Cat No.: CA0050:
This book entirely lives up to its title. It originated as the byproduct of the work of William Loe Smith, a reporter who was sent out to collect stories on current rural conditions for publication in The Weekly Star beginning in 1897. In conversation with the people he came into contact with while gathering this information, however, he began to hear stories and first hand accounts of the very beginning of the settlement of Ontario. Fortunately for us he decided to record these stories so we, today, can relive some of the original pioneer experiences in the words of those who lived through the events.A great many of the original pioneers' names are mentioned in this book, but given in the context of how they lived their lives rather than as a cold, impersonal, statistical listing. The stories are grouped by the areas in which they occurred and so many of the original settlement towns and districts are also mentioned and, sometimes, described. There is a full index of names in the book and these names can be found listed below this description. The stories are illustrated with over 70 black and white drawings including a portrait of Mr. C. F. Doherty whose father refused a section of land because it was too low and wet. That land is now bounded by Queen, Yonge, University Av. and College streets in the center of Toronto!
Some stories show a very human nature. Take for instance the story of a mean and generally disagreeable fellow who came to the notice of The Cavan Blazers a vigilante group who took it upon themselves to maintain a semblance of law and order. To quote, When he got up in the morning he found the wagon, still loaded, astride the ridge of the barn. He may not have enjoyed the work of getting the wagon and bags down from the roof, but he was a better citizen afterwards.
Not that the life of these pioneers was all fun and games. Far from it! Consider this quote for instance, There was no one in the new settlement with the medical skill of Grandmother Trull, and, in answer to a question as to what happened when people took ill, Mr. Hoover made the grim answer: We let them die and then buried them.''
Anyone interested in our ancestors who settled Ontario should read this book. These were remarkable people!
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List of names in Index:
A
Adolphustown; Allan, James; Allan, Wm.; Allcock, James; Allcock, Simon; Allen, Parker; Allin, Chas.; Allin, Frank; Allison, D. W.; Ambler, Thos.; Ancaster; Anderson, Capt.; Anderson, Duncan; Anderson, John; Ardagh, Pastor; Armstrong, Robt.; Armstrong, Wm.; Asia, the; Aurora
B
Bangs, Rev. Dr.; Banks, Mrs.; Barber, Alonzo; Barber, Frank; Barber, Jane; Barber, Philip; Barrie; Barrie, John; Bayview; Beaver, the; Beaverton; Beck, F. L.; Belfountain; Belle Ewart; Bellwoods, Chas.; Bellwoods, John; Bently, Albert; Bently, Maria; Berry, Geo.; Best, Thos.; Billings, Samuel; Blake, Hon. Ed.; Blanding, Sarah J.; Bleakley, John; Boline, the; Bowles, James; Bowman, Chas.; Bowmanville; Bradstreet, Col.; Bragilla, the; Brisbin, Jane; Brock, R. W.; Brockville; Brown, John; Bryce, Thos.; Buchanan, James; Buchanan, Mrs. J.; Buck, Elijah; Burke, John; Burke, Luke; Burkett, Wright; Burritt, Col.; Burritt's Rapids; Butterfield, Abraham; Bytown
C
Caldwell, Geo.; Caldwell, Hon. John; Caldwell, S.; Cameron, Col.; Cameron, Daniel; Cameron, H. D.; Campbell, A.; Campbell, Colin; Canada Company, the; Cannington; Carleton, Sir Guy; Carmichael, Dougall; Carr, John; Cartier, Jacques; Casey, T. W.; Casselman, Nelson; Cavan Blazers, the; Champlain, Samuel; Chapman, Chas.; Charters, Mr.; Chatham; Chingacousy; Chisholm, Kenneth; Christian Islands; Christie, A. B.; Chryslers Farm, battle of; Churchill; Clanahan, Mr.; Clark, Peter; Claughton, John; Cleary, Archbishop; Coates, Thos.; Cobourg; Colborne, Sir John; Coldwater; Collingwood,; Collins, Chas.; Collins, Deputy Surveyor; Cook, Elias; Cook, E. H.; Cooksville; Cornell, Wm.; Cornwall; Corrigan, Mr.; Cotton, Noah; Coulter, Andrew; Coulthard, G. H.; Courtice, Thos.; Crae, Wm.; Craig, Thos.; Craven, Iinwood; Crawford, Angus; Crawford, Archie; Creemore; Crooks, Capt.; Crooks, Hon. James; Crown Hill; Culp, Tilman; Cummings, Patrick; Currie, Archie
D
Davidson, Cyrus; Davis, Asa; Dayton, D. L.; Devins, Abraham; Devins, Isaac; Dobie, David; Donaldsons, the; Dorchester, Lord, see Sir Guy Carleton; Doherty, Bernard; Doherty, Hon. M.; Douse, Rev. Mr.; Drury, Hon. E. C.; Drury, Richard; Drury, Thos.; Dundas
E
Eagle, Samuel; Education Acts; Ekfrid; Elliott, Andrew; Elliott, Henry; Emily May, the; Enterprise, the; Essence, John; Euclid, the; Eugenia Falls
F
Family Compact, the; Farley, John; Farmersville; Fletcher, Alex.; Foley, Richard; Forneri, Rev. B.; Forsyth, Major; Fort Frontenac; Frankish, T. B.; Franklin, Sir John; Frazer, Rev. Wm.; Frontenac, Gov.; Fulljames House, the
G
Gairbraid; Galloway, Joseph; Galloway, Bev. Mr.; Gananoque.; Gerow, Joseph; Gifford, E.; Gilchrist, Colin; Gillespie, Duncan; Gillies, Margaret; Goderich; Gooderhams, the; Goodfellow, W.; Gordon, Adam; Gowan, N. C; Gowan, Ogle E.; Graham, John; Grant, Alex.; Grant, Principal; Grass, Capt., Michael; Gray, Bev. John; Green, Dr.; Grieves, John; Gunn, Andrew; Gunn, Donald; Gunn, Dr.; Gunn, John; Gunn, Mrs. John
H
Hagerman, Chief Justice; Hagerman, Nicholas; Hallett, Silas; Hamilton, John; Hampton; Hardy, Bev. Mr.; Harrison, Eliza; Hawkstone; Heck, Barbara; Heck, George; Henry, John; Henry, W. T.; Herriman, Dr.; Hessians, the; Hewson, Wm.; Hickling, Chas.; Hickling, G.; Hipwell, Mother; Hodge, Henry; Hogg's Hollow; Holland Landing; Holland, Surveyor-General; Hoover, D.; Hoover, Mrs. D.; Hopps, Wm.; Horne, Henry, 131; Horne, T. W.; Huggard, B. L.; Hume, James; Hunter, A. F.; Hunter, Wm.; Hurlburt, Rev. E.
J
Jackson, Hon. Peter; James, David; James, Rachel; Johns, Eldad; Johnson, Asa; Johnson, Hugh; Johnson, Sir John; Jones, Elias; Jones, Samuel
K
Kerr, Judge; Kerr, Wm.; Kingston; Koch, John
L
Laidlaw, James; Lakeland; Larkin, Wm.; Langstaff, John; Layton, John; Leeds Trader, the; Little, Joe; Little Blue Church, the; Little Cataraqui Creek; Little York; Lincoln, Abraham; Lindsay; Livingstone, A.; Livingstone, Bill; Livingstone, John; Lizars, Daniel; London, J. F.; Lount, Samuel; Loyalists, U.E.
Mc.
McAImon, Flora; McAlmon, Malcolm; McArthur, Donald; McBain, John; McBane, Nancy; McCallum, Geo.; MeCammon, E. M.; McCarthy, D'Alton; McClean, John; McDonald, John S.; McDougall, Alex.; McDougall, Angus; McDougall, Chas.; McDougall, Neil; McFadyen, Archie; McFadyen, Colin; McFadyen, Miss; McGillivray, M.; McGinnis, Pte.; McKeyes, Daniel; McKinnon, Donald; McLachlan, Colin; McLeod, Capt.; McMillan, Archie; McMurchy, Rev. Mr.; McNab, John; McPhail, John; McPherson, Peter; McTavish, Rev. Dr.
M
Macdonald, Charlotte; Macdonald, Chas.; Macdonald, Col.; Macdonald, John; Macdonald, John Sandfleld; Macdonald, Sir John A.; Mackenzie, Wm. Lyon; Magnetewan; Mairs, Thos.; Manchester; Markham; Markham Gang, the; Mariposa; Massey, Hart A.; Meaford; Mennonites, the; Merry, John; Michie, Wm.; Middleton, John; Miller, Nicholas; Miller, Simon; Millerites, the; Millor, James B.; Mississaguas, the; Mitchell, Dr.; Mitchell, Bobt.; Monteith, Hon. Nelson; Montgomery, John; Montgomery's Tavern; Moore, Sir John; Moraviantown; Morgan, Canon; Morpeth; Morris, Henry; Morrison, Hon. J.; Morrison, J. J.; Morrison, Bobt.; Morton, James; Monlton, Joseph; Mount Albert; Munceytown; Munro, Mr.; Murray, Hugh; Myers, Mrs.
N
Newcastle; Newmarket; Newton, John; Newtonville; Nixon, Mrs.; Nottawasaga
O
Oakville; Omemee; Orillia; Oraiston, Dr.; Oner, Jeremiah; Oshawa; Oswego; Ottawa; Owen Sound
P
Parkinson, Bobt.; Partridge, Chas.; Paterson, Col.; Paterson, Dr. B.; Patton, J. W.; Penetanguishene; Perry, James; Petanquet, Chief; Phillips, Jacob; Pickering; Pierce, Moses; Pierce, Wm.; Port Credit; Port Granby; Port Hope; Port Perry; Port Stanley; Powers, Arthur; Powers, Calvin H.; Powers, H. L.; Powers, Simon; Prescott; Procter, Gen.; Purdy, Jesse; Purdy, B. McLean; Purdy, Wm.
Q
Quebec; Queen's Bush, the; Quinte, Bay of
R
Raymond, Rev. Mr.; Rainham; Reesors, the; Reicheld, Nicholas; Reid, David; Richmond Hill; Riddell, Judge; Riddell, Walter; Richardson, Gideon; Ridgetown; Ritchie, Rev. Mr.; Rittenhouse, Uriah; Robertson, John; Robertson, Geo.; Robertson, Lt. James; Robertson, Norman; Robinson, Hon. J. B.; Robson, R. W.; Rogers, Col.; Rugby; Russell, Peter
S
St. Thomas; Schmidt, Heinrich; Schneider, Nicholas; Schooner, Jacob; Scotch line, the; Sewell, John; Shearer, Mrs. John; Simcoe, Gov. J. G.; Simpson, Hon. John; Simpson, Sir George; Sinclair, Capt.; Sissons, Jonathan; Southwick, Paulina; Slack, Joseph; Smith, Bayside; Smith, James; Smith, Henry; Smith, Larry; Smith, Sir Henry; Snell, James; Sorel; Soules, David; Spiers, Peter; Stamm, John; Stanton, Oliver; Stayner; Stephens, Wm.; Stewart, John; Stewart, Duncan; Stone, Col. Joel; Stone, Mary; Stouffville; Strachan, Bishop; Stroud; Sullivan, Robt.; Sutton; Sunnidale; Sutherland, Rev. Alex.; Switzer, Martin
T
Talbot, Col.; Talbot Settlement, the; Taschereau, Judge; Thompson, Alfred; Thompson, Col. Ed.; Thompson, Col. Wm.; Thompson, Isaac; Thompson, James; Thompson, Robt.; Thompson, Samuel; Thompson, Thomas; Thorne, Mr.; Thornhill; Thornton, C. J.; Thornton, Thos.; Thurston, Henry; Tindall, Rev. R. L.; Tollendale; Toronto; Treffry, John; Trull, Capt. J. C.; Trull, Jesse; Trull, John; Trull, Pamela; Tudhope, Geo.; Tuckers, the
U
Unionville; United Kingdom, the; Uxbridge
V
Van Alstine, Major; Van Dusen, Rev. Mr.
W
Wallace, Andrew; Warnicas, the; Waraica, J. L.; Watson, Wm.; Weller, Wm.; Wellings, Obe; Welsh, Wm.; Whitehaven, the; White, James; Whitlock, Rev. J.; Whittaker, Rich.; Widdifield, J. W.; Wilson, Chas. ; Wilson, Joseph; Wilson, Justus; Windmill, Battle of the; Woodruff, Betsy; Woods, Samuel; Wright, Geo.; Wylie, Samuel
Y.
Yeomans, Miss; Yonge Street; Young, Wm.
Z
Zimmerman, Peter