ation of this subject whl be of value in arriving at a clear knowledge of the development of the industry in this district. The lumber era was ushered in by the construction of the Northern Railway in 1853, as already stated, and for some years succeeding this date the industry absorbed a considerable part of the energy in the district, affording employment to a large number of people. By the year 1861, the pro duction of this commodity in Simcoe County alone had reached 200 mihions of feet per annum, which was about one-third of the annual production in the whole province. At the south part of the lake, the activity in this trade was at first most pronounced and afterward gradually extended northward. It would be a difficult task to obtain particulars of ah the lumber ing establishments which flourished for a time, and some of which are still flourishing in the northern parts of the county ; but it may suffice for the purposes of illustration, to mention a few of the former lumber kings of the county between i860 and 1870, with statistics of the trade with which they were connected. Our attention will, however, only be directed to those cases in which the annual manufacture reached up Into the millions of square feet. In South Simcoe the activity in the trade was at first most pro nounced and gradually extended northward. Perhaps the most exten sive manufacturer In that part of tbe county was Thompson Smith, who arrived about 1858. His large saw-mhl at Bradford had a capacity of 150,000 feet per day, or, at least, of 12 mihions per annum. The same person had for some time the Craigvale mills. From this county he went to Trenton, Ont., and thence to Cheboygan, Mich., having exten sive mills in both places. Ranking closely in size with the establishment of Thompson Smith was that of Sage & Grant at Bell Ewart. The saw-mih located there was for a time one of the most extensive in the province, having THE INDUSTRIES OF THE INHABITANTS. 325 a capacity of about 15 millions per annum. Sage & McGraw, capital ists from the United States, buht the Beh Ewart mih in 1852, while the railway was under construction. Afterward, the firm name became Sage & Grant, the principals in which were Henry W. Sage and Dean Sage of Ithaca, N.Y. Members of this family were the means of endowing Cornell University in that city. Sage & McGraw had large mihs at Saginaw or Bay City, Mich. , and also at Winona, Mich. Mr. Sage's firm sold the Bell Ewart Mihs about the year 1868 to Beecher & Silliman. C. M. Beecher, the principal in this firm, was a nephew of the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, and after disposing of the Beh Ewart mill, became one of the pioneer lumbermen of British Colum bia. He died, November 14, 1906. In Tay, Kean, Fowlie & Co., at Victoria Harbor, and A. R. Christie & Co., at Port Severn, were the earlier firms, while Cook Bros., Chew Bros., and the Georgian Bay Lumber Company are of more recent times. At Penetanguishene, Copeland & Sons and C. Beck & Co., have had important mills. Jacques & Hay estabhshed a sawmhl of considerable dimensions at New Loweh about the year 1855, and at Mad River where the North ern Railway crosses it near Angus, Dobie & Mercer established a mill. In Cohingwood, at successive times, two or three firms were extensively engaged in the business, having mihs of the larger sort. Of these may be mentioned S. C. Kennedy and Hotchkiss & Co. The lumbermen and employees of Kennedy rafted extensively down the Nottawasaga River, where large limits were situated. With Hoch- kiss & Co., whose mih had a capacity of 150,000 feet per day, was associated A. G. P. Dodge, a well-known figure of the lumber trade in this county. He was for some time President of the Georgian Bay Lumber Co. (35 mihions per annum.) Amongst the later establishments were those of A. C. Thomson, J. B. Smith & Sons (of Angus), Perkins & Co., T. Mulholland (of Craigvale) and many others, ah more or less extensively engaged In the business. The quality of the lumber manufactured was chiefly white pine, which predominated in this county over red pine in the proportion of about five to one. In the natural course of events the lumber trade has given place to agriculture, and the era of saw-mihs, except in a few of the most northerly townships, has almost departed. The fluctuations in the price of cordwood are instructive as show ing the periods of prosperity and depression through which the county 326 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. passed in its early days. From the records of the jail supplies in 1845 it appears that cordwood (green) in winter time was then 4s. a cord at the county town, and about 7s. 6d. in summer. At tbe January meeting of the County Council, 1854, immediately after tbe opening of the rahway, the price of cordwood for the use of the jail and court house was 7s. 5d. per cord, — which was 50 per cent, above the winter prices in any former year. This was an effect of the opening of the railway. The same report mentions the scarcity of laborers and the advance In wages at that time. All the reports of committees mention, in 1S54-5, the advance of the county in wealth and prosperity, after the railway opening, and the higher cost of the necessaries of life. This cause, (the opening of the railroad) almost doubled the prices of produce. But the pros perous period of 1854-6 in Simcoe County was rendered more so from the fact tbat Reciprocity In trade with the United States had opened a market for Canadian produce, and the Russian War had greatly increased the price of wheat. There was, however, a reaction In 1857 from this inflation. The prices of cordwood in some succeeding years, although sub ject to some special influences, exhibit tbe state of trade and the increasing scarcity of the commodity itself : — Jan. 1858. $1.75 per cord. 1859. 100 cords, at g2fc. per cord. 1861. 170 cords, at $1.50. 1862. 120 cords for jail and 60 cords for court hou.se, at $1.25. 1863 $i.o8J a cord. 1864. 120 cords, at $1.00 per cord. 1877. $2.00 per cord for 4 ft. hardwood. 1878. $2.25 a cord. i87g. $2.00 a cord. 1883. 100 cords, at $2.72, and 50 cords at $2.75. 1884. 75 cords each, at $3.20 and $3.71 per cord. i8g6. 60 cords at $2.60, and the balance at $2.85. (Only the two tenders were received.) An industry of some interest in the westerly parts of the county bade fair for a short time to yield good results. In October, 1859, at Craiglelth, just beyond the county's boundary near Collingwood, a company erected works for distilling illuminating oil from the Utica shales which crop out near Georgian Bay at this place. But on THE INDUSTRIES OF THE INHABITANTS. 327 account of the discovery of free petroleum in Pennsylvania the next year, this enterprise collapsed. The Nottawasaga Oil Company, of which James Currie was President, was also formed for the same pur pose in Nottawasaga, but it came to nought, like the larger enter prise at Craigleith. With the development of iron mines in the parts of Ontario north of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior, certain industries have arisen In this county as a result of its proximity by water to the mining regions, for example, the smelting works at Midland, and the steel works and shipbuilding at Collingwood. The Agricultural Industry. In 1836, there was an Agricultural Society for Oro, Orihia, Sim coe and Thorah, and Dr. Thomas Rolph, in his "Statistical Account of Upper Canada" has placed it on record that annual shows were held by this society. It does not appear from any records known to the writer, however, how many shows were held, or where they were held. The Orillia Times In 1890 contained a long article giving some particulars of the first show at Orillia in 1848, as they had been recorded in the secretary's book. Prior to this period, the Agricul tural societies that existed were for the discussion of questions relating to agriculture, and it may have been such a one that Dr. Rolph referred to. Early in the forties, also, an annual fair was held on the Market Square at Barrie, and also a plowing match yearly on a farm adjoin ing the town. The first provincial exhibition was held at Toronto in October, 1846, and local shows soon followed, tending to spread an interest in the Improvement of agriculture. By the year 1861 there were two Agricultural Associations in the county, corresponding with the two electoral divisions into which the county was then divided, besides other local associaiions. There was a movement in 1865 for the culture of flax and tbe establishment of flax or scutching mills in the county, one of which came into existence at Bradford during that year. The movement arose from the scarcity of cotton while the War of the Rebelhon lasted In the United States. John A. Donaldson, the Government Emigrant Agent, addressed the County Council, November 28, 1S65, on the introduction of flax culture into this county, and exhibited several samples of flax. But the Counch did not see any urgent "cause" to 328 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. aid flax mills until somebody came forward with a definite proposition to erect such a mill. The Government imported a quantity of Riga Flax Seed to distribute, and the Council recommended them to distri bute it through the Presidents of the Agricultural Societies. Both the North Simcoe and the South Simcoe Agricultural Societies sent petitions to the Council in January, 1866, on the sub ject of flax mills. The Council promised a third of the cost of the buildings and machinery (the cost not to exceed $1,000) to the person who would erect a flax-scutching mill in one or both ridings of the county. This resulted in a grant to a flax mih at Bradford of $333.33 (September 10, 1S66), and another to a flax mill at Cohingwood of $333.34 (November i, 1867). The proprietors of the latter were George Moberly and Thomas P. Wolf. As the flax industry did not materialize, the mills accomplished but httle. In the year 1871, a movement began for holding regular fairs for the sale of farm stock, etc.. In various towns and villages of the county. The County Council authorized such fairs in every case, and as this marks an epoch in tbe county's development, a list of the fairs established by the authority of that body may be of some historic inter est. By-laws had to be passed in each case for the establishment of the fairs. June, 1871. Collingwood (monthly); Creemore, Alliston, Cooks town, Thornton, and Bahycroy (quarterly). January, 1872. Stayner (quarterly). January, 1873. Primrose (bi-monthly). (By June, 1874, the foregoing fairs were held in only one or two instances). January, 1875. Orihia (quarterly). June, 1875. New Lowell (quarterly). June, 1878. Mansfield (bi-monthly). June, 1879. Beeton (monthly). Alliston (monthly). November, 1879. Midland (quarterly). Stayner (made monthly at this date). June, 1880. Barrie (quarterly). Cohingwood (made quarterly at this date). January, 1881. Bradford (quarterly). January, 1882. Elmvale (quarterly). June, 1S85. Tottenham (quarterly). June, 1886. Tottenham (changed to monthly at this date). THE INDUSTRIES OF THE INHABITANTS. 329 In the year 1884 the County Council began to give some assistance to Agricultural Societies. The first of this kind was in November of that year, when the Counch subscribed $400 on the stock of the Great Northern Agricultural and Horticultural Company at Cohingwood, as authorized under R.S.O. , chap. 155. In the following June, the Warden was instructed to subscribe for stock in the West Simcoe Agricultural Building Co. to the amount of $500, and at the same session the Council also made grants of $500 to each of the agricultural societies of South and East Simcoe. At the succeeding November session the Agricultural Society of Card- well Electoral District were granted $300 to aid them in erecting suit able buildings.Acting on an apphcation made in June, 1885, for assistance to rebuild the Agricultural Hall in Collingwood lately destroyed by fire, the Council in November granted $200 to assist in rebuilding it. The grants to agricultural societies this year amounted to $1,500 besides $500 subscribed in stock. In June, 1886, the Council also subscribed $200 in the stock of the Stayner Agricultural Association, and made a grant of $200 to assist in rebuilding the agricultural hall in Alliston, destroyed by fire, August, 1885. In later years, the value of the tract at the south of Georgian Bay for fruit growing has come to be widely recognized, especiahy the large apple orchards of the northern parts of the Township of Tiny, and the plum orchards of the Cohingwood, Thornbury and Meaford districts. INDEX. VOLUME I. PAGE. Adam, James (Oro) 99, 260 Agriculture 327 Ahey, Gerald (Orihia) 152, 156 Anderson, Capt. Thos. G., Indian Agent 17, 18, 152, 306 Ardagh, Judge J . A 75,239, 241 Ardagh, Rev. S. B 239, 286, 287, 307-10 Ardagh. W. D 205,207, 259 Armson, Wihiam (W. Gwihimbury) 97, 118, 164, 258 Armstrong, Robert (Bradford) 85 Atkins, Thomas (W. Gwilhmbury) 259 Banting, Lieut.-Col. R. T 187, 189, 260 Birdsall, Richard, surveyor 41,42, 45 Boulton, D'Arcy 181,232,233, .SOI Bowerman, Joseph F. (Dunedin) 104 Boys, Henry R. A., County Treasurer .183, 243, 260, 261 Boys, Judge William F. a' 153, 155, 188, 193 Bruce, Lieut.-Col. Geo. W 280 Burr, Rowland, canal projector 212 By-Laws, County 267 Cameron, Chas. (Cohingwood) 193, 259 Canal Projects 211 Capreol, Frederick C, canal projector 160, 212-4 Carruthers, John (" Retrospect") 18, 282, 304, 307, 311 Cawthra, John, the first M.P. for Simcoe 216 Champlain's tours 1 , 2 Chewett, Jas. G., surveyor 41, 45 Churches of the pioneers 304-22 Clerks, County 260 Clifford, Henry A., School Inspector 286 Colborne, Sir John 87, 88 Collegiate Institutes 293 Cook, H. H., M.P 230 Cotter, James R 239 Court House 246,247, 248 Cowan, the fur trader 21 Craig, John (Medonte) 258 Creswicke, Henry, County Surveyor 99, 107, 110, 118, 119, 121 128 262 Creswicke, Henry, jr 46 Cumberland, Fred. W 166, 170, 173, 180, 186, 194, 195, 196 22 [331] 332 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. PAGE. Dahas, Frederick (Orillia) 91, 116 Dallas, James (Orhha) 58, 258 Davies, Thomas Fox, the pioneer printer 298-301 Davis, George (Essa) 259 Dewson, Major J. W 276, 277 Drury, Hon. Chas 239 Duff, Hon. J. S vih., 232 Dunlop, Dr. William 84 Elections in the early days 216 Ferguson, Thos. R., M.P 132, 180, 212, 231, 250, 259, 278, 291 Fletcher, Robt. J. , County Clerk 260 Franciscan Missions to tbe Hurons 2, 3 Frankhn, Sir John 29, 82 Fraser, Rev. William, D.D 312-6 Gait's (John) tours in the county 63, 84, 87 Gaviller, Maurice, surveyor 123 Gibbard, Wihiam, surveyor ...48,49,95, 110 Goessman, John, surveyor 41, 45 Goldie, John ("Diary") 28-9, 70 Gowan, Sir James R 236-9, 289 Grammar Schools 293 Grey County 245 Gzowski, Sir C . S 100 Hamilton, Capt. James M. (Penetanguishene) 156 Harvey, W.M 232, 239 Harvey & Millard's stage line to Muskoka 151 Harvie's stage lines 148, 151 Hawkins, Wm., surveyor 91 , 92 Head, Sir George (" Forest Scenes") 37, 81, 85, 99 High Schools 293 Hogg, Lieut.-Col. John 259, 278 Hopkins, Henry B 176, 239 Hospitals, Aid to 272-4 House of Refuge , 270-3 Huron Indians 1-9 Huron villages, burials, trails 3-6 Irving, Jacob ^Elmlhus 57, 258 Inspectors of Schools 289-91 Jah, County 248, 249-52 Jail Surgeons 262 Jesuit Missions 6-9 INDEX. 333 PAGE. Kean, John (Orillia) 259 Keating, Horace 93, 248 Kelly, "Thomas, surveyor 41,46, 47 Kempenfeldt in the Indian Treaties 13 Lally, Edmund S., County Treasurer 260, 261, 277 Lane, Jonathan 155,164,236, 239 La Salle's visits 9 Laughton, Capt. Wihiam 71,72, 143-5 Lennox, Haughton, M.P 231 Little, E. A 233, 239 Lockup Houses 252 Lount, Gabriel, surveyor 41, 42 Lount, George, surveyor 41, 42, 43, 107, 152 Lount, Samuel, M.P. for Simcoe 218-9 Lumbering 323 McCarthy, D'AIton, M.P 193, 194, 195, 197, 199, 214, 230 McCausland, Thomas, stage line 145-7, 148 McConkey, Thomas D., M.P 60,179,207,231,239, 259 McDonald, John, the fur trader 24,31, 50 McGhlivray Land Grants 27, 50 McKenzie, Lieut.-Col. Alex 279 McLean, Neh. surveyor 100,102, 103 McManus, Lieut.-Col. George 259 McPhee, Lieut.-Col. John b' 280 McWatt, Lieut -Col. John 154,155,260,262, 277 McVity, Wm. B 236, 239 Maconchy, Thomas (Gilford) 118,133, 164 Maitland, Sir Peregrine 281 Messengers, County 261 Military Affairs 275 Militia, Sedentary, Period of the 277 Mono and Mulmur, Separation of 245 Morrison, Angus, M.P 180,181,207, 229 Morrison, J. C 166, 229 Morrison's stage lines 147-8 Muskoka and Parry Sound Districts 243-5 Muskoka Free Grants 60 Newspapers, The Early 298 Nottawasaga Fort 38 O'Brien, Lieut.-Col. Edward G 162, 276 O'Brien, Lieut.-Col. Wilham E 279 Ojibway Indians 10-20, 39 334 A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY. PAGE. Osborne, A. C, Historical writings 76 Osier, Rev. F. L 289,294, 306 Paton, Robert 198,232, 259 Patton, Hon. James 233 Phelps, Orson J 239, 259 Postmasters, The first 152 Postal Service of the pioneers 152-9 Quinlan, Daniel, County Treasurer 260 Railway, C.N. O.R 210 " C.P.R 210 " Hamhton & North-Western 187 " Midland 204 ' ' Muskoka Junction 207 Northern 160 " Northern, stock 124,163-86, 203 North Simcoe 207-9 Rankin, Charles, surveyor 41, 47, 49, 92 Registry Oflfice 252 Richardson, Samuel, surveyor 41, 45, 260 Richie, Wellesley, immigration agent 19, 91 Robertson, Andrew (Oro) 152, 156 Robinson, Arthur G., CE 131, 139, 140 Robinson, Hon, W. B 96, 100, 110, 216-28, 231, 240, 243 Sanford. Sidney M., County Treasurer 152, 155, 162, 260 Sanson, James (Orillia) 125, 229, 258 Scadding, Rev. Dr. (" Toronto of Old") 9,23, 142 Schools, Common, of lateryears 289-93 Schools, Pioneer 281-5 Schools under the District Counch 285-9 Simcoe, Lake, Names of 10-12 SIssons, Jonathan 215, 239, 259 Smith, Benjamin W., sheriff 236 Solicitors, County 263 Stage lines of the pioneers 142 Steele, Capt. Elmes, M.P 88,102,219-24, 277 Steele, John C. (Oro) 259 St. George, Quetton 23, 50 Strathy, John, County Clerk 255, 259 Surveyor, County 262 Thompson, A. B 232 Thompson, Charies of Summer Hih 72, 142-3, 248, 249 Treasurers, County 260 INDEX. 335 ' PAGE. Tyrwhitt, Lieut.-Col., M.P 203,231, 280 Volunteers, Period of tbe 278 Wardens of the County 258 Ward, Lieut.-Col. James 280 Weights and Measures, Inspectors of 262 Williams, David (Historical writings) 79, 159 Wihiams, Rev. Thomas (" Memories") 40,46,56, 83 Wilmot, Samuel S., surveyor 13, 39, 40, 84 Wismer, Judge E. A 239, 242 Yellowhead, Wihiam, Chief of the Ojibways. . . .14, 15, 16, 17, 18