F \oS'4 -f- Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924091167654 In compliance with current copyright law, Cornell University Library produced this replacement volume on paper that meets the ANSI Standard Z39.48-1992 to replace the irreparably deteriorated original. 2001 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 189I J!Y HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE HISTORY . . OF THE . . . COUN^IKS OF Argenteiiil,Q(ie.,^Prescott,Ont., FROM THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT* C. XHOMAS, Author of The Eastern Townships, Frontier School-Master AND History of Shkfford. MONTREAL : PRINTED BY :JOHN LOVELL & SON. 23 ASD 25 St. N10HOI.AB Stbeet. 1896 Entered according to Act of Farlianeat of Caaaia, ib the year one thousand eight .hundred and ninety-six, by C. Thomas, in the office ot the Minister of Agriculture and Statistics at Ottawa. BRRATA. Page 109, line 6, the legal right of any protestant clergyman except those of he established churches of England and Scotland to keep registers of civil status or to officiate at marriages. Page 123, line 8, The late James Middleton. Page 125, /|th line from bottom, Lord Reay. Page 147, line 19, For Catherine McLean, read Catherine McLaurin. Page 222, last line, read Mr. Walker's present dwelling. Page 223, line 25, for an Elder read Manager. Page 461, 1st line, for Western read Eastern. Page 466, line 19, for this company, read their company. Iiq-3DEIX. The Ottawa 9 Champlatn's Astrolabe ii The Heroes of the Long Sault 15 The Indians descent of the Ottawa with iiirt 20 do do do 21 Opening of the fur trade on the Pacific .... 21 Mr. Philemon Wright's ascent of the Ottawa 24 Navigation on the Ottawa 26. Places of interest on the Ottawa 32 County of Argenteuil 34 Census of 1891 34 Geology of Argenteuil 35 Representatives 39 SirJ. J.C.Abbott 42 AgriciUtural Society , 45 County Council 48 Argenteuil Rangers 48 Fenian raids 51 The Schools of Argenteuil 58 Inhabitants of Argenteuil 60 Scotch settlers of Argenteuil 63 Seigniory of Argenteuil 66 Sir John Johnson 67 St. Andrew's Farish 70 do Village 70 Churches.... 103 Anglican Church 103 Presbyterian Church 104 Roman Catholic Church 114 Baptist 117 Congregational 119 Methodist 122 Bible Society 123 C. E. Society 123 W. C. T.U. Society 123 Woman's Missionary Society 123 Masonic Lodge 124 Mercantile 131 Cote du Midi and the Bay 138 River Rouge 147 Beech Ridge 151 Geneva 156 Carillon 162 Employees on Carillon Canal 186 Municipal Council 190 The Dam 191 IsIeauxChats 193 Town of Iiachate 194 Reminiscences of early days 213 Professional 227 Rise and Progress of Education 232 Lachute Academy 233 Rise and Progress of Religion 237 Presbyterian Church 238 Henry's Presbyterian Church 242 Anglican Church ; 243 Baptist 244 Methodist 246 Roman Catholic Church 248 W. C. T. U. and C. E. Societies 248 Mechanics Institute 249 Manufactures... 250 Paper Mills 253 Newspapers 262 Bridges and railroads 263 Mercantile establishments 263 Hotels 266 Parish of St. Jerusalem d' Argenteuil 269 East Settlement 272 Bethany 277 Videsac 278 Hill Head 279 Chatham..; 280 Cushing 297 St. Mungo's Church 302 Greece's Point 307 Stonefield 309 St. Phillip 3'3 Roman Catholic Church 316 Staynerville 322 Brownsburg.. 324 Dominion Cartridge Factory 326 Mount Maple 333 Dalesville 33^ Baptist Church 343 Edina 3^5 Grenville 366 Grenville Village 367 Anglican Church 37^ Presbyterian 379 Roman Catholic 379 Methodist 3^3 Baptist 384 Mercantile .•• 3^^ La Belle Falls 39^ Calumet 39^ Augmentation of Grenville 403 Point auiCh6ne 404 Avoca 407 Harrington 4«' Lost River 4'^ Lake View 4'8 The Glen 42' Wentworth ' 422 Louisa 424 Wentworth Glen 42S Laurel 428 Montfort 428 VI INDEX. — Continifed- Gtore 430 Lakefield 432 Shrewsbury 436 Mille Isles > 4^8 Cambria .-.'... -4I1.1 Morin 444 Morin Flats 445 Arundel 447 Brbntpaiia 460 Howard .... 460 ftrescott '.',,.■. 461 Census of 189 1 461 Representatives ot IPrescott 462 Inhabitants 464 Militia officers of 1838...'. 467 i8th Battalion of Mifitra 467 Schools of Frescott 468 Progress of the ti mber industry 471 Agricultural Society 4^5 Point Fortune . .' 477 The H. B. and N.W. Companies 485 A Canadian Heroine 495 laon^ueuil 502 L'Ongnal '. 5I3 Methodist Church 515 Presbyterian 517 Roman Catholic 520 Anglican Church 520 Professional Men and Officials 520 Mercantile and Business Men 5 24 Newspapers 528 Cassburn 529 Hawkesbury Mills 533 Churches 542 Presbyterian Church 542 Anglican Church 543 Manufactures 547 Mercantile 549 Evandale 551 Green Lane 553 West Hawkesbury 554 Henry 563 VankleekHill 564 Presbyterian Church ■. 570 Anglican Church....' 57* Methodist Church :•••• 57* Baptist Church 573 'Ratnao GBtholic Church 574 'Schoobi-.. 575 Hotels 577 Manufactories 570 Newspapers ' 5^ •East HaWkisbUty. |W Chute au Blondeau 50? Little Ridfeau ;3^ Stardale »4 St. Eugene ~9 do H.C Church *'P JBarb — ••:1^ Caledonia ^ FenaghVale ^ do St. Paul's Church '^5 St. Amour : ^1 Caledonia Springs '.. ?f» Alfred °3p do R: C. Church °3o Lafaivre wjl Holmes Settlement °35 Alfred Village °35 Tames Settlement ^ North Plantagenet °38 Plantagenet Mills *38 do Churches *4i do Hotels i. "42 Treadwell ^ Hughes Settlement •. 6*5 jessup's Falls ,. 045 Curran '^6 Centereeld ^M Rockdale *4$ Peiidleton *>$} Smith Settlement ....... *53 do Prest. Church 654 south Plantagenet ^55 Ribeville ..^S^ Franklin's Corners. "66? temieux ;, 663 Foumier.. fi^ QUEBEC, No. 86 POPULATION -CENSUS OF 1901 16,407 ARGENTEUIL (QUE.) PRBKACB. In a volume of ordinary size it would be impossible, of course, to give a sketch of all the pioneers in a district of much extent ; in the outset of the present work, therefore, it was the intention of the writer to give biographi- cal sketches of only the very early pioneers and those who, in different ways, had become prominently identified with the history of the two Counties. It w^ in pursuance of this plan that a few of the longer sketches were written ; but among so many of the early settlers who arrived in the country abou'^ the same time, it was no easymatter to decide which was the more justly entitled to notice. To obviate this difficulty, and to avoid the very common complaint against Local Histories — that they mention only the rich and fortunate — it was determined to notice, by giving shorter sketches, all who evinced sufficient interest in the work to subscribe for it. But in pursuing this plan, we have by no means neglected to mention any individual or event whose history is at all likely to add interest to the work. Numbers of individuals, therefore, who have passed away, leaving no descendants in the country, have been accorded quite as much space as those surviving. In our desire to do justice to all, and record every incident brought to our notice which seemed worthy of preservation, we have enlarged the book considerably beyond our intention at first, and, beyond the size stated in the prospectus. In a book of so many and varied subjects, it would be scarcely less than a miracle should not errors be found and, especially, when the writer in several instances has discovered serious mistakes in notes which the individuals who gave them regarded as perfectly correct. It is believed, however, that what- ever errors may yet be discovered, if any, will be of so trifling a nature that they will not seriously affect the value of the work. That the work has been a very laborious one, the reader will at once perceive, — indeed, the writer, from ill health, has more than once almost despaired of completing it ; but He who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb has enabled him to persevere through many discouragements and bring it to completion. He would acknowledge himself profoundly grateful for the assistance rendered by the different clergymen whose contributions appear in these pages, as well as for that extended by W. J. Simpson, M.P.P. ; '''" PREFACE. G. W. Parmelee, Secretary of the Council of Public Instruction ; G. F. Calder, Esq., Cols. Shields and Higginson, Sheriff Hagar, G- J. Walker, Esq., Colin Dewar, Esq., Duncan Dewar, Esq., T. T. Higginson, Esq., and several others. " He that writes Or makes a feast, more certainly invites His judges than his friends ; there's not a guest But will find something wanting or ill-drest." However true the above lines, the value of local history increases with the progress of culture, and its benefit no one wi(l deny. This volume is presented to the public with the belief that it will be accorded a reception sufficiently cordial to save the author the unpleasant reflection, that his labor has been performed in vain. The Ottawa. ^S this noble river is the dividing line between the two Counties to the history of which this volume is devoted, and, moreover, is the stream upon which thousands of their inhabitants have toiled for the maintenance of them- selves or families, it naturally deserves more than a passing notice. Fine, charming, beautiful, lovely, wonderful river, are expressions any one or all of which may be heard daily on the steamers which ply its waters ; and ex- travagant and ridiculous as seem these adjectives when applied to many objects, no one ever regards them inappropriate when applied to the Ottawa. Coming from the far North, from regions almost unknown, there is a certain mystery about it, which awakens our curiosity and engenders a spirit of romance. While its beautiful islands and the picturesque scenery of its shores are continually demanding our admiration, as we ascend its current, its breadth is an ever-present source of wonder. From the moment we leave Lake St. Louis, where it unites with the St. Law- rence, till we have passed two hundred miles beyond Jhe Dominion Capital, we look in vain for any perceptible decrease of its breadth and volume ; there is the same oft-recurring change from river to lake, from lake to river. The Ottawa is emphatically a river of lakes, and of the last fifty miles of its course, they form no small proportion. Scarcely have we left Lake St. Louis, ere we enter the beautiful Lake of Two -Mountains, every square rood of whose shores is replete with historic interest. Leav. ing this, we are soon on the expansive bosom of St. Placide Bay, and anon on Rigaud Bay, each vying with the other in beauty and area, as well as in the importance ofits historic associations. And thus we may sail, seeing river after river, and some ot {hem large in size, adding their waters to those of the mighty Ottawa, without causing the slightest apparent difference in its size ; indeed^itis said that it is broader 280 miles from its mouth than it is after receiving twenty tributaries, and several of them such, streams as the Gatineau, the LiAvre, the North and South Nations, the Rouge and the River du Nord. Wonderful indeed ! But our interest increases as we cast our eyes along the history of the past, and see the important events with which the Ottawa has been connected. It was the highway of the early French explorers, 2 10 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. traders and missionaries who brought the first tidings of the Gospel to the natives of New France. It was traversed by the red man when he first in peace bartered the products of the chase with the whites at Montreal ; also, when he stole stealthily upon them to dye his tomahawk in their blood. This was the route pursued by the coureurs du bois, as they went to and from their far-off haunts for game, and maay decades later the Ottawa bore the canoes ^of the Nor' Westers, and returned them with rich cargoes of peltries. The earliest event with which the Ottawa is associated, which we find mentioned in Canadian history, is its ascent by Champlain, in 1613, on a wild goose chase, to discover the North Sea. A person named Vigneau bad accompanied him on several visits to the Indians, and spent a winter among them . He reported that the river of the Algonquins (the Ottawa) issued from a lake connected with the North Sea ; that he had visited the shores of this sea, and there witnessed the wreck of an English vessel. The crew — eighty in number — had reached the shore, where the inhabitants had killed and scalped them all except a boy, whom tiiey offered to give up to him, with other trophies of their victory. Champlain had this declaration made in writ- ing, and signed before two notaries, at the same time warning Vigneau that if it were false, he would be liable to punishment by death. Vigneau adhered to his statements, and Champlain, having learned that some English vessels had been wrecked on the coast of Labrador, no longer doubted, and prepared to depart for the North to explore that section of the country. With two canoes containing four Frenchmen — including Vigneau— and one Indian, heproceededup theOitawa, during which voyage he experienced severe hardships and encountered many difficulties. Owing to frequent rapids and cataracts, they were obliged, often, to carry their canoes and stores overland, and sometimes this was impossible, on account of the dense forests and undergrowth. The latter diffi- culty was overcome only by dragging their boats through the rapid current, where their lives were in constant jeopardy. .Another danger, also, continually menaced them, — that of meeting wandering bands of Iroquois, to whose ferocity they would doubtless have fallen victims. At last they were obliged to abandon their corn and trust entirely to their success in hunting and fishing for provisions. They finally reached the habitations of Tessonat, a friendly chief, whose country was eight days journey from that of the Nipissings, where the shipwreck was said to have occurred. He received them courteously ; but in a council which was held later, he promised, only on the most earnest entreaty, to comply with Cham- plain's request for an escort of four canoes. Finding the Indians still reluctant ta fulfill this promise and averse to accompany him, he demanded another meeting, in which he reproached them with their intended breach of faith; and to convince them^ that the fears which they expressed were groundless, referred to the fact of Vigneau having spent some time among the Nipissings. Vigneau being then called on to state whether such was the case, after some hesitation and evident reluctance replied in the affirmative. The chief immediately HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 11 calledhim a liar, asserted that he had neverbeenbeyond.the limits of theirown country, and declared that he deserved torture for his dishonesty. Being submitted to a rigid examination by Champlain, Vigneau was obliged to admit that what the Indians said was true, and that his tale, by which Champlain had been led to encounter such hard- ships, and neglect matters he had so much at heart, was a fabrication. I.eaving him with the Indians as punishment for his perfidy, Champlain returned to Quebec, and soon afterward to France. In 1867 no little interest was awakened among antiquaiians by the finding of an Astrolabe, which there very is good proof was lost by Champlain on his trip up the Ottawa which is described above. We are indebted to Mr. Colin Dewar, of Ottawa, for the account which follows. He says : — I have a distinct recollection that an article appeared in the Montreal Witness, in the summer of 1867, giving an account of the finding of an Astrolabe near Portage du Fort, on the Ottawa. This was a most interesting relic, on account of its being (as was conjectured) the one used by Champlain on his voyage of exploration up the Ottawa in 1613. In order to ascertain the truth of the report, and to obtain, if possible, the fullest information regarding it, I instituted a vigorous search (for a time with very little prospect of success) ; but considering that no trouble would be too great to secure the proper information regarding such a valuable relic, I persevered in my endeavors, „^ ultimately was rewarded by finding a very complete account in pamphlet form, from the pen of the )ate A- J. Russell, Esq., Crown Timber Agent in Ottawa, whose son, John Alex. Russell, Esq., of the Public Works Department, has also contributed some exceedingly valuable information. The account given by Mr. Russell is so very interesting, and deals with the subject in such a scientific manner, that it will be both pleasing and profitable to the readers of these sketches to have it faithfully transcribed. CHAMPLAIN'S ASTROLABE. Lost on the 7TI1 June, 1613, and Found in August, 1867. In the preface, Mr. Russell says : " This brief treatise was not originally written with a view to " publication ; but as the subject is connected with the early history of Canada, and throws a little ' ' additional light on an obscurity in a part of Cfaamplain's journal of his first voyage up the Ottawa, ' * I have been induced by the flattering recommendations of a few friends to have a very limited edition " of it published, trusting it may be in some degree interesting to Canadian readers," Mr. Russell now goes on to (ay : " The Astrolabe which is the subject of this treatise was " shewn to me by Captain Overman of the Ottawa Forwarding Co. He afterwardsgave it to R. W. " Cassells, Esq. , then President of that Company, now of Toronto, who obliged me with the loan of " it. Knowledge of the Portage on which it was found led me to believe that it was the one that " Champlain's journal contains evidence of his having lost there, in 1613. Champlain's Astrolabe. " This Astrolabe, of which a photo is prefixed, was found in 1867, on the rear half of lot 12, in the "second range of the tovniship of Ross in the county of North Renfrew, Province of Ontario, on the "liver Ottawa, by Captain Overman's people in cultivating apiece of ground, at a small lake near the HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. " roa^ from the Ottawa to Muskrat Lake, and is believed to have been lost by Champlain in traver- " sing that portage on his way up the Ottawa in the year 1613.''— " The following pamculars req>ect- "ing it, and reasons for believing it to be Champlain's, may perhaps be found interesting »<> Cana- " dian readers. Its diameter is sH inches, of plate brass, very dark with age, and 'A of »" wch thick •' above, increasing to 61V of an inch below, to give it steadiness when suspended, which apparently " was intended to be increased by having a weight on the ring at the bottom of it, in using it on ship " board. Its suspending ring is attached by a double hinge of the nature of a universal joint. Its " circle is divided into single degrees, graduated from its perpendicular axis of suspension. The dou- « ble blade d index, the pivot of which passes through the centre of the Astrolabe, has sliU and eyelets « in the projecting sights that are on it. and by turning the index directly to the sun at noon, so that » the same ray may shine fully through both eyelets, while the Astrolabe hangs freely. The sun's " Meridian altitude, and thereby the latitude of the place of observation, can be taken to within " about X of a degree, or even less, which is as close as Champlain's latitudes generally were taken. '' The dale of 1603 is engraved on the face of the Astrolabe. « Champlain made his first voyage up the Ottawa in 1613, and his journal contains conclusive " evidence that he lost his Astrolabe on the 6th or 7th June of that year, in passing through the por- " lage on which this Astrolabe was found. It is singularly remarkable that this evidence lies chiefly " in an error in Champlain's latitude of what is now the village of Pembroke, which attracted the spe- " cial attention of our Canadian historian, Mr. Ferland, and is the subject of a copious note on page " 307 of the splendid illustrated edition of the works of Champlain, edited with copious and interesting " notes by Abb6 Lavei-diire of the Laval University, and published by Mr. Desbarat in 1870, while "it is equally worthy of remark that the loss of his Astrolabe accounts sufficiently for Champlain " not afterwards detecting and correcting this error of his by subsequent observations, and his having ' ' lost it accounts also for his having made no more observations for latitude on that voyage, which he ■ certainly otherwise would have done. It will he seen on examination that Champlain's error in ob- ".servation of latitude took place near Gould's Landing, below Portage duFort (which seems to have " escaped the notice of M r. Ferland and others), and that his error in speaking of the latitude of Pem- " broke is simply a continuation of his first error, arising from its being merely an estimation or rough "dead reckoning of his Northing from Gould's Landing, in consequence of his not having the means of " determining it by actual observation owing to his having lost his Astrolabe. " This will be more clearly apparent by following the course of Champlain, and noting what he "says about his observations for latitude. " He left the Island of Ste. I16\ine, where his barque lay at anchor, on the 27th May, 1613, with " a party of four Frenchmen and one Indian. (There was no Montreal in those days.) Being delayed "by bad weather, he did not leave Sault St. Louis till the 29th. On the 30th he took an observation "for latitude at Lachine. His words in the French of his time are : ' Je prius la hauteur de ce lieu, " qui est par les 45 degrez 18 minutes de latitude,' which is only about five minutes less than the true "latitude of the place, a very insignificant error when it is taken into consideration that the Verniers " we now have on all scientific instruments for reading the sub-divisions of degrees were not then in "common use, though invented about that time. Giving a brief but vivid and highly interesting " description of the danger he experienced in towing his own canoe up the Long Sault Rapids, of the "fair and spacious tributary rivers, the beautiful islands and magnificent woods as he passes along, "and exchanging one of his Frenchmen for an Indian of a war party that he met at an island near " what is now the site of the antique-looking and picturesquely situated manor house of the late Hon. " Louis Joseph Papineau, and passing the Rideau Falls, which excite his admiration, he reaches the " great ' Asticon,' as his Indians called it, and which in their language meant ' Chaudi&re,' and des- "cribes that great waterfall of the Ottawa, in all its native grandeur, which all old Bytonians so well "remember, though now impaired and desecrated. On passing it on the 4th June, he took an obser- HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 13 " ration for latitude at what is now the overgrown busy village of Hull. He sajrs-: ' Je prius la hauteur ' ' du lien, et trouvay 45 degree 38 minutes de latitude/ that is only about 12^ minutes in excess of the " true latitude, which is 45° 25'' 33" N. Passing the Chaudi&re Lake and the Eardley mountains on " the Stb, and the great {alls of the Chatts, where, singularly enough, they left their provisions and part " of their clothing, to avoid the fatigue of carrying them, he ascends the Chats Lake and camps on an '■ island at the head of it, where he first meets the Ottawa red pine trees, and admires their beauty. He ' ' there erected a cross made of one of them with the arms of France cut . upon it . Leaving it on the " 6th he paddled up the Cheneaux Rapid. The reader who has passed that way. will remember the " narrow passage between the rocky islands and the lofty precipitous rocks, whose shadows darken "the swift and surging waters through which the steamer sways and struggles before entering the pic- " turesque reach of smooth water leading to Portage da Fort. " Here Champlain says he crossed to the west side of the river, where it turns to the north, " and landed for the purpose of taking the route by the Muskrat portage and lake to Pembroke, by " the advice of his Indians, — to avoid the many rapids and falls on the mun river. The place of his " landing is very [definitely apparent on the sketch with this, which is copied from the plan of the " Ottawa canal survey, and here he says he took an observation of the latitude : * Nous traversames " done ii I'ouest la riviere qui courait au nord, et pris la hauteur de ce lieu qui estoit par 46° 2' 3" <• de latitude.' " It is here that he makes the error of a full degree, in addition to the usual amount of error due, " to the imperfection of the instrument, for the latitude of his landing place is only about 45° 35', and " this, it is to be observed, is the last observation that he says he took during the voyage. He then " says : ' We had much hardship in making our way by this land route, being loaded, for my own " part, only with three Arquebuses, as many paddles, my capot and some little bagatelles. I " encouraged my people, who were a little more heavily loaded, and more harassed by the mosquitoes " than by their burdens. Thus after having passed four small lakes or ponds (petiis itangs), we were •' so fatigued that it was impossible for us to go farther, as lor nearly 24 hours we had eaten nothing " but a little roasted fish without sauce, for, as I have said, we had left our provisions ; we rested on " the banks of a little lake, which was pleasant enough, and made a fire to drive away the mosqui- " toes. The next day, June 7th, we passed this pond, which may be a league in length, and then made " our way by land for three leagues through a more difficult counuy than any we had yet seen, owing " to the wind having blown down the pines one over the otter, which is no small inconvenience, " having to pass sometimes over and sometimes under these trees. Thus we came to a lake 6 " leagues long (Muskrat Lake).' " The four little lakes that he passed on the 6th are shown on the sketch, and his distance made " that day of 2yi leagues from the Ottawa is very nearly correct, so also is the length of the lake he " traversed on the morning of the 7th, but the distance from it to the Muskrat Lake is estimated by " him at nearly double what it really is, but that is exactly what might be expected from any person " little accustomed to the woods in struggling through windfalls. The small lake near which, I was " informed by Capt. Overman, the Astrolabe was found, and which is most accessible at that end, " would be a most suitable halting place- He reached Muskrat Lake early enough in the diy to " be entertained formally with the pipe of peace and friendship in Indian fashion, followed by a " speech and refreshments from Nebachis, the chief of the Indians, who cleared and cultivated land " there, and had fields and gardens which they took him to see. " Nebachis had a couple of canoes equipped, and took him down Muskrat Lake, and across the " short portage of three miles by a well beaten easy path (now the stage route to Pembroke), to see " the Chief Tessonat. He arrived there on the 8th June, so early that after visiting Tessonat, and " making some arrangements with that chief, he had time to go over to AUumetle Island, the chief " abode and stronghold of that branch of the Algonquins called the ' Kichsipim ' (men of the Grand ^4 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. '• river), characterized in ' Xes Relations des Jdsuites' as extrlmenunt sitperie. There examin- " ing at leisure their land and burying grounds, he conferred with their chiefs and principal men, and " invited them to attend the feast or public dinner that the ' bon vieux Capilaine Tessonal ' was to V give on the 9th at Pembroke, on which day. after Tessonat's formal state dinner had come off in " its various courses, such like as they were, attended by the chiefs and great men, each bringing with « him his own wooden bowl and spoon, and after solemn smoking and speechi6cation, Champlam, " to pkss the rest of the day, walked about in their gardens. But neitherduring this linie nor the day " after, nor indeed during the remainder of the voyage, does he speak at all of taking any more "observauons for latitude. What he says of Pembroke is simply that it is alwut the 47l'> degree of ^' latitude : • Elle est par les 47 degrez de latitude," that is, in speaking of Allumetle Island and the " foot of Allumette Lake. In noticing this as an error of fully ii degree in the absence of any other " means obvious to him of accounting for it, M. Ferland, in page 164 of his ' Cours d'Histoire du " Canada ' says: ' Pareille erreur n'a rien qui doive surprendre dans une expedition oii il lui devait fitre " difficile de faire des observations exactes.' But we cannot accept of this explanation as adequate " to account for the difference between the true latitude of Pembroke, which is about 45° 5/y' W- " and that of 47° given by Champlain, for in examining his errors in latitude in the cases quoted, " and those made on his voyage to Lake Huron two years later, arter having been again in France (if " it be right to designate as errors differences, his instruments were not graduated minutely enough to " indicate), we find that they are comparatively insignificant, seldom amounting to the third part " of a degree, which corresponds clpsely with the cipacity of the Astrolabe found. We see there- " fore that this error of a degree in the latitude of Pembroke could not arise from imperfect power of " his instrument, as M. Ferland's explanation seems to suggest. In fact, a little further considera- " tion enables us to see that ihe circumstance of this great error of a degree having been originally " made below Portage du Fort, demonstrates conclusively that he took no ob.-ervation at all at '' Pembroke. For we all know, especially those of us who are accustomed to the use of instruments " for the observation of altitudes, or have even the ordinary knowledge of the doctfine of chances, that, " as Champlain knew well that he was travelhng northward, the certainty is, that if he had made an " observation of Pembroke at all, he would have assuredly detected his ei ror made on the 6th, for by " it he would be necessarily made to appear to have been going south. We are not at liberty to " suppose he would have made the error of a degree a second time accidentally, for we know that on "the common principle of chances, the probability was more than ten thousand to one that he " would not make the same accidental error twice in succession. Also, as we see that he was in the " habit of taking observations for latitudes of less important points, as he went along, and very " formally noticing his observations, we may be very well assured 'that he would not have failed to " determine, by actual observation as usual, the latitude of a position so important as the extreme " point he had reached, if he had had the means of doing so, and no other cause that can ke assigned " accounts sufficiently for bis not having the means of doing so, and for his having taken no observa- " tion on this voyage after the 6th of June, excepting the loss of his Astrolabe on the portage where " this one was found. " Taken altogether, therefore, there is strong circumstantial evidence that this was his Astrolabe, " and that his loss of it, there and then, was the cause of the extraordinary error in his latitude of " Pembroke which attracted Ihe attention of his commentators. " While we look upon this Astrolabe as a relic of the founder of civilized society in Canada, her " greatest man and most daring explorer, the founder of her most ancient cities, of her great com- " mercial metropolis ; and while we regard it with additional interest as a memento of early adven- '' ture on what was even then Canada's great interior highway of commerce, and is by the same des- " tiny now the site for her great Pacific Railway, we may also look upon it as a relic of ancient and '" even pie-hisloric.sciepce and civilization. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. IJ " The day of Astrolabes, like that of the men who used them, has long gone by. This waspro- " bably one of the la^t of them that were used. One of the last works on them is Claviut' * Treatise on " Astrolabes,' printed at Mayence in 1611. They were soon after superseded. Vernier, the inventor " of the Vernier scale now in use on the indexes of all scientific instruments for reading rubjivisions " of degrees, published a tract on ' La Construction, 1' Usage et les Propriit^s du Quadrant " Nouveau de Math£matiqae ' at Brussels en 1631. In it the nature and use of the Vernier is " explained, and it had indeed been known for a number of years before , It will be readily under- " stood by all acquainted with scientific instruments that the ' Quadrant Nouveau ' with its Vernier *' would speedily supersede so imperfect an instrument as the Astrolabe before us. The Astrolabe *' was found in general use among the Southern Arabians by Vasquez de Gama, when he discovered, '' as it is commonly held, the way round the Cape of Good Hope to India, known in the days of " Pharaoh Necho. The origin of the use of it by them is l>st in the remote past. From the days " of de Gama back to the earliest notices of commerce in existence, the commerce of the Arabians " and their predecessors, the Cnshite Arabians, extended to every coast, and almost to every island of " the Indian Ocean ' from India to Abyssinia,' as Rawlinson says in his work on Herodotus. Our *■ ■ Alchemy,' ' Arabic figures,' ' Almanac ' and ' Algebra,' indicate the channel through which our " sciences came." Champlain returned to Canada in \ j^i ■;. an d the same year, in company with his Huron and Algonquin allie:-, once more ascended the Ottawa, and explored the country towards Lake Nipissing, and thence to Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The most important event, however, associated widi the Ottawa is the brave defence on its shores by the "Heroes of tlie Long Sault." The exact site of this heroic fight is unknown — ^different parties locate it in different places, and all sup- port their opinions with arguments equally good. But there are strong reasons for believing that the fight occurred in what is now known as Greece's Pt., or at a spot nearly opposite, in the township of Hawkesbury, Ont., tradition, and the finding of many Indian weapons there, strongly sustaining the claims of the latter place to this honor. The following account is taken from " The Old Regime in Canada " by Francis Farkman : — The Heroes of the Long Sault. In April, 1660, a young officer named Daulac, commandant of the garrison at Montreal, asked leave of Maisonneuve, the Governor, to lead a party of volunteers against the Iroquois. His plan was bold to desperation. It was known that Iroquois warriors, in great numbers had wintered among the forests of the Ottawa. Daulac proposed to waylay them on their descent of the river, and fight them with- out regard to disparity of force; and Maisonneuve, judging that a display of enter- prise and boldness might act as a check on the audicityof the enemy, at last gave his consent. Adam Daulac was a young man of good family, who had come to the colony three years before, at the age of twenty-two. He had held some military command in France, though in what rank does not appear. He had been busy for some time among the young men of Montreal, inviting them to join him in the enterprise he l6 HISTORY OF ARGEBTEUIL. meditated. Sixteen of them caught his spirit They bound themsplves by oath to accept no quarter ; and having gained Maisonneuye's consent, they made their wills, confessed, and received the sacraments. After a solemn farewell, they embarked in several canoes, well supplied with arms and ammunition. They were very bdifferent cahoe-men, and it is said that they lost a week in vain attempts to pass the swift current of Ste. Anne, at the head of the Island of Montreal. At length they were successful, and entering the mouth of the Ottawa, crossed the Lake of Two Mountains, and slowly advanced against the current. About the ist of May they reached the foot of the formidable rapid called the Long Sauit, where a tumult of waters, foaming among ledges and boulders, barred ^he onward way. It was needless to go farther. The Iroquois were sure to pass the Sault, aiKi could be fought hefe as well as elsewhere. Just below the rapid, where the forests sloped gently to the shore, among the bushes and stumps of a rough clearing made in constructing it, stood a palisade fort, the work of an Algon- quin war-party in the past autumn. It was a mere enclosure of trunks of small trees planted in a circle, and was already in ruin. Such as it was, the Frenchmen took possession of it. They made their fires, and slung their kettles, on the neighboring sliore; and here they were soon joined by forty Hurons and four Algonquins. Daulac, it seems, made no objection to their company, and they all bivouacked to- gether. Morning, noon and night, they prayed in three different tongues ; and when, at sunset, the long reach of forest on the farther shore basked peacefully in the level rays, the rapids joined their hoarse music to the notes of their evening hymn. In a day or two their scouts came in with tidings that two Iroquois canoes were coming down the Sault. Daulac had time to set his men in ambush among the bushes at a point where he thought the strangers likely to land. He judged aright. Canoes, bearing five Iroquois, approached, and were met by a volley fired with such precipita- tion that one or more of ihem escaped, fled into the forest, and told their mischance to their main body, two hundred in number, en the river above. A fleet of canoes suddenly appeared, bounding down the rapids, filled with warriors eager for revenge. The allies had barely time to escape to their fort, leaving their kettles still slung over the fires. The Iroquois made a hasty and desultory attack, and were quickly repulsed. They next opened a parley, hoping, no doubt, to gain some advantage by .surprise. Failing in this, they set themselves, after their custom on such occasions, to building a rude fort of their own in the neighboring forest. This gave the French a breathing time, and they used it for strengthening their defences. Being provided with tools, they planted a row of stakes witliin their pal- isade, to form a double fence, and filled the intervening space with earth and stones to the height of a man, leaving some twenty loop-holes, at each of which, three marks- men were stationed. Their work was still unfinished when the Iroquois were upon them again. They tad broken to pieces the birch canoes of the French and their allies, and kindling the bark rushed up to pile it blazing against the palisade ; but so HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 1 7 brisk and steady a fire met them that they recoiled, and at last gave way* They caine on again, and again were driven back,, leaving many of their number on the ground, among them the principal chief of the Senecas. This dashed the spirits of the Iroquois, and they sent a canoe to call to their aid five hundred of their warriors, who were mustered near the mouth of the Richelieu. These were the allies whom, but for this untoward check, they were on their way to join for a combined attack on Quebec, Three Rivers and Montreal. It was madden- ing to see their grand project thwarted by a few French and Indians ensconced in a paltry redoubt scarcely better than a cattle-pen ; but they were forced to digest the affront as best they might. Meanwhile, crouched behind trees and logs, they beset the fort, harassing its defenders day and night with a spattering fire and a constant menace of attack. Thus five days passed. Hnnger, thirst, and want of sleep wrought fatally on the strength of the French and their allies, who, pent up together in their narrow prison, fought and prayed by turns. Deprived as they were of water, they could not swallow the crushed Indian corn, or " hominy," which was their only food. Some of them, under cover of a brisk fire, ran down to the river and filled such small vessels as they had ; but this pittance only tantalized their thirst. They dug a hole in the fort, and were rewarded at last by a little muddy water oozing through the clay. Among the assailants were a number of Hurons adopted by the Iroquois, and fighting on their side. These renegades now tried to seduce their countrymen in the fort. Half dead with thirst and famine, they took the bait, and one, two, or three at a time climbed the palisade, and ran over to the enemy, amid the hootiugs and exe- crations of those whom they deserted. Their chief stood firm, and when he saw I)is nephew join the other fugitives, he fired his pistol at him in a rage. The four Algon- quins. who had no mercy to hope for, stood fast with the courage of despair. On the fifth day an uproar of unearthly yells from seven hundred savage throats, mingled with a clattering salute of musketry, told the Frenchmen that tlie expected reinforcement had come j and soon, in the forest and on the clearing, a crowd of war- riors mustered for the attack. Knowing from the Huron deserters the weakness of their enemy, they had no doubt of an easy victory. They advanced cautiously, as was usual with the Iroquois before their blood was up, screeching, leaping from side to side, and firing as they came on ; but the French were at their posts, and every loop- hole darted its tongue of fire. The Iroquois, astonished at the persistent vigor of the defence, fell badt discomfited. The fire of the French, who were themselves com- pletely undercover, told upon them with deadly effect. Three days more wore away in a series of futile attacks, made with little concert or vigor, and during all this time Daulac and his men, reeling with exhaustion, fought and prayed as before, sure of a martyr's reward. The uncertain, vacillating temper common to all Indians now began to declare itself. Some of the Iroquois were for going home. Others revolted at the thought, and declared that it would be an eternal disgrace to lose so many men at the hands l8 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. of SO paltry an enemy, and yet fail to take revenge. It was resolved to make a general assault, and volunteers were called for, lo lead the attack. No precaution was neglected. Large and heavy shields, four or five feet high, were made by lashing to- getlier, with the aid of cross bars, three split logs. Covering themselves with these mantelets, the chosen band advanced, followed by the motley throng of warriors. In spite of a brisk fire, they reached the palisade, and crouching below the range of shot, hewed furiously with their hatchets to cut their way through.. The restfollowed close, and swarmed like angry hornets around the little fort, hacking and tearing to gel in. Daulac had crammed a large musketoon with powder and plugged up the muzzle. Lighting the fuse inserted in it, he tried to throw it over the barrier, to burst like a grenade among the crowd of savages without ; but it struck the ragged top of one of the palisades, fell back among the Frenchmen, and exploded, killing or wounding several of them, and nearly blinding others. In the confusion that followed, the Iro- quois got possession of the loop holes, and thrusting in their guns fired ou those within. In a moment more they had torn a breach in the palisade ; but, nerved with the energy of desperation, Daulac and his followers sprang to defend it. Another breach was made and then another, Daulac was struck dead, but the survivors kept up the fight. With a sword or a hatchet in one hand and a knife in the other, they threw themselves against the throng of enemies, striking and stabbing with the fury of madmen ; till the Iroquois, despairing of taking them alive, fired volley after volley, and shot them down. All was over, and a burst of triumphant yells proclaimed the dear-bought victory. Searching the pile of corpses, the victors found four Frenchmen still breathing. Three had scarcely a spark of life, and, as no time was to be lost, they burned them on the spot. The fourth, less fortunate, seemed likely to survive, and they reserved him for future torments. As for the Huron deserters, their cowardice profited them little. The Iroquois, regardless of their promises, fell upon them, burned some at once and carried the rest to their villages for a similar fate. Five of the number had the good fortune to escape, and it was from them, aided by admissions made long afterwards by the Iroquois themselves, that the French of Canada derived all their knowledge of this glorious disaster. The story of the Heroes of the Long Sault has been admirably told by Mr. George Murray, B.A., F.R.S.C, in his celebrated poem. How Canada was Saved. Daulac, the captain of the fort in maahood's fiery prime, ]lath sworn by some immortal deed to make his name sublime ; And sixteen soldiers of the Cross, his comrades true and tried, Have pledged iheii faith for life and death, all kneeling side by side. And this their oath, on flood or field, tu challenge face to face The nitbless hordes of Iroquois — the scourges of their race^ — No quarter tq accept or grant, and loyal to the grave, To die, like martyrs, for the land they had shed their blood to save. HISTORY OP ARGENTEUIL. I9 Soft was the breath of balmy Spring in that fair month of May, The wild flower bloomed — the Spring bird sang on many a budding spray — A tender blue was in the sky, on earth a tender green — And peace seemed brooding, like a dove, o'er all the sylvan scene. When loud and high, a thrilling cry dispelled the magic charm. And scouts came hurrying from the woods to bid their comrades arm. And bark canoes skimmed lightly down the torrent of the Sault, Manned by three hundred dusky forms — th: long expected foe. " Eight days of varied horror passed ; what boots it now to tell How the pale tenants of the fort heroically fell ? Hunger and thirst, and sleeplessness, Death's ghastly aids, at length Marred and defaced their comely forms, and quelled their giant strength ; The end draws nigh — they yearn to die — one glorious rally more, For the sake of Ville-Marie, and all will soon he o'er ; Sure of the martyr's golden crown, they shrink not from the cross. Life yielded for the land they love, they scorn to reckon loss." The fort is Grtd, and through the flame, with slippery, splashing tread. The Redmen stumble 10 the camp o'er ramparts of the dead. There, with set teelh and nostrils wide, Daulac, the dauntless, stood And dealt his foes remorseless blows, 'mid blinding smoke and blood, 'Till, hacked and hewn, he reel'd to earth, with proud unconquered glance. Dead — ^but immortalized by death — Leonidas of France ! True to their oath, his comrade knights no quarter basely c:aved — So died the peerless twenty-two — So Canada was saved. A visit by the French to the scene of this obstinate fight confirmed the story of those Hurons who had escaped, and for many years, subsequently, Daulac was re- membered by his countrymen in Canada as their deliverer, and his name was rever- enced as that of a hero and martyr. The fact that the Iroquois, after this fight, returned to their homes without mak- ing their contemplated attack on the cities, also confirmed another report of the Hurons, viz., that the Iroquois were completely disheartened with their victory, and had no relish for another contest with the French. If twenty of the latter without support or comfort — almost without food and water — could perform such a prodigy of valor, what might they expect when confronting hundreds s'ipplied with abundant stores of food, arms and ammunition ? Such was the question pondered by the Iroquois, and the consideration of which induced them to abandon the war path and seek their homes. But to the shame of Canada, be it said, no monument marks the spot of this memorable defence, and even its location is now a subject of conjecture. Indeed, it is surprising to find how great the number, even in this section of Canada, who declare that they never heard of the event. We can well understand why Daulac's contem- poraries failed to mark the spot with an appropriate monument, as they were few in number, and waging incessant warfare with poverty, as well as Indians. For a cen- StO HISTORY OK ARGEMTEUIL. tuiy after this event, also, its site was remote from civilization, in an unbroken wilder- ness ; and anything of the kind erected there would, doubtless, have been destroyed by the savage. But for a century past, no such obstacle to a proper recognition of this gallant band has existed, and every patriotic Canadian should desire to show to the foreign visitor who passes up and down the Ottawa, that Canada has her Ther- mopylae. Let him read on enduring material, the fact, that on the shores of this beautiful river, long ago, died twenty heroes, as brave as ever Spartan mother nursed, as patrio- tic as those of whom Romau or Grecian poet ever sung. The French are proverbially proud of their heroes, and ever ready to perpetuate the fame of their honored dead. They point with pride to the statues adorning their galleries of history, and gladly expatiate on the deeds performed by their great and good. But let the patriot Frenchman, when he points to the monuments of Maison- neuve, Montcalm and Chenier, remember that Daulac and his nineteen comrades, deserving the highest niche in the temple of fame, have never been duly honored; — that for nearly two and half centuries, the only reminder of the hallowed spot where these martyrs fell has been the swift, roaring, turbulent waters of the Long Sault. We are indebted to Parkman, also, for the account of the two following incidents with which the Ottawa is connected. During the second administration of Frontenac as Governor of Canada, he left Quebec for a visit to Montreal, at which place he arrived July 31st, 1690. A few days, after his arrival, the officer commanding the fort at La Chine sent him a messenger in hot haste, with the startling news that Lake St. Louis was " all covered with canoes." Nobody doubted that the Iroquois were upon them again. Cannon were fired to call in the troops from detached posts ; when alarm was sud- denly turned into joy by the arrival of other messengers, to announce that the new- comers were not enemies, but friends. They were the Indians of the upper lakes descending from Michillimacinac .via the Ottawa to trade in Montreal. Nothing so auspicious had happened since Frontenac's return. The messages he had sent them in the spring by Louvigny and Perrot, reinforced by the news of the victory on the Ottawa and the capture of Schenectady, had had the desired effect ; and the Iro- quois prisoner, whom their missionary had persuaded them to torture, had not been sacrificed in Vain, Despairing of an English market for their beaver skins, they had come as of old to seek one from the French. On the next day all came down the rapids and landed near the town. There were fully five hundred of them — Hurons, Ottawas, Ojibwayp, Poitawtamies, Crees, and Nipissings, with a hundred and ten canoes laden with beaver skins to the value of nearly a hundred thousand crowns. Nor was this all, for a few days after, La Durantaye, late commander at Michillimacinac, arrived with fifty-five more canoes manned by French traders, and HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 21 filled with valuable furs. The stream of wealth dammed back so long was flowing upon the colony at the moment when it was most needed. Never had Canada known a more prosperous trade than now, in the midst of her danger and tribulation. It was a triumph for Frontenac. If his policy had failed with the Iroquois, it had found a crowning success among the tribes of the Lakes. Four or five years later, when the country was again in a great state of destitution on account of the frequent raids of enemies, which compelled the settlers or colonists »o neglect the implements of agriculture for those of war, another arrival of furs quickly changed the country from misery and destitution to happiness and plenty. It was shortly after the repulse of Pliipps at Quebec, and some other successes of the French, that " the Governor achieved a success more solid and less costly." I'he indispensable but most difficult task of all remained : that of opening the Ottawa for the descent of the great accumulation of beaver skins which had been gathering at Michillimacinac for three years, and for the want of which, Canada was bankrupt. More than two hundred Frenchmen were known to be at that remote post, or roaming in the wilderness around it ; and Frontenac resolved on an attempt to muster them together, and employ their united force to protect the Indians and the traders in bringing down this mass of furs to Montreal. A messenger, strongly es- corted, was sent with orders to this effect, and succeeded in reaching Michillimacinac, though there was a battle on the way in which the officer commanding the escort was killed. Frontenac anxiously waited the issue, when, after a long delay, the tidings reached him of complete success. He hastened to Montreal, and found it swarming with Indians and coureurs du bois. Two hundred canoes had arrived filled with the coveted beaver skins. It is impossible, says the chronicle, to conceive the joy of the people when they beheld these treasures. Canada had awaited them for years. The mer- chants and the farmers were dying of hunger. Credit was gone, and everybody was afraid that the enemy would waylay and seize this last resource of the country. Therefore it was that none could find words to praise and bless him by whose care all this wealth had arrived. Father of the People, Preserver of the Country, seemed terms too weak to express their gratitude. Few, comparatively, are aware of the fact, that the Ottawa was the route pur- sued by one of the partners and his voyageurs, in the great enterprise of opening up the fur trade on the Pacific. The following account of this enterprise is of interest to the citizens of Argenteuil, from the fact that Capt. McCargo, a pioneer of Beech Ridge, St. Andrews, before settling here was connected with one of the expeditions to the Pacific, described below. In i8ro articles were entered into between John Jacob Astor of New York, and four other gentlemen — ^Alexander McKay, Duncan McDougal, Donald McKenzie and Wilson Price Hunt — ^for the purpose of prosecuting the fur trade on what was 22 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. then almost a terra incognita— the Northwest coast of the United States ; the company was chartered under the name of " The Pacific Fur Company." In prosecuting his great scheme of commerce and colonization, two expeditions were devised by Mr. Astor, — one by sea, the other by land. The former was to carry out the people, stores, ammunition and merchandise requisite for establishing a forti- fied trading post at the mouth of the Columbia river. The latter, conducted by Mr. Hunt, was to proceed up the Missouri, and across the Rocky Mountains to the same point, exploring aline of communication across the continent, and noting the places where interior trading posts might be established, A fine ship called the " fonquin " was provided, carrying an assortment of mer- chandise for trading with the natives of the seaboard and the interior, together with the frame of a schooner to be employed in the coasting trade. She was commanded by Jonathan Thorn, a lieutenant in the United States Navy, on leave of absence. The " Tonquin," after a long voyage around the Cape, and much trouble between the captain and his passengers, and an interesting though dangerous visit to the Sand- wich Islands, arrived at the mouth of the Columbia. Several days were spent in attempting to cross the bar and effect an entrance into this river, and some of the crew were lost. The object, however, was finally accomplished, the men and stores landed, and then the " Tonquin,'' according to instructions, put to sea with the purpose of sailing to other more northern coasts to obtain furs, before returning to the mouth of the Columbia and thence to New York. She arrived in a few days at Vancouver Island, and very much against the advice of his Indian interpreter, who warned him against the perfidious character of the natives of that part of the coast. Captain Thorn anchored in the harbor of Neweetee. He was a very harsh, headstrong, conceited man, though brave and a thorough seaman, and regardless of the cautions to him b}' Mr. Astor, that he should never allow but a few of the Indians on shipboard at a time, he allowed boat-load after boat-load with furs to approach and come on deck. Nor was this all — he spread his wares before them, making a tempting display of blankets, cloths, knives, beads, fish-hooks, etc., expecting a prompt and profitable sale. But the Indians were not so eager and simple as he had supposed, having learned the art of bargaining and the value of merchandise from the casual traders along the coast. Finally, angered at the insolent way in which they reproached him for not trading with them according to their ideas of the value of articles, he kicked their furs to the right and left, and ordered them from the vessel. They accordingly left, scarcely concealing their vengeful feelings for the indignity with which Captain Thorn had treated their chief. The next morning they returned, apparently in a pleasant mood, seemingly unarmed, and soon the deck was once more swarming with them. The interpreter noticed that many of them wore short mantles of skins, and intimated his suspicions that they were secretly armed ; but the captain, pointing to his cannon and muskets, merely laughed and made light of any intimation of danger from a parcel of filthy savages. A brisk trade was opened, and the Indians HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 23 were soon all supplied with knives. Meanwhile the crowd had been constantly increas- ing, and seeing that other boat-loads were putting ofTiiom the shore, Captain Thorn became alarmed, and ordered the vessel to be cleared and put under way. At this, a yell from a savage gave the signal ; the Indians fell upon the crew with knives and war clubs, and a terrific fight ensued. But greatly outnumbered and taken unawares, the latter were soon nearly all slaughtered. Capt. Thorn fought bravely, and being a powerful man he laid iseveral dead at his feet, but at length, weak from his wounds, he was stabbed in the back and then thrown over the side of the vessel, where the squaws dispatched him with knives and hatchets.' Four of the sailors had the good fortune to escape into the cabin, where they found- Mr. Lewis, the ship's clerk, badly wounded, and barricading the cabin door, they broke holes through the companion way, and with the muskets and ammunition which were at hand, opened a brisk fire that soon cleared the deck. The survivors now sal- lied forth and discharged some of the deck guns, which did great execution, and drove all the savages to the shore. After this, the four who were still alive endeavored to persuade Mr. Lewis to attempt with them to escape in a boat to their friends at the mouth of tha Columbia. He refused, saying that his wounds would not permit him, and that he was deter- mined to entice as many savages as possible on board and then blow up the ship. They left him, therefore, but they were captured the next day, and put to death with the most terrible tortures. The following morning after the tragedy on the " Tonquin," everything appearing quiet on her, a boat-load of- the Indians drew near. Mr. Lewis was on deck, and made friendly signs for them to come on board. After a considerable interval of time, other canoes having joined them, they did so ; the decks were soon crowded and the sides covered with clambering savages, all intent on plunder. No one was to be seen on board, for Mr. Lewis, after inviting them, had disappeared. In the midst of their eagerness and exultation the ship blew up with a tremendous explosion. Arms, legs and mutilated bodies were blown inta the air, and dreadful havoc was made in the surrounding canoes. Upwards of a hundred savages were destroyed by the explosion ; many more were shockingly mutilated, and for days afterward, the limbs and bodies of the slain were thrown upon the beach. The fate of the " Tonquin," and all the details connected therewitli, were made known to the whites by the interpreter, who, being an Indian, had been spared by the natives, and was therefore a witness of the destruction of the vessel and her crew. As before stated, the land expedition of the Pacific Fur Company was in charge of Mr. Wilson Price Hunt. About the end of July, i8io, he, in company with his coadjutor, Mr. Donald McKenzie, an experienced Nor'wester, and a capital shot, repaired to Montreal, the ancient emporium of the fur trade, where everything requi- site for the expedition could be procured. One of the first objects was to recruit a complement of Canadian voyageurs from the disbanded herd usually to be found loitering about the place. The Northwest Company, however, who maintained a 34 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. k)ng established control at Montreal, and knew the qualities of every voyageur, secretly interdicted the prime hands from engaging in this new service ; so that, although liberal terms were oflFered, few presented themselves but such as were not worth having. From these Mr. Hunt engaged a number sufficient for present pur- poses, and having laid in a supply of ammunition, provisions, and Indian goods, embarked all on board one of these great canoes at that time universally used by the fur traders for navigating the intricate and often obstructed rivers. The canoe was between thirty and forty feet long and several feet in width, constructed of birch bark, and capable of sustaining a freight of upward of four tons, yet it could be readily carried on men's shoulders. The expedition took its regular departure as usual from St. Anne's, near the extremity of the island of Montreal, the great starting place of the traders to the interior. Here stood the ancient chapel of Sti Anne, the patroness of the Canadian voyageurs, where they made confession and offered up their vows previous to departing on any hazardous expedition. Mr. Hunt with the crew made his way up the Ottawa river, and by the ancient route of the fur traders, along a succession of small lakes and rivers to Michillimacinac. Their progress was slow and tedious. Mr. Hunt was not accustomed to the management of " voyageurs," and he had a crew admirably disposed to play the old soldier, and balk their work, and ever ready to come to a halt, land, make a fire, put on the great pot, and smoke and gossip and sing by the hour. It was near the end of July when they reached Mackinaw, the old French trading post. Here Mr. Hunt spent some time in obtaining recruits for the expedition, and when supplied, they followed the Fox and Wisconsin rivers to the Mississippi, descended to St. Louis, thence up the Missouri, crossed the plains, went over the Rocky Mountains, and after many months of the severest trials reached the members of the other expedition at the mouth of the Columbia. For a detailed account of these expeditions the reader is referred to " Astoria," a long and intensely interesting narrative to be found in the works of Irving. The approach of the war of r8i2 prevented the carrying out of the plans of Mr. Astor, and he lost heavily in this first effort ; but with characteristic energy, he subse- quently pushed his plans to a successful issue. The following sketch of Mr. Philemon Wright's ascent of the Ottawa, and his pioneer labors, together with the comments of the editor, is taken from The Ottawa Free Fress : " The north shore of the Ottawa river deserves more than a passing glance or reference as we gave at the outset. It was the beginning, the centre, the very soul and life of the whole settlements of the Ottawa Valley. The belt of table-land be- tween the river and the mountain range is perhaps not surpassed in beauty and fer- tility on this continent. The rich deep alluvial soil with its clay bottom, protected on the north by the Laurentian hills, 1,750 feet above the sea level, with easy available passes into the back country, so likely to reward the toil of the cultivators, must have appeared to one brought up in the hills and narrow valleys of New England as the HISTORY OF ARGENTEDIL. 25 shadow at least of an agricultural paradise. It was an untouched, unbroken forest of the finest samples of lumber ; white pine, oak, elm, ash, white walnut, spruce, cheny, poplar, basswood, with vast groves of maple, bird's eye and curly, must have delighted the eyes and filled the mind of a sharp lumberman with dreams of wealth absolutely incalcul- able. This was the enchanting scene presenting itself to the eye and mind of Mr. Philemon Wright, a man of mature judgment, and in the very prime of Hfe, verging towards 40. His practised eye, his keen intellect, took in the whole as equalling the broad acres of an English dukedom. The value of the timber on the stump was equal to twice the expense of clearing the lands. The ashes of the refuse to be burned, when converted into potash, would realize enough in Montreal to cover the erection of the necessary buildings for all farming purposes in those days. There were many obstacles in the way, all to be got over, that would have appeared fatal to many a man. " But a descendant of heroes that followed Harold the Second to the defeat of so many foes, and made such a stand on the field of Hastings, giving so mighty a work to the Normans — yielding at last, it is admitted, but not so much vanquished as wearied out with slaughtering — was not to be deterred by difficulties and trials, and Wright was of Kentish descent, though now Americanized. The courage has not been lost in his posterity, as everyone knows the late M.P., the Gatineau's monarch, if exposed, would sway his sceptre with as undaunted unconcern as any other, in calm defiance of his foes. " The squire had made several explorations of the St. Lawrence on both sides and above and below Montreal, but pitched on Hull and the Chaudi6re Falls, at last, as the field of his future operations, delighted equally with its forests, its soil and its river. It was not easy to induce men, even for a large reward, to enter his employ and settle down to labor in the woods 75 or 100 miles from civilization of any kind. In October, 1799, Mr. Wright is said to have reached Hull with two trusty neighbors from Wobum, Mass., and having explored the township returned and reported progress. Four fami- lies united with his own, and with twenty-five men, seven span of horses, four yoke of oxen, and probably a cow or two, sleighs, implements and provisions, began their jour- ney to Montreal on and February, 1806-, and passed through it and the settlements above it, cut their way in the woods and deep snows for some days, camping out at liight, till they met an Indian, who, becoming their guide, took them by the ice on the river till they reached the Chaudi^re Falls on the 7th March, — 33 days. It is said that every man took a hand chopping down the first tree. "Thus the clearing away of the woods commenced and continued. The sounds of the axes and the falling trees brought the Indians from their sugar-making on the sunny slopes of the hill sides, to wonder and ask themselves what brought these destroyers of the forest into their hitherto quiet and silent retreats ? This led to a long pow-wow. Mr. Wright had plenty of the Jamaica spirits on hand, treated them all to a * good horn,' as Conroy would have said, and they returned — some full, others glorious. Gifts blind the eyes. A season was spent in friendly intercourse, exchanging 2 26 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. presents, and there being no old Anchises to interpose his ' Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes,' the Indians continued to come with sugar and venison and get in return what rare things to them the new coiners freely gave them. The unlimited maple forests ran sugar for the evaporation, and deer flocked in plenty to be shot for the occasion. This pleasant condition of things was not^of long duration, for the Indians, beginning to see that their sugar groves would disappear, and the deer probably follow^ took an interpreter, Geo. Brown, who was a Nor'wester, and had married a squaw, and marched in grand procession to demand the reason for all these new things. The negotiations began, and the proceedings were sometimes amusing, at others threat- ening. Mr. Wright, as the chief of his party, was up to the exigency, and gave his authority for everything. They expressed their amazement that their Great Father, King George, would permit, without consulting them first, any men to cut down their sugar plantations and chase away their game. They were assured that all was done by authority ; that if any harm came to his men, Sir John Johnson, the Indian agent, would hold back their rations; so with firm maintenance of his dignity, as well as his rights, using soft answers, the Indians were brought to terms on payment in cash being promised for all the sugar they could spare, and they would not have to carry it to Montreal. "The nearest market had its attractions for the Indians, as well as for the Grit, who hates to portage to England, and compete there with the whole world ; so to save their backs and limbs, and especially their rations, they agreed. So they were plied once more with the Jamaica, and went back happy. They soon brought im- mense quantities of sugar, and asked only $5.00 for what was perhaps worth £50. They were promptly paid, treated again, and returned home in high good humor after a long palaver. Afterward they demanded a small payment for their lands, but that was refused till Sir John of Montreal would be consulted. They regarded their lands as merchantable as the sugar. Mr. Wright on coming from Montreal delivered them Sir John's reply that they must not disturb the colony. "The redskins now took a new turn, made Mr. Wright their chief, and we suppose put him through all the ceremonies of a barbarous coronation — the squaws are said to have all kissed him. The chroniclers do' not say how much Mrs. Wright herself admired the ceremony. But the braves buried the hatchet, and feasted Mr. Wright and party for a week on all the delicacies of an aboriginal cuisine, from roast dog and muskrat to boiled rattlesnake and skunk." The author of this extract must have been an expert in natural history, or the tribes, like St. Patrick, must have exhausted the stock, as rattlesnakes have never been very common in the Province of Quebec, since or before, as far as we are aware. For the following history of navigation on the Ottawa we are indebted to the late R. W. Shepherd, sr., president of the Ottawa River Navigation Company : The first steamer on the route between Lachine and Carillon was the " William King," Captain De Hertel. This steamer began to run about the year 1826-27. A HISTORY OF ARGENXEyiL. 27 year later, the "St. Andrews" was built — Captain C. J. Lighlhall — who had been captain of one of Judge McDonnell's Durham boats, that were employed carrying freight and passengers between Montreal and Point Fortune. I remember one of the old settlers named Parsons saying to me, a few years since, that his family came to Montreal from the north of England, having sailed from Mary Port in the county of Cumberland in the year 1829. They were going to join friends in Cote St. Charles, county of Vaudreuil, not far irom where the village of Hudson is now. The family, after landing in Montreal, took passage by Captain Lighthall's Durham boat, and were landed in a couple of days at Harvey's Point near the village of Hudson. The steamers " Wm. King '' and "St. Andrews" were owned by merchants in Montreal and St. Andrews ; during high water they ran between I.achine, Carillon and St. Andrews, and during the low water season the "St. Andrews" ran between Lachine and St. Ann's, and the " Wm. King " between St. Ann's and Carillon. In the year 1833, the Carillon and Grenville canal was opened for traffic, and in the meantime a company was formed, called " The Ottawa & Rideau Forwarding Company." The stockholders numbered among others Hon. John Molson, father of the present Mr. John Molson, Thomas Phillips the brewer, John Redpath and Emery Cushing, who formerly owned the stages that formed a line to St. Andrews by St. Eustache. This company, knowing the difficulty of the St. Ann's channel in low water, had arranged with Hon. R. N. Howard of Vaudreuil for the right to build a lock near where the Grand Trunk R. R. now passes. This lock was finished and ready for work in the spring of 1833. In the meantime, the new company had built the steamer "Ottawa," — Captain Lyman, who came from Lake Charnplain. About this lime the company built a steamer called the " Shannon," to ply between Grenville and Ottawa with other small steamers forming a through line to Kingston via the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal. Stages from Montreal to Lachine, boat from Lachine to Carillon, thence to Grenville by stage, and from Grenville to Ottawa and Kingston by steamer. The trip to Ottawa occupied two, and from Ottawa to Kingston about three days. The freight was generally carried in barges towed by these steamers. Previous to 1833, the steamer " Union " plied on the route between Hawkesbury and Ottawa; this boat was built in the year 1819 and was commanded by Captain Grant ; Thomas Johnson, afterwards M.P., an extensive merchant at Vankleek Hill, was the purser. This steamer was owned by some Montreal and Hawkesbury mer- chants ; she had two heavy marine engines, side levers that had been imported by the Hon. John Molson, grandfather to J. H. R. Molson of this city (Montreal). Emery Cushing was the first agent of the Ottawa & Rideau Forwarding Company. In 1837 Messrs. MacPherson and Crane became the managers. In 1835 Captain Light- hall from the Island of Arran commanded the steamer " Ottawa," .ind Archie Stewart was pilot ; Kenneth McLeod, an old man-of-wars man, was second pilot — both good men. In 1836 John Grossman was captain of the " Ottawa ; " in 1837, R. S. Robins was promoted to the command of this steamer. He had been captain on one of the 28 , HfcTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Rideau Canal steamers in 1835-36. In 1834 the Company built a steamer called the " Non-Such" ; and she was well named, for there never was one of the sort before or since. She was built square, with recess in the stern for the lyheel to ply. This boat was built at Ottawa, and was taken through the Rideau canal to Kingston, and down the St. Lawrence. It was supposed she would draw less water and be able to take the route in low water. The engines of the " Union " were placed in this boat. It need hardly be said she proved a failure. After being kept in commission three or four years, she was used as a boarding house for the men, in spring. A few years later, she was laid on the beach near the present house of the late Sir Antoine Dorion at Vaudreuil, and served as wharf for some years under the management of McPherson and Crane. Nearly all the carrying trade passed by the Ottawa, the barges being towed by the steamers of the Ottawa & Rideau Forwarding Company. I may men- tion that the "Non-Such" was commanded by Capt. James Greaves, afterward chief of Rural Police at Vaudreuil, whose headquarters were in the old seigniorial Manor House on the site of the W. Lotbini^re hotel, lately destroyed by fire. Captain Robins continued to command the " Ottawa." The writer joined that steamer under him in 1838, and remai ned three years in the service. In the year 1841, 1 engaged with Messrs. H. & S. Jones, and Hooker & Henderson, as captain of one of their steamers. In April of that year I was appointed to the steamer "St. David," then being built at Brockville, and was ordered early in May to proceed to Brockville to superintend the finishing of the steamer. Late in the month of June we made a trial trip to Prescott and back. We had no regular crew, but picked up some men for the purpose. One Russell, a clerk in Messrs. Jones' store, insisted on acting as pilot. We managed to get to Prescott all right, and went alongside the steamer " Canada," property of the late Hon. John Hamilton of Kingston. This steamer was about finished, and intended to ply between Dickinson 's Landing and Kingston. She was afterward commanded by Captain Lawless. On our way back to Brockville, Russell was steering and taking the Maitland steam mill for a steamer, he kept to the right hand side, and I only discovered the m istake just in lime to save the boat from running high and dry on the Maitland shore. I made up my mind never to start on a trial trip again without having a proper crew. ' In the month of July we left Brockville, this time with a full crew from Lachine. Mr. Sidney Jones, [one of the owners (a fine old gentleman of the olden times), was on board. After running all the rapids successfully, we arrived at Lachine the same evening. The next day, I started for Ottawa by the St. Ann's route, and picked up all the barges belonging to the different owners, and made the first trip by steamer with barges through the Grenville canal. After this, the company placed the steamer " Albion " on the route between Grenville and Ottawa, so that we were em- ployed on the route between Lachine and Carillon. Early in September, 1841, 1 towed the first raft on the Lake of Two Mountains, belonging to Messrs. Hamilton and Low. John Waddel, who managed that part of their business, acted as pilot, as I had no pilot on board that knew the route towards the " Dutchman's (raft) Channel." HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 29 Towards the middle of August the water became so low at St. Ann's that we had to get another steamer, the " Grenville," Captain John Fraser, of Prescott, com- mander. The " Grenvillp " towed the barges between Lachine and St. Ann's ; the steamer "St. David " between St. Ann's and Carillon. However, the water became so low, by the end of August or beginning of September, that we could not get an empty barge up through the gap that had been left outside the dam by Mr. H. Wil- kinson, who had the contract for the lock. The New Company was at a stand still; the barges and steamer were idle. I had an idea that there was a channel outside of the old lock at Vaudreuil, so, after waiting for a day or two, I decided to rim my boat over there and try to find a channel. After a hard day's work sounding and buoying out the passage, I became convinced there was a good channel. While we were delayed at St. Ann's, a barge from Perth came along, — Captain McQueen, I think. After we left for Vaudreuil he sailed over there and begged of me to run his barge over the rapids ; she was drawing three feet of water. I replied that I would not run the risk but if he would assume the responsibility, I would do mybest. He agreed to this arrangement, and I steered the barge over ; we nearly touched on one side, but did no damage. Of course, the channel was an accomplished fact, and that evening I left for Montreal to inform my employers. I called on Mr. Sidney Jones at the Exchange Coffee House, then one of the best hotels in Montreal, kept by Doolittle & Mayo. This was on a Sunday morning, just as Mr. Jones was getting ready for church ; he attended the old church Cathedral on Notre Dame street. After telling him of my dis- covery, he seemed n.uch pleased, and invited me to dine with him at six o'clock, which I did, and returned on Monday morning to Vaudreuil. Mr. Jones and Mr. Holton were to leave on Tuesday with the steamer " GrenvUle " and two barges for Vaudreuil ; the barges were not to draw over three feel of water. They reached Vaudreuil in the afternoon. I had attached a rope to an anchor dropped at the head of the rapids with a buoy attached to a rope at the foot, to be ready to fasten to the capstan of the barge. I got all my crew and the crews of the barges on the one barge, attached rope to the capstan, and in less than half an hour had the barge safe alongside the " St. David," and within another half hour had the second barge up also. This, of course, showed that we could take barges up outside, with same depth of water that they had in the lock, which was private property. Within a few days, airangements were made between the old and new companies to allow the new company's barges to pass the lock by the payment of a toll of eight dollars for each barge, and further, that the old company should tow all barges with the steamer "Ottawa," between Vaudreuil and Carillon, and the new company would have all the towing between Lachine and Vaudreuil. A few days later, I received a letter from Messrs. H. & S. Jones, saying that I had been promoted to the steamer " Oldfield." This, I considered the greatest promotion I ever had. I was ordered to take the steamer " St. David " to Lachme, which I did without delay, and transferred my crew to the " Oldfield," Captain John Chambers taking command of the " St. David." 30 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. We continued to tow between Lachine and Vaudreuil, the remainder of the season of 1841. In the winter of 1841-42, I was employed fitting up the "Oldfield" as a passenger boat. In the spring of 1842, we began a regular passenger line between Montreal and Ottawa; the " Oldfield " plying on the lower reach between Lachine and Carillon, and the steamer " Albion," Captain Johnson, on the upper reach between Grenville and Ottawa— a daily line (Sunday excepted). This was the first regu- lar passenger line on the Ottawa ; steamers running without barges. This continued till 1846, when the St. Lawrence canals were opened, and the old proprietors wanted to carry on their business by the St. Lawrence route. I with other friends pur- chased the " Oldfield " in 1846, and began business on my own account. The St. Ann's locks were opened in 1843. '' he proprietors of the steamer "Oldfield" were Sir George Simpson, A. E. Montmarquette, J.J. Gibb and the writer, who was appointed captain and manager; this was not a joint stock company, but the ship owners registered at the Customs Department as to their respective shares. The business continued profitable, and, in the autumn of 1847, i' '^^ decided to build a new steamer for the route between Lachine and Carillon. A contract was made with Mr. Merritt, shipbuilder of Montreal, for the hull of a new stenmer, 150 feet keel and 26 feet beam. We also made arrangements with Mr. George Brush (father to the present G. S. Brush) for a beam engine 34 inch diameter cylinder and 10 feet length of stroke. This steamer, a very fast one, was called the '" Ottawa Chief," and made a trial trip to Carillon in November, 1848. This boat after a trial was found to draw too much water for Si. Ann's channel. The contract called for 3 feet 3 inches, and instead it was 4 feet 8 inches, much to the disappointment of all the proprietors, as well as the travelling public. In the spring of 1849, "'^ decided to sell or charter this boat and build another one suitable. In March of that year, the Hon. John Hamilton of Kingston came to Como to see the" Ottawa Chief" » he was much pleased with her, and made us an offer to charter her for five years, but would not buy her. Arrangements were finally completed, and a charter was passed between our company and the Hon. John Hamilton of Kingston, who then controlled the steamers of the mail line between Montreal and Kingston. The next thing to do was to arrange for the building of another steamer for the route. On the nth of April, 1849, ^ started from Como for Montreal on horseback, the only way to travel at that time of the year, owing to the bad state of the roads. I had to cross two ferries, viz., Vaudreuil- and St. Ann's. It took me all day to re^ch Lachine, where I called on Sir George Simpson to arrange the finances for the new boat. This done, I proceeded to Montreal, and bargained with Mr. A. Cantin for the building of a hull of a steamer to draw only 3 feet of water, with wood and water on board ; also, with Mr. George Brush for an engine of 32 inch diameter cylinder and 8 feet stroke, all to be ready by the month of August of the same year. Hoaever, we made a trial trip in October, 1849. This boat was called the " Lady Simpson," after the wife of Sir Geo. Simpson. She was laid up for the winter at HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 3I Como, and the joiner work was finished and the boat furnished during the winter of 1-849-50 ; the joiner work was all done by hand, by the day, and Mr. James Shearer, the well-known manufacturer of Montreal, was the foreman. This boat, the " Lady Simpson," answered every purpose. She drew 2 feet 10 inches aft, and 2 feet 6 inches forward, and could run during the lowest water, and was a great favorite with the travelling public. In the spring of 1850 the " Lady Simpson " took the route between Lachine and Carillon, and the " Oldfield " was put on the Lake of Two Mountains to tow rafts, which at that time was a profitable business. In 1852, 1 contracted with Mr. Cantin for a new hull to take the place of the " Oldfield," 1 50 feet long, 25 feet beam ; and with Mr. Geo. Brush for a new engine, 32 inch cylinder, 8 foot stroke j this boat came out in 1853, when we sold the " Oldfield " to Captain St Louis. The new tow boat was called the " Atlas," and proved to be a splendid boat ; Captain Jos. Blondin, formerly of the " Oldfield," was her captain, and a good faithful man, excellent pilot and good manager for the towing business. Mr. A. E. Montmarquette, one of the owners, acted as agent for the towing business at Carillon. I continued to command the "Lady Simpson " till the fall of 1853, when I retired, partly from ill health and partly from a wish to visit my native country, which I did in 1854. My brother William, who still commands the " Sovereign," was appointed to the command of the " Lady Simpson " ; having served nine years under me on the different steamers, he was qualified for the promotion. He has now been forty years commander, and a very popular and exceedingly fortunate one. Afier my return from England, in the fall of 1854, I had to undertake the management of the estate of my late father-in-law, P. F. C. Delesdenier, as well as the homestead farm. Between the farm and the estate I was fully occupied. In the year 1857, Sir George Simpson, who was the financial agent of the company, asked me if I would take charge of the company as general manager. We had now become owners of the upper portion of the route, by the purchase of the steamer " Phoenix,'' formerly the property of MacPherson & Crane. I agreed to undertake this work, which I performed until the spring of 1882, In 1859, ^^ began to build the steamer " Queen Victoria," to replace the '* Phoenix ; " also to build the steamer " Prince of Wales " to replace the " Lady Simpson." Captain Bowie, who had been purser on the " Prince of Wales " since 1854, was in 1857 or 1858 promoted to the captaincy of the "Phoenix," afterward to the "Queen Victoria," and in 1873 to the " Peerless," now called the "Empress." In 1865 the market business became so important a factor in our business, that we built the steamer " Dagmar " for the trade. Captain Peter McGowan was promoted from the " Prince of Wales," where he acted as pilot to the command of the " Dagmar." A few years later, we built the steamer " Maude " as an extra boat ; Thomas Ryan, formerly engineer of the " Prince of Wales," was appointed captain. In the year 1864, we purchased the shares of the Carillon & Grenville Railway from Hon. John J. C. Abbott, afterward Sir John J. C. Abbott, Judge Cross and Courtland 3* HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. and Freer, and formed a joint stock company under an act of Parliament. The Hon. John Rose, afterward Sir John Rose, took charge of the Act, and procured the char- ter. The company was, and is to this day, called The Ottawa River Navigation Company. On my giving up the management of the company, my son, R. W. Shepherd, jr., was appointed general manager, and has continued as such until the present time. Mr. John McGowan was appointed manager of the Carillon & Grenville Ry., in i860 or thereabout ; and has continued so to this day, and has been a faithful servant to the company, as I may say of all our present captains and oflBcers. The principal boats for the Ottawa River Navigation Company, which have been in use in recent years, are the "Sovereign," "Empress," "Princess" and "Maude," and during the summer 1895 a new boat, the " Duchess of York," has been constructed. The " Sovereign," which succeeded the " Prince of Wales," has been running but a few years. She is a fine boat commanded by Capt. Wm. Sheppard, and during the season of summer travel plies between Montreal and Carillon. Passengers are conveyed from Carillon to Grenville by rail and thence to Ottawa by the commodious steamer " Empress," commanded by Capt. A. Bowie. Capt. Bowie was born in Montreal; his father was a railway contractor, and besides many other railroads, he constructed that from St. Johns to Laprairie, the first one built in Canada. The Captain engaged as Purser on the " Lady Simpson " in 1854, and has held the position of Captain since 1859. The "Princess," commanded by Capt. Peter McGowan, has been both a market and passenger boat for many years. Under the present arrangement for the Fall of 189S, the " Princess " makes a weekly return trip from Montreal to Ottawa, and the " Duchess of York," commanded by Capt. John McGowan, makes a semi-weekly trip between Montreal and Carillon. PLACES OF INTEREST ON THE OTTAWA. Brief mention is here m.ide of a few places along the lower Ottawa, besides those described in the succeeding pages, which are located in Argenteuil and Prescott. The first point of interest after leaving Lachine is St. Ann's, which contains many beautiful residences ai>d is a favorite summer resort. Rapids in the river at this point necessitated the construction of a canal and lock. The canal is about an eighth of a mile in length, and was constructed in place of one built early in the pre- sent century. It was rebuilt by the Ottawa Forwarding Company, but, as they claimed the right of use. thus causing much inconvenience, the Legislature of Upper Canada took the matter in hand, and constructed the present canal. At St. Ann's also, are the costly and imposing iron bridges of the C.P.R. and G.T. Railway Com- panies. Here, too, is the chapel of St. Anne, the patroness of the Canadian voyageur where, as stated above, they made confession and offered up their vows before start- ing on a dangerous expedition. HISTORY OF ARGRNTEUIL. 33 The shrine formerly, it is said, was decorated with relics and votive offerings, hung up by the voyageurs to propitiate her favor, or in gratitude for some signal deliverance. It was here that Tom Moore witnessed enough of the fur-trading vocation and the voyageurs to gain inspiration for the writing of the " Canadian Boat Song." Under the French rigime, a fortification was erected here, which did service in repelling the attacks of the fierce Iroquois. A brief account of one of their raids will be found in this volume, in the history of Calumet. The remains of this fortification are still to be seen here. Some distance farther up the river is Oka, celebrated not only for being the residence of the Oka Indians — a. remnant of the Iroquois and Algonquin tribes — but also of the Trappist monks. An imposing Roman Catholic church, with beautiful grounds and stately trees, is in the foreground, and at a short distance in the rear rises Mount Calvary, whose summit has several shrines to which devout Catholics often make a pilgrimage. The occupation of these monks is the cultivation of a large farm and orchard; their hfe is one of seclusion, and their rules are of the strictest char- acter. Females are not admitted to the monastery, nor are the monks permitted to converse with each other. They rise at 2 a.m., and soon afterward breakfast, this being their only meal during the day ; and they retire at sunset. Many of the Indians at Oka are Protestants, and have a chapel in which they attend divine worship. Still further up the Ottawa, and on the opposite side from Oka, is Rigaud, its mountain at a little distance from the village forming a prominent landmark far up and down the river. Rigaud College, also, which is an institution of considerable note, occupies an elevated plateau, and can be seen from a long distance. On the slope of this mountain is a Insus naturce of great interest to visitors and scientists. This is a spot embracing two or three acres, entirely destitute of soil, and filled to an unknown depth with stones about the size of a man's head, and smaller. It is said that certain parties, prompted by curiosity, explored this singular spot to the depth of forty feet, and finding nothing, still, but stones, abandoned their undertaking. What is still more remarkable, the stones, chiefly, are of a character entirely different from the mountain rock. Geologists class this curiosity with Moraines, but it is generally known as " Devil's Garden," and it is often visited by picnic parties and others. The next place of interest after passing beyond the counties of Argenteuil and Prescott is Montebello, the town of the great patriot, Louis Papineau. County of Argenteuil. The territory embraced by this county was formerly included iu ihe county of York, subsequently in the county of Two Mountains ; but, in 1855, the county of Argenteuil was formed, which is bounded on the north by the county of Terrebonne ; on the east, partly by tiie county of Terrebonne and partly by the county of Two Mountains ; on the south by the Ottawa River, and on the west by Ottawa county. It comprises the following municipalities : F»//a^«.— Grenville and Carillon. Farishes.—St. Andre d'Argenteuil, St. Jerusalem de Lachute, Mille Isles. Townships. — Arundel, Chatham, Gore, Grenville, Howard, Montcalm, Went- worth and Harrington. Part of a Township. — Morin. Chef-Lieu. — St. Jerusalem de Lachute. RELIGIONS— CENSUS OF 1891. Argenteuil Arundel Caiillon (Village) , Chatham Gore Grenville , Grenville (Village) Harrington , Howard Lachute (Town) Mille Isles Morin St. Andrew's St. Jerusalem Wentwortb and Montcalm 6,681 337 217 1.623 «7 9S5 277 8S 418 828 5« 296 688 372 S'4 'i. 'So 9 c 2.>73 «3i 12 166 3'4 306 118 74 30 '59 249 50 270 36 258 3,626 94 24 720 16 579 69 4S4 348 IS9 36 536 508 83 S 1,529 '54 2 237 177 226 52 25 1 57 IS 198 107 30 n "5 "4 5« 42 713 «3 391 9 108 »S 38 90 I I 10 24 13 »f.2 §1 53 42 8 o 212 179 9 '9 I 3 HISTtJRY OF ARGENTEOIL. CENSUS OF 1891. 35 Argenteuil Arundel Carillon (Village) Chatham Gore Grenville Grenville (Village) HaningtoD Howaid Lachute (Town) MiUe Isles Morin St. Andrew's St. Jei ufialem Wentworth and Montcalm 1S.158 743 255 3.371 533 2,«83 502 720 448 «.75« S»9 471 1,702 1,062 898 03 z mr0 a cjj ob: o- •a *,7I4 "3 48 587 100 364 94 125 »9 344 83 98 334 198 '37 2,657 119 45 566 93 363 94 122 77 342 83 97 334 192 130 1 2.263 119 37 475 9' 349 71 T2I 70 2^8 83 96 259 124 '30 n 297 5 66 II 14 I 95 57 48 90 3 25 2 3 9 I 18 20 s§ o 849 16 19 209 39 90 45 12 2 162 10 8 129 lOI 7 " a 28 a s is 99 21 4 5 2 21 2 6 I '3 2 21 5 I I 14 6 '3 2 I CENSUS OF 1891. Argenteuil Arundel...-. CarUlon (Village) Chatham Gore Grenville Grenville (Village) Harrington Howard Lachute (Town) Milles Isles Morin St. Andrew's St. Jerusalem IVentwoith andMontcalm. o 2 . P 8"3 2425 118 '3 522 III 302 54 132 78 304 88 95 274 198 '36 2,121 114 II 442 106 27s 42 126 77 193 87 94 233 186 135 301 4 2 79 5 26 12 6 I III I I 40 12 I S8 666 40 2 •45 40 83 48 23 4 49 65 80 62 w o o 3" 33 I 55 21 55 I 19 2t 2 16 9 26 39 »3 o s ■ Z-S-a 140,041 5.928 450 39.093 8,505 15.426 8I2 7,086 2,803 1.373 7.079 4,981 18,325 22,136 6,034 e t> 85,404 4,029 243 22,226 4,364 '0,389 495 5.271 «.953 879 4,929 2,864 12,968 11,416 3.378 53.633 1,8/2 196 16,559 4,089 4,963 3»2 1.792 83? 335 2,142 2,079 5,212 10,626 2,623 >4i,8lS '6. 533 215 25,^82 9.354 26,089 324 12,414 10,651 882 8,379 6,281 5,062 5.417 14.632 <*J 00 1,004 37 II 308 52 74 5 23 «7 '1 38 •45 94 33 GEOLOGY OF ARGENTEUIL. from the GtologUat Survey of Sir William Logan, 1863. The intrusive masses of the Laurentian series consist chiefly of syenite and greenstone. They occur in many parts of the country, but their relative ages have been ascertained almost altogether by investigations in the counties of Ottawa and Argenteuil. What appear to b: the oldest intrusive masses are a set of dykes of a rather fine-grained, dark, greenish grey greenstone or dolerite, which 36 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. weathers greyish white, and consists of greyish-white feldspar mixed with pyroxene, occasional scales of mica, and grains of pyrites. Their width varies from a few feet to a hundred yards, and they possess a well marked columnar structure. Their general bearing appears to approach east and west, but the main dykes occasionally divide, a branph striking off at an angle of from twenty to forty degrees. One of these dykes cuts crystalline limestone on the thirteenth lot of the fourth range of Gren- ville. Its breadth is about thirty yards, and it has been traced across the limestone and gneiss for a. mile and three-quarters, in which, with a few moderate zig-zags, it maintains a course of N. 85° E., until it is interrupted by a mass of syenite on the eighth lot of the range already mentioned. Across the limestone it forms a ridge ; but across the gneiss it is usually found in a depression, sometimes a very dtep one. When it mounts the side of any hill which runs with the stratification, the columnar structure gives it the aspect of a flight of gigantic steps, well presenting the character from which the Swedish name of ^ra/ is derived. The columns are so truly at right angles to the plane of the dyke, that they are a sure means of determining the under lie, which is towards the north. A branch strikes oflF from the dyke on the eleventh lot of the range, and, after proceeding about a quarter of a mile in the direction S. 30° E., it turns S. 5°° E., and continues for three-quarters of a mile more, chiefly across limestone, in a remarkably straight line, to the eighth lot, where, having gradually diminished from the width of eighteen yards to five, it seems to split up into a brush-like arrangement of small dykes, and is lost. In a westerly direction from the thirteenth lot of the fourth range, the main dyke has been traced between four and five miles, and in its whole course from the syenite, the bear- ing is about five degrees north of west. Another dyke of the same character, with a width of twenty-five yards, occurs in the eleventh lot of the fifth range of Grenville, and runs for about a mile in the bearing N. 67° E., when it is inter- rupted by the same mass of syenite as before, on the eighth lot of the same range. A probable con- tinuation of the dyke in an opposite direction is seen crossing the gneiss on the fifth range, reaching the seventeenth lot, with a bearing N. 75° W., and thence crossing the River Rouge. From the* sixth lot of the fourth range of Chatham Gore, where it cuts the crystalline limestone, another.of these dykes has been traced for upwards of two miles to the first lot of the third range of Wentworih. Its width varies from fifty to a hundred yards, but it appears to maintain a very uniform course, and though an interval of seven miles is a long one at which to recognize it again, yet an exposure of greenstone on the front of the first range of Wentworth, in the division between the twentieth and twenty-first lots, is sufficiently near the line to make it probable that it is a continuation of the same dyke. At the latter spot it is from no to 120 yards wide, and about eleven chains to the westward it is cut off by the syenite. It has been met with again, however, on the western side of it, ; and traced across the northwest corner of Chatham into Grenville, and is probably continued tothe twelfth lot of the ninth range of the latter township, where there is a dyke of the same character. The whole distance from Chatham Gore is about fifteen miles, and the bearing about five degrees south of west. Still another of these dykes has been observed in the seigniory of Argenteuil, about a mile and a half from the North River, on the road from Lachute to Chatham Gore. It appears to be about twenty-five or thirty yards wide, and it bears N. 80° W., for about a mile and a half to the town line of Chatham, which it crosses towards the rear of the ninth range ; and although it would require a change in its course to bring it to a dyke seen on the road between the seventh and eighth ranges on the ninth lot, it appears probable that the two will be found to be the same. Running west- ward from the latter spot, it comes against the syenite in the eleventh lot of the seventh range, and is there cut off. These greenstone dykes being always interrupted by the syenite, when they have been found to come in contact with it, it is plain the syenite must be of posterior date. This mass of intrusive syenite occupies an area of about thirty -six square miles in the townships of Grenville, Chat- ham and Wentworth ; and a glance at the accompanying map, showing the distribution of the crys-' tal line limestone, in the counties of Ottawa and Argenteuil, will show its shape and distribution. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 37 In its lithological chaiacter, the rock is vety uniforni, being composed for the most part of orthoclase, either of some tinge of flesh- red or a doll white, with black hornblende, and a rather sparing quantity of greyish, vitreous quartz. The red tinge prevails more on the west side, the white on the east. In the spur which runs into Wentworth, mica is occasionally found accompanying the hornblende. The lock is rather coarse-grained in the main body, but dykes of it are sometimes observed cutting the limestone and gneiss, in which the grain is finer ; these have not as yet been traced to any great distance from the nucleus. The [syenite is cut and penetrated by masses of a porphyiitic character, which are therefore of a still later date. These masses belong to what has been called felsite porphyry, homstone porphyry, or orthophyre, having a base of petrosilex, which may be regarded as an intimate mixture of ortho- clase and quartz, colored by oxyd of iron, and varying in colors from green to various shades of black, according to the oxydation of this metal. Throughout the paste, which is homogeneous and conchoidal in its fracture, are disseminated well-defined crystals of a rose-red or flesh-red feldspar, apparently orthoclase, and, although less frequently, small grains of nearly colorless translucent quartz. The larger masses of this porphyry have" a fine-grained, reddish-buff base, in which well defined crystals of flesh-red feldspar of various sizes, from one-eighth to three-eighths of an inch, are thickly disseminated. In addition to the crystals of feldspar, the base often contains a multitude of ragments of gneiss, greenstone and syenite, varying in size from small grains to masses several feet in diameter. These are occasionally so abundant, as to give to the rock the character of a breccia. When the base is green, it is rather more compact, and it does not usually contain so many imbedded crystals of feldspar. The principal nucleus of this porphyry occupies a pear-shaped area, the small end pointing south, on the thiid and fourth lots of the fifth and six ranges of Grenville, from which, on the eastern side, a portion projects into the second lot of the fifth range. This mass is wholly surrounded by syenite, and a large part of it constitutes a mountain or group of hills intersected by one or two ravines. In about the centre of the mass on the summit of one of the hills, there is a circular depression of about a hundred yards in diameter, nearly surrounded by a tufaceous porphyritic rim, of about thirty feet in height. In this depression there is a turf bog, supporting a grove of good sized evergreen trees. On sounding the depth of the bog with a boring rod, the rock beneath was found to present the shape of a cup, with the depth of twenty-five feet in the centre ; so that, including the rim, the depression would be about fifty feet deep, with the exception of a break down to the level of the bog on the east side. The nature of the rock constituting the rim gives to the depression, in some degree, the aspect -of a small volcanic crater. But if it be the remains of one, it can only represent some deep-seated part of the vent ; for there can scarcely fail to have been here a great amount of denudation of the ancient Laurentian surface, while the ice groves in the neighborhood shew that there has been much erosion over the whole country in comparatively recent times. In this vicinity, some entangled beds of gneiss occur, one of which, running N. 80° W. for upwards of a hundred yards, is completely surrounded by the porphyry. From this porphyritic nucleus, one or two porphyritic dykes can be traced, cutting the syenite for short distances ; and some of a similar character are met with at snch a distance as to make ic probable that there are other porphyritic nuclei. One of these dykes, about seven yards wide, con- taining beautiful red feldspar crystals set in a black base, occurs on the south side of the road between the seventh and eighth ranges of Chatham, on the eighth lot. Its bearing S. 85° W. would carry it to the south of the porphyritic mass above described, from which the position in which the dyke cuts the gneiss is removed seven miles, though it is not more than one mile from the syenite. Another dyke of this aspect is seen in the ninth range near the line between the thirteenth and fourteenth lots ; but in addition to the elements mentioned, it holds disseminated grains of transparent, colorless quartz. Its course appears to be S. 44° W., and it intersects a mass of porphyritic rock of 38 HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL- the same color and texture as the porphyry of the pear-shaped nucleus, which, however, like the dyke, contains grains of vitreous quartz. Grains of this mineral are also observed in another porphyritic mass, whose course is N. lo ° W., about a quarter of a mile from the front of the twenty-fifth lot in the seventh range. A porphyritic dyke is observed on the road between the sixth and seventh ranges on the twenty-third lot. It encloses grains of quartz and crystals of flesh-red feldspar, some of them half an inch in diameter, in a reddish, finely granular base. Of tie lufaceo porphyritic rock a lenticu- lar mass crosses the seventh and eighth lots, close upon the rear of the fifth range of Grenville. It has a length of nearly half a mile by a breadth of about 150 yards in the middle, and lies between gneiss on the north and syenite on the south. In the vicinity of the pear-shaped porphyritic intrusion, there are met with two veins of a special character, cutting the syenite, that deserve to be noticed. They consist of a white, yellowish-brown or flesh-red cellular chert, the colors in some cases running in bandi parallel to one another, and sometimes being rather confusedly mingled, giving the aspect of a breccia. The cells are unequally distributed, some parts of the veins being nearly destitute of them, while in others, they are very abundant, and of various sizes, from that of a pin's head to an inch in diameter. On the walls of some of these cells, small transparent crystals of quartz are implanted, and in some there aie the im- pressions of cubical form!!, resulting probably from crystals of fluorspar which have disappeared. The stone has the chemical characters and the composition of flint or chalcedony. One of these veins is on t he north half of the hrst lot of the sixth range of Grenville, where it was traced for about a hundred yards, running about east and west, and the other in the south half of the first lot of the sixth range, belonging to Mr. James Lowe, who was the first person who drew atten- tion to it as aflbrding buhrstone. On his ground, the vein has been more examined than elsewhere ; it appears to run in a very straight nearly east and west bearing, and stands in a vertical attitude, while its breadth variei from about four to seven feet. Where the vein is banded, the colors run parallel with the sides. The altitude and associations of the mass clearly show it cannot be of sedimentary origin, and its composition, taken in connection with the igneous character of the district, suggests the probability that it is an aqueous deposit which has filled up fissures in the syenite, and is similar in its origin to the agates and chalcedony which, in smaller masses, are common in various rocks. For a distance of perhaps 200 yards on each side of these veins of chert, while the quartz of the syenite remains unchanged, the feldspar has been more or less decomposed, and been converted into a sort of kaolin. . As this process involves a separation of silica from the feldspar, it is not improbable that it has been the source of the veins of chert. The intrusive rocks which have been described have a date anterior to the deposit of the Silurian series. None of a similar character have been met with breaking through this series, and the rela- tions of the base of the Lower Silurian group along the foot of the hills composed of the syenite are such as to make it evident that the Silurian beds in some places overlie eroded portions of the intru- sive rock. But all these intrusive masses are cut by a set of dykes whose relations to the Silurian series are not so certain. These dykes are composed of a fine granular base, withan earthy fracture, consisting of feldspar and pyroxene, and having a. dark, brownish-grey color. In this base are imbedded rounded masses of black cleavable augite, varying in size from a pin's head to several inches in diameter. These are associated with various size J nodules of calcspar filling cells that do not attain the diameter of the largest masses of augite, and with small scales of mica, grey in fresh frac- tures, but weathering brass yellow on the sides of cracks and joints. Small crystals ofsphene and grains of titaniferous iron occur in the rock. Oneofthese dykes, having a width of firom three to ten feet, is traced firom the first lot of the sixth range of Grenville, near Mr. Lowe's buhrstone . where it cuts the syenite, to the third and fourth lots of the same range, where it cuts the pear-shaped mass of porphyry ; thence, it crosses to the eighth lot of the fifth range, where it cuts both syenite and porphyry, and farther to the tenth lot of HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 39 the same laDge, where it intersects the quartzite and the limestone. The whole distance is upwards of two miles and a half, and the bearing S. 82° W. Another dyke of this description intersects the limestone on the thirteenth lot of the same range, and is traced for half a mile running east. These dykes hear a striking resemblance to some of the dolerites which intersect the Lower Silurian group in the neighborhood of the mountain of Montreal, and may possibly be of the same age, but none of them have yet been traced, continuously, from the Laurentian into the Silurian rocks. REPRESENTATIVES. Names of the members of the Legislative Assembly of the County of York, Two Mountains and Argenteuil — the latter having been detached from the former. I. County of York, 31 c Geo. Ill, Chap. 31. From 1792 to 1796, Mr. C. de Lotbinifire, Mr. P. A. de Bonne. " 1797 to 1800, Mr. H. Lacroix, Mr. Hetien (J.). " 1801 to 1805, Mr. J. B6dard, Mr. L. C. Foucher. " 1805 to 1808, Mr. J. Mure, Mr. E. L. Dumont. 1809, Mr. J. Mure, Mr. J. J. Trestler. 1810, Mr. J. Mure, Mr. St. Julien. From 1811 to 1814, Mr. F. Bellet, Mr. St. Julien. " 1815 to 1816, Mr. E. L. Dumont, Mr. W. Forbes. " 1S17 to i3i9, Mr. Dumont, Mr. J. B. Fare. 1820, Mr. E. L. Dumont, Mr. A. Perrault. From 1820 to 1824, Mr! E. L. Dumont, Mr. A. Perrault. " 1825 to 1827, Mr. E. L. Dumont, Mr. J. Simpson. " 1827 to 1829, Mr. J. L. Labrie, Mr. J. B. Lefebvre. II. County of Two Mountains, 9c Geo. IV, Chap. 73 . From 1830 to 1834, Mr. J. Labrie, Mr. W. H. Scott. " 1834 to 1838, Mr. J. J. Girouard, Mr. W. H. Scott. " 1841 to 1844, Mr. C. Robertson, Mr. C. J. Forbes. " 1844 to 1847, Mr- W. H. Scott. " 1848101851, Mr. W* H. Scott. " 1851 to 1854, Mr. Mr. W. H. Scott, Hon. Louis J. Papineau. III. County OF Argenteuil, 16 Vict., Chap. 152. From 1854 to 1857, S. Bellingham, his election declared null. Re-elected in 185I; — election again declared null ; re-elected in 1856. From 1858 to 1861, S. Bellingham. The name of J. J. C. Abbott is substi- tuted for the name of S. Bellingham in i860. From 1861 to 1863, Mr. J. J. C. Abbott— re-elected as Solicitor in 1862. From 1863 to 1S66, Hon. J. J. C. Abbott. Sidney Bellingham was elected by acclamation 27th August, 1867 — re-elected 23rd June, 1871, and re-elected by acclamation 30th June, 1875. 40 HISTORY or ARGENTEUIL. Robert J. Meikle of Lachute was elected ist May, 1878. Wm. Owens was elected 2nd December, 188 1 ; re-elected by acclamation, 7 th October, 1886; re-elected 17th of June, 1890, and resigned. William J. Simpson elected 8th March, 1892. Biographical sketches of several of the representatives named above — Colin Robertson, C. J, Forbes, R. J. Meikle, Wm. Owens and Wm. J. Simpson — will be found on succeeding pages of this volume ; of three others — Scott, Papineau and Bellingham — the sketches given below were gathered in part from Borthwick's " History and Gazetteer of Montreal." W. H. Scott was the son of a baker, who was located on St. Lawrence street, Montreal, very early in the present century. The son engaged in mercantile busi- ness in St. Eustache, and was one of the prominent rebels of 1837. He was arrested and indicted for high treason, but after remaining in prison some time, was dis- charged. Like several other rebels of that time, he afterward became a supporter of the government he had attempted to subvert, and endeavored by his devoted loyalty to atone for the errors of the past. In the latter part of his Parliamentary career he became a great admirer and friend of Sir George E. Cartier. Louis J. Papineau was a man of almost world-wide fame, and he is one of the most prominent characters in Canadian history. Few men outside the circle of royalty have been the subject of more pen pictures than he, and none, perhaps, are subjects of sketches so widely different in character. Eulogy and anathema have been bestowed on him in turn ; he was a heio or a coward, a patriot or a traitor, a statesman or a demagogue, just according to the views or political tendencies of his biographer. All, however, concur with the opinion, thai he was a man of brilliant talent, possessed of great personal magne tism, courtly manner, and was an orator. As time recedes, also, from the stirring events which called him into prominence, and animosity and prejudice give place to reason and justice, he is no longer regarded as the rash, selfish, irrational being that he once was, and even his bitterest foes are inclined to denounce his methods rather his aims, and even admit that we to-day are reap- ing some benefit from both. The more charitable even of his political adversaries endeavor to find excuse for a/i that he did, and ascribe to his efforts and that of his followers all that is good in our government to-day. He was born in Montreal, i7th October, 1786, and was the son of Joseph Papineau, a prominent notary, and for many years a member of the Legislative Assembly, in which he was distinguished for his ability and eloquence. The Hon. Louis J. Papineau, after receiving his education chiefly at the Seminary of Quebec, studied Law, and was admitted to the Bar of Lower Canada in 1811. Two years previous to this, or in 1809, so popular had he become, and so flattering were his prospects, that he was elected to the Assembly for the County of Kent, now Chambly ; and in 1815 he was appointed to the responsible position of speaker, which position he retained with little interruption till 1837— a period of HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. 41 twenty years. In November, 1827, when Mr. Papiueau, according to the custom of the Assembly, had again been chosen speaker, Lord Dalhousie, the Governor of whom Papineau had spoken disrespectfully, refused to ratify their choice. Some days of excitement and trouble ensued, the Assembly would not yield, and, in con- sequence, its members were sent home. The Governor soon afterward returned to England, and became Governor General of India. He was succeeded in Canada by Sir James Kempt, whose conciliatory policy allayed, in a measure, the bitter feelings in the Province towards the Government. This was only a delay, however, of the coming storm : troubles which had long since commenced between the different branches of Government continued to increase, till they culminated in the Rebellion of 1837-38. The important part which Papineau played in all these events is well known. After a residence of two years in the United States, whither he had fled in 1837, he removed to Paris, where he lived till 1847, when the issue of the proclamation of amnesty permitted him to return to Canada. He was again elected to Parliament, in which he remained till 1854, when he retired from political life — his last years be- ing devoted chiefly to horticultural and literary pursuits. He died at Montebello on the Ottawa, 23rd September, 1871, at the age of eighty-five. Sidney Robert Bellingham, who was long a popular figure in Argenteuil, was a son of Sir Allan Bellingham of Castle Bellingham, Louth County, Ireland, and was born 2nd August, 1808. He was educated in Ireland, and married to Arabella Holmes, the daughter of a citizen of Quebec. He was a loyal actor in the Rebellion of T 837-38, and, as a magistrate, accompanied the valiant Col. Wetherall to St. Charles, whither he had been sent in command of a few soldiers. In 1841, Mr. Belling- ham was called to the Bar of Lower Canada, and, some years subsequently, he was for a long time political writer for the press of this Province, chiefly of the Montreal Times and Daily News. He became endeared to the people of Argenteuil County, not only from his association with them as their representative, but in enterprises with which he was connected. He was interested in the construction of the Carillon & Grenville Railway, and in colonizing the northern section of the County. His residence for many years was on the north brow of Mount Royal, where he purchased a valuable tract of land, beautifully located, and erected a dwelling. Not long after his last election to the Legislative Assembly, in 1875, he returned to Castle Bellingham, Ireland, where he was living in December, 1895. Members of the Dominion Parliament for the County of Argenteuil. From 1867 to 1874, Hon. J. J. C. Abbott. " 1874 to 187s, Lemuel Gushing. " 187s to 1880, Thomas Christie. " 1880 to 1886, Hon. J. J. C. Abbott, " 1886 to 1890, J. C. Wilson. " 1891 to 1895. Thomas Christie. 4 42 HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. SIR J. J. C. ABBOTT. (From the Watchman of Nov. 3, 189;^, Lachute.) The tidings that have reached the homes of the County of Argenteuil, this week, cause great and deep sorrow. The greatest of our sons, the truest friend this county ever had, has passed away. None but an old resident can fully appreciate what he was to the County of Argenteuil. In almost every good and public work which had for its object the interests and progress of our people, Mr. Abbott was there with his advice — always golden — and with his financial aid. The Agricultural Society has lost perhaps its oldest and best friend, for whether in Parliament or out of it, Mr. Abbott's liberal donation was always forthcoming. But while his services to public objects have been innumerable, what must be said of the kindness, the patience, the ability and readiness which he displayed in listening to the private troubles and difficulties of a long list of his Argenteuil brethren ? The legal advice which he gave to his County gratis would have been worth a small for- tune to any lawyer. The widow and orphan, the poor and friendless, always had in him one who would lay aside for a few moments the most weighty affair of State to listen to their wants and clear away their difficulties. But in no way did his character shine out more brightly than in his treatment of political opponents. The same kind word, the same free advice, the same pains- taking consideration of the case before him, was meted out to Argenteuil men, irre- spective of whether they were political friends or opponents. In this respect his example is one that should never be forgotten. The retention of political spite and animosity is very unfortunate, not only because of the harm it does, but because it is foolish and senseless. On several occasions, when the flames of political excite- ment had been fanned by hot-headed partisans on both sides, Mr. Abbott was heard to plead with the people not to quarrel with their neighbors over politics. He declared that his opponent and himself would remain good friends, and why should others make their battle so personal as to be unneighborly ? The history of the life of the first Canadian born Premier will form an impor- tant chapter in the history of our Dominion. But there is one fact that is perhaps overlooked, viz., that to Mr. Abbott, more than to any other man, do we owe the Cana- dian Pacific Railway. There is no doubt that the scheme of a great trans-continental railway was originated in the fertile mind of this gentleman, and the success of the enterprise, the opening up of the North West, and all the great benefits arising there- from, are due in a great measure to Sir John Abbott. It has been said that he was a greater lawyer than a politician. Such was the case for he was at the very head of the legal profession in Montreal, and, consequently, did not spend the greater portion of his time in studying politics. At that time there was the old chieftain, Sir John Macdonald, to conduct the affairs of the party, and time and again did he show the confidence and dependence he placed upon the advice and counsel of Mr. Abbott. But, had the occasion arisen, we feel SIE^J. J. C. ABBOTT. HISTORY OF ARGENTEOIL. 43 sure that Mr. Abbott possessed the qualities, tact, discrimination, foresight and cleverness which would have made him the peer of his great leader, Sir John Macdonald. When that gentleman passed away, how instinctively the party fell back upon him in the hour of need ; and he did not fail them. Never was there a time in the history of the Conservative party when its success was more doubtful, and where a strong, courageous hand was more needed to turn the tide than at the time when Sir John Abbott became Premier. But age was upon him, and, burdened with the cares of State, the old man felt his strength going. It was hoped that rest would make a change ; but the only rest that came was the long last rest, upon which he entered on Monday evening, October 30th, at half-past eight, 1893. Any attempt to estimate the loss Argenteuil has sustained would prove utterly futile, but we are sure that, from the most remote comer to the Ottawa River boundary, the general feeling is one of the deepest sorrow. Looking at the past and gazing into the future, we feel like saying : — " We shall never see his like again." Sir John Abbott was born at St. Andrews, in the county of Argenteuil, Lower Canada, 12th March, 1821. His father was the Rev. Joseph Abbott, M.A., first Anglican incumbent of St. Andrews, who emigrated to this country from England in 1818, as a missionary, and who, during his long residence in Canada, added consider- ably to the literary activity of the country. He had not been long in Canada before he married Miss Harriet Bradford, a daughter of the Rev. Richard Bradford, first rector of Chatham, Argenteuil County. Sir John was Dean of the Faculty of Law in the University of McGill College, a D.CL. of thit University, and Lieut.-Colonel of the "Argenteuil Rangers," known in the Department of Militia as the nth Battalion, a corps raised by him during the patriotic time of the '' Trent " excitement. He was also president of the Fraser Institute of Montreal, and director, or law adviser, to various companies and corpor- ations. Sir John's name, came twice before the public, in a manner which gave him great notoriety. He was a prominent figure, after Sir Hugh Allan, in the famou.s Pacific scandal episode. Being the legal adviser of the Knight of Ravenscrag, all transactions were carried on through him, and it was a confidential clerk of his who revealed details of the scheme, which culminated in the downfall of the Macdonald cabinet His second conspicuous appearance on the public stage was in connection with the Letellier case, when he went to England, in April, 1879, as the associate of the Hon. H. L. Langevin, on the mission which resulted in the dismissal of the Lieut. - Governor of Quebec. In 1849, ^^ married Miss Mary Bethune, daughter of the Very Rev. J. Bethune, D.D., late Dean of Montreal. Sir John's political life may be said to have commenced in 1857, by the contest of the County of Argenteuil, at the general election held in that year. He was elected a member of the Canadian Assembly, but was not returned until 1859. He continued to represent the constituency in that House until the union of i867| when he was returned for the Commons. He was re-elected at the general elections 44 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. of 1872 and 1874. In October of the last named year, he was unseated. Mr. L, Gushing, who had been his opponent at the preceding election, again became the Liberal candidate, but Mr. Abbott retired. Mr. V/m. Owens ran against Mr. Gushing, and was defeated. Upon Mr. Cushing's election being contested and void- ed. Dr. Ghristie was chosen by acclamaiion. At the general election of September, 1878, he was again a candidate, but sustained defeat at the hands of his old antagonist, Dr. Ghristie. The latter, however, was unseated in February, 1880 ; Sir John was again elected for the Gounty. Then followed the most celebrated election trial in the history of Ganada. It lasted about three months, the enquite being one of the longest ever presented to a judge. The Gourt was presided over Uy Justice Belanger. Mr. N. W. Trenholme, now.Dean of the Law Faculty of McGill, conducted the case for the petitioners, Thos. Hickson et al. Mr. Tait, now Judge Tait, and Mr. Lacoste, now Ghief Justice Sir A. Lacoste, were associated with Mr. Abbott himself in the defence. The result was that the election was annulled, and Mr. Abbott was re- elected by acclamation, and sat until 1887, when he retired. In 1862, he was made Solicitor General in the Sandfield-Macdonald-Sicotte Administration, and prior to his acceptance of oflSce he was created a Q.C. In 1864, while in opposition, he was instrumental in introducing two bills, which have added greatly to his legal fame. The first of these was the Jury Law Gonsolidation Act for Lower Canada. Its principal provisions were, to simplify the system of summoning jurors and the pre- paration of jury lists. The other law which he added to the statute was the bill for collecting judicial and registration fees, by stamps. This was the most complete legislation that had taken place on the subject, and, as in the case of his oiher measures, the main principles have been retained in the subsequent legislation which has followed. Sir John's political labors also consist of useful amendments to bills, suggestions and advice as regards measures affecting law and commerce. His advice at such times always proved of the greatest value, and in this department it was that he achieved the most success. Upon the death of Sir John Macdonald, May, 1891, Sir John, then Mr. Abbott, was chosen to succeed him in the leadership of the Gonservative party and as Premier of the Dominion. The onerous respon- sibilities of this high office were accepted by Sir John as a duty to his Party and the country. His services in this connection, if not brilliant, were able and conserva- tive, and, added to his weak state of health, doubtless helped to shorten his life. In the fall of 1892 he retired from active politics, and sought by foreign travel and the services of skilled physicians to banish the disease that racked his frame ; but it was too late, and he grew gradually worse until the end. In 1887, Mr. Abbott was elected Mayor of Montreal by a majority of about 2,000 votes over his opponent, Mr. Rainville. In 1888, he was re-elected by accla- mation, and the same year was appointed president of the corporation of the Royal Victoria Hospital, an institution which has recently been endowed withabout $1,100,- 000 by Lord Mount-Stephen and Sir Donald A. Smith, in commemoration of Her Majesty's Jubilee. The construction of the stately hospital building, costing about $500,000, was conducted under Mr. Abbott's supervision as president. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 45 Sir John was also president of the Citizens Insurance Company, and director of the Bank of Montreal and of the Standard Life Insurance Company. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. It is to be regretted that the records of this Society have not been kept, so that a connected history of it could be given from its formation. Fortunately, a little pamphlet, 6 by 4 inches in size, and embracing foar pages, has fallen into our hands, from which we learn the date of the birth of this Society. This relic has on its cover the following : — RULES AND REGULATIONS OV THE County of York Agricultural Society. Then follows a picture — emblem of Agriculture — and underneathj the words — Montreal. Printed at the Office of the C. Courant. 1828. Below, we give the entire contents, verbatim : At a general meeting of the Inhabitants of the County of York, held in St. Andrews on the 2nd February, 1826, Mr. John McMartin being called to the chair, the purpose of the meeting was explained, and the following Resolutions were un- animously adopted, viz. : — Resolved, 1st. That the persons present form themselves into a Society, to be called the " County of York Agricultural Society," the object of which will be to im- prove the mode of Agriculture in the said County by every means in their power. Resolved, 2nd. That the officers of this Society shall be a President, two Vice- Presidents, a Treasurer and Secretary, and that a Committee of ten shall manage the business ; all which officers shall be elected annually. Resolved, 3rd. That James Brown, Esq., be President, Mr. John McMartin and Thomas Barron, Esq., Vice-Presidents. Edward Jones, Duncan McNaughton, Henry Chapman, Wm. Tennison, Jacob Schagel, Stephen Burwash, Thomas Cooke, John M'Ewen, Doctor C. Rice were elected to form the Committee, Mr. Guy Richards, — Treasurer. Mr. James Murray, — Secretary. Resolved, 4th. That the Committee draw up Rules for the better Regulation of this Society. Resolved, 5th. That those present immediately enter their names as members of this Society. Which Resolution was unanimously complied with. (Signed), James Murray, Se(y. 46 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. On the asth March, 1 826, pursuant to public notice, a general meeting took place, when the following Regulations were unanimously adopted : — ist. The object of this Society is to promote, by its eflTorts and example, the science of Agriculture throughout the County ; to give premiums in money or pieces of plate, agricultural publications or implements, to the practical farmers who shall excel in the art of ploughing, cropping, raising stock of all kinds, in the dairy, plant- ing of fruit trees, and the general improvement of Farms and Home Manufactures. 2nd. There shall be a* general meeting annually, on the Twentieth day of January (or day following if it should fall on a Sunday), for the election of a Presi- dent, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary and Treasurer, and ten members for a Com- mittee to superintend the general interests of the Society, and six of these with the President, or one of the Vice-Presidents, will be sufficient to proceed to business, call extraordinary meeting, etc. 3rd. The Committee shall remain in office for. one year, and one-half of those comprising it 'may be re-elected, but may retire after serving one year, then the Com- mittee may elect others in their stead. 4th. The said Committee shall meet quarterly, or oftener, if required by the Pre- sident. 5th. Any practical farmer or gentleman in the County may become a member of the Society, by paying the sum of five shillings, annually. No expulsion can take place unless at a general meeting, when two-thirds of those present may expel any member for misconduct towards the Society. 6th. No person, unless a practical farmer, within the County, can partake of the benefit of premiums. 7th. All decisions to be made by a majority of members present, and the Presi- dent to have the casting vote. 8th. The rules of -competition to be similar to those adopted by the Highland Society of Scotland. 9th. The judges shall be named by the Committee from among the members, who shall determine in all cases. loth. At the annual general meeting of this Society in January, the proceedings of the year shall be read, a statement of the funds exhibited, the list of subscribers reid, and the annual subscription received previous to the election of officers. nth. No member entitled to vote on any subject, till the preceding article is complied with. i2th. That the general meeting in January shall serve for the first quarterly meeting; the second quarterly meeting will take place on the second Tuesday of March ; the third, on the second Tuesday of June ; the fourth, on the second Tues- day of September. At a general meeting of the inhabitants of the County of York, held on the 21st January, 1828, the following additional resolution was agreed.to : Resolved, — That in order to extend the benefits to be derived from the Associa- tion, ten new members from the neighboring Parishes be added to the number of IirSTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 4.7 the Committee, and that the twenty do constitute, in future, the number of the Com- mittee, exclusive of the president, two vice-presidents, the secretary and treasurer. James Brown, Jr., Secy- From this time onward for many years, the records are lost, but the Society con- tinued to exist, and " Cattle Shows " and plowing matches were held annually. Com- missary C. J. Forbes was president for some years, and Wm. Beaton, a teacher and bailifif of St. Andrews, was secretary, succeeded by Errick Harrington, who in turn was succeeded by Henry Howard. The earliest records we have been able to obtain after the above were those of a meeting held in Lachute, 31st December, 1869. Officers. President, Edward Jones ; Vice-President, John Hay ; Secretary, Henry Howard. Directors. Wm. Albright, John McGregor, Thos. Noyes, Geo. B. Hooker, Walter McOuat, Wm. Gordon, Wm. McOuat. In 1870 there were 95 members. Amount subscribed. Si 13. In December, 1874, John Burwash was appointed president, and Wm. McOuat, vice-president ; Gavin I. Walker, who was appointed secretary in December, 1875, still holds the office. From 1876 to 1895. Presidents. Vice-Presidents. John Hay. Wm. McOuat. Geo. B.Hooker. Nelson Albright. John Morrison. Geo. B. Hooker. John Martin. Geo. Morrison. P. Lane. John Martin. P. Lane. N. Albright. Geo. Fraser. 1880. — No. of members 191, amount subscribed $335.00. 1890. — No. of members 240, amount subscribed $495.00. 1886. — Amount paid for premiums $743.75. 1894. — Amount paid for premiums, $950.00. A Government grant of $2.00 is now received for every $1.00 subscribed. The grounds and buildings which are leased to the Agricultural Society for its exhibitions are neat and spacious, and their annual fairs are second only to those of the large cities of the Province, and invariably attract a large concourse of people. ^8 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. COUNTY COUNCIL, On the 23rd July, 1845, * meeting was held in a room at M. D. Beattie's. The councillors acting at this time were John Wainright, Charles Macdonnell, Alexis Cameron, Stephen Burwash and Andrew McGregor. John Wainright was unanimously elected Mayor of the Municipality of Argenteuil. Present Mtjnicipal System. Copied verbatim from the Records. On 23rd August, 1855, the first meeting of the County Council of Argenteuil was held, at which meeting the following councillors were present : — Edwin Pridham, Esq., Mayor of Grenville. Lemuel Cushing, Esq., Mayor of Chatham. Robert Simpson, Esq., Mayor of St. Andrews. Thomas Christie, Esq., Mayor of St. Jerusalem Parish. George Rogers, Esq., Mayor of Township of Gore. Andrew Elliott, Esq., Mayor of Mille Isle, Samuel Smith, Esq., Mayor ofWentworth. George Hamilton, Esq., Mayor of Morin. Thomas Christie was elected Warden, and served to March, 1858. Thomas Barron, sen., was then appointed, and served to March, 1864. Richard D. Byers, from March to December, 1864. Lemuel Cushing, to March, 1868. Thomas Barron, jr., to March, 1881. Alexander Pridham, from March, 1881, to March, 1895. James B. Brown, from March, 1895, to the present. The names of the present County Council are : — Patrick A. Dunbar, Joseph Derrick, John Chambers, Wm. D. Graham, jr., Oliver Woods, John Wade, M. Desjardins, Hugh Walsh, James B. Brown, James Millway, Ed. Christie, Matthew I. Strong, George Scale, ARGENTEUIL RANGERS. The County of Argenteuil is deservedly proud of her rangers, though , like for- tresses scattered here and there in our land, once regarded as a bulwark of safety, they are now less an object of necessity, and serve more as a reminder of dangers we have escaped than of those anticipated. A troop of cavalry was organized in this County by McRobbin 1816. He had served in the British Army, and held the rank of sergeant, and on petitioning Gov- ernment for a grant of land, as a reward for his service, he was granted two lots in Chatham, which are now owned by John Kelly. He was always known as " Sergt. McRobb"; he died not many years after forming the Troop and becoming captain. Since that period, the command of the St, Andrew's Troop has devolved on the fol- HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 49 lowing : — Capt. Donald C. McLean, Capt. John Oswald, Capt. John Burwash, Capt. Martin Wanless. Capt. McLean had been a Nor'wester, and lived on Beech Ridge. He was a prominent, public-spirited, brave man, and was a J. P. of St. Andrews. During the disturbances of 1838, he marched with his company to St. Eustache, on the day that the rebels were vanquished. Some years later, he sold his property on the Ridge, and moved to Quio, where he died. One of his sons, a prominent business man, still resides there. Capt. Oswald, who was afterwards promoted to the rank of lieut.-colonel of Mili- tia, was ni command of this troop several years ; his home was in the County of Two Mountains. During the Rebellion he was one of the most active of the Loyalists, in consequence of which he was particularly obnoxious to the rebels. In 1879, the St. Andrew's troop and several troops were formed into a regiment, which afterward received the name Duke of Connaught Royal Canadian Hussars. Another troop of cavalry was formed in this County a number of years ago by Col. John Simpson of Lachute, but the organization was not of long duration. The Argenteuil Rangers were organized in 1862, the Hon. J. J. C. Abbott, it is claimed, being instrumental in the formation of the Battalion. He was lieut.-colonel of it for several years, and was succeeded by James B. Cushing, who still holds the position. Henry Abbott, brother of Sir J. J. C. Abbott, was sen. major till 1866, when he was succeeded by Allen McDonald, who, in 1883, was succeeded by William Hoy. First Jun. Major, Sam Rogers. This position was vacant from 1883 to 1888, when Isaac Jekyll was appointed, succeeded in 1893 by Geo. B. Martin. Paymaster, Archibald McDonald, till 1872 ; succeeded by Thomas Lamb. Batt. Surgeon from 1862 to the present, Dr. Mayrand. The Companies were as follows : — Co. No. I, by Capt. John McDonald, St. Andrews. Co. No. 2, by Capt. William Smith, Gore (West). Co. No. 3, by Capt. Geo. McKnight, Gore (West). Co. No. 4, by Capt. A. Cleland, Lachute. Co. No. 5, by Capt. Sam Rogers, Gore. Co. No. 6, by Capt. Geo. Sherritt, Gore. Co. No. 7, by Capt. Edward Pridham, Grenville. Co. No. 8, by Capt. John Pollock, Mille Isles. The following changes have occurred among the captains of the different com- panies since the Battalion was first organized : Co. No. 1. Capt. John McDonald died in 1864, and was succeeded by his brother, Allen McDonald. In 1866, the latter became Major, and his brother Samuel McDonald succeeded him as Captain. He was afterwards promoted to the rank of Adjutant, so HISTORY OV ARGENTEUIL. and H. W, Kempley succeeded him as Captain; and after the latter left St. Andrews, Archibald LeRoy held the captaincy till 1883, when he was succeeded by Capt- Thomas Weightman. Co. No. 2. Capt. Wro. Smith was succeeded in 1866 by Capt. Jas. Smith, who, dying in 1891, had as successor Capt. Wm. Good. Co. No. 3. Geo. McKnight was Captain till 1882, followed by Capt. Isaac Jekyll, who dying was succeeded by his own son, Henry Jekyll. Co. No. 4.* Capt. A. Cleland was Captain till 1866. From 1866 to 1883, Capt. John Simp- son. Since 1883, Capt. Geo. D. Walker. Co. No. 5. SamuelRogers was Captain till 1866. The Company was disorganized this year. Co. No. 6 became No. 5 at this time, No. 7 was disbanded, and No. 8 became No. 6. Co. No. 7 (formerly No. 9). Capt. Wm. T. Forbes till 1872, Capt. W. Hoy till 1883, then Capt. Edward Hodgson. Co. No. 8 (formerly No. 10). Capt. Jas. B. Gushing till 1883, then Capt. Geo. B. Martin till 1887, Capt. John Sittlington till 1890; from 1893 to-the present, Capt. John Earl* The first camp was held in 1868, at the Roman Catholic Church, St. Andrews, eight Companies and the St. Andrew's Troop present. In 1869, the camp was at Hill Head. In 1870, the Battalion, on account of the Fenian excitement, narrated elsewhere, was divided and sent to difTerent places. 1871, Camp at Laprairie. 1872, Camp at St. Andrews. 1874, Camp at St. Andrews. 1875, Camp at Bellevue, Carillon. 1876") 1877 ?■ Local drills at Head-quarters of the different Companies. 18783 1879, Companies i, 4, 7 and 8 (part of Bait.), at Lachute. 1880, Companies 2, 3, 5 and 6 (part of Batt.), at Bellevue. 1 881, Camp at St. Johns. 1883, Cavp al St. Johns. 1884, Camp at St. Johns. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. SI 1886, Camp at Richmond. 1888, Camp at Sherbrooke. 1891, Camp at East Famham. 1893, Camp at Laprairie. 1895, Camp at Laprairie. When the second camp was at Bellevue, on the suggestion of the late Lemuel Cashing, M.P., a tent was erected by the Y. M..C. Association, and ever since, this has been an important feature in the camp. The opportunity thus afforded the Vol- unteers of obtaining good reading matter and attending religious exercises in the evening has been improved by many of them, and it is to be hoped that good has resulted. At all events, the suggestion of Mr. Cushing was a noble one, and the custom which resulted from it cannot be too highly commended. In the years 1872 and 1874, when the camps were at St. Andrews, there were present besides the usual companies of the Battalion, the " Prince of Wales Rifles," " Victoria Rifles," the 6th Reg. of Cavalry, 6th Fusiliers, and three independent companies from the region of the Gatineau. When at Richmond in 1886, the Rangers were presented with standard colors — Queen's and Regimental — by the ladies of Argenteuil. The Rangers have gained no little celebrity for their success in competing for various prizes. On the 25th May, 1885, * tug-of-war contest occurred at Lachute, between the Rangers on one side, and the 5th Royal Scots and 6th Fusiliers on the other. The prize was an ornate silver cup. Ten or a dozen men were chosen from each party, and after a vigorous contest, the Rangers were awarded the prize. In 1893, when the camp was at Laprairie, a magnificent and valuable silver cup was .ofifered by Sir Donald A. Smith to the Regiment displaying the best proof of pro- ficiency in the qualities essential to a soldier. The prize was again borne off by the Rangers. [In 1887, on the occasion of the Queen's Jubilee, another tug-of-war contest occurred between two different companies of the Battalion. A r.hailenge was made by Co. No. 8, to any other one in the Battalion, and was accepted by Co. No- I, commanded by Capt. Thomas Weightman. A prize of a silver cup was offered to the victor by Jas. Johnson, a lumber merchant living near Quebec. Five men were selected fiom each company; the team was commanded by Capt. Weightman, to whose company the cup was awarded. In 1866, the first Fenian invasion of Canada occurred. For some years certain Irish demagogues in. the United States, with the object of gaining notoriety and filling their pockets, had been concocting a scheme whereby — so they persuaded the ignorant — Ireland would be released from British thraldom. The plan proposed was to raise and equip a grand and invincible army in the States, v/alk over and subjugate Canada, and after England had thus been crippled, and the Irish patriots bad acquired ter- ri!U>ry on whjch to plan and prepare for future operations, the people of Ireland were to. rise in their majesty, and declare themselves forever free from the yoke of Englisii despotism. 52 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Such was the ridiculous scheme proposed and advocated by these demagogues, under the name and pretence of patriotism. Numerous individuals— geiierally the ones most blatant in their advocacy of the scheme— were appointed to receive contri- butions towards its furtherance ; and, forthwith, money began to flow into their coffers from the pockets of their deluded followers. Many a poor servant girl contributed to this hare-brained project the wages for which she had toiled for years. The disbanding of the Federal armies, at the close of the American Rebellion, gave an impetus to the cause of Fenianism. Thousands of men were thrown upon the country without occupation or means of support, and many of. those whose social status is fitly described by the term vagabond were only too glad to enlist in any crusade, which promised food and raiment and an opportunity to plunder. "The Army of Ireland," as it was ostentatiously called, afforded the desired refuge, and to this they hied. Their number was augmented by many from the cities — loafers and tramps — who had never seen a day of military service, and who, in their ignorance, had been led to believe that it would be but pastime to conquer Canada, and that they would riot in the spoils. It is but just to say, that the Fenians who crossed the boundary, and made a raid into Ontario, seemed to have, more the appearance of men, and displayed more of the bravery of soldiers. But the description given above is a true one of the majority of the Fenians who crossed the Line into the Eastern Townships in 1866. The discarded Springfield muskets of the Federal Government of the States pro- vided the Fenians with cheap arms, and in the month of June, 1866, several hundred of ihis fraternity suddenly appeared on the Frontier on the northern boundary of Vermont, and crossed into St. Armand, Que. So quietly had they done their work for a while, and so quietly had they gathered, that our people had noidea they were so near, until they were actually crossing the border. Notwithstanding all the boasts and threats of invasion made by the Fenians, the people of the Townships never really believed that it would be attempted, and, consequently, had made no pre- parations 10 meet them. Great was the surprise and consternation, therefore, when the news flashed through the country, one Sunday afternoon, that 2,000 Fenians had crossed the border, and were marching toward the village of Frelighsburg, about three miles distant from the Line in the parish of St. Armand East, Most erroneous impressions were current among our -people, both as to the number and character of the Fenians. It was firmly believed, for a while, that the first detachment comprised two or three thousand, that this would be speedily aug- mented, and that they were the veteran soldiers of the Union army — men who, in every way, would prove formidable foes to British soldiers on the field of battle. Great was the mistake ; their number was less than a thousand, and that number was largely composed of mere boys and such men as we have described. It took but two or three days to undeceive the people of the Townships and restore confidence. The Fenians soon gave evidence that their chief object was to obtain what they could eat and drink, and what booty they could carry away with them. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 53 They were careful not to venture far into the Province, but camped near the border, and spent their time between robbing stores, drinking the liquors found in groceries and hotels, and slaughtering such animals of the farmers as they found necessary for the supply of their commissariat. Horses were taken in considerable numbers, both from farmers and from such travelers as had the misfortune to meet them. But these marauders were not destined to prolong their carousal on Canadian soil. Only a few days elapsed, when the red coats marched into the west end of St. Armand parish, and simultaneously the Fenians made their exit from the east end ; not even stopping to get a glimpse of the British soldiers, much less did they attempt to wrest Ireland from their grasp. Several stragglers were taken prisoners and tried as criminals, but were finally released — it being the general impression that the Govern, ment deemed it more generous, in view of their insignificance, to release them, after some months' imprisonment in jail, than to mete out to them severe punishment, and thus give them an opportunity to pose as martyrs. The raid made simultaneously with the above, on the Niagara Frontier under General O'Niel, was of larger proportions, and resulted in more serious consequences. It was the design of the Fenians to assail Canada from three points — one from Chicago and places on the Lake Huron coast, a second from Buffalo and Rochester, and a third from Ogdensburg. The latter, which was to be the most formidable of these undertakings, was to threaten Ottawa, capture Prescott, and overrun the country toward the Eastern Townships. They soon found, however, that their plans were far too great for their resources, and ere they could put the least into execution, the places proposed to be captured weie well protected by th ousands of our loyal Volunteers. After O'Niel had crossed the Niagara frontier with a large force, a body of Cana- dians — 1800 men — composed of 750 regulars and the rest of Volunteers, with a Battery of Artillery, all under command of Col. Peacock, took post at Chippewa, and awaited the arrival of Lieut.-Col. Booker. The latter was a Volunteer officer, with a force of nearly 900 men, composed of the Queen's Own — chiefly college students and other patriotic young men of Toronto, — the 13th Hamilton Volunteers, and the York and Caledonia Volunteer Companies. While marching toward Chippewa to join Peacock, this force under Booker unexpectedly met the Fenians at Lim'eridge, where they were strongly fortified. As Booker had no military experience, and possessed more bravery than skill as a commander, he immediately commenced an action with this largely superior force. The Queen's Own was thrown out in skirmishing order, and gallantly drove back O'Niel's advanced line on his main body. But the Volunteers were all inexperienced,; there was no force to support them ; mistakes were made in the orders ; a panic ensued, and the force was soon in full retreat. The Volunteers lost in killed, one officer and six men ; while the dangerously as well as slightly wounded comprised four officers and nineteen men. The Fenian loss was known to be larger than our own, though it was never accurately ascertained, as they had possession of the battle- field, and buried their dead there. As several of the killed on our side were college students and members of good families, their loss was greatly deplored. 54 ■ HISTORY OK ARGENTEHIL. Soon after this, O'Niel retreated to Fort Erie, which post he found in possession of Lieut. Col. Dennis, with seventy Volunteers. A little before this, Col. Dennis had arrived from Port Colburne with a tug-boat, in the hold of which were stowed sixty Fenian prisoners. An action at once ensued, which, as might be supposed, ended in the defeat of the small company of Volunteers, thirteen of whom were wounded and forty made prisoners. But O'Niel had been disappointed. Instead of finding any in Canada to join him, as he had anticipated, the inhabitants rose as one man to drive him and his mar- auders from the country. The spirit displayed by the few Volunteers he had met showed him what he might expect when they had all gathered, and he lost no time in returning to the States, where he was arrested by order of the U.S. Government, and his followers disbanded. The trial of the Fenian prisoners took place in Toronto in October following. Many were discharged, but true bills were foimd against a large number, and several were convicted, and sentenced to death ; but their sentences were afterwards com- muted by the Queen to imprisonment for a period in the Provincial Penitentiary. But the lesson had been a useful one to Canadians. The great expense to which the Fenians had put their country, and their wanton acts of robbery and cruelty, incensed our people, and confirmed their resolution not to be caught again unpre- pared. The next two 'or three years, consequently, the Volunteer companies, raised in different parts of the Dominion, were thoroughly drilled and exercised in target practice, till every company, when occasion required, could turn out a full complement of sharp shooters. In 1870 the Fenians, encouraged, no doubt, by their previous pleasant sojourn in the Eastern Townships, again paid us a visit. As before, also, no one knew they were coming till they were near the border. They assembled in a large body in the town of Franklin, Vt., and intended to enter Canada by the road leading to St. Arraand East, on which they had formerly encamped. Although no Volunteer com- panies were just at hand, the telegraph had conveyed the news of their approach, and before they reached the Line, our Volunteers were hastening from every point of the compass to meet them. The road enters the Province at this point by a somewhat lengthy and gradual descent, at the foot of which is a brook of considerable size, then several rods of comparatively level road which soon crosses the slope of a hill. On the left of the road, coming from the south, the hill rises to quite an altitude, and, at that time, part of its summit, which is broad and uneven, was partially covered with a grove of large trees, while its southern slope, towards Vermont, contains several huge boulders, affording admirable breastworks which our men were not slow in utilizing. This is known as Eccles' Hill ; and on the day in question, about sixty members of the Home Guard, «ho lived in that section, and who comprised leading farmers, mer- chants and business men of the locality, took possession of the hill. Col. Asa Westover, an influential and intelligent farmer, who lived contiguous, usually com- HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. 55 manded the Home Guard, but on this occasioa, all placed themselves under the command of Col. Brown Chamberlain, one of the proprietors and editors of the Montreal Gasette, who had received information of the intention of the Fenians, and hastened to the defence of his former home and friends. On the same side of the road that the Home Guards occupied, a little more than half a mile distant on the Vermont side, stood at that time the house of a Mr. Rhicard. In the road in front of this house, the Fenian general drew up his men in two columns, and ordering them to cross the line on the double quick, and obtain possession of Eccles Hill, he withdrew to the house of Rhicard, ascended the stairs, and prepared to observe with his field-glass from a chamber window, the result of his orders. Rhicard, who was born and reared in Canada, promptly followed him, and ordered him from his house. " You have brought these poor fellows here," he said, " to invade Canada without any cause, and now, instead of facing the danger with them, you come back and seek refuge in my house. You cannot stay here ;" and the General of the " Army of Ireland " walked out. Another incident, related by an eye-witness, deserves notice. Before the general in command had formed his men to cross the Line, one of his captains, a soldierly- looking man, approached him and addressed him thus : " General, you have deceived us. You said we were to meet a regular army, and here I see no enemy. I claim to be a soldier ; as you know, I hav; been in many engagements, and I do not shrink from danger, but I have not yet sunk so low as to make war on women or children or defenceless farmers. I tender you my sword 1 " handing him which, he jumped into a buggy near at hand, in which a man was sitting, and drove off. The incident shows that there were some men among the Fenians, and there is no doubt that many others felt that they had been deceived. The Fenians, according to instructions, went down the decline on the double quick, crossed the bridge, and still went on, without hearing even the report of a pistol to warn them of any obstacle to their triumphant entrance into the fair fields of the Eastern Townships. They crossed the line, when lo ! from the summit and side of the hill before them, a sharp and loud report and the messengers of death fell rapidly among them. They halted and returned the fire ; but they might as well have fired at the moon, — trees and rocks being the only enemy in view. Soon came another volley, and then another, and by this time the valor of the " Army of Ireland " was on the wane. " Discretion is the better part of valor," and Ireland might take care of herself; they were not going to stand longer on the road to be shot at, and taking their wounded and dead, with the exception of one poor fellow, who was left in the road, all, save a few who sought shelter beneath the bridge, made a rapid movement toward Vermont. The second Fenian raid into St. Armand was ended. One of the Fenians, on getting back out of rifle range, remarked to the bystanders who had followed to witness the " Invasion," that he had been in several engagements in the great 56 HISTORY OF AKGENTEUIL. Rebellion, but had never been in one where the bullets fell faster than they did from Eccles Hill. Well might he so remark, as every man on the Canadian side was a crack shot. The writer with a friend drove on the battle ground that day, but the firing had ceased. With a glass we could see distinctly two Fenians who had been shot — one lying in the road and another in the field in the rear of Rhicard's house, where he was shot while running across the field. Several reporters of the New York papers were present, and many companies of Volunteers had now arrived, and others were constantly coming, till orders were given them to return. It was never known what the casualties among the Fenians were during this raid, as they carried away their wounded, some of whom died subsequently. It is also stated that they carried away some who were killed. Toward nightfall, our Volunteers buried the Fenian who was shot on the Canadian side. ' He was a young fellow, and the next day his father and mother arrived, nearly heart-broken, from their home in Burlington, Vt., and took back with them his remains. They had made every effort to dissuade him from coming to Canada, but without avail. In March, 1866, the nth Battalion, being called out on account of an anticipated Fenian invasij>n, assembled at St. Andrews ; Companies 1 and 7 were sent to Ottawa ; 2 and s to La'colle. As the other companies were not properly officered, having been newly re-organized, they remained at St. Andrews. The companies that were ordered to Ottawa rode up in sleighs, and remained there a month ; on their return in April, they went to Prescott, where special cars were to meet them. As they were boarding the two cars, they noticed eight men — strangers — occupying seats in one of them. As the cars were designed specially for the Volunteers, some one objected to taking other passengers, but the strangers maintained their seats, and expressed their determination to do so till they had reached their destination. The cars went on to Cornwall, when, on arriving there, to the surprise of the Volunteers, their two cars were quickly surrounded by soldiers of the Prescott Bat- talion. The civil authorities at Cornwall had received a telegram from Toronto, inform- ing them that there were Fenians on the train. The Mayor and Sheriff of Cornwall, therefore, visited the train, and informed Capt. McDonald of the telegram. Believing that the eight strangers must be the Fenians referred to, he stationed Sergts. Thomas Lamb and Timothy Fitzgerald at one door of the car, Martin Weightman and another man of his company, at the other door, with strict orders to let no one enter or pass out. The Sheriff and one or two others were soon admitted, and the strangers — much to their astonishment and chagrin — were arrested on the charge of being Fenian spie s. They loudly disclaimed any connection with the Fenian Order, or knowledge HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 57 of it, but on being searched, every one was found to be armed with two revolvers, and their valises were packed with ammunition and cartridges. They finally ac- knowledged themselves Fenians, and were marched off in irons to Cornwall jail. Care was taken by the officers engaged in the arrest to conceal the matter, as far as possible, from the Volunteers, being apprehensive of violence to the prisoners, such was the hatred borne toward Fenians by the Volunteers. These, it is said, were the first Fenian prisoners taken in Canada, but they afterwards escaped from jail. In June, 1866, the Battalion was again called out, and the companies arrived at St. Andrews on Saturday evening. The following Monday night, they took a special boat to St. Anns, and the next day went to Cornwall, from which place they were sent, the next Sunday, to St. Johns, Que. After remaining there several days they returned. About the first of August, 1866, two companies, i and 4, which were formed from Volunteers from all the companies of the Battalion, went to Cornwall, to relieve two companies of Prescott Volunteers, that for some time had been stationed there. The relief companies were there till November. In April, rSyo, the Battalion was again called to St. Andrews, and from that place to Montreal, where they were despatched to different parts of the Eastern Townships. In the month of May following, they were once more called together at St. Andrews, but many of the officers and men being absent to aid in suppressing the first Riel Rebellion, the companies were not in proper condition to be sent out. Col. Wolsey, who was then captain of the Prince Consort Rifle Brigade, came to drill them ; but when they were prepared, the trouble in the Northwest had subsided, and they were sent home. A rifle match was formed in connection with the Battalion, several years ago. It is held annually at St. Andrews, and receives for prizes a grant from Government of about $50 yearly, and this is increased to $120 by private subscriptions. These matches are always well attended, and have been the means of developing many young men into crack shots. There are six different matches : the " Nursery match," "President's," " Vice-President's," " Military," "Association," and " Extra-Series," for each of which there is a special prize. Present Officers of the iith Battalion of Infantry — Arienteuil Rangers. Lit ut- Col. James B. Cushing. Majors. William Hoy. George B. Martin. Caftains. John Pollock. Albert E. Hodgson . Henry Jekyll. Thomas Weightman. John Rogers. William Williamson. Geo. Dunbar Walker. William Gurd. John Earle. 5 58 HISTOKY OF ARGENTEUIL. John McMartin. Lemuel Berron. Abr. Watchorn . John A. Morrison. Adley Shirritt, Paymaster. Thomas Lamb. LituUnants. William Watchorn. Samuel E. Smith. 2nd Lieutenanti. Andrew Rathwell. Walter A. Brown. B. J. Williamson. Quarter Master. William Pollock. Isaiah Bows. Robert Evans. Osmond Le Roy. F. Gushing. Adjutant. William Williamson. Surgeon. Wm. H. Mayrand, M.D. THE SCHOOLS OF ARGENTEUIL. By Inspector McOuat. The history of education in Argenteuil begins with the struggles of the first settlers in the county. All efforts to provide an education amongst the early inhabit- ants were, as in all other parts of Canada at that time, purely voluntary. When a number of inhabitants felt the need of a school, a subscription list was opened, for the purpose of raising suflScient means wherewith to pay the salary of some person who should be selected to conduct the proposed school. Such school was often held in the homes of some of the people, who gave the use of a part of their house as a contribution for the support of education. Another form of assistance was the prac- tice of boarding the teacher for a period in turn, according to the number of pupils the person sent to the school. Still another plan of supporting the school was by supplying wood for heating the school room. There were also other ways of contri- buting to its maintenance. Instead of paying cash, subscriptions were often paid in produce, especially when the teacher was a householder with a family. There was always a part of the salary paid in cash. In this way an exchange of services was made, and while the pupils on the one hand received an education, the teacher on the other hand obtained a living, which is about all those who become teachers receive at any time. Under such circumstances the continuance of a school was very uncertain and irregular, but such was the practice which obtained for many years, until a system of education was provided by government. In these early days there were no diplomas to guide in the selection of a teacher yet in most cases a person could be found who had sufficient education to conduct the school. Such persons knew little of the methods of teaching, and often adopted inferior methods, yet many of their pupils were successful in study, and later, in their life's occupation. The subjects taught in these early schools to which most attention Was ^aid HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 59 were reading, writing and arithmetic. Geography and grammar were taught, — the former without maps, the latter as a series of rules of speech and composition, — a prac- tice too common at the present time. In these days of which we write, it was quite necessary that the teacher should be able to rule the school in every respect, since there were no school laws and no authorities to whom the teacher could appeal for assistance. Hence, we find that as there were many difficulties hard to overcome, especially in the discipline of the school, most of the teachers were masters, who are fittingly described by Goldsmith, when he writes of the master of Lissoy, thus : — " A man severe he was, and stem to view, " I knew him well and every truant knew ; ' ' Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace " The day's disasters in his morning face ; " Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee " At all his jokes, for man; a joke had he ; " Full well the busy whisper, circling round, " Conveyed the dismal tidings, when he frowned ; " Yet he was kind, or it severe in aught, " The love he bore to learning was in fault." The experience of many of these men was very difficult and trying, and they are most properly characterized by the last two lines of the above quotation. The build- ings provided for school purposes were often small, cold, unhealthy, and poorly pro- vided with furniture and appliances for teaching ; nevertheless, much of the work done was noted for thoroughness. This Condition of things, however, gradually improved, and was finally replaced in 1829 by a voluntary system of education. Under this system a community which desired a school had to provide a suitable building for school purposes, and had to pay a fee of admittance for each pupil attending the school, while the Government paid the teacher directly, upon the joint certificate of the clergy and the member for the county. This system was abolished in 1841, and the present .educational system estab- lished, whereby taxes are imposed for the support of education, while the Government expends annually a large sum of money, paid to schools in proportion to the latest census returns. By the system of 1841, all teachers were to be examined and certi- fied, and although such test of scholarship was but simple at first, the examination for diplomas at present is a fair test of proficiency in the work prescribed. Much opposition was offered to the introduction of the new school system, chiefly owing to the taxation, and in some of the municipalities considerable physical force and threats were used to prevent the establishment of public schools. The better cause pre- vailed, however, and public schools have for many years been in operation in each township of the county. Some of these schools in the more populous parts are well attended, and accomplish 6o HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. good work ; others in less favorable parts are not so well attended, yet the work of the less favored school is often equal to those which have greater advantages. One of the great hindrances in the establishment of an elementary school system in our pro- vince was the difference amongst the people in race, language and religion. Many efforU were made to devise a suitable system, but none succeeded until 1841, when the present system was established, giving to Protestants and Roman Catholics alike the right to provide an education for their children. Thus we have what may be called a Dual System of education and two classes of elementary schools. For many years in the earlier days of the country's history, the inhabitants were entirely Eng- lish-speaking, but for some years past the remaining portions of the county have been occupied by people of French origin, and thus we have both kinds of schools estab- lished. There are at the present time 19 Protestant school municipalities, containing 60 elementary schools, and 13 Roman Catholic municipalities containing 18 elemen- tary schools. The total number of schools therefore is 78, while the total enrollment of pupils last year (1894) was 3,403, giving an average of 43 lo each school. The total value of the school buildings of the county is estimated at $64,790, while the total assessment of taxable property is $1,903,624. The amount of taxes collected in 1894 was $16,576," to which must be added the Government grant of $2,631, making the total cost of education $19,207. The average salary of elementary teachers in English schools is placed at $131, and those of the French schools at $127 per year. Of the teachers in the elementary schools, 6 were without diplomas, — 2 being in the English schools, and 4 in the French. Such is a brief outline of the efforts which led to the establishment of our elementary schools supported by public contributions and Government aid. INHABITANTS OF ARGENTEUIL. Less than a centsry ago, the ancestors of the present inhabitants of Argenteuil were chiefly beyond the sea. Bravery and determination are qualities which, at all times and in all nations, have deservedly been admired, but usually they are so as- sociated with war, or rendered conspicuous by impending danger or serious calamity, that we are apt to disregard their presence in the peaceful pursuits of life. The Scotch are proverbially a brave people ; their deeds of valor have been commemorated in sculpture, history and song. No more striking examples of heroism are recorded than those of Scotia's sons, when they gathered to repel Edward's invading hosts and rescue their country from a foreign yoke. From that to the present time, the martial glory of Scotland has not been eclipsed. The annals of a thousand battles fought in the wide domain of the British Empire attest the stoicism with which Scottish clans have marched to death to uphold the prestige of St. George's cross. And have the sons of Erin no share in martial fame ? Are there no fields whereon Irish valor has vied with English and Scottish prowess to sustain the glory of Britain's HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 6 1 flag ? Every British engagement, from the days of Cromwell to the present, refutes the imputation. Side by side, in India, Afghanistan, the Crimea and Egypt, have Scotch and Irish soldiers with equal bravery marched to victory or defeat. Was the spirit of these men wanting in those of their countrymen who crossed the ocean to become pioneers in the wilderness of this distant and strange land 7 Did it requite no bravery, determination or self-denial to sever the dearest associations} and leave for ever the home of their fathers, to engage in new struggles in foreign wilds ? Was there no act of heroism in all this, which would compare with that of their brethren, who had volunteered to fight the battles of their country ? Let us reflect. A sea voyage in those days was widely different from what it is in 1895. From two to three months was the time required for a sailing vessel to cross the Atlantic, and those vessels were but poorly constructed, compared with the staunch steamers of to-day, to resist the shock of the billows and storms of the deep During all this time, the hapless emigrant had naught to engage his mind but the' sorrowful recollection of the loved ones and scenes left behind ; naught to attract his eye but the dreary waste of waters around, which became more and more mono- tonous as day succeeded day. And when, at last, weary and dispirited from his long voyage, he reached port, a week or more was required for the conveyance of himself and family to the cabin o^" a friendly countryman contiguous to the wilderness, where he was to pitch his tent, and, doubtless, remain for life. Here he leaves his family till he can erect a cabin on his own land, or take steps to secure a place that he can call his own. But what a change from the comforts and appearance of an old and populous country to that presented in the wilderness ! Comforts of almost every kind were wanting. But what seems to us of the present as the greatest impediment to the happiness of the emigrant was his total ignorance of the work it was necessary to do — his destitution of the knowledge on which all his future success depended. Everything had to be learned, and comforts — unless he had money — he was obliged to forego. As very few had money, their lives, for many years, were a period of privation, and when we know that hundreds of these emigrants — chiefly Scotch, but many Irish — endured all this privation with fortitude ; that year after year, through tropic heat and arctic cold, they persisted in their endeavors to subdue the forest and transform the land they occupied into productive fields, we can but regard it as a display of bravery and determination of a most exalted character. It was the same spirit which animated their ancestors to chivalrous deeds a Bannockbum, and at a modern date compassed the downfall of Sebastopol and the relief of Lucknow. Indeed, many of the pioneers of Argenteuil, as will be seen on succeeding pages, were battle-scarred veterans, who had won laurels in India, in the Peuinsular war, or on the field of Waterloo. Argenteuil, the legacy which they bequeathed to their descendants, is the object of our present survey. Though distant from the seaboard, her frontage upon one of the broadest and 6a HISTORY OF AKGENTEUIL. grandest rivers upon the continent brings her into easy communication with the chief cities of the Province and the markets of the world. Two railways now cross- ing broad sections of her territory increase still further her commercial facilities, and bring together the people of districts that were remote. The strength and fertility of her soil compensate in part for the roughness of her exterior, while the beauty of her scenery is a scource of wealth more lasting than that of the mines and the productive plains of the West. The marvellous beauty of her inland lakes, the picturesqueness of her mountains, the wild gorges and water- falls of her rivers, are but in the infancy of their attraction. When they are better known, and the facilities for reaching them are impiroved, they will form a permanent magnet for visitors — the mountains will be dotted with villas, and the lakes with skiffs and yachts. Though Argenteuil has some good grain-growing sections, and usually produces good crops of oats, corn and potatoes, it is evidently a country better adapted to dairying and stock-raising than to other purposes. She has cheese factories and creameries, the produce of which holds fair rank with any in the Province. Her cattle, sheep and horses are of the best, and the annual fairs which are held at Lachute, the chef -lieu of the county, exhibit a variety and quality of animals, as well as farm products of all kinds, that would be a credit to any agricultural district. The inhabitants of Argenteuil still retain the prominent characteristics of the races whence they sprang — thrift, honesty and hospitality forming striking features in their character, which a stranger will not fail to observe. The farmer of Argenteuil is determined to live within his means, consequently there is but little, either about his home surroundings, his wearing apparel, or his travelling equipage, that savors of a love of display or extravagance in the use of money. If, now and then, one is in the enjoyment of an expensive dwelling or a fine carriage, it is conclusive evidence that he has been blesssed with fortune or shrewdness above his neighbors, and that what he enjoys is paid for. It is not exaggeration to say that all, or nearly all, are in comfortable circumstances, far better than the inhabitants of some sections of the Province where there is more outward display of wealth. Honest dealing, and a desire to observe the Golden Rule of doing as they would that others should do to them, is a {Prevalent trait. Hospitality is a quality found in every household. Into whatever family the stranger enters, he is welcome at the board, and a refusal to partake of refreshment, which is immediately proffered, is very likely to be attributed to fastidiousness or to want of geniality. However cautious and exacting our subject may be in making a bargain, he never wants sympathy for the needy or afflicted ; and let him once become assured that a petitioner for help is deserving, assistance is never delayed. An additional quality of the inhabitants of Argenteuil is the love of their homes and their native land. It may be a knowledge of the alacrity with which their fathers responded to the call to arms in 1812, or the eagerness with which they rallied to the loyal standard HISTORY OF ARGENTECIL. 63 in 1837, ^^^ their frantic rush to arms to preserve their hearth-stones from Fenian touch, yet one cannot resist the impression, that a patriotic class is that which inhabits the hills and valleys of Argenteuil — a danger menacing their homes and freedom would call forth a class of patriots as brave as ever responded to the call of Liberty. " Princes and lords may flourish or may fade, A breath can make them, as a breath has made ; But a bold peasantry — their country's pride — When once destroyed can never be supplied." While the yeomanry of Argenteuil are brave, hospitable, moral and industrious, a want of facilities for education in past years shows too plainly its baneful effect, especially in a few secluded rural districts ; but the present'encouragement given to schools will preserve the rising generation from the bane of illiteracy. While speaking of the inhabitants of the County, we should not omit notice of the French, who, through constant increase during recent years, have become no inconsiderable part of the population. It is generally conceded that the habitant is a good citizen. He is simple in his habits, plodding and industrious, with little ambition save to supply the immediate needs of his family and to be regular in his attendance at his church. Of his brethren who possess a little more education or ambition, many develop into able business men, and become prominent farmers, shrewd speculators or man- ufacturers. Many embark with success in commercial life, and become popular through their affability and the courtesy with which they supply the wants of their customers. Another class who fill the higher positions of life — ^public offices or professions — are those who consider and discuss the social and political problems of the day, and desire the progress of their race. The representative of the latter class, like the natives of his mother-land, is proud-spirited. If the situation of his countrymen in Canada is subordinate, he knows that it is an exception to the parental stock — he springs from a land that acknowledges no superior. If piqued — ^as he sometimes is — at Anglo-Saxon boasts, he consoles himself with a glance at the fields whereon the cross of St. George has bowed before Ha&fleur de lis of St. Denis. Whatever chagrin he may feel at the recollection of Quebec is dispelled by a longer flight of memory to the battle of Hastings. The Englishman may sing the songs and boast the exploits of Merne England, but the Frenchman has equal com- fort in the deeds and ditties of La Belle France. SCOTCH SETTLERS OF ARGENTEUIL. By Colin Dewar. A remarkable feature of the Scotch settlers of the county was the distinct sep- aration of the two races: the Highlanders settling on the banks of the Ottawa river and around St. Andrews, while the Lowlanders settled at and around Lachute, where for years the names of the Barrons, Doigs, Drennans and Buchanans, together 64 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. with the McOuats, McKimmies, McGregors and McClures, and a host of other equally worthy names^ are remembered as household words. The early settlers in that part of the county, before the arrival of the Scotch, had very little knowledge of fanning, their chief dependence for a living being in the manufacture and sale of potash ; but when the timber was all cut off their farms, of course, the supply of material was exhausted, and then they had to pay more attention to their farms ; but as the soil was of a light, sandy nature, and their facilities for cultivating it very few and of the most primitive character, they had uphill work. Their only implement in the shape of a plough, during the first and second decades of this century, was very properly called the " hog plough," which, as its name indi- cated, was not conducive to a successful course of farming, and in a short time their farms were completely worn out and exhausted. About that time, a few Scotch emigrants came to the place, and finding that farms could be bought cheap from these men who were glad to get rid of them at any price, secured their own, and wrote for their friends to come, and in a short time a small colony of thrifty, industrious farmers was established, who brought not only knowledge of the best system of agriculture known and practised in the Lothians, — which even at that time was considered the best in the United Kingdom, — but who also brought the best and most improved agricultural implements, and also the best tradesmen, representing the jdifferent handicrafts required in a new country, and being careful and frugal, as well as of the most industrious habits, a marked change was soon visible in the appearance of the country, and in. a short time the " desert rejoiced and blossomed as the rose." In addition to all these worldly possessions and thrifty habits which they brought from their native land, they also brought the love and veneration for their religious institutions and privileges in which they had been nurtured and brought up. The remembrance of those blissful associations, with which they had been so familiar, particularly in the rest and observance of the Sabbath, was something they were very thankful for, as a Scottish Sabbath, as it was known to them, was a day of rest and gladness, a day wherein man held converse with his Maker, free from worldly cares and anxieties ; and as they wended their way to the Kirk, which to them was the very gate of heaven, and the morning psalm went up in a grand, slow surge, perhaps to the tune of" Elgin " or "Dundee" or plaintive " Martyrs, worthy of the name," there was a sense of hallowed days in the very air, and in the words of the Psalmist they could say, " I was glad when they said unto me. Let us go into the house of the Lord." In their new homes they had to forego these pleasures for a time ; Zion was not forgotten, and in due lime they had the extreme pleasure and satisfaction of having their religious privileges as they were wont to have them in their native land. Many a time, no doubt, their hearts ached with a home sickness and longing, as they listened to the words of a simple ballad written by one of their own poets, " O ! why left I my hame ?" one of the most plaintive and pathetic ballads in the Scottish dialect, begin- HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 65 ning with a wail in the minor key, in which the home life, the family and social rela-* tions are bemoaned, and closing with a wild, weird burst of sorrow, in which their religious privileges are lamented. The following story, which was published many years ago in one of the leading Scottish journals, illustrates the power of music and the effect it has on the Scottish peasant : — An emigrant vessel lying at the port of Leith, bound for Australia, was visited before sailing by one of these ballad singers, and the above-named simple ditty was sung as only could be sung by one of these singers, and the result was, that in a short time the greater part of these emigrants were weeping and wailing at the thought of leaving their native land, and it was only that belter counsefs prevailed, or they would have deserted the vessel, their feelings were so wrought upon by this simple but touching song. Scotland is famed for a class of national airs of a peculiar style and structure, and the martial music possesses a wild, spirited, strongly marked expression of char- acter, which has often turned the tide of victory on many a bloody field of battle. Some of the descendants of the Scotch farmers are living in comfort and afflu- ence on the old homesteads, others are occupying positions of trust arid responsibility in different parts of the Dominion, while others have left home and friends and native land to carry the glad tidings of salvation to heathen lands, and it does not require a great stretch of imagination to connect these devoted workers, who have given their lives to spend and be spent in the Master's service, with the religious training of their forefathers and their love of the Sabbath and Gospel ordinances. " If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call " the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord honorable, and shalt honour him, not doing thine own " ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words, then shalt thou delight "thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed " thee with the heritage of Jacob, thy father, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Mr. Dewar also pays the following compliment to the French : — A tradition exists, which, in the main, is supported by history, that Argenteuil was chosen as the trysting place or rendez-vous of American emissaries (or Bostonnais, as they were called by the French Canadians), who endeavored to fan the flame of dis- content among the French habitants, with a vitw of helping the American nation in their subjugation of Canada. They did not succeed in their mission, especially in the rural districts, as the Indians remained firm in their allegiance to the British, and the French Canadians, to their honor be it narrated, remained equally firm and true, as was witnessed a few years afterwards, during the war of 1812-14, when the flower of their best families withstood and repelled with great loss, the invaders of the Province at Chaleauguay and Chrysler's Farm. On this subject, the Archivist's report for 1888 says : — " But the appeals (of these emissaries) to the better class of French Canadians " had little effect, as is strikingly shown by the list sent by Carleton to Lord George "Germain on the 9th May, 1777, in which there does not appear the name of one 66 HTSTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. •"French Canadian. Those of that nationality who took part with the Bostonnais " were of the lower class in the rural settlements." The term " Bastonnais " seems lobe a corruption o( the woid Bestonnais, as Arnold's expedition was known to have started from Boston, and the corruption has extended to our day, for up to the last forty years, in speaking to old French Cana- dians in reference to the American invasion, they would invariably designate it as " la guerre des Bastonnais." We like these national solecisms, and we have retained this one. SEIGNIORY OF ARGENTEUIL. On the isth of June, 1682, a promise of a grant of this fief to Sieur Chas. Jos. D'Aillebout was signed at Quebec by Count de Frontenac, Governor of New France. The grant was to include "a tract of land lying on the north side of the Ottawa, extending from the foot of the Long Sault two leagues towards Montreal, and four leagues back from the Ottawa, including all the islands, points and sand-bars opposite of which the island named Carillon forms a part." In 1697, Sieur D'Aillebout and his wife, Catherine Le Gardeur, sold the grant to their son, Pierre D'Aillebout Sieur d'Argenleuil. The latter in 1725 took the oath of fealty, and fyled the promise of Count de Frontenac. The heirs of Louise Denis, widow of Pierre D'Aillebout Sieur d'Argenteuil, sold this fief to Louise Panet, who took the usual oath in 1781. In 1800 Panet sold to Major Murray, who sold to Sir John Johnson in 1814, and the only Seigniorial claim against Argenteuil now existing is held by his heirs. This Seigniory was erected into a parish by proclamation of loth May, 1822. The following is a description of the Seigniory copied from Bouchette's Topo- graphy of Canada published in 1815 : — " The Seigniory of Argenteuil is on the north bank of the Ottawa, in the county of York. It adjoins the seigniory of the Lac des Deux Montagues on the eastward, the township of Chatham on the westward, and a tract of waste Crown lands on the northward; its front extends two leagues along the river, by four in depth. It was granted 7th March, 1725, to Mons. D'Aillebout. The present proprietor is Sir John Johnson, Bart. Perhaps through all the upper part of the district of Montreal, no tract of equal extent will be found of greater fertility, or possessing more capabilities of being converted, within a few years, into a valuable property. The land is luxur- iantly rich in nearly every part, while the different species of soils are so well varied as to afford undeniable situations for raising abundant crops of every kind. The lower part bordering on the Ottawa is tolerably well cleared of wood ; there are large patches of fine meadows and pastures ; from hence the ground rises with a gradual ascent towards the rear. In the back parts the woods run to a great extent, and yield timber of the different kinds of first-rate size and goodness, which hitherto have been very little thinned by the labors of the woodman. The Rividre du Nord. HISTORY OF AiiGENTEUIL. 67 crosses the upper part of the Seigniory in a direction fiom^ast to west, discharging itself into the Ottawa, about four miles below the great falls, and nearly half way between the lateral boundaries ; it is navigable as high up as the first mill — a. distance of three miles. There is a small stream called Riviere Rouge, running in the same direction across the lower part of the grant as the Riviere du Nord, and falling into the navigable part of the latter. The settlements that are already formed in Argen- teuil hardly amount to a third part of the whole ; the remainder, however, presents many temptations to agricultural speculation. Of the present concessions, some are situated on the bank of the Ottawa, where they seem to be the most numerous as well as the best cultivated ; others on the Rivi6re Rouge, in a range between it and Riviere du Nord, and along both banks of the latter ; all showing strong indications of a thriving industry in their ' occupiers. There are two grist mills, two saw mills, and a paper mill, the only one, I believe, in the province where a large manufacture of paper in all its different- qualities is carried on with much success, under the direction of the proprietor, Mr. Brown of Montreal. Not far below this mill is a good bridge, over which the main road to the township of Chatham and the upper townships upon the Ottawa leads. On the left bank of the Riviere du Nord, upon a point of land near its mouth, is very pleasantly situated the residence of Major Murray, formerly owner of the Seigniory ; this stream and the bays of the Ottawa that indent the front abound with a great variety of excellent iish, as do the low lands thereabouts with wild fowl and game of several sorts. The island of Carillon, three miles long by three-quarters broad, is very good land, but not put to any use ; this with a smaller one near it, and another at the entrance of the RiviSre du Nord, are appendages to the grant. If fertility of soil and easy access to water conveyance be deemed of influence in the choice of situations wherein to clear and break up new lands, probably it will not be easy to select a tract where these advantages are better combined than in the Seigniory of Argenteuil." SIR JOHN JOHNSON. By Colin Dewar. Sir John was a son of Sir Wm. Johnson, an officer in one of the King's regi- ments in the then Province of New York, and who resided at " Johnson Hall," in the beautiful valley on the banks of the Mohawk, where he had a large tract of land, and where many of his countrymen and others had settled and lived together in peace and harmony for maby years. Sir William had also received the appointment of Superintendent of Indian Affairs, which does not appear to have been much of a sinecure, as his letters or despatches are dated from different parts of the country, from Johnson Hall to Oswego, Niagara and Lake Champlain, thus showing that he travelled extensively. On the breaking 'out of the troubles which eventually ended with the gaining of their independence, many of his neighbors (under his advice and 68 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. influence, no doubt) refused to join the movement, preferring to sacrifice all they possessed, and remain loyal to what they called their king and country; and as it was impossible to remain neutral, the only alternative was to flee to Canada, which, a short time previously, had passed into the hands of the British. Arrangements were therefore made by which they were escorted by Indians to Oswego, whence they went to different parts of the country. I would not have dwelt so long on this subject were it not that I am descended from one of these so called U. E. Loyalists, my mother's grandfather, Arch. McDeirmid, having left his comfortable home on the Mohawk river, and, after suffer- ing almost incredible hardships, arrived at Caldwell's Manor, on Lake Champlain, where he had to begin life anew, without deriving any substantial benefit for his loyalty to his king and country. To Sir Wm. Johnson belongs the honor of capturing Fort Niagara in 1759 — and on the 8th September, 1760, the whole of Canada was surrendered to the British. Sir William has been accused of being the instigator, if not the actual leader, of the raid made by Indians on the peaceable inhabitants of the valley, when so many were ruthlessly massacred, Indian fashion, and their houses and property destroyed by fire. There is no proof whatever, that he was in any way connected with that raid ; besides, his influence and actionsswere always on the side of clemency and mercy. However, it is a well authenticated historical fact, that a raid by Indians and others was perpetrated in that place, as above described. There could not have been any glory or honor attending it, as Colonel Guy Johnson, St. Claire and Brant all deny having any part in it. Sir William's intimacy and connection (with Mollie Brant, which has furnished material for writers of fiction as well as history, may have been an advantage to him in his dealings with the Indians, but it must have been a root of bitterness in his own family, as she lived with him as his wife, and was always regarded as such by the Indians, and after his death was treated as his relict. (Archivist's Report B. 114- 63-) As a woman, she had great influence among the different tribes, and one word from .her is mrfre taken notice of by the Five Nations than a thousand from any white man without exception. {Ibid,') Sir William died in July, 1774, after a few months severe illness, and was much and deservedly regretted by all classes, and especially by the British Government, who had great confidence in him, both as an officer in the army and in filling the important office over the Indians. His son, Sir John Johnson, was also an officer in the 28th Regiment of New York, and shortly after his father's death was appointed to the position which his late father had held, as Superintendent of Indian Affairs — a position which he faithfully filled for many years, even to the detriment of his own private business. He was at one time nominated for Lieut.-Govemor of Upper Canada ; and Lord Dorchester, in a letter to the Home Secretary^ also recommended him, but before the letter arrived, Simcoe had been appointed. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 69 In 1808, he wrote to Mr. Granville, stating that he wished to resign his office of Superintendent, and asking that his son, Lieut.-Col. Johnson, be appointed in iiis stead ; but the Home Government did not entertain the application, as they consi- dered Col. Johnson was not sufficiently acquainted with the peculiarities of the Indian tribes. It was, therefore, given to Col. Clans, a son-in-law of Sir Wm. John- son, who had been for some time acting as Deputy Superintendent. It was a great disappointment to Col. Johnson, as his father. Sir William, considered that this appointment was to remain in his family. {Ibid, 311-11.) About the year 1814, Sir John Johnson purchased the Seigniory of Argenteuil from Major Murray, and built the manor house on a beautiful spot on the left bank of the North River, near where it flows into the Ottawa. It was built on the same model (only of smaller dimensions) as " Johnson Hall," the residence of his father on the banks of the Mohawk. In that manor house he resided for several years, surrounded by comforts and luxuries far in excess of what might be expected in a comparatively new country, and was very free and affable in his deportment, and was noted for his kind and hospitable treatment to all who sought his acquaintance. The " dinner bell '' that hung in the belfry of his coach house, and which was used ot summon the family and guests to the spacious dining room, he presented to the Rev. Archd. Henderson, who placed it on his church, where it was used to sum- mon his congregation to worship, but after a few years was taken down and placed in the care of the late Guy Richards. As he had decided to leave St. Andrews, he appointed an agent to look after the business of the Seigniory, and went to Montreal, where he resided until his death. Tassd, in his life of Philemon Wright, mentions these facts: "In 1774, Sir John " Johnson was appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs, a position which his late " father, Sir Wm. Johnson, had also held. He had won the entire confidence of the " Indian tribes, and was highly esteemed among them, as was witnessed at the time " of his death in January, 1830, when a great number of Indians went to Montreal to " take part in the funeral services which were held in the Anglican Church. An " Iroquois Indian chief even made an oration in his mother tongue on the virtues " of the deceased. At St. Regis, the Indians, when informed of his death, went " around the village, uttering cries and lamentations, and the whole population " followed them in a crowd, giving signs of the greatest sorrow." His eldest son, Gordon Johnson, never assumed or inherited the title, as he had, years previously, incurred the displeasure of the family, by his marriage with a French Canadian woman. After the death of Sir John, the Seigniory came into pos- session of his son, Col. Charles Christopher Johnson, who held it for many years, and was succeeded by Capt. Johnson, the present proprietor. St. Andrews Parish. St. Andrews was erected into a Parish in 1822, and at that time it embraced the entire Seigniory of Argenteuil. In 1852, the parish of St. Jerusalem d'Argenteuil was formed, which — much to the dissatisfaction of many of the inhabitants of St. Andrews— included considerable more than half the original seigniory, leaving the northern boundary of St. Andrews about five miles from the Ottawa instead of twelve — the distance from this river of its original northern boundary. At some time, about or during the fifth decade of the present century, another small tract of territory— a mile in width from the Ottawa, and two miles in length from the east line of the Seigniory — was taken from St. Andrews, and annexed to the parish of St. Placide. The surface of this parish is somewhat uneven though its diversities are not abrupt, nor does it contain any land that is not adapted to cultivation. Its soil is good, scenery attractive, and its difierent sections — especially the River Rouge, Beech Ridge, and the Lachute Road — present many fine, well tilled farms. It was here that the first settlers of this County pitched their tents ; indeed, St. Andrews, more especially the River Rouge settlement, seems to have been a sort of preparatory place for settlers before going elsewhere, the number of those bom there, or whose ancestors were bom there, and who are now settled throughout the Dominion being legion. It is said, that so little did the first settlers on the Rouge know of the topo- graphy of the country, or understand the way of economizing space, that in reaching the St. Andrew's Mill, for a long time they conveyed their grain to the Ottawa, thence by boat to the North River, and up that to the mill. Major Murray, the Seignior, happening at this time to visit the settlement, and learning this custom, pointed out to them the amount of toil they were needlessly expending ; and then, showing a map of the Seigniory, convinced them that, in a direct course, they were about as near the Mill as they were when they had reached the mouth of the North River. After this, they opened a road through the woods to the mill. ST. ANDREWS VILLAGE. Few, if any, country villages or parishes in the Province are more widely o^ favorably known than St. Andrews^ Settled at a comparatively early period, and possessing among its inhabitants many of intelligence and refinement, it naturally soon enjoyed a distinction seldom attained in the early history of country localities. Many of its business men, also, were those *ho had gained experience and formed an extensive acquaintance in other^ places, and their joumeybg to and fro naturally helped to extend the fame of I HISTORY or ARGENTEUIL. 7 1 their^ thriving village. But not least among the things which contributed to make it widely known was its location. Situated near the Uttawa on the North River, which is navigable a portion of the season as far as this village for most of the craft which ply the larger stream, it is visited by many who, either in the course of business or pleasure, sail up and down the Ottawa. When the water in the North River is too low to admit the passage of steamers, Ihey stop on the Ottawa at the nearest avail- able point to St. Andrews. The sail up the North River is extremely pleasant, and the ^passenger who has never before made this journey wonders, when the steamer turns from the broad Ottawa towards a forest of willows and alders, whether she is about to make a trip overland ; but as she soon glides into the smaller stream, he finds sufficient interest in observing the various farms that lie along the shore with their flocks, herds and diversified crops. Just before reaching the imposing iron bridge which spans the stream and connects the east and west sections of the village, the steamer glides to her wharf. A half-dozen or more skiffs, drawn up on the stony beach on the one hand, and a garden descending to the water's edge on the other, contribute, with surrounding objects, to form an attractive picture. Back a little on shOre, area fancy dog cart, a newly painted buggy, and a more pretentious two-horse carriage, all in readiness with their drivers to receive the two demoiselles, petite madame with her two children, and the portly, elderly man, his wife and daughter, all of whom are just returning to their homes after a visit to the city. Nearer and closer to the edge of the wharf are several habitants, some of whom are waiting to convey freight to the freight house, while others have come to carry the valises and parcels of lady passengers who reside in the village, while two or three are present to drive home the cows and young stock which the portly old gentleman has purchased for his country domain. Though the quantity of freight landed here by the boat is not quite so extensive as the cargo brought by an ocean steamer to one of our city wharves, yet that the quantity delivered at St, Andrews is not insignificant is proved by the length of time that it takes several active hands to discharge it. But the last article — a coop con- taining a dozen brown Leghorns — has been transferred to the wharf, and the gang plank is about to be drawn in, when a loud " Halloo " stays proceedings for a little time and attracts all eyes shoreward. An express, containing two moderate-sized boxes, drives hurriedly to the wharf, a gentleman, evidently a merchant, alights, throws the boxes out with no little excitement, and then turns to inform the purser that those stupid employees of Smith & Jones have sent him the wrong goods. Scarcely has this message been delivered, when another middle-aged merchant, in a smart suit, arrives, and desires to know if the hardware he ordered last week from Messrs. Dobbs &]Ferguson has arrived. On being assured that it has not, he sends a mes- sage, which is calculated to sharpen the wits of Dobbs & Ferguson, then hurries away. The steamer is soon at right angles with the current, and just as the passenger imagines that she is about to butt head foremost into the opposite bank of the river, she gracefully swings into mid-channel, and, anon, is once more on the Ottawa. 72 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Such is a scene that may often be witnessed on the arrival of the steamer at St. Andrews, — an event which is always regarded with pleasure, relieving, as it does, the monotony of village life, and affording to the inhabitants for a time a much desired convenience. That the channel of the North River will some time be deepened, so that it will be navigable for steamers the whole season, there is little doubt. But until the pro- per interests are awakened and the proper capital invested, this work of public utility will be unaccomplished. It seems strange to us, who know so well the various stages through which a new settlement passes before it engages in important manufacturing enterprises, that St. Andrews, in the very outset of her history, should have had apaper mill ; yet that such is a fact is shown by " Bouchette's Topography of Canada," as well as the testimony of many still living, who saw the mill in operation. The following account of this manufactory is given by Colin Dewar : — " The paper mDl was started by a company of Americans, who obtained a 30 years lease from the Seignior for the necessary water power ; but as James Brown was the owner of the land where they intended to build the mill, it is quite probable he was a partner from the start, as it was always spoken of as 'Brown's Paper Mill.' The canal was dug to provide water power, and a dam built across the river from the shore on the east side to a point near the foot of the little island, and as a large quantity of timber and lumber would be required in the erection of the paper mill, they first of all built a saw mill at the head of the canal and extending along the river bank, thus giving plenty of room for the piling of the lumber and storing saw logs ; and as business increased, the space between the canal and the main road, now occu- pied by the railway depot, was utilized. The paper mill was built on the site where Alex, Dewar's store now stands, and had sufficient water power to drive the machin- ery required for doing a large business, and employment was given to many girls and boys, as well as men. One of the foremen for some time was Mr. G. A. Hooker (father of the late Mr. G. A. Hooker), and who was ably assisted by the late William Zearns. "These industries continued for several years, and were of great benefit to the village, in giving employment to many hands, — besides, there was no other saw mill nearer than Lachute ; and it was regarded as a public loss, when the business of both mills came suddenly to a stop in the spring of 1834, by the dam giving way, owing to the high water and ice. During the summer, preparations were made to rebuild it ; but as the Seignior protested against it, and threatened all sorts of litigation if per- sisted in, it was deemed advisable to suspend operations. After two or three years' cross-firing between them, the trouble ended by the Seignior's making an offer to Mr. Brown for the purchase of all his property (which was accepted) j extending from Lot 29 to Lachute Road, and from the Beech Ridge lots to Davis' line, and including both mills and dwellings. Some of the machinery was afterwards used, when the River Rouge saw mill was erected." HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 73 Among the very first of the pioneers who settled at St. Andrews were a number of Americans. Whether one of them came first and induced the others to follow, or whether they came together, it is now impossible to say, but it is quite certain that there was very little if any difference in the time of their advent They were Peter Benedict, who arrived in 1799, Benjamin Wales, John Harring- ton and Elon Lee, who was always known as Captain Lee. All that is known of his military career, however, is that he had been a Drum Major in the American army during the recent struggle for independence. Two at least of the other Americans mentioned above had served in the same army ; and it strikes us, as an incident somewhat, peculiar, that these men had no sooner seen the object accom- plished for which they were fighting, than they again sought a home beneath the British flag. Cafi'. Lee bought the lot, and built a hotel on ground now occupied by the Congregational Church. He purchased all the land between the village and the present Roman Catholic Church, lying between the road to Carillon and the Ottawa. His house was quite a rendez-vous for Americans who desired to escape military service during the war of 1812, and it is said that "jolly times " often occurred here while they remained. Captain Lee had the reputation of being a Christian man, and of keeping a good Public House. In the absence of any church building, it was sometimes found con- venient to hold religious meetings at his house, when he generously opened his rooms for the occasion, and otherwise did what he could for the encouragement of religion. But, financially, he was not successful — his debts having accumulated, after a number of years, to an extent that rendered the surrender of his estate into the hands of his creditors necessary, and he soon afterwards left the country. Benjamin Wales, who married Susan, a daughter of Peter Benedict, had also been a musician in the American Army. He was extremely fond of music, and sought to encourage its study among the young people of St. Andrews, a number of whom he taught vocal music. He was a paper maker by trade, and for a number of years was foreman in the paper mill in this village. He was retiring in habit, and has left to us the reputation of being an earnest, consistent Christian ; he died in 1836. By his marriage with Susan Benedict he had five children — Henry, Lemira, Charles, Elizabeth and Mary D. In 1839, 28th August, Charles Wales was married to Laetitia Piatt, daughter of Nathaniel Hazard Treadwell, Esq., of whom a sketch will be found in the history of L'Orignal. Mr. Wales, like his father, was a Christian man, and his influence was always on the side of morality. He opened a store, where his son Charles now trades, and nearly his whole life was given to the mercantile pursuit. He was a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for the trial of small causes, and for forty years a Major of Militia. Owing to his position as magistrate, his good judgment and pacific disposition, he was often consulted by those in trouble, and his advice often resulted in the amicable settlement of disputed accounts and contro- versies, which otherwise would have ended in serious trouble and litigation. 6 74 HISTORY Of ARGEMTEI7IL. In the Rebellion of 1837-38, when there was a great scardtjr of mooey in the community^ heand A. E. Monmarquette, of Carillon, issued private notes,— or *' sh'ax plasters," as they were called — payable at their respective stores, which, being freeljr circulated in the community, proved at once a great convenience and a blessing. Mr. Wales died 50th May, 1877, and it was said of him: — "The fragrance of his memory can never die, and many a man and woman will cherish it, as that of a sympathizing friend and an honest man." Mrs. Wales, who survives him, inheriting the characteristics of her ancestors, is in every way a worthy partner of such a man, and is still active in temperance and all other Christian work. • hey h d six child- ren who grew up, — two sons, Charles Treadwell and Benjamin Nathaniel, and four daughters, Margaret Susan, Anna Lsetitia, Mary Maltbie and Grace Piatt. Charles follows the mercantile business in the store occupied so long by his father, whose reputation he well sustains. He was married 21st July, 1^75, to Martha W. Stowe of Sheffield, Conn., who has been an important acquisition to the temperance and Christian workers of St. Andrews. Benjamin, the second son of Charles Wales, sen., studied medicine, taking his degree at McGill University in 1874. A few years later, he took up his residence in Robinson, Que., where he still remains in the enjoyment of an extensive practice. He was married 19th November, 1878, to Emma T. Osgood, at Sawyerville, Que. Margaret 8. is married to Thomas Lamb, merchant of St. Andrews. Mar>- M. married Wm. Drysdale, publisher of Montreal, ist January, 1880. She died in 1891, lamented by a large circle of friends, her amiability and deeds of kindness and bene- volence being widely known. Anna Lsetitia, married to Rev. D. W. Morrison, isth September, 1881, resides at Ormstown, P.Q. • Grace Piatt was married 6th February, 1895, to Mr. Kilgour, furniture dealer, of Beauharnois, Q. The descendants of few men have reflected more credit on their fathers than have those of Chas. Wales, sen., of St. Andrews. The following sketches of two more of the American pioneers named above have been contributed by Colin Dewar. ,, „ ^ Ottawa, 7th ^February, 1894. Mr. C.Thomas, j> ^f*- Dear Sir, When the American Revolution broke out, Mr. Peter Benedict left his studies in Yale College, and entered the Army as orderly sergeant, and went with Gen. Montgomery to Canada, to the reduction of St. Johns. Returning to his native place, he was promoted to the rank of ist Lieutenant in the 3rd New York Conti- nental Regiment, and remained some years in the service, but declined further pro- motion. The pension laws of the United States were not as strict then as now in regard to the place of abode, as Lieut. Benedict lived in Canada and drew a pension HISTORY OF AROEMTSVIL. f,^ for his services from the U.S. Govemmeiit up to the time of his death in 1830, and afterward his wife drew the pension allowed to officers' widows up to the time of her death in 1846. He was originally from North Salem, N.Y., where all his family were born, but came from Burlington, Vt., in the spring of 1800, with his wife and family, consisting of three sons and two daughters, and settled on a farm, where he resided till bis death, 20th May, 1830. Vie was a man of superior abilities, of a strong, cultivated and reflective mind, well qualified to fill any position ; and it was only a short time before he was appointed a Justice of the Peace, which office he held for nearly twenty years. Of his family, one daughter married Dr: Beach, and the other married Benj. Wales ; his two eldest sons died shortly after his arrival. His youngest son, Charles, born 22nd October, 1785, lived with him and carried on the work of the farm for many years. Having formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. Wales, as builders and contractors, they continued for several years to carry on the farm and their other work to their mutual advantage. Mr. Benedict, on the nth May, 1812, was married to Damaris Capron, daughter of Nathan Capron, of Keene, N.H., and after the birth of their eldest son, George, removed to the Bay, on what was known as the last farm in the Seigniory. After several years' residence there, he removed to St. Andrews, to a property purchased from Mr. Nolan, where he resided until his death. He always took an active part in all public matters, having iield the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, and was a Commissioner for the trial of small causes, and for apprehending fraudu. lent debtors, as well as for administering the oath of allegiance. He was appointed arbitrator on a streams case in the Parish of Cote St. Pierre, which proved to be both difficult and complicated, but was finally surveyed and adjusted to the satisfaction of all concerned. He also took an active part in church matters, and was for many years one of the Elders of the Presbyterian Church. He resided in the County for 72 years, and died on the 31st May, and his wife on the ist June, 1872, having lived together for the long space of over 60 years ; and in death they were not divided. His family consisted of four sons and three daughters, that lived to grow up. His eldest son, George, born 4th July, i8r4, was the only one who settled in his native place ; he married, 14th February, 1844, Eliza Beattie, daughter of Mr. David Beattie of St. Andrews, by whom he had a family of five sons and five daughters. He removed from St. Andrews in 1869 to Ogdensburg, N.Y., where he died and December, 1892. His three other sons left home, when quite young, and settled in the United States, where Peter died in October, 1892. Chas. and Henry are still living in New York. His eldest daughter, Susanna, married George G« Sharpe in 1842, and died i6th January, 1858, in the 42nd year of her age, leaving a family of three sons and two daughters. The eldest and only surviving son, George, lives in the State of Nebraska. The eldest daughter married the Rev. Dr. Paterson of St Andrews, and the youngest married Mr. Robert Stewart of Ottawa. The following is an extract from a diary kept by Mr. Charles Benedict, of what y6 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. was long rememberedas the " cold summer": " Sunday, 12th May, 1816, heavy rain b^an to fall, and continued without cessation all night, turning cold, but still raining all day Monday, On Tuesday, very cold, with snow squalls, ground almost covered with snow. Wednesday, so cold, obliged to wear mitts and great coat ploughing ; heavy frost at night, Thursday, rather fine sowed wheat and began planting potatoes ; kept cold with hard frost at night up to the 28th, when another cold rain set in, 29th, ground frozen two or three inches deep ; 30th, 31st, finished planting corn and pota- toes ; June 6th, cold with snow ; 7 th and 8th, cold not abated, ground covered with snow, dressed the same as in winter ; cold all through the month ; woods and fields turned a pale green ; July ist, frostlcilled cucumbers, etc., then cold rain set in ; the 6th, 7th and 8th, very cold, had to put on mitts and overcoat, hoeing potatoes; loth, nth, hard frost ; and so on through the greater part of the month." It must have been very discouraging for them to go on ploughing and sowing in such very unseasonable weather, but they relied upon God's promise " that seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night should not cease " — and the promise was fulfilled by the ingathering of a good average crop. There is no record of any such cold season, as above recorded, known in the history of Canada since that time. John Harrington, sen., was an American by birth, and came to Canada early in the first decade of this century, when quite a young man. He married a daughter of Mr. Peter Mc Arthur of Carillon Hill, and had a family of four sons and five daughters. He was a first class millwright and an excellent mechanic, and superintended the erection of mills in various parts of the country, and especially those mills erected by his son-in-law, D. McLaughlin, at Bytown and Arnprior, He settled on the farm known by his name, and built that large, substantial, brick residence that has stood for so many years, and is, to all appearances, as sound as ever. He died about the year 1846, and his wife about twenty years after. Of his sons, John, the eldest, carried on the farm for many years before and after his father's death, and was a pattern of neatness and thrift to all the farmers in the vicinity, and it was a pleasure to walk around his large farm, and see the convenient farm buildings, alU in good order and condition, clean, neat and in good taste. He held many important county and muni- cipal offices, which he was well qualified to fill. William, the next son, left home when quite a young man, went to Montreal, and entered a hardware establishment, where, in a short time, he became a partner, and married Miss Laura Seymour, and had a family of one son and four daughters. After a time,"he left Montreal and took up his abode in St, Andrews, where he received the appointment from Capt. Johnson as acting agent for the Seigniory, which position he filled up to the time of his death a few ye&rs ago; his estimable wife died a few years previously. The other sons, Eric and Armand, also left home early, and began business in Arnprior, where they have remained to the present. His eldest daughter, Sarah, never married, but kept house for her brother Jo)in, HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 77 at the old homestead. She was an excellent woman, an exemplary Christian, a kind friend, and charitable to those in need, and her death was sincerely regretted by a large circle of friends. The third daughter married Dr. Van Cortlandt, one of the leading medical men of the days of old Bytown. The second daughter married Daniel McLaughlin, one of the leading lumber manufacturers of his day, and who also represented the County of Renfrew, both before and after Confederation. The fourth daughter married Nathaniel Bur wash, merchant of Amprior. The youngest daughter died in the spring of 1854 after a short illness. Her death was a great shock to the family and to her large circle of young friends, Of the children of William, his only son, Bernard, as is well known, is one of the Professors in McGill College ; he is a young man of more than ordinary ability, as his position in life fully demonstrates. The three eldest daughters died within a few years of each other, and some time prior to the death of their parents. The youngest daughter, Laura, resides within a short distance of her old home. CD. Of those who lived in St. Andrews in the early days of her history, probably no one did more for her advancement or was more noted for enterprise than James Brown. He was a Scotchman who had been engaged in the printing business in Montreal, where he published a weekly paper called the Canada Courant. In 181 2, after coming to St. Andrews, he organized a company of militia, of which he became captain. Among the first, if not the first, of his acts on coming here was to purchase the paper mill. He enlarged it, as he did, also, the canal on which it was located, built a new saw mill and a new dam across the river, below the old one, just at the lower end of the island. Owing to his enterprise, a good many found employ- ment not only at his mills but in other branches of his business. He purchased five lots of land along the North River running northward from the River Rouge, some distance along the Lachute road. He also purchased several village lots on the opposite side of the river, where he had a house and store both in one building, which occupied the site of the present brick house of Mrs. E. Jones. Mr. Brown is remembered by many of the oldest citizens of this section, and all aver that he was a clever and an upright man. He was a Justice of the Peace, and discharged the duties of his office in a manner which enhanced the respect which he commanded in his varied intercourse with his fellow-men. One of his daughters was married to Royal, a son of Moses Davis ; another in 1829 to C. H. Castle, cashier of the Bank of Montreal. The Earl of Dalhousie, who was then Governor of the Province, was on a tour to this section to inspect the work on the Grenville canal, then in process of construction. Being a friend of Mr. Brown, he cheerfully complied with his request to him to be present at the marriage of his daughter, which occurred in the house now owned and occupied by Alexander Dewar. A few •f$ HISTORY OF MtGVKTEVIL. TWars after this mairiage Mr. Brown doDated to hk son-in-law, Mi. Castle and his wifo, a lot of land, No. i Kiag^s Row^ which he himself had purchased in 1S09. It is said that some regarded Mr. Brown imprudent m pecuniary matters, and accused him of extravagance. Whether there was valid ground for this accusation or not, it is certain that in his later years he was in much poorer circumstances than he was in earlier life. One work, especially, which he performed, was referred to by some as proof of his extravagance : this was the building of an expensive stone wall around the Island above the grist mill, and another along the Lachute Road on his farm. It was his design to make a park of the Island, and with this design, he paid out no little money. But from the removal of the trees near the margin, so that the wall might be constructed, their roots soon decayed, the water undermined the wall, and the whole work was soon destroyed. Mr. Brown left St. Andrews after the Rebellion of 1837. Moses Davis, from Chesterfield, N.H., was one of the very early settlers here, his advent being in 180 1. .Soon after his arrival, he opened a store, where the shop of Daniel Sutherland now stands. Though it would doubtless bear little comparison to similar establishments of the present day, yet it contained what the community in those days demanded, and, like many another, pgssibly laid the foundation for a broader and more lucrative business. T|;iat Mr. Davis was a mnn of enterprise, and one who was ready to see and take advantage of an opportunity, is obvious from the way in which he started, and engaged in manufactures of which the new settlement stood in need. There being no tannery in the place, he opened one, soon after beginning his mercantile venture, on a site near the present house of Thomas Fournier, and this he kept in operation till 1847. Harness making and shoemaking were other industries in which he engaged and continued for many years. In 1806, he purchased a lot of ninety acres of land, and subsequently added one hundred and fifty more. While these different branches of business no doubt repaid him for the trouble, expense, and attention they required, they must have been a blessing to many others, especially to those laborers to whom they gave employment. In 1832, he built the stone house in which his son Theodore now resides. It will be recollected that this was the year in which the cholera made such ravages in the Province. A roan named Pitt, who was employed in the construction of this house, in going to his dinner, while crossing the bridge in the village, was seized with pain which portended the dread visitor, and at three o'clock the same day he was a corpse. During the troubles of 1837-38, this house, on account of its size, was se- lected by the military authorities for a barracks, in which the soldiers were quartered. The family of Mr. Davis patriotically granted it for the purpose, and found a tem- porary domicile in a smaller house in the village. Mr. Davis was for many years a Justice of the Peace, and a Commissioner for the trial of small causes. He was married in April, 1806, to Lurena MacArthur, Hiscoanr xnr akgenteuil. ilwaghter of another pioneer. He died at St. Andrews, lath Dec, 1851, bat Mrs. Davis survived hioainemly thirty years, having lived till 13th June, i88r. They had a large fanaiijr «f diildren, two of whom died in childbood^ six sons and two •daughters grew up. Three of the former left this section long ago, two at a more Koeot dale, while Theodore, the fifth son, remained on the homestead. Nelson, the eWest son, served as cornet in the Volunteer Cavalry Company of Capt. McLean, dntiag the Rebellion of 1837-38, and, like his comrades, cheerfully performed the duties demanded of him during that stormy time. In 1841, he removed to Montreal, wfaere for some time he was employed as customs and shipping agent. Crosby, the youngest of the family, was for many years engaged in mercantile business in St. Andrews, In 1887 he removed to Ottawa, where he still resides, filling a responsi- ble position in one of the largest establishments in the city. He married Margery, daughter of William McEwen, Esq., of River Rouge, St. Andrews. Their only son is residing in Chicago, where he is established as a dentist, and is doing an extensive and lucrative business. Their second daughter married Mr. Paton, well and favor- ably known in Montreal in connection with the Y. M. C. A. work, and who is now filling the same position in the city of Winnipeg. Two of the daughters reside with their parents, and one is at present in Chicago. Lurena, the eldest daughter of Moses Davis, married Robert Simpson, of whom a sketch is given on a succeeding page. Eliza, her sister, married Joseph Kellogg, for a number of years a merchant in I'Orignal. In 1843, they came to St. Andrews, where they lived on a farm till 1857, when they removed to Illinois, where Mr. Kellogg died. His widow subsequently moved to Iowa, in which State she still resides. Theodore, as stated above, has always remained on the homestead, his unim- paired physical and mental powers after threescore and ten years of service testify- ing not only to the healthfulness of the climate in this section, but to the fact that temperance, morality and industrious habits are infallible aids to longevity. In the late Rebellion, like his elder brother, he also enlisted in the Volunteer Company of Cavalry commanded by Capt. McLean. After acting as School Commissioner for many years, he accepted the position of secretary-treasurer of the School Board. In 1845 he married Helen, daughter of Duncan McMartin, a pioneer on the River Rouge, They have had eight children, Moses their eldest son is in Montreal, having suc- ceeded to the business followed by his uncle, Nelson, that of customs and shipping agent. His youngest son is in business in Tacoma, Washington. Theodore Davis, a brother of Moses Davis, who came to St. Andrews in 1801, must have been here previous to that date, judging from the fact that records refer to a survey And procesverda/ of St. Andrews, which he made in 1799. But whether or not he was a citizen of the place at that date, it is certain that he was at a short period subsequently. Being for some years the only surveyor in this section, his services were often called in requisition, and possessing an enterprising spirit, he soon became an important addition to the business men of the place. 8o HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. When steamboats began running to Carillon, they found great difiScuhy in get- ting up the rapids at St. Ann's, and to overcome this difficulty, Mr. Davis constructed locks at Yaudreuil, which were in use for several years, after which the route was changed to the north side of the river, and locks at St. Ann's were built, thus making the route more direct. The remains of these old locks at Vaudreuil are still visible. Another work of public utility he performed was removing boulders from the Ottawa above Carillon, so as to facilitate navigation. He married a daughter of Colonel Daniel Robertson, who was the widow of — De Hertel, and the mother of Colonel De Hertel of St. Andrews. Mr. Davis purchased a lot of land on the west side of the North River, and on it erected a two-story house on the site of the present residence of Mr. De la Ronde, advocate. He sold this property, not many years later, to Guy Richards, and removed to Point Fortune, where, in company with a man named Tail, he opened a store. They traded there for a few years, when Mr, Davis, having purchased the farm of McRobb in Carillon, now owned by Mr. John Kelly, removed thilher, and lived here till his death, which occurred in Hull, i6th March, 1841, at the age of 63 years. The following sketch of other members of the Davis family has been sent to us by Colin Dewar : — '* Simeon Davis, with his wife and family of four sons, Roswell, Asher, Lyman and Asahel, together with his two brothers, Theodore and Moses, came from Mas- sachusetts, and settled at St. Andrews in 1801, where he remained for several years. " Roswell, the eldest son, married Miss Annie, daughter of Nathan Capron of Keene, N.H., by whom he had a family of six sons, viz., Edward, Alfred, Whitcomb, Simeon, Roswell and Nathan. About the year 1840, he removed from St. Andrews with his family to the Township of Osgoode, which at that time was opened up for settlers. He purchased a farm on which he and his wife resided until their death in a good old age, about the year 1866. " His son Edward, who is now in the 84th year of his age, and in possession of all his faculties, can recount many stirring incidents of the early days, and remembers quite distinctly when the first steamboat made its appearance at Carillon, and as a stage driver on the route between Montreal and Grenville (mentioned in another part of this work) has had a varied experience in both summer and winter travel. He relates with pride and satisfaction, that he never met with an accident in crossing the rivers on bad ice, and although, he had to drive through bad roads on dark nights^ not one of his passengers ever received an injury. In relating this part of his experience, which is not given in a spirit of boasting but in that of gratitude to the Father of mercies for His watchful tjare over him, he attributes his pan of the success to his habits of sobriety, which could not be said of some of his con/rires. "After his father left St._ Andrews, Mr. Davis, went up. the Ottawa river, and engaged in the lumber business.for soine years, and being of an active, pushing spirit was engaged in several important public works,-such as opening-up new roads, build' ing bridges, etc., besides haying considerable experience in mining and -boating; • ■ HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 8 1 " He married comparatively early in life, and had a family of four sons and one daughter, all,of whom are married and have families of their own. He has resided for the last thirty years at Quio, Province of Quebec, where the greater part of his family also reside. " About four years ago, a sad misfortune overtook him, in the destruction of his house by fire, together with the greater part of his household gtMjds, which was a great loss ; but, sad to relate, his wife, who had returned to her room to get, as was sup- posed, some valuable papers, was prevented by the rapidity of the fire from returning, and was not missed, until it was too late to render any assistance. " Ros well's third son, Whitcomb, took an active pari in suppressing the Rebellion of 1837, being a Volunteer in the Lachute Road Company, under Captain John Dennison. He marched to Grand Brul6 with the other Volunteers and Regulars under the command of Captain Mayne, of the 24th Regiment, to meet those coming from Montreal on the 14th December, 1837. He served in that Company until it was disbanded in 1840, when he joined the rest of the family, and settled on a farm near his father, where he and his' wife brought up a large family of sons and daughters, and where he died in July, 1894, aged 77 years. " Roswell's other sons are still living in the immediate neighborhood of the old homestead. " Asher, the second son of Simeon, was brought up to the blacksmithing business, which he carried on for several years, at Carillon, where he resided until the death of his wife in 1872, when he removed to Trenton, where he died in the year 1880. His wife was a Mrs. Cameron, a daughter of Wm. Atkinson, who resided for many years at Carillon ; they had no family." The following obituary is copied from the Belleville Intelligencer, of March, 1884 :— " Another Old Pioneer Passed Away. "Lyman Davis died at the residence of his son in Trenton, on the 24th March, 1884, at the advanced age of 90 years, 2 months and 6 days. " The subject of this notice was born in Massachusetts, U.S.A., on tne 19th January, 1794. He came with his parents to Lower Canada in iSot, and located at St. Andrews in the County of Argenteuil. At the breaking out of the war in 1812-15, he was drafted, and served three years. At the expiration of the war, he was dis- charged with the other Militia. About 1825, he again removed with his parents to the village of Hope, where he worked with his father at the blacksmithing trade for three years, and at the expiration of that period he removed to that part of the Township of Hope now called Port Britton, where he still worked at his trade till 1830, when he gave up his business, removed.to the Township ofClark, and commenced farming. And two years later (in 1832) he married Catherine Babcock, a daughter of Wm. Babcock of Ameliasburg. In 1840, he removed his family to Ameliasburg, and continued farming till 1848, when he removed to Trenton, five years before the 83 HISTOKT OF ARGKNTEUIL. vWage was iocor porated, where be oontinued t» reside till his desth. Mr. Davis had many warm friends, was ve«y unassuming, and never took an active interest iw public afiEaiis. " He leaves a widow 72 years old, two sons and three datighters to mount bis; loss, all of whom' are comfortably aitoatcd. " Mr. Dftvis was a penaiooer, and has regalarly drawn his pension since the gran* was made. Thus, one by one, our old veterans pass away." In 1804, two brothers named Peter and Duncan He war from Glasgow, Scotland, made St. Andrews their home, and many of their numerous descendants are still in the Coninty of Argenteuil. Duncan Dewar, the younger of the two brothers, purchased a hundred acres' of laud which is known at the present time as the Harrington Estate, but believing he could add to his income by a modest venture in the mercantile line, he built a store on the site of the present store of Mr. La Fond. Not finding this business suited to his tastes, however, he sold his stock, and, during the remainder of his lite, confined his attention to farming. He was a man much respected, very quiet, and so domes- tic in his tastes, that he kept aloof from politics and everything calculated to attract him away from home or the care of his domestic concerns. He died in 1869, leaving six sons, Peter, John, Duncan, Donald, Hugh and Alexander, and two daughters. Three of the sons, John, Duncan and Hugh, the only ones who had children, settled in St. Andrews. The latter, after living on the homestead till 1856, sold it, and two or three years later went to Ottawa, where he still resides. His eldest son, William, is manager of the large mercantile establishment of John McDonald & Co. in Toronto. John, another son, is book-keeper for an extensive lumber company in the same city. Mary, one of th? daughters of Mr. Dewar, married John Lamb, foreman in a manufactory of Judge Hamilton of Hawkesbury. Possessing considerable ingenuity in the way of invention, Mr. Lamb devoted much of his time to this work, and invented a water-wheel, which is now in use in various parts of Canada. Afterwards, he became the originator of several other machines, which are in popular use. Soon after his marriage he removed to Ottawa, where he died in 1894 ; Mrs. Lamb died in 1887. They had six children — three sons and three daughters. The sons, James B., William and John H. Lamb, engaged in the occupation followed by their father, and seem to have inherited much of his skill at invention. Jane, a daughter of Duncan Dewar, sen., married William Kneeshaw, and settled on Beech Ridge ; both are deceased. They had one son, Robert, and one daughter, Sarh, who now reside in Illinois. Alexander, the youngest son of Duncan Dewar, sen., met his death by a sad acci- dent in the spring of 1837. ^^ and a young man named Abner Rice, who was studying for the notarial profession, when together one day, were asked by a citizen to aid him in getting a heavy canoe over the mill dam. The water was high, and the work was one involving no little risk. They brought the bo.at down, however, but HISTOkY or ARCRimiTIL. 83 in the act it opart, antl Dcvar awvm to the shore. Rke dung to the boat and eadeavoured to right it, b«t seeing he could not, Dewar jnmpied Jit and swam to hb assistance. It was no easy matter, however, to handle the boat in that boiling caul- dron, and with the view, no donbt, of getting it into more quiet water, they both clung to the bow. As it glided along with the swift current, it had acquired no little momentum by the time it reached the bridge, and the young men being forced against the middle pier were both killed. John, the eldest son, purchased land in Buckingham, and in company with his brother Donald, was preparing for himself a home, when circumstances occurred which led him to make his home in St. Andrews. In January, 1836, he was married to Elizabeth Wales, and her father dying some months later, her mother prevailed on the newly married couple to make their home with her, and take charge of the farm. The following obituary published at the time of Mr. Dewar's death, 23rd April, 1875, expresses the popular sentiment in the vicinity of St. Andrews, and shows thai the lives of this couple were not spent in vain : — " Died at St. Andrews, on the 23rd inst., after a few days' iUness, Mr. John Dewar, aged 69 years, the eldest brother of Duncan Dewar, Esq., J.P., of that village, leaving a family and a large circle of friends to wrestle with a sorrow, which would be infinite if they sorrowed as those who have no hope. " Mr. Dewar was converted when a young man, and soon after, while living in Buckingham, embraced Baptist views, and was immersed by the Rev. John Edwards, sen., the pioneer Baptist of the Ottawa Valley. He married Elizabeth Wales of St. Andrews, a lady of great amiability, whose soul was in lively sympathy with his own in resjject to every good work. About a year after his marriage he removed to St. Andrews, where he united with several kindred spirits in forming a Baptist church. He was chosen one of the Deacons, and continued faithfully to discharge the duties of his office till called by the Captain of his salvation from the field of labour to the rest that remaineth for the people of God. "Brother Dewar was a man of large heart and warm sympathies, and while he loved God supremely, he loved men universally. Abhorring every evil way, he pitied evil doers and laboured for their recovery from sin. He was a man of peace, much more willing to endure wrong than to do wrong. From the commencement of the temperance enterprise, he was a consistent and warm advocate of the cause. He has left an afflicted widow, three sons and three daughters, with a large circle of friends to mourn his absence, but to rejoice in the belief that he has gone to serve God day and night in his temple. — W. K. A." Mrs. Dewar died in 188 r. Their children were Duncan Wales, Henry, Charles Alexander, John Edward, Mary Lemira, Esther, Jane Elizabeth, and Susannah. Two of the sons, John and Henry, lived on the homestead till 1889, when they sold it to J. A. N. Mackay, Esq. Those of the children now alive are widely scattered ; the only ones living in this County are two daughters, Mary and Jane, whose good works are a reproduction of those of their parents. The former is the wife of Mr. A, L. Sharman, a most estimable citizen of Carillon. $4 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Duncan Wales, the eldest son of Mr. Dewar, died in 1873, two years before the demise of his father. He left a widow and two sons, Ethelbert and Ford, who are honourably employed in Duluth, Minn. Duncan, the third son of Duncan Dewar, sen., was bom May, 1807, and, as he has been a prominent figure in his native village through nearly all of his active and useful life, he Js entitled to more than a passing notice in these pages. It is but fair, also, to acknowledge that, but for his great age and retentive memory, many of the incidents herein recorded would have been lost to the future. His birthday was rendered memorable by the erection of the first bridge that was ever built across the North River at St. Andrews. Until the age of fourteen, he regularly attended the village school, which was a building occupying the site of the present town hall, his first teacher being a young man by the name of Joseph Whitcomb, son of a mason, who had been brought to the village by Thomas Mears. At the age mentioned above, the subject of this sketch was seized with an ambition to take care of himself. A man named Timothy Bristol had a wheelwright and blacksmith shop, in a long building which stood on ground now occupied in part by the post-office. With this man young Duncan had become well acquainted, and as he was frequently in his shop, he soon formed the opinion that the lot of a mechanic was more pleasant and profitable than that of a farmer, hence he besought his father to permit him to learn the trade of blacksmith, a trade for which his small stature and delicate constitution seemed scarcely, fitted. After due consideration, his father consented to his proposal, and apprenticed him to Bristol for the term of three years. Some of the neighbours pronounced the arrangement foolish, declaring that he would get disgusted with the work, and wish to return home within two weeks, but Mr. Dewar, knowing his boy's qualities better than they, said he knew that if he began the work he would stick to it — the correctness of which statement was proved by the sequel. In those days muscular strength and ability to defend one's self by physical force were in high esteem, while those who lacked these qualities, the young especially, could not forbear feeling that they were destitute of some of the essential elements of manhood. Now, though young Dewar had no reason to repine at his want of strength, he felt that public opinion, on account of his slight form, would naturally consign him to the weak class, and he retained this impression, till one day, being assaulted in the shop by a burly habitant, he soundly thrashed him. Doubtless he was indebted for this victory to strength acquired at the anvil ; but be this as it may, from that time onward he seemed to hold a higher place in the esteem of his com- panions. But before he had completed hisapprenticeship, another incident occurred, which was fraught with much more important interests to him, and which to the present has had much influence on the actions of his life. A few prominent men of St. Andrews, having, heard the noted Evangelist, Rev. Mr. Christmas, preach in Montreal, invited him to hold a series of meetings in St. Andrews — which invitation he accepted. It is said that^ as a result of these meetings, twenty-eight individuals, a few of whom were of profligate character, were reclaimed HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 85 from the error of their ways. Mr. Dewar was one of the converts, and henceforth his feelings and aspirations were far different from what they had been. It is usual for the new-bom Christian to cherish respect and love for the clergyman under whose preaching he has been converted. This feeling, in part, induced Mr. Dewar to seek employment in Montreal, where he might enjoy the acquaintance and preaching of the Rev. Mr. Christmas. He soon found work in an iron manufactory, where he remained several months, during which time he was a regular attendant at the church of Mr. Christmas, and he induced a cousin of his to go with him, who, in the end, was also converted. A chance to obtain better wages next led him to Grand Isle, Ver- mont, and after working there nearly a year he came home to attend school. He had always been anxious to obtain an education, and he determined to devote what money he had earned to this end. After this supply had been exhausted, he went to Ottawa, and procured work in a government shop at $1.25 per day, making irons which were used in the construction of canal locks. In the society into which he was there thrown, his temperance principles were pretty strongly tested. In the afternoon of his first day in the shop, he saw one of his fellow-workmen collecting money from the others, and presently he came to him. Asking the purpose of the collection, he was told that it was to purchase liquor. He replied, " I do not drink, and it is against my principles to encourage it." " Well," was the answer, " no man can stay here unless he joins us." Mr. Dewar then gave them money to assure them that he was not actuated by parsimony, but expressed his determination not to taste any spirituous liquors. They never asked him for money again, nor did they invite him to drink, although they all continued to use liquor themselves, and often to excess. One thing, however, they would not permit, but doubtless they were prompted more by a spirit of fun than of ill-will. A milkman came around daily, and raising a window of the shop, passed a pint of milk through it to Mr. Dewar, but soon, before he could get it, a sly tap would send the contents on the floor, and after this had occurred several times, tiie attempt to obtain milk was abandoned. When he had earned $100, he once more returned to St. Andrews, and attended school, and in this manner secured a degree of scholarship rather above what was accorded at that time to the young men of his age. About 1828 he entered the store of Mr. Guy Richards as clerk, and remained with him six years, and he attributes much of the knowledge of business and moral benefit he received to the wise instructions and good example of Mr. Richards. In 1834, he and John Richard Hopkins, nephew of Mr. Richards, bought Richards' stock of merchandise, and Mr. Dewar for many years followed the mercantile business, though, as his means increased, he added other branches of business, yet without much ready profit. About 1850, he built a tannery, and then a bark mill. The following year he received a diploma from the Provincial Industrial Exhibition in Montreal, for the best specimen of harness leather manufactured in Canada. In 1856 his tannery was burnt, and his insurance policy having la{)sed, it was an entire loss,' but he immediately rebuilt. He met with various other losses during his' earlier career, — one of a boat for which he had paid $600. 86 UISTOftY OF ARGEMTKUIL. In December, 1836, Mr. Dewar was married to Margaret Treadwell, daughter «rf .Nathaniel Hazard Treadnrell, Esq., Seignior of LongueuiL Miss Treadwell and a sister had been for some time living at L'Orignal with their brother, Charles, and they often came to St. Andrews to visit the family of Mr. Richards. It was thus that Mr. Dewar became acquainted with his future wife. After a courtship of two years, they married at her father's residence in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Mrs. Dewar possessing much of the ability of her family was a help-mate in the most significant sense of that word — a woman whose counsel was wisdom, whose example was virtue. Her father and her distinguished sister, Mrs. Redfield, often visited them at their home in St. Andrews, and these were occasions of no little enjoyment, for no man could better appreciate cultured society than Mr, Dewar. In his youthful days, he was a schoolmate of the late Sir J. J. C. Abbott, though some years his senior. Though they differed widely in political principles in after years, a warm friendship always subsisted between them, and letters that Mr. Dewar received from Mr. Abbott, which he still retains, show that the statesman esteemed him as an honorable and able political foe. Some years ago he was instrumental in obtaining a grant of ;^900 from Parlia- ment, for the purpose of improving the navigation of the North River ; but owing to some political chicanery, this sum was diverted from its proper object, and used for other purposes. Though a confirmed Liberal, he has never sought political office ; the only public position he has held being that of magistrate, in which office he acted ably and conscientiously for nearly a quarter of a century. His attention during the last fifteen years has been chiefly confined to his drug store, the first and only one ever opened in this village. He has three sons now living ; Guy Richards, his second son, has been postal clerk for the last sixteen years between Montreal and Toronto ; the two others, Dun- can Everett and Alexander, have long been engaged in mercantile business, the for- mer in Aylmer, Queljec, the latter at St. Andrews, where he has followed his present vocation many years. Retiring in habit, he has never sought public positions, and is respected for his moral Christian character. He has two children, — a son and daugh- ter ; the former, Alexander, is studying for the ministry, and for the past three years has earnestly devoted himself to Christian work, spending some months in this work in New York in the summer of 1893. He is president of both the St. Andrews and Argeuteuil C.E. Societies. In the beginning of the present century, John McMartin of Genlyon, Perthshire Scotland, decided to try his fortune in the New World. His wife having relatives at the Bay of Chaleurs, on the north of New Brunswick, thither he went, and prepared for himself and family a home. A year or two subsequently, learning that two of his brothers, farmers in Scotland, were about emigrating to Canada, he deci ded to seek with them, when they arrived, a more suitable place for agriculturists than coutd be found near the Bay of Chaleurs. In that locality the ii^abitants subsisted almost wholly by fishing; but as this method of procuring a livelihood was not congenial' fto HISTORY OF AR6ENTKUIL. 87 his tastes, and the land theie was generally sterile, he gladly availed himself of a chance to dispose ot what he had purchased. This he exchanged with his wife's uncles for land which they had received for service rendered the Government, and which was situated in the County of Huntingdon, Quebec. On reaching Montreal, however, he learned that his estate in Huntingdon was in an unbroken wilderness, and that should he settle there, his nearest neighbour would be thirty miks distant. At this time Major Murray was in Montreal, endeavouring to obtain Scotch set- tlers for his Seigniory on the Ottawa, and Mr. McMartin was induced to sell his land in Huntingdon, and with his brothers take up his residence in the Seigniory. Accord- ingly in 1801, or the year following, he came hither, and purchased two lots on the south side of the River Rouge which are now owned by the family of the late Geo. Hyde. The inevitable log house and small clearing were here on his arrival, but in a few years, about 1810, he built another house, which, with some alterations and additions, is still standing and occupied by the family of Mr. Hyde. Mr. McMartin added another lot to those which he first purchased, and with the help of his sons cleared up the greater part of these three lots ; he died in 1847. Four of his sons, Finley, Duncan, Daniel and Martin, joined the Cavalry Company of Capt. McLean in the Rebellion of 1837-38, and all remained in it, till advancing years induced them to yield their places to younger men. Mr. McMartin had fifteen children, thirteen of whom arrived at maturity ; eleven of them settled on the River Rouge ; the youngest son, Martin, lived and died on the homestead. Finley McMartin, the sixth son, after living and working on the homestead till he was about thirty-four years of age, entered the store of Mr. Charles Wales, sen., of St. Andrews, as clerk. At the expiration of a year, believing that trading on his own account would be more profitable than his present work, he hired the store across the street opposite that of Mr. Wales, which was occupied by Frederick McArthur, and purchased his stock of goods. Subsequently, he purchased the store and house, botn being under the same roof; but in about ten years from the time he began to trade, this building, together with his entire itock of goods, was burned. He then hired another store, in which he traded till 1858, when he built a large brick store, which is now owned by Wm. D. Larmonth, and is used as a boarding house. In 1868 he disposed of his store, and the next year purchased the grist mill and three hundred acres of land adjacent. At the expiration of fourteen years he sold the mill to Mr, Walsh, its present proprietor, and since has confined his attention to his farm. Although an octogenarian, he is so well preserved physically and mentally that few would imagine him to be more than sixty. His honesty, sobriety and dili- gence in business have won the respect of his fellow-citizens, yet, the only secular office he has accepted at their hands is that of School Commissioner, — ^a position he has held for many years. He was secretary of the Baptist Church Society for a long time, as well as amepber and generous supporter. He has been twice married, — the first time in 1847 *<> Christy McFarlane, who died in 1865. His second marriage 88 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. was to Amanda Wales. By the first marriage he had three children, — ^John F., Elizabeth and Kate. Elizabeth married E. M. Kneeshaw, and Kate, J. S. Buchan, a rising young lawyer of Montreal, son of Wm. Buchan, Esq., of Geneva, Mrs. Buchan died in 1894. JohnF. McMartin at the age of sixteen engaged to a firm in Montreal as clerk, and subsequently became a commercial traveller, a position for which his rectitude, affability and fine address eminently fitted him. After an experience of eight years in this line, he entered the firm of J. W. McKeddie & Co., on Victoria Square, as partner. Guy Richards was another man prominent and influential in the youthful days of St. Andrews. He was born in Norwich, Conn., on 8th November, 1787 ; he went from there to^New York, and after a few years came to Montreal. His ability soon secured him many friends among the Americans in that city, and through them he became established in a thriving business as merchant. In the war of 1812, believing that he could make much profit by providing clothes for the Volunteers, he invested largely in woollen fabrics, paying a high price for them ; but just after he had embarked in this venture, peace was declared, his scheme collapsed, and if not financially ruined, he was at least in embarrassing circumstances. Previous to this, he had formed the acquaintance of a Miss Graham from Massachusetts, who was on a visit to an aunt residing in Montreal, and the acquaintance ripened into friendship, and finally terminated in marriage. With the view no doubt of improving his financial condition, Mr. Richards removed to St. Andrews ; here he also engaged in trade. He bought the property of Theodore Davis, the surveyor, enlarged the house, and used one part of it as a store. After trading here for about thirteen years with good success, and doing considerable business meanwhile as a lumber merchant, he sold his real estate, and then, about 1827, built the brick store which is now occupied by Mr. La Fond. He was very successful, financially, while he lived here, yet, owing to his benevolence and severe losses, it was found at his death that he was not worth as much as had been supposed. He was highly esteemed as a citizen, and his purse was always open . to encourage every good work. One young man was educated for the ministry through the means of money that he supplied : he died 21st September, 1839. Cynthia Graham, a sister of Mrs. Richards, born in Conway, Mass., 17th Decem- ber, 1800, came to St. Andrews to live with her sister in 1819. While living here, she became acquainted wiih Henry Benedict Wales, and in 1829 they were mar- ried. Soon afterward they moved to Pt. Fortune, and purchased the farm about a mile beloiv the village, now owned by Mr. Williamson. A quarter of a century later, Mr. Wales sold the farm, and built a steamer, known as the " Buckingham," which for seven years did duty on the Ottawa under his own management. He then sold it to his brother, and purchased a farm in Alfred, Ontario, which he also sold in a few years, and returned to St. Andrews, whei;e he died in 1889. One of the daughters of Mr. Wales married the Rev. John Dempsey, a Baptist min- HISTORY OF ARGENTKWL. 89 ister, who labored many years in St. Andrews, and another was married to Finlay McMartin, with whom her mother, Mrs. Wales, who has just celebrated her ninety- third birthday, now lives. ' It is impossible to speak of this lady, who still retains her mental faculties to a remarkable degree, without pondering for a moment the mighty changes that have taken place in the world's history within her recollection. She was seven years old when Robert Fulton made a voyage from Albany to New York in the first steam- boat the world had ever seen. She had attained an age when the events of the war of 18 1 2, the battle of Lundy's Lane, Qneenstown Heights and Plattsburgh must have aroused her imaginatiun and stamped themselves upon her memory. She was bud- ding into womanhood when the battle of Waterloo was fought, an event which oc- curred nearly two decades before the birth of those who are now threescore years of age. Statesmen and warriors whose achievements have startled the world have begun and finished their parts in the drama of life since the days of her childhood. She was nearly thirty years old when the first railway in America was con- structed, and forty before the invention of the electric telegraph, and, yet, she has lived to see the social and commercial world revolutionized through the mighty agen- cies of steam and electricity.* RoBT. J. Simpson, from Mascouche on the St. Lawrence, was another man who may be classed with the pioneers of this section, as he was here and keeping store as early as 1807, in a large wood house, occupying the site of the present dwelling of Mr. Howard, notary. His career, however, was soon terminated by death. Trustees of his estate apprenticed his son Robert, eleven years of age, to James Brown, who had a printing house in Montreal, to learn the trade of printer. After finishing his term of apprenticeship— seven years — young Simpson engaged to work for Mr. Brown another year, at the expiration of which time he returned to St. Andrews, and purchased a farm on the River Rouge, now known as the Blanchard farm. About this time, Mr. Moses Davis being occupied with his plan of erecting a tannery, accepted Mr. Simpson as partner in the Work, and, .henceforth, the latter was one of the enterprising spirits of St. Andrews. In } 824, he formed a closer alliance with Mr. Davis, having entered into a contract of marriage with his eldest daughter. A few years afterwards, deciding to engage in the business of tanning on his own account, he erected a building for the purpose, on the site of the present tannery which is in disuse. Some years later, this having fallen a prey to fire, his sons built the one mentioned above, which is now standing. Mr. Simpson, like his father-in-law,' in addition to his business of farming and tanning, added that of harness- making and shoemaking. He seems to have been a man of much influence in the place, one of those whose advice is sought by neighbors in the troubles and disputes into which they sometimes fall, and one who by force of character is able to sway others. *Mis. Wales died a few months after the above was written. go HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. He was a Justice of Peace, Commissioner for the trial of small causes, and for some time Mayor of the Parish. At one period, during the construction of the GrenviUe Canal, he had a con- tract for supplying the Royal Staff Corps at Grenville with beef— a contract which, on account of the distance and state of the loads, involved, in summer especially, no little hardship. The beef must be in Grenville before 9 o'clock a.m. daily, thus necessitating constant worry and watchfulness on the part of Mr. Simpson, lest the man he employed to carry it should oversleep, and trouble arise in consequence. A few years later, during the Rebellion, he took another contract to supply the soldiers stationed at Carillon with bread. The carrying out of this contract, though not without its vexations, was less irksome, on account of the shorter distance to be travelled. During this exciting period, Mr. Simpson's services were called m requisition in many ways and on various occasions. He was especially serviceable in obtaining the restitution of such property as the belligerent parties took from each other at the time of the greatest excitement. Being well acquainted in the neighborhood of St. Eustache and St. Benoit, and having friends there among the Radicals, he was often visited by some of the latter,, and solicited to use hjs influence in securing the restoration of articles which, in those days of recklessness with regard to the laws of meum and iuum, had suddenly changed hands. More than once, also, he was solicited to visit the above localities to secure the return of property which had mysteriously slipped from the possession of some of his loyal neighbors. On one occasion, however, his mission was a higher one. His old employer, James Brown, who now lived in St. Andrews, and Monlmarquette, a merchant from Carillon, while returning from Montreal, were taken prisoiiers by the insurgents, and held at St. Benoit. Mr. Simpson's object was to obtain their release ; and having been successful in his purpose, he relumed in company with them to St. Andrews, where they received quite an ovation. It has been stated that the dwelling of Mr. Davis was used as a barracks for soldiers who were quartered in the village. Another large building used for the same purpose was the house already mentioned, Which was formerly the house of Mr. Simpson, and which stood where Mr. Howard's brick house now stands. Several prisoners had been taken at St. Eustache and in that vicinity, and they were tried for treason by court martial, the sessions of which were held in this house. Nothing very criminal being proved again st them, they were released ; but such was their fear of being ill-treated by the crowd gathered there to listen to the pro- ceedings, that they earnestly entreated Mr. Simpson to escort them some distance beyond the village — a favor he cheerfully granted. Mr. Simpson died 24th May, 1870, but his widow survived till iglh September,. 1895. She was a woman of much intelligence and activity, and though she attained, the age of eighty-eight, her mental and physical faculties were well preserved. They had eight children, of whom one died in infancy. Robert, the eldest son, spent some years in New Zealand, engaged in mining. He returned, married, and HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. gi died in St. Andrews, where his widow still resides. Moses Davis is one of the enter- prisiag. farmers of the parish. He has been twice married : first, to a daughter of the late James Barclay, the second time to Lucinda, a daughter of Martin McMartin. Emery, the fifth son, married Rebecca Kempley, and after many years spent in farming has retired. Lester F., the yomigest son, is a prosperous farmer near Ottawa j he has been twice married; first to Miss Aylmer of Montreal, and next to Lizzie Ewen, daughter of Dr. Ewen of Hawkesbury. Of the two daughters of the late Robert Simpson, Phoebe married Edward Jones, and Mary Ann, now deceased, married David Suther- land, both gentlemen of St. Andrews. George Simpson, the eldest son, always took an active interest ia public affairs, and besides being Mayor of the Parish Council, was for some years superintendent of the Carillon and Grenville Canals — a position which ill-health induced him to resign. In 1877, he was nominated as candidate for the office of Representative of Argenteuil in the Dominion Parliament ; but the following letter shows that he declined the honor : St. Andrews, 23rd March, 1877. To Mr. W, J. Simpson, Secretary Liberal-Conservative Association^ Lachute. Dear Sir, Aftermature consideration, which, unfortunately, I did not give the subject before allowing. myself to be nominated for a candidate, I have come to the decision that it would be ruinous for me in my business position to go in for Parliamentary honours at present. I exceedingly regret that such is my position, but I can assure the Conservative party of my hearty support for the candidate who may be nominated. Yours truly, Geo. Simpson. Mr. Simpson was married 5th September, 1861, to Eliza, daughter of Thomas Higginson, Esq., of Vankleek Hill. She died 6th January, 1881, leaving eight children. George Herbert, the eldest son, a gentleman of much energy and geniality, was employed nine years as commercial traveller, and was one of the first of that frater- nity who visited British Columbia and the North West. He was appointed to the position which his father resigned — Superintendent of Canals, November ist, 1893, a postion he still holds. Robert S. is a dental surgeon in Montreal. Thomas Crawford, the third son, received his degree as Veterinary Surgeon from McGill, in 1892 ; he won the Gold Medal, and graduated with high honors. He has quite an extensive stock farm in St. Andrews, known as " Craigwood Farm." Wm. H, and Bernard, two more sons of the family, are employed in Montreal — the former as commercial traveller for D. Morrice & Co., the latter in the wholesale 9^ HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. house of Jas. McDougall & Co. The youngest of these brothers, George F., is still atsdiool, and of the daughters, Agnes L. and Jane Klyne, the former was marriied i6th March, 1895, to D. A. Mclntyre, of Calumet, and the latter resides with her brother at The Willows, their home in St. Andrews. Martin Jones was one of the very early settlers at Carillon Bay, and his advent must have been about the beginning of the present century ; he settled on land now owned by Raymond. It is related that one winter, while he resided here, he found it necessary to go to Lachine for provisions, and so destitute was the countiy at that time of means of travelling, that he was obliged to go on foot. Taking a neighbor, a habitant, with him, and a hand sled to convey his supplies, he performed the journey by way of the Ottawa on the ice. The cold was excessive, and they suflfered severely, the potatoes being frozen before they had accomplished .half the distance ; but their return was hailed with far more delight by their families than is the one who now returns in a palace car, with numerous boxes of presents and delicacies for the Christmas cheer. In 1803, Mr. Jones purchased lot No. 3 on the east side of the North River, where A. C Robillard now lives, which had been granted by the Seignior, 17th May, 1793, to Ignace Samson. He lived here till his death in 1838, leaving one son and three daughters. The eldest of the latter was married to Wm. Le Roy; the second, in 1820, to Thomas Wanless; but the third never married. The son, Edward Jones, spent many years of his life in keeping a public house — the building used for the purpose being one opposite the store of Mr. Wales. In 1843 he purchased Carillon Island, in the Ottawa, comprising about 1000 acres, since which it has generally been known as "Jones' Island." He never lived on it himself, but his son Edward resided there for many years, and then leaving it in possession of his own son, Robert, he came to St. Andrews and lived in the house siill owned by his widow, till his death, 17th June, 1890. He was quite successful in financial matters, and was a man of respectability and influence. He was Justice of the Peace for several years and a member of the Local Council. Thomas Wanless mentioned above came from Yetholm, Roxburyshire, Scotland, and settled in St. Andrews about 181 2, and did business here as an artisan many years. He had twelve children, but only one son now remains in this section. One of his sons was living in Denver, Colorado, and while on a visit to him, Mr. Wanless died inFebruary, 1873. The son, Martin Wanless, now living here, has been one of the active citizens of the place, and prominent in both civil and military affairs. He Was a member of the village Council eight years, and one term its Mayor, and has officiated as Secretary Treasurer fourteen years. After acting nine years as chairnaan of the School Board, he was chosen as its Secretar}'-Treasurer, and has held the position seven years. In 1849, he joined the St. Andrews Troop, and in 1867 became its Lieutenant. In 1880, he received his commission as Captain, and in 1890 was promoted to the rank of Major. HISTORY OF ARGEKfEtTIL. 93 Early in the present century a j-oiing man whose home was in Bath, England; decided to visit Canada with the view of settling here, eventually, should the country please him. A confectioner by trade, it is quite probable that he designed establishing his business in the new colony, provided conditions were favorable. However this may be, influences more potent than pecuniary interests induced him to remain. He formed the acquaintance of a young German lady in Montreal, who, like himself, had recently left her native land, so John Teasdale and Mary Docfc- stadter became one. He engaged in his former business of confectioner, and pros- pered; then he bought a fine house with a large gardein attached, and this was made to contribute in no small degree to his income. He planted a nursery, sold stock, cultivated choice flowers, imported rare plants, arid thus gradually swelled his coffers, till he was reputed well off in this world's goods. Bui if his business expanded, so likewise did his family, and in time he became, in the language of Grecian mytho- ]Ogy, the father of a beautiful offspring. In consequence of too fully realizing this fact, however, and thus becoming an over-indulgent parent, he was destined to ex- perience much sorrow. His eldest son, William, and another one, John, were young men of romantic nature, with a strong predilection for fashionable and gay society ; they had received good advantages, and were passionately fond of music, as the number of musical instruments provided for them through paternal kindness abund' antly attested. But notwithstanding all this indulgence, parental wisdom was not entirely inert, and it was decided that the sons must have something to do, — some useful occupation to employ their minds and provide means for future requirements. A little more parental discretion and authority at this juncture of affairs might have prevented niiisfortune, but, unfortunately, the choice of vocation was left to the younger minds, and for them nothing short of mercantile life would suffice. St, Andrews was the location selected for this mercantile venture, and, forthwith, a build- ing was erected for this purpose. This stood on ground now occupied, in part, by the cottage of Mrs. Meikle ; it was a long structure, designed not only for a store, but for one or more tenements. In this, then, the young men 'were soon established as merchants ; but whatever their success and habits at first, it was soon evident that th6 store was of secondary importance and that their minds were "on pleasure bent." The' country at that period being new, and the forest abounding in game of various kinds, presented great attractions to one inclined to sporting. The pleasure thus afforded to the two younger brothers was one they were not likely to ignore. But in order to pursue it in becoming style, they must have horses and dogs, and these were soon provided. While they were employed with the delight of the chase, business did not thrive ; the interests of those left in charge of the store were not identical with those of the pro- prietors, and the losses thus sustained, added to expenses incurred in the rounds of pleasure, presented in the end a discouraging spectacle in the account of profit and loss. As may be supposed, and as the citizens of St. Andrews had prophesied, the new 94 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. mercantile firm soon failed ; but parental pride and aflection willing to give another trial, their debts were paid, the store restocked, wholesome reprehension and advice were given, and the sons started anew. But they had not had that experience necessary to success. It is an admitted fact that very few men are qualified to handle money unless they have earned it. The second trial was begun, no doubt, with good resolutions, which for a time were carried into effect, but the final result was failure more disastrous than the first. The elder Teasdale, collecting together what remained of his property, moved to St. Andrews, deciding that he could support his family at much less expense here than in the city, while the sons now adopted a course which developed their latent energies and ability, and properly fitted them for the battle of life. William, the elder son, studied with Col. Fortune, a provincial land surveyor and civil engineer, who at that time was also agent for the Seigniory of Argenteuil, and lived at the Manor House at the Bay. His pupil being an apt scholar, thoroughly mastered his profession, and for years was employed in surveying lands in this section of the Province. He surveyed much in Argenteuil, and it is said that he named some of her beautiful lakes. But he finally sufiTered .from an afifection of the eyes, and eventually became blind ; he died at Rigaud about 1862. John, his brother, studied medicine with the late Dr. Wolfred Nelson, and subsequently settled in Rigaud. In the commencement of his last illness, he visited Montreal for treatment, and died there in 1870. His obituary says: "Dr. Teasdale has been living and practising in Rigaud for the last forty years, where he was much esteemed by a large circle of friends, not only as a physician, but as a true friend. His loss will be deplored, not only by the people of his own parish, but by all the surrounding district, and the name of Dr. Teasdale will be remembered for generations to come." The father for a'time traded in the store which his sons occupied in St. Andrews, and died there in 1830. Mrs. Teasdale survived till 1870. Julia, their sixth child, married Gaspard de Ccligny Denys de la Ronde, a notary, 8th February, 1829. Mr. de la Ronde, who was born in St. Anne, descended from a lineage that might satisfy the most ambitious, — his ancestry on the maternal side running back through illus- trious families to the King of Portugal, and on the other, through houses equally famous ; the last of his distinguished paternal ancestors being General de la Ronde, who, connected with the army of Burgoyne, fell at the battle of Ticonderoga in 1777. Gaspard de la Ronde studied for the notarial profession in Montreal, and immediately after passing his examination came to St. Andrews and practised. He had an extensive business for many years, and besides attending to the duties of his profession, often acted as counsel for litigants, pleading their cases in the lower courts. He died 8th June, 1882, at the age of 78. His widow is still at St. Andrews, and, though fourscore years of age, her mental faculties are intact They had ten children — five sons and five daughters, who lived till past the age of twenty, though but few of them are now alive. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 9$ J. T. de La Ronde, the eldest son now living, after spending some years in the States, employed in commercial business and as proof-reader in a newspaper office in Plattsburg, N.Y., returned to Canada, and now resides at St. Andrews. R. P. DE LA ReNDE, his brother, in his youth learned telegraphy ; he then studied law in the office of Chapleau, Ouimet & Mathieu, and was admitted to the Bar in 1867, and the following year was married to Martha McMartin, daughter of Duncan McMartin, J.P. He lives at St. Andrews, where he has built up an extensive prac- tice as an able and honorable barrister. Stewart £., another son of the late Gaspard de la Ronde, has been engaged for the last nineteen years in the commission business in Ottawa. Margaret, a sister of the above, married J. H. P. Brown, son of Dr. E. B. Brown of St. Anne. Mr. Brown has for several years been a mail clerk, and is now employed as such on the Canada Atlantic between Montreal and Ottawa. Henry Albright, a German, was one of theU. E. Loyalists who sought an asy- lum in Canada at the beginning of the American Revolution. In Montreal he engaged to Dr. Meyers to take charge of a farm, which he owned on the opposite side of the St. Lawrence. But he soon experienced much trouble with Indians, whose thievish propensities seemed likely to leave him but little personal property, and after he had one day driven away several of them, a friendly chief advised him to leave the place. Believing this to be judicious counsel, he followed it, and engaged the friendly chief to convey his family across the river in a canoe. His young boy, Martin, on the voyage across, fell out, and was saved only by the activity- of the chief, who caught him by the hair as he rose to the surface. Mr. Albright came to the Bay, and settled on land until recently occupied by Matthew Burwash. Not long afterwards, he purchased the lots on the North River now owned by Alphonse Dorion and Charles Hunter, where he lived until he died in 1820 ; he left two son^ and four daughters : Valentine, one of the former> lived and died on the homestead. Martin, another son, who owned a farm adjacent to his brother's, sold it, and moved to the farm now owned by his own son Nelson He spent the greater part of his life here, and died in 1872. He married Jane Hyde, and their ten children have helped to swell Canadian population, and extend the fame for thrift and industry of Canadian citizens. Nelson Albright, mentioned above, is one of the leading men of the parish ; he takes a lively interest in the Agricultural Society, and his finefarm, on which he has recently been awarded a silver medal, always displays, among other things, a choice stock of cattle. Angus McPhie came with his family from Fort William, In vernessshire, Scotland in 1802 ; two brothers, Ewen and Ronald, also making the journey with him. He first went to Pte. Claire near Montreal, and lived there a few years, learning to speak French fluently, and then settled in Chatham, on land now owned by the Fitzgeralds. While living there, he was, in company with Noyes and Schagel, carrying freight from Carillon to Grenville. He had three sons and three daughters : John, the second ison, bought a farm on Beech Ridge, and lived there till his death. He was married in 96 HISTORY OF AKGENTEOIL. 1827 to M«y Cameron, sister of the Cameron who firs.t settled at Pt. au Chene, and had fiv« sons and five daughters ; — three of the former and four of the latter grew up. Besides his military and other offices, Mr. McPhie was president of the AgricuL hirai Society several years. He was an extremely enterprising man, taking a deep interest in farming, and improved his own land to such an extent, that he was awarded three medals by the Agricultural Society, besides gaining several prizes ; he died in 1874. John McPhie, jun., the fourth son, in his younger days spent three years in California, then travelled a few years in the commercial line. In 1872, he bought the farm of 270 acres where he now lives, and was married the same year to a daughter of Charles Albright. Mr. McPhie has been School Commissioner several yeais, and is one of the influential and respected citizens of St. Andrews. The following letter may properly be inserted here, as it treats of the early history of St. Andrews : Ottawa, i8th January, 1894; Mr. C. Thomas. Dear Sir, — In writing a sketch of St. Andrews, as well as of the inhabitants before iny time, it may as well be said here, that the information given is partly from /radi- lion and partly from personal observation, and is written entirely from memory. Before the advent of steamboats on the Ottawa river, between Carillon and Lachine, it was no easy matter to travel between these points, and paddle your own canos. A decided improvement was made, when a line of covered stages (each drawn by four horses) was started to run from Montreal via St. Eustache and St. Andrews to Grenville. The trip was intended to be made in three days — or two trips per week each way. They also carried the mail, and the stage driver's capacious hat contained what letters and newspapers were to be delivered between the different oflices, and which were usually thrown out in passing. The stage house in St. Andrews (where they changed horses) was kept by a Mr. John Russell, and was a large, two-story wooden building next to Mr. Guy Richards' store, and about where Janvier Soulier's house now stands. After a time, he removed across the river to premises situated between Robt. Simpson's garden and Edward Jones' house, where he died. His widow kept the house for a time, when she married a Mr. Bowman, and removed to Buck- ingham. The arrival of the stage in the village was always heralded by the driver's horn, and was as great an event to the gossips and idlers then, as the arrival of a fast train in these days at a rural station. After the steamboats were fairly established, the trade was diverted from the land route, and the stages were taken off the through line, and placed between Carillon and Grenville, and between Point Fortune and L'Orignal. There was also, for many years, a winter line of stages on the same route from Montreal to St. Andrews, and at certain seasons of the year the trip was not accomplished without great difficulty and frequent loss, as many fine liorses were drowned crossing on the treacherous ice at St. Eustache. The industries of St. Andrews consisted of two general stores, an ashery, a HISTORY OF AKGENTEUIL. 97 Unneiy, with saddlers' and shoe-makers' shops, a paper mill, saw mill and grist mill, with the usual village blacksmiths. The taverns were also there, but they could not be prof>erly classed among the industries. One of the stores was kept by Mr. Guy Richards in a large, two-story frame build- ing, next to John Russell's stage hotel (which was afterwards occupied as a residence and registry office by Col. De Hertel) . After the main street, as it now stands, was opened up, past where the Baptist and Episcopal churches are situated, down to where the bridge spans the river, Mr. Richards removed his store, up to a large, two-story stone building (which is still standing), where he did a large and prosperous business for many years, retiring from active life a short time before his death in September, 1839. The other store was kept by Mr. W. G. Blanchard, who also conducted the ashery, where the iiihabitants could send their ashes and get a fair price for them. And as the country was new, each farmer would have a good many bushels of ashes saved up after burning his log heaps. Many a poor family enjoyed little luxuries, such as tea and sugar, and other articles, from the sale of their ashes, that they otherwise would have had to do without. Mr. Blanchard was a kind-liearted, easy- going man, who put too much dependence on some of his unscrupulous neighbors, as it was currently reported that he paid more than once for the same ashes. Mr. Davis' tannery was a long, low building nearly opposite where D. Sutherland has his tailor's shop ; the saddlers and shoemakers were on the other side of the street, and a brisk business was carried on in all of them. The Seigneur had at one time a sawmill situated on the west side of the island, but it was either burnt or otherwise destroyed several years previous. The grist mill was a short distance above the present one, and was one and one-half stories high, built of cedar logs and clapboarded ; the water wheel and other machinery were of a somewhat primitive construction, perhaps as good as it was possible to get in those days, but they could not compare with the "Lamb" or Leiffel of these days. The corn was ground, but not bolted or sifted ; — that had to be done at home with a sieve, made from a partially tanned sheepskin, stretched over a hoop, and per- forated. The miller who presided over that institution for many years was certainly not in advance of his surroundings. He was a Highlander from Argyleshire (not far from that celebrated spot where the horrible " Glencoe " massacre was perpetrated), by the name of MacCallum, but who rejoiced in the not very euphonious sobriquet of "Gock-cum-gaw." The blacksmiths, in the earlier days, were not noted for fine work, and the hoes, axes and forks made by them, and which have come down through several decades, to say the least, had no scarcity of material in them. But later on, there was. a great improvement in all farming tools, and a large business was done in making axes, which were then in great demand, one firm having a " grindstone " run by water power to grind, polish and finish them up ready for use. The members of the medical profession, as they styled themselves, had nothing 98 HISTORY OF ARGENTKUIL. to boast of in regard to ability or skill, and it would be difficult to tell what college they graduated from. All diseases were, for the most part, treated with liberal doses of calomel and jalap, together with the free use of the lancet, and, in cases of sur- gery, heaven help the poor wretch who required their services ! After a few years, a better educated class settled in the country, viz., Drs. Beach, Ellis, and Rice ; the last named also ^carried on a farm, which is now owned by Mr. T. Davis, and he lived where George Simpson's house now stands. About the same time Dr. Rae came to the village ; he was a young Edinburgh graduate of high standing and pol- ished manners, and in a very short time was a general favorite and a successful practi- tioner, being consulted in all serious cases, and sent for from Lachute, Chatham and Grenville. In those days, wheel carriages were not in use, the only means of travelling was on horseback, consequently, a cotmtiy doctor lad a hard life, and required a good strong constitution to stand the wear and tear and exposure to all weathers, so that in a short time Dr. Rae's health began to give way, and at his death he was much regretted. He resided for many years in the house which is now occupied by Dr. Mayrand, and, after his death, his wife a;id family went to Montreal. Shortly before this, another young Scotchman by the name of McCallum, a graduate from the same college, opened an office and began the practice of medicine, and very soon had the reputa- tion of being very skillful and energetic. He enjoyed a large and growing practice, and when the cholera broke out in 1832, he did good service among the poor, and was very successful in his treatment of all those infected with that terrible disease. His career of usefulness was brought to a sudden termination by an accident which in a short time carried him off. During his residence in the county he made many warm friends ; and as he was a single man, and had no relatives in the country, he was well and tenderly cared for in his last illness, and his untimely death was much lamented. There was not a single representative of the legal prof^ission in the county in early times, not but what there was plenty of law going on, but it was all carried on through the Magistrates' Court, which had plenty to do with some of the residents of Chatham, who spent a good part ofjthe proceeds of their potash in law. There were several notaries in the county before Mr. Nolan came ; he practised for many years, and was regarded as a careful, reliable man in his profession. He owned and resided on the propertyjwhich he afterwards sold to Charles Benedict. About the time Mr. Nolan left St. Andrews, two other young notaries — Larue and Goudie — opened an office on the corner^ where Mrs. Caution's house now stands. Yours truly, Colin Dewar. In order to show the differeace between the prices of articles eighty years ago and the present, the following are copied fron a well preserved Day Book that was HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 99 used in St. Andrews in 1814. The items are drawn from several different accounts, as there is not a single account in the book in which four-fifths of the items charged are not for liquors of various kinds, by the glass, gill, half-pint, pint, quart, etc. This is not surprising, whenVe reflect that traders all sold spirituous liquors, and their patrons all used it. The charges were all made, of course, in pounds, shillings and pence, but have been changed into dollars and cents. The merchant seems to have sold every- thing from a jews harp to a log cabin : — 1814. Feb. 6 To i Bushel Com at $200 I Pr. Socks " 75 " " " I Pr. Scissors " 50 " " " 3;^ Lbs. Loaf Sugar " 140 .Mar. 3 " I Bush. Salt " 240 " •' " I Mug Cider " 20 " « " ;^ Lb. Chocolate " 25 " " " 2 Bushels Rye " 500 " " " I Pint of Rum " 40 Apr. I •• I Lb. Tobacco " 60 «' " " I " Raisins « 34 " ■' " I " Tea " I 80 " 5 " 1 "Powder " 68 " " " 1 " Shot " 40 Jure 21 " I Pint Gin 30 " " " 6J^ Yds. Cambric, at 74c 500 July 9 " I Lodging and ^ Sheet Paper 15 " " " >^ 1 int Rum, I supper 50 " " " I Almanac 25 " 29 « 80 BoardNails 34 " " "2500 Shingle Noils 150 " " ''3000 ].arge Nails 900 " " " 5 Yds. Lining, at 50c 250 Aug. 5 " 3 " Sheeting 150 " " " 100 BoardNails 40 " " " 5 Yd.=. Blue Cotton 300 " " " I Gill Peppermint IS '• " " I Set Cups and Saucers 415 1815. Oct. 3 " I Tumbler broken 15 " " " 2 Candles 15 " " '" I Lb. Putty P... 15 1814 April 5 " 1;^ Bush. Oats 100 " " " I Quart Brandy 75 •' " " 2 Slings 25 " " •' I Skein Silk 10 « " " 6 Yds.Coiton atsocts. 300 " " •■ I GlassBilters S " " " }i Pint Peppermint 25 «' 12 " I Bush. Barley 200 " " ■' I HairComb • 30 '• •' " 1 SpellingBook 30 " " " 1 Lb. Rice (by wife) 15 May 4 " }4 Doz. Plates and 2 Tumblers 80 '♦ •' " 2 Bowls and I Pepper Box 77 " " •' ;^ Lb. Pepper 25 " « •' ^i " Spice 25 " " " I Yard Gingham .40 ■" " " I Qt. Beer 20 " " " I Pint Port Wine 45 too HISTORY OF ARGEWTEUIL. i8r4 June 7 To 10 Yds.Calico $5 *<> " « " 1 PaperPins , 30 " " " 2 Ozs. Cinnamon 2$ " " " I Dinner (St. John's Day) 100 " 9 " >^ Lb. Copperas (by Betsy) «o " 17 " yi " •' (by Jack) »o " 18 •' I Pair Overalls 3 70 " " " I Stick Twist 10 " " " 1 Scythe 200 " •' '• 2>^ Yds. Cotton 150 " *' " I Lb. Dried Apples 20 Cr. Nov. 9 By 6 Bushels Onions, at $1.50 900 " " " 169 Lbs. Beef, at 7c n 83 " " " 600 " Pork,ati8c 10800 The earliest physicians of this place have already been mentioned in the letter of Mr. Dewar. Among the other prominent men belonging to the medical profession who have lived in the parish was Dr. Thomas James Howard. He was born at Exeter, Devon County, England, in February, 1796, and in his early life entered the Royal Navy as midshipman on His Majesty's frigate " Canopus." He was in active service three years in the Mediterranean, during the wars with France, Turkey and other powers, but was obliged to retire from the Navy on account of Dl health. Subsequently, he held the commission of Lieutenant under Colonel Rolle in the South Devon Militia, and afterwards practised as physician and surgeon in Devonshire. In 1844, with his wife and twelve children and maid servant, he sailed for Canada, a part of the vessel being fitted up for their special use and accommodation. After a voyage of seven weeks, during the months of April and May, this sailing vessel Tarrived in Quebec. The following summer Dr. Howard spent in Montreal and in travelling through Ontario, seeking a desirable place for location ; but he finally settled in St. Andrews, and began the practice of medicine. His confrires were Dr. Pyke, Dr. Lawrence — succeeded by Dr. Wm. Robertson, Dr. Fenwick and Dr. Mayrand. Having purchased a farm on the River Rouge, he retired to it after a practice of three or four years, and thence removed to Lachute, where he died in 187 r. Henry Howard, his second son, bom in 1828, was fifteen years of age when he crossed the Atlantic with his father's family; he remained two years in St. Andrews, and then went to study French and the Notarial profession in the office of Mr. T. J. Gironard at St. lienoit. Mr. Girouard had been one of the active promo- ters of the Rebellion of 1837-38, and the village of St. Benoit, which had been burned by Sir John Colborne, had then just been rebuilt. Travelling vehicles were of a primitive and rustic style ; a buggy being a thing unknown, while homespun tuques and beef-skin moccasins were articles deemed indispensable in the attire of the habi- tant. Very few understood a word of English — an advantage, no doubt, to the young student, in view of the object at which he aimed.^ HISl"ORY OF ARGRNTEUIL. lOI On receiving his commission as notary public for the Province of Quebec, in Nov- ember, 18511 he settled in St. Andrews, with which place his history sinceiias been closely identified. He has filled many responsible offices, some of which have been either removed or abolished. Active in the formation of the County Agricultural Society, he was appointed Secretary-Treasurer, and held the position for. twenty-three years, when the office was removed to Lachute. He has at different times been Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court, has been Deputy Coroner, Official Assignee of the Coun- ties of Argenteuil and Ottawa, and Secretary-Treasurer of the Local Council ; in all of which he has sustained a reputation for efficiency in business, while commanding respect as an intelligent, public-spirited citizen. Mr. Howard was married in 1853 to Marie Aur61ie Clouthier, of St. Eustache ; they have three sons and one daughter. William Henry, the eldest son, a graduate of McGill, is now superintendent of the Pueblo Smelting and Refining Company, Colorado ; Ernest, the second son, is a member of the Montreal Stock Exchange ; Herbert, the youngest, is a bank clerk, and the daughter, unmarried, remains with her parents. Dr. Robertson is a name that has been familiar to the inhabitants of the Ottawa Valley for two generations ; Dr. Patrick Robertson, who has won honorable distinc- tion during his life-long residence in this county, being the son of a doctor who was in successful practice here for more than a third of a century. The latter. Dr. William Robertson, a graduate of King's College, Aberdeen, Scotland, and of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, London, came from Perth, Scotland, to this country about 1834. He first practised a year in Williams, burg, Dundas Co., Ontario, and then, for the purpose of looking after the business of his half brother, Colin Robertson, who represented the people of this County in Parlia- ment, he removed to Lachute. Soon after this, he opened an office on Little St. James street, Montreal, and practised there a year. About 1842, he was married to Miss Tiernay, daughter of a gentleman connected with the Customs Department, and in 1847, ''^ removed to St. Andrews, where he spent his remaining days, dying 6th March, 1871; Mrs. Robertson died 6th February, 1890. They had two sons and four daughters. Dr. Patrick Robertson studied medicine, and graduated at McGill in 1868. He then settled in St. Andrews, where, with the exception of one or two years spent in England, he has since resided, and built up an extensive and successful practice ; he has recently removed to Montreal. Of the remaining children of the late Dr. Robertson, William, the second son, became general manager of the London Life Assurance Company, and died in 1889. One daughter was married to Col. MacDonald, Indian agent of the North West Territories ; another married Bruce Harman of Toronto ; a third wedded Chas. Handy- side, of the firm of H, & A. Allan, Steamship Co. of Montreal; and one died when but ten years of age. 102 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Dr. George Flanigan Shaw, a rising young practitioner, associated with Dr. Robertson, is from a family in the Dominion Capital whose members are represen- tatives of the most honorable occupations and professions. He was born in Ottawa in 1862, and is a son of Charles Shaw, one of the oldest officers of the Post Office Department. Henry S. Shaw, one of the brothers, is alsa an official of the same department ; and of his three remaining brothers, the eldest, C S. Shaw, is one of the prominent business men of Ottawa. Dr. W. F. Shaw is G. T. R. physician, located in Gravenhurst, Ont. ; and Rev. J. Arthur Shaw, M.A., of Bishop's College, Lennoxville, is Rector of Cobden in the Diocese of Ontario. The subject of our sketch was educated in Ottawa, and at Bishop's College, Lennoxville, and graduated with honors at McGill University, Montreal, taking his degree of M.D., CM., and while there, was for a year editor of the McGill Fort- nightly. He has travelled extensively in Europe, visiting hospitals both in England and on the Continent^ and thus keeping pace with the rapid advancement in knowledge, which of late years has signalized the march of medical and surgical science. He is- a member of the Montreal Medical Society and of the College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Quebec and Ontario. Since the writing of the above, Dr. Shaw has dissolved partnership with Dr. Robertson, on account of the latter's departure for Montreal, and is now established in St. Andrews upon his own responsibility ; he has recently been appointed Health Officer of the parish, and church warden, 10 fill places rend3red vacant by the depart- ure of Dr. Robertson. William H. Mayrand, M.D., is another of the physicians who have earned a livelihood and reputation in St. Andrews and vicinity, and he is one of the few remaining who were prominent in the generation past. He was born at Louiseville, Riviere du Loup, and is a son of the Hon. Etienne Mayrand, who for several years was an M.P.P. After spending two years at St. Hyacinthe College, he went to Nicolet College, and remained five years. On leaving that Institution, he studied medicine a year with Dr. Morin of Quebec, and then entered the Medical Depart- ment of McGill University, and graduated there in May, 1847, i" the same class with Dr. Christie of Lachute. He immediately settled in St. Andrews, and in April, 1848, was married to Catherine Sophia Pecco, a daughter of the late Commissary General Pecco, of Corfu, Ionian Islands, and a niece of Commissary General Forbes of Carillon. The social qualities of the doctor, united with his skill as a physican, soon pro- cured a good practice, and for nearly half a century he has been a familiar figure in this section. Though preferring to give over his practice to younger men, he is still the dependence for medical treatment of many households. Mrs. Mayrand died August 8, 1888, leaving two sous. Henry Wellington, one of these, is employed in the Merchants Bink at Halifax ; Geo. C. is in business in Nelson, B.C. A recent addition to the medical men of St. Andrews is Dr. Walter W. Aylen^ HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 103 who was bom in 1865 at Aylmer, Que. He received his early education in Aylmer, Ottawa and Gait. In 1885, he entered the Medical Faculty of McGill College, and received his degree of M.D., CM., there in 18S9. In 1890, he went to Sheldon, N. Dakota, and during his stay there enjoyed an extensive practice. In 1891 he was married to Eva, daughter of Finley McMartin, of St. Andrews. In 1895, desiring to come East, he sold his practice in Sheldon, and bought that of Dr. Robertson of this place. Dr. Aylen is a worthy son of a clever family, the Aylens of Aylmer having given the medical and legal professions some of their most gifted members. Dr. William S. Allen, who has also but lately visited St. Andrews profession- ally, was born in Montreal, his parents coming from Nottingham, Eng., where his mother, Jane Stanley, belonged to one of the leading families. He was left an orphan at the age of four years, and while still very young, began life as junior clerk for the Canada Paper Co., Montreal. A year later, he became private secretary to John Macfarlane, Esq., president of the Company, in which position he remained two years, and afterward acted as|private secretary to Jas. Bryce, Esq., superintendent of the Canadian Express Co. He was indentured to Dr. J. B. Vosburgh, Montreal, and began the study of dentistry in the fall of 1891, and also took a partial medical course in the University of Bishop's College, Montreal ; he received the degree of L.D.S. in October, 1895. Dr. Allen is a young man of much geniality as well as enterprise, and as his pre- sence in St. Andrews fills a long fell want, it is to be hoped that he may meet with deserved success. Dr. Legault is another physician who has been here for the last six or eight years, and has practised very success.'ully during the time. CHURCHES. Though considerable pains were taken to obtain a more complete history of the Anglican Church here, they were fruitless. For the sketches of the remaining churches, we are chiefly indebted to the courtesy of others ; the biographical sketches of iheir pastors being, of course, from our own pen. Itinerant ministers visited St. Andrews, and preached in the early years of her history ; but the first church formed was the Church of England, by the !^ev. Richard Bradford, as early as 181 1. The first resident clergyman was the Rev. Joseph Abbott, who was born in the north of England, and who graduated at a Scotch University. He arrived in St. Andrews in 1818, and the services, until 182 1, were held in a school-house. The Rev. Mr. Henderson, a Presbyterian clergyman, who came about the same time that Mr. Abbott did, also held services in the same school-house; but as Mr. Abbott had little regard for dissenters of any creed, it is not surprising that these different services did not continue in the same building in the strictest harmony. Serious differences, however, were avoided by the withdrawal of the Presbyterians to a private dwelling, and both clergymen were provided with church edifices the same year, 182 1. I04 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. After remaining here a few years, the Rev. Mr. Abbott removed to a field in the Eastern Townships, which, from his own name, is now known as Abbottsford, and left the church at St. Andrews in charge of his brother, the Rev. William Abbott. The latter remained here till his death, which occurred in 1859. Not long after coming to Canada, the Rev. Joseph Abbott was married to Harriet Bradford, a daughter of the Rev. Mr. Bradford of Chatham, and their descen- dants are among the most influential citizens of the Province. The late Sir J. J. C. Abbott, their eldest son, was bom here 12th March, 1821. The Rev. Mr. Abbott exchanged his property in Abbottsford with his nephew for that in Chatham, lately owned by his father, the Rev. Mr. Bradford, and returned to this section, settling in Grenville, accepting the pastorate of the Anglican church there, till he went to Mon- treal. He was appointed Bursar of the McGill University in that city, in 1843. The Rev. Richaid Lonsdell, M.A., accepted the charge in St. Andrews after Mr. Abbott's death, and held it for many years j he won the esteem of his parishioners, and the number of communicants increased during his ministrations. He removed in October, 1885, and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. O'SuUivan, but an affection of the throat caused the latter's resignation in a few months. The Rev. F. N. Bourne was the next clergyman in the field, who, after supplying it till the fall of 1893, relinquished it for the rectorship of Dunham, Que. ; he has also since accepted the principalship of Dunham Ladies' College. In January, 1894, the Rev. J. W. Dennis became incumbent, and his ability, geni- ality and courtesy have secured for him much popularity. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ST. ANDREWS. By the Rev. Dr. Faterson. The first recorded movement towards the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in Argenteuil is embodied in the following document, which is without date, but evidently a copy made at the time, and belonging to the year 1816 : " We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the Seigniory of Argenteuil, deeply impressed with a sense of our destitute condition with respect 10 the regular ordinances of divine worship, andsensible of the important benefits which we and our families would derive from the labors of a faithful minister of the Gospel, have agreed to use our endea- vors in order to attain this desirable object, trusting to the Great King and Head of the Church for crowning our endeavors with success. "As we are under the paternal care of the British Government, and are therefore strictly connected with Great Britain in politics, commerce, and similarity of manners, so it is natural for us to look to that quarter for a pastor who may take the oversight of our spiritual concerns. " We appoint the following gentlemen to be a corresponding committee, with SBch friends and promoters of Christianity in Britain as may be deemed by them the most active and influential in promoting a design of this nature, to wit, Messrs. Rev. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. IO5 Robert Easton, John and Phineas Hutchins, Benjamin Wales, and Wm. G. Blan- chard." And they promise, the document further says, to pay to the clergyman who should come the; sums opposite their names, yearly ; and at the end it is stated that the number of subscfibers was sixty-four, and the "sum tola,! subscribed, ;^ioi ;" but unfortunately the names are not given. .The Rev. R. Easton was minister of the Presbyterian Church in St. Peter street, Montreal, then in connection with the Associate (or Bu/gher) Synod, of Scotland.; the Messrs. Hutqhins belonged to Lachute, and Messrs. Wales and Blanchard to St. Andrews. Mr. Easton, to whom doubtless the original document was sent, wrote to Dr. James Hall, of Edinburgh, a leading minister of the Associate Synod, who brought the matter before his Presbytery. At the same time, a similar application was sent by the Presbyterians of Rideau in Upper Canada ; and the Presbytery, in compliance with these requests, appointed the Rev. Wm. Taylor of Falkirk to Argenteuil, and Mr. Wm. Bell, a probationer, to Rideau. Application was made to the British Government for assistance, and as that government was desirous of encouraging a good class of emigrants to settle in Canada, a salary of ;^ioo stg. a year was promised to each of those ministers, " in addition to such provision as might be made for them by the settlers."* In due course, Mr. Bell was settled at Perth in the Rideau district ; but Mr. Taylor, instead of coming to Argenteuil, went to Osnabruck on the St. Lawrence, and pitched his tent there. On learning of this. Dr. Hall corresponded with the Rev, Archibald Henderson, M.A., of Carlisle in England, who, after due consideration, accepted the appointment thus vacated (the same provision being made for him by the Government, as had been made for Mr. Taylor), and came to St. Andrews in the summer of 1818. Mr. Henderson was born at Doune near Stirling, Scotland, on the 27th September, 1783. Ke attended the Grammar School of Stirling under the famous Dr. Doig, from whom he imbibed that love of learning and that accurate scholarship by which he was •distinguished. At the, age of 16, he entered the University of St. Andrewsj the most ancient of the existing seats of learning in Scotland. There he studied under another enthusiastic scholar, Dr. John Hunter, whose editions of Virgil and Horace and other classics used to be so familiar in the Scottish grammar schools. Mr. Henderson was an able mathematician, as well as scholar, and was advised by the Professor of that branch of science to devote himself to it. He had, however, higher views, and went to Selkirk to attend the Divinity Hall of the Associate Synod, which was presided over by the well-known Dr. Lawson. That great man was Principal and Professor of all the * As stated in a despatch to Dr. Hall from Earl Batbuist, Secretary of State for War, the adminis- tration of Colonial affairs being at that time in the hands of the War Department. The salary was paid out of the Military Chest at Quebec, afterwards at .Halifax, when the British Garrison had been removed from Quebec. 8 106 »i»er, 1817, say« of Mr. HendcHon : " If fte wtU cone, I could not point out one in tM^te Synod bett« quali- fied. He is pious, modest, active; and persevering. He eomposes ekgantly, pro- nounces the En^ish language unexceptionaNy (a rare thing, I suppose, for a Scotch- man in those days), delivers himself with a manly fluency and grace, and, lastly, is an admirable classical scholar, and completely fitted to superintend an academy. I caQ stake our credit on him." He had been settled in 1810 over achurch in the City of Carlisle, and from thence he came to this country, at the call of the inhabitants of Argenteuil, to take the oversight of their souls and preach to them the Gospel of the Grace of God. He sailed from Greenock at the end of May, 1818, and arrived in Canada in July. He brought with him a letter from Earl fiathurst to the Governor General,. Sir John C. Sherbrooke, by whom he was kindly received. Leaving his wife and three small children in Montreal, he came to St. Andrews, and preached to the people, who were much pleased with him, even beyond their expectations. He was speedily recalled to Montreal by the sickness and death of one of his children. With a sorrowing heart he returned with his family to the village which was to be the scene of his labors and his home for nearly fifty-nine years. St. Andrews, beautifully situated at the foot of a rapid, on both sides of the North River, was a small place, and, to the new comers from the crowded Old Country, scarcely visible. Mrs. Hen- dersofl used to tell how she asked on arriving and looking round : " Where is the village?" aad received the reply : "It is on the other side of the river." When on that side, she still asked.: " But where is the village?" Again the answer came : " On the other side of the river." The distrieJt w:*s in much n^ed of Gospel ordi.ftances, »o wiai^ter having ever been settled iq it. Mr. gaston of l^ostreal occ9.sio9?flff oajeae to lattend to the Pres- byierians. An Episcopal i^ninist^r prea,cl)ed once a foripight to the people of that body, while a g«>4 «¥">, K^gh C^ecQn, Af .Qote d,u Mjjii, was wont to exhort the peof>^, andeViCB, it is soi^, «<>nietW(e to ba^ize .dWJLdrea^ He was usually spoken of 9s " Hu^y tbe Minister," md his descendanit.* *re still distfeigviished by the cognomen of " tJie isisister." There Fas nojr, however, «n abiimdauce 4>f cjlb. in vag to be aikBit8ed> with tbe coodkkMi ^ai ke sfaoAM be aUowad to Mtaai- Us ntaoal giaat from t4M gDWwniAiaM. But t^ Velasta^ GotAravetsf ioA beea ^tstieg the Churches of tbct Gountrj fee a awaber of year», the EaiiHSte^ aad' peoj^ of the Secession generally takia§ ^roog ground ^nnat the establishment and «idowiaeBt of the Church by the States They were, thereibr«i unwilling to adtnithiiftualess he gave up the governttent salary, but offered to guarantee him an eqiial amount. He> however, did not wilsh to be a bur-den on their Mission funds, and decUned the pro- posal, continuing in his former isolated condition till the year i860. A COLLEAGUE OBTAINED. In that year, failing sight Jtnd strength compelled him, now in hfs 77111 year, t6 seek assistance in his work, atid he made application fbr a preacher to the United Presbyterian (formerly the United Secession) Presbytery of Montreal. They were not able at tlie time to send one, and he applied to the Montreal Presbytery of tlie Presbyterian Church of Canada, which was in connection with the Free Church of Scotland. In due course, he and his congregation were received into tliat body, "and a preacher was obtained from them, who gave satisfaction to the congregation and was duly called ; but his settlement did not take place. In the same week in which he was expected to be ordained, the present pastor arrived in Montreal from Scot- land. He was at once sent up to St. Andrews to supply the Vacancy, arid preached on the next two Sabbaths, 29th July and 5th August, i860. Having reteived an appointment to preach in another place, he left for five weeks, and returned to begin his regular work on the i6th Sept., and has continued ever since, through the help of God, to go in and out among the people till this day. He belonged to the United Presbyterian Church, but the two bodies were to be united shortly, a basis of union having been mutually agreed upon, and he had no conscientious difficulty in antici- pating the Union by a few months. He therefore put himself under the care of the Free Church Presbytery, and on the 24th October he was ordained, " by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery," to be Assistant and Successor to the venerable servant of God, who had been himself ordained, just fifty years before, at Carlisle, and had borne the burden of pastoral duty at St. Andrews for two and forty years un- aided, save by the grace that is promised to every true worker, and by the sympathy and help of the able and faithful Elders and other members of his church, who had mostly grown up under his ministry. MR. Henderson's last days. Mr. Henderson now practically retired, the work being left entirely to the young minister; but he retained the status of Senior Minister and his position as a member of the Presbytery. Only three weeks after this happy settlement, as itwa^ to hi»ii; a great sorrow came updtl' him in the brief sickness Md de^th of his wife. She was the daughter of the Rev. Mr. Mi>r#o«, die Relief Minster of Leiflie in Fiftj attd a n^oman 112 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL, of piety and shrewdness and kind-heartedness, with a touch of racy humor, in which her husband also abounded, and a spirit of hopefulness which was a strong support to him ib the despondency to which he was somewhat prone. She died on the i6th November, being within a month of eighty-one years of age. Two years later he lost the only reniaining member of his family, his son Peter, who was a physician in Ottawa, and died unmarried, 26th November, 1862, at Burritt's Rapids, where he had some property, and to which he had gone for his health. He was 44 years old. Mr. Henderson preached occasionally in the absence of the pastor, usually tak- ing part also in the quarterly communion services and in the prayet meetings. His 91st birthday happening on a Sabbath, he preached an earnest and affectionate dis- course to the young, addressing them as from the borders of the eternal world, and testifying that it was only the fear of God and the faith of Christ that could make their lives truly useful and their end happy. Towards the end of 1876 his health rapidly declined, and on the 19th January, 1877, he suddenly passed away, having lived ninety-three years and. nearly four months. He died in the house of his col- league, where he spent the last eight years of his life. He had been very reticent, like most of his countrymen, as to his inward thoughts and feelings, but a day or two before the end he began to open his mind a little, saying in reference to his hopes ifor eternity : " I cast myself, as a sinner ready to perish, on the mercy of Him who is mighty to save." He did not remember when or where he had " cast his first an- chor," to use an expression of John Knox's, but he had cast it long ago on safe ground, and his hope was sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil. THE CONGREGATION. The history of the Congregation had been one of harmony, except at one period, in the 30's, when misunderstandings arose between the minister and some of the peo- ple, resulting in a number of them leaving the Church ; but, in course of time, most of these returned to their former fold. With that exception, the Church had a •peaceful and prosperous existence, their accomplished pastor feeding them with knowledge and understanding from the stores of his biblical and theological learning, and his deep, though unobtrusive, spiritual life. Liberal himself and large-minded, he taught them to take an interest in Bible Society and missionary work, having a weekly prayer meeting, and, once a month, a " monthly concert " or missionary meeting, which has been kept up to this day. The money raised was sent for many years to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions ; but when the Canada Presbyterian Church established foreign missions of its own in Formosa, China, India, the New Hebrides, and other parts of the world, the members thought it their duty to give their contributions to the support of their own Church missions. The Congregation still has over sixty families connected with it, although its field HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. 113 has been contracted by the establishment of other four or five Presbyterian congre- gations within its original bounds, besides a number belonging to other denomina- tions ; and, although there has also been a constant drain of the young men to the ever inviting and largely promising West, besides the frequent removal of families to other localities, lessening the Protestant population in its different branches. The membership has increased to above one hundred and forty, through the occasional incoming of new families and the steady growing up of many of the young (why should it not be so written of all?) into a solid Christian life. On several occa- sions, through means of special services, large additions were made to the number of communicants. The Congregation has grown in the grace of liberality in giving to the cause of- God. Before i860, they gave little for the support of the Church, the salary whicli their minister received from the military chest seeming to them to relieve them from almost all responsibility on this behalf. By their enjoyment of Gospel ordinances with so little charge to themselves, they lost the privilege of exerting themselves for the sup- port of Christ's cause and the blessing which is promised to those who are faithful in this duty; and when, all at once, the whole burden of supporting their minister was laid upon them, some, faint-hearted, were ready to shrink from it. Tue greater part, however, stood manfully forward, and by bearing became stronger to bear. " For to him that hath shall be given." They found a new pleasure in new duties and new relations, and were ready to acknowledge that Christ's way was the best, viz., that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel. They undertook to give their new minister $600 a year, and in 1861 their contributions to all church purposes were $728, a large sum for a people that had probably not given more than $150 in any one year before. Since that tiine the stipend has been increased twice, while the contributions to the schemes of the Church have also increased. In 1890 they raised $1,283, includ- ing subscriptions for some special objects, and for the last four years the congregation has contributed, for all purposes, from $1,100 to nearly $1,300 each year, being an average of $20.00 per family. This may seem large to some, but it is less than the average over the whole Presbytei;ian Church in Canada, which was in the latest report $22.82. But what is that to what is still due to God? If all the tithes that are unpaid were brought into His storehouse in the spirit of consecration, the world would soon be changed. The truth is that the Church of Christ has only beiXiii to give. In 1877 the church building was greatly improved from its former unadorned, barn-like appearance, by having a new and handsome front erected, with corner tower, and much work done inside, costing in all $2,500. Four years later, in 188 1, the manse also underwent a much needed renovation, at a cost of nearly $600. In both cases the Ladies' Association contributed a large proportion of the expenses. The manse, with garden and small meadow attached, is the house which Mr. Hen- ti4 sponatev mr jetecumstiftt. dfcrsoa built for himetf sfaoTtl;p aftsev lt» atm^jtMian^ and «1t«cii! he AKde mrer before his dttath to tiie Coagvp^cktt^ as t^teir p(iaii{SWCa^ for die iis« o£t&)s Miikiiiia'. The GoiigregBtieD has, doubtless^ muich' to lamieiit aitef iai 11$- biistioty and ex]^- «nce, whiJe diere is louch (at wltich to givtt 6bd thewk's. DSaiAy AMti aAd Wonii^ who have been brought up in it, now scMlered over the DoilfiilitHi and the Unitfed States, are in their spheres, some of them promin^it, sttppottii^ the cause of truth and righteousness ; and thus its influence is widespresui. I-t has helped to keep the Gospel light shining, here for seventy -seven years, and borne its part with other churches in testifying for Christ and in training the people for His Kin^om." The Rev. Daniel Paterson, D.D., was born in Greenock, Scotland, and studied at the Grammar School of that place, under the tuition of James Lockart Brown, LL.D., an excellent teacher and scholar. He next went to the University of Glasgow, where one of his professors was the great scientist, Wm. Thomson, now Lord Kelvin, and there received the degree of A.M. He studied theology in the United Presbyterian Divinity Hall, Edinburgh, and came to Canada in the summer of i860, and was ordained at St. Andrews, October 24th of that year. He has been connected with the Presbyterian College of Montreal since its commencement) as a trustee and member of the Board cf Management, as one of the examiners for eight years, and as a member of the College Senate for thirteen years. He received the degree of D.D. from the College in 1892. He was appointed one of the representaitives of the Montreal Pres- bytery in the Campbell heresy case, to defend the action of the Presbytery before the Synod of Montreal and Ottawa,' and did so with the other representatives, who were Drs. McVicar, Scrimger, and Robert Campbell. Dr. Paterson is one of those quiet, unostentatious men, whose godly life is a more powerful sermon to the unconverted than usually falls from the pulpit. 'J'hough schol- arly and thoroughly well-informed respecting current events, his sermons are anything but pedantic ; he preaches only Christ, and Him crucified, in a simple, convincing man- ner. He is, in short, a minister whom the unregenerate man would prefer at his bed- side, when he feels that he is drifting out upon the great unknown. It is but just to add that, in his many years of faithful labor at St. Andrews, Dr. Paterson has been ably assisted by Mrs. Patersoo, who is devoted to temper- ance, benevolence, and every Christian work. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST. ANDREWS. By Rev. F. A.. Duras. "About midway between the villages of St. Andrews and Carillon, at an angle formed by the king's highway, and a few rods from the noble Ottawa River, rises a modest stone church. The solitude of its position seems to invite to meditation and prayer. The young but sturdy greettwoOd about it i& a; proof of tlie respect With Which it is regarded; it is the Catholic Chuiteh of St. Attdte#& parish j where rtteet in Hira^MV OK ARCSNTSOlb. II5 ptay«r th« CatJioUc popitktioaof St. Aindrevs, CariUoa and Point Foctuue ; the date of its GOQsiruction ia 1835^ ^^^ ^ ^^ period^ th«$ Catholics of the locality were minrstered to hy the perish priest o£ RJgaud. Their miiiifaer havii^ sufficiently ia- creased to claim a resident cari, in iBjo, they a^tpUed to Mp. Jean Jacques Lartigue to obtain permission to erect a church.. The proceedings were not a little protracted, however; but in 1835 work was fully under wi^,. and M«ssrs. Owen, Quin, Gaspard de la Ronde, William Byrnes, A. E. Montmarquet, O. de Hertel and Edouard Dorion petitioned Mgr. Lartigue to send a. delegate to bless the corner-stone and the cross of the new church. The church then built was sixty feet in length and forty-one in breadth. It was blessed on the 17th of March, 1836, by the Rev. M. Archambault, arcli-priest, cur6 of Vaudreuil. The text of the Act is as follows : ' On the 17 th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, in the ' forenoon,, we, arch-priest and cur6 of St. Michel de Vaudreuil, have solemnly * blessed a church dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle, built in the Seigniory of ' Argenleuil, and for the use of the inhabitants of the said Seigniory ; in the presence ^of Messrs. Pierre Jacques de Lamothe, parish priest of St. Anne du Bout de I'lle ' de .Montreal; of Nicolas Dufresne, priest of St. Sulpice, missionary at the Lake of ' Two Mountains ; of Jacques Janvier Vinet, parish priest of Ste. Magdeleine de * Rigaud ; and of Edouard Montmarquet, Esquire, merchant of the said Seigniory of ' Argenteuil, who have signed with us, the day and the year as above.' It is this same church that still exists, with, however, an extension of thirty feet, and a sacristy added to it. The registry of the parish begins in 1 833. The first act mentioned therein is that of the marriage of Eustache Perrault and Sophie Maheu. According to these acts, we find eighteen priests who have discharged the functions of parish priest up to the present time. There are actually 260 Catholic families, with a population of 1400 souls. Seven Catholic schools are in steady, active work. The best attended are : ist, the St. .'Vndrews village school, — 120 children are inscribed on the roll-call ; 2nd, the Carillon school, whose roll-call numbers 85 ; 3rd, the convent, with 40 boarding pupils. These three institutions are under the direction of the Sisters of Providence. Behind the church, and towards the Ottawa River, rises another substantia building in stone, three stories high, with mansard roof; it is Father Bonin's College If the Province of Quebec be visited, and the question asked : who were the founders of all the educational establishments noticed in so many parishes ? the answer would almost invariably be : it is the work of our parish priests. By economical living. Father Bonin had been able to -lay aside some savings ; and, like so many of his brother priests, his desire was to advance the cause of the education of youth. Therefore on the 9th of August, J848, the Rev. Father Bonin, an ex-Sulpician, the parish priest of St. SchOlastique, proposed to the members of the Fabrique of Saint Andrews, that they grant him land whereon to build; and he promised to erect, at his own expense, a college for the instruction of youth. His Il6 HISTORY OF ARGEfJTEUIL. wish was to procure for the children of the place the advantages of education with- out obliging them to leave their homes and their i)arents. There- was not, at that date, any establishment of the kind in the neighborhood. This proposal of Father Bonin was accepted on the 13th of August, 1848. Tiie ground was given to him on which he built the house, to-day occupied by the Sisters of Providence. At its inception, this Institution was confided to the Clercs of St. Viateur. It was very prosperous for some seven or eight years, counting, in fact, as many as 150 to 200 pupils, who received a superior education, and even a classical course was introduced. A college liad been built at Rigaud one year after the opening of the Bonjn Academy ; these two houses were in 100 great proximity to both flourish. The number of pu|)ils decreased rapidly in the Bonin Academy. Classes were continued, however, up to the month of April, 1878 ; then, there were not more than 20 yoimg boys in attendance. The Reverend Father L. Z. Champoux, at that time parish priest at St. Andrews, saw that Father Bonin's generous gift to the parish would benefit a larger number, and that the bequeather's intentions would be more truly carried out, if the college were transformed into a convent. He therefore called the Sisters of Providence to the place, with the permission and authorization of the Bishop of Montreal. The Reverend Sisters took possession on the 14th of September, 1878. Father Champoux had wisely consulted the best interests of St. Andrews ; to- day, the Sisters' have 250 pupils in their classes, and it may be said without exaggera- tion, that they perform admirable work in the parish, both by education and by the relief of the sick. The priest's residence was successively the sacristy of the church. Father Bonin's house, and, since 1889, the actual handsome presbytery. A fact worthy of note, and which proves the good will of the Catholics of St. Andrews, is, that all that has been done by them was by voluntary contribution ; recourse has never been had to the legal means provided by the statutes.'' Rev. F. A. Dugas was born at St. Jacques de I'Achigan, Co. of Montcalm. He took a classical four years' course at the College of I'Assomption, and afterwards till July, 1878, was professor of Belles Lettresinthe same institution. He was ordained priest, 7th February, 1878, and was vicar of St. Roch de I'Achigan from July to October of the same year; and of Chambly from the latter date till May, 1884. During 1884 and 1885, he was for a year Director of the Classical College of St. Boniface, Man., and then cur6 of the Cathedral till July, 1889. After this, he was employed as lecturer in behalf of colonization till February, 1890, since which he has been cur6 of St. Andrews. The Rev. Mr. Dagas is a courteous and affable gentleman, and is respected by all. He is devoted tj his work, and is a strong advocate of temperance among his parishioners. HISTORY OF AROENTEUIL. Iiy BAPTIST CHURCH. {Copied ekiffly from the Church records.) " The Baptist Church at St. Andrews, Lower Canada, commenced in the follow- ing manner : "In the year 1835-36, Mr. Gilmour, having resigned his charge at Montreal, spent some time with the people at St. Andrews, and preached the Gospel much to their satisfaction, and, it is hoped, not without some success, either as to the awaken- ing of the careless or the comfort and edification of believers. "But in June, 1836, Mr. Gjimour left on a mission to Boston, to procure assist- ance to the newly formed Institution at Montreal for the education of young men for the ministry, and for the more general diffusion of religious instruction through the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada. " In the month of July, the same year, the Rev. Mr. Tapscott, who had just arrived from England, was directed by the providence of God to visit this place. The meetings held here, and in surrounding neighborhoods, were well attended, and some good seemed to be effected. '' There were several persons, members of the Church of Chatham, who were regular worshippers with us ; some others had been baptised by Mr. Gilmour — three on the loth, and two on the 15th August, in the North River. "August i5lh. A discourse was delivered relative to the nature of a Christian church, after which those present, who had been baptized on a profession of their faith, gave to each other the right hand of fellowship, in token of their union with each other as the Church of Christ. "The church being formed on the principles of free communion, two persons were received, the same evening; without being baptized. The church, at present, consists of sixteen members, • May we walk together in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and be multiplied. "March 12th, 1837. ^t"". Tapscott having received an invitation to spend some time in Toronto as an evangelist, and conceiving it his duty to comply with it, signified his intention of leaving us as soon as the term of his engagement expires . " March 26th. A letter to the Ottawa Association was read, asking to be received into the Association. " March 29th, 30th. The Ottawa Baptist Association held its second annual meeting with us at St. Andrews, and we were received into the Association according to our request. " The meetings were well attended and were interesting. The letters contained little information of an animating nature ; in some of the churches unhappy differ- ences exist; in others, great apathy. Much important business was transacted, and great harmony prevailed. " April 2nd. At a church meeting it was resolved : that an invitation be sent to Rev. John Edwards, jr., requesting him to spend one half his time as a minister of the Gospel among the people of St. Andrews. " The records show that Mr. Edwards accepted the call, and began his regular labors on the 7th day et May, »«S7, aad^ootinBed till October, 1843. After his i8SS 1856 1857 1858 1859 i860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 John Armstrong, Wm. Dignam John Armstrong, Wm. Morton Wm. H. Williams, John Gemley Wm. H. Williams, Thomas Hanna J. Hughes, M. Baxter, J. Armstrong Michael Baxter, Charles Taggart David B. Madden, David C. McDowell David B. Madden, Richard Wilson Francis Coleman, John Armstrong 2nd Francis Coleman, Erastus Hurlburt Francis Coleman, Richard M. Hammond I'homas W. Constable, Richard M. Hammond . Thomas W. Constable, Silas Huntington Thomas W. Constable, Wm. Scales James H. Bishop, Andrew Armstrong Edward H. Dewart, Edmund £. Sweet ....,.., Edward H. Dewart, Edmund E. Sweet Robert Brown, Henry F.Bland , Robert Brown, Henry F. Bland Alfred Andrews, Wm. M. Cooly Alfred Andrews Wm. D. Brown, Alex. Campbell, 2nd , Wm. D. Brown, Richard Robinson ■ Cornelius A. Jones Now called Lachute Circuit ^1 a s § s 3»S 365 377 3«9 278 264 280 267 277 280 330 3S3 440 3SI 164 «7S 167 248 244 266 258 260 217 220 .a O • Grenville set off. cfe $8 56 6 94 2 97 3 30 3 35 $7 70 9 12 9 20 6 83 7 53 8 00 16 00 12 38 12 90 »3 07 >3 27 12 37 12 98 13 75 7 32 10 12 7 16 7 75 875 7 24 2 33 2 83 5 00 5 «o ■s s $5 00 B $1 79 2 50 3 76 2 63 3 00 3 72 8 50 13 32 II 48 11 68 12 00 12 00 7 00 7 37 5 25 7 30 CO 10 00 13 26 »4 IS tl 00 12 00 12 50 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. IJJ BIBLE SOdltTY. Besides her generous support of churches, St. Andrews has been active in the formation and maintenance of Christian societies. The Bible Society was formed in 1841, and ever since has been in a fairly prosperous condition. The first officers chosen were as follows: W. G. Blanchard, president; Charles Benedict, vice- president ; Charles Wales, treasurer ; J. Edwards, jun., secretary. Duncan Dewar was appointed depositary, and has filled the office ever since, with the exception of a few years. The succeeding officers were : — ^The late John Middleton, president ; Thomas Lamb, vice-president ; C. T. Wales, treasurer ; and Rev. Dr. Paterson, secretary. The late Rev. Mr. Henderson was president from 1850 until his death in 1877, and was succeeded by Mr. Finlay McMartin, who was in turn followed by Mr. Middleton. The latter held the office until his death. C. E. SOCIETY. A Christian Endeavour Society was organized here in 1887, the first in the County of Argenteuil, and one of the first formed in the Province. It was organized through the efforts of Miss H. Hibbard, who has ever since labored assiduously to promote its growth and the success of its object. Beginning with a membership of eight, it increased till its members numbered eighty ; but, owing to removals from the place, it is not now so large. The meetings are held in the Congregational Church, though its members represent all the different Protestant denominations of the Parish. Alexander D. Dewar, president of the County Union, is also president of the Local Union at St. Andrew's. W. C. T. U. SOCIETY. The W. C. T, U. organized a Local Union in St. Andrews in March, 1883 ; the first president was Mrs. (Rev.) Moyle ; she was succeeded by Mrs. Finley McMartin, who held the position several years. Mrs. Chas. T. Wales followed, and three years subsequently — 1894 — she was succeeded by Miss Julia E. Davis. St. Andrews has also supplied three presidents for the County Union — Mrs. Angus McPhie, Miss Julia E. Davis and Mrs. Wm. Barclay. woman's MISSIONARY SOCIEl-Y. On the afternoon of Wednesday, December 8lh, 1875, a meeting of the ladies of St. Andrews was held at the Presbyterian Manse, in accordance with the notice given from the pulpits of the several churches in the place, for the purpose of organizing an Auxiliary to the Montreal Branch of the Woman's Board of Missions in Boston. There were present : Mrs. Paterson, Mrs. C. Wales, Mrs. A. McPhie, Mrs. C. T. Wales, Miss Clare, Miss Barclay, Miss H. Davis, Miss M. Sharpe, Miss A. Wales, Miss M. Wales. 124 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL, The following officers were chosen :' President, Mrs. A. McPhie. ■ir- Tj J » ( Mrs. C. Wales. Vice-Presidents, j j^^^ p^^^^^^^ Secretary, Miss Wales. Treasurer, Miss Barclay. In November, 1891, the Canadian Woman's Board (of which the St. Andrews had been an Auxiliary for sixteen years) disbanded, having accomplished the object for which it had been organized ; leaving the members free to enter more fully into the missionary work of the Churches with which they were connected. We decided, however, not to disband, but continue as a Union Society, working together in the cause of Foreign Missions. We have raised, each year, sums varying from $12.21 to $83.79; the average being, in the first six years, $21.56, and in the last six years, $73.20. Some years ago we adopted the plan of placing Mission bags, marked " For the Lord," in each family, asking the women to put one cent a week in it, which had the effect of increasing the subscriptions. In this way, we have been enabled to send sums, yearly, to the Missions of the Presbyterian, Congrega- tional and Baptist Churches. Although never a large Society, it has been a means of contributing something towards the spread of the Gospel abroad, and has been found very helpful to the members themselves. B. Paterson, Secretary. A Masonic Lodge was organized in St. Andrews in 18 13 ; the following record of the event is copied from the old Masonic Register : March ist, 1813. Murray Lodge No. 17, Register of Lower Canada. This day being appointed for the formal installation of this Lodge, the Petitioning Brethren having assembled at the house of Brother Benjamin Wales in the village of St. Andrews, at i p.m., the Worshipful Jabez D. Dewitt, Past Master of St. Paul's Lodge No. 12, accompanied by the Worshipful J. D. Turnbull, Master of Union Lodge No. 8, Montreal, arrived from that city, and produced the authority of the Grand Lodge of Lower Canada, as below specified. Quebec, 20th February, 181^. Brother : — You are hereby authorized and directed to .install this Worshipful Master of Murray Lodge, No. 17, agreeably to ancient custom, and to deliver over to him the warrant of Constitution, etc. With brotherly regard, I am yours in truth, (Signed), Willam Downs. To Bro. Jabez Dewitt of Paul's Lodge, No. 12, Montreal. J. A. N. MACKAY. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 125 Lodge opened in the first Degree of Masonry by Worshipful Jabez D. De Witt, 'ik-'^ro tern. Worshipful J. D. TurnbuU.'y.'Iff'.jJr^ tern. Brother S. Goodrill, J. Vfl^/ro tern. Brethren Present. Worshipful B. Wales, Master Elect. Bro. J. Masham, Sec'y. Elect. Bro. Elon Lee, S. W. Elect. " Arthur Jackson, S. D. Elect. " Reuben French, J. W. Elect. " Gust. A. Hooker, J. D. Elect. " Ames Matthews, Treas. Elect. " D. Flint, Tyler,/r(7 /?»». At a meeting held 6th Jan., 1824, " It was moved, seconded, and unanimously " agreed that the thanks of this Lodge be given Brother Thomas Barron for the faith- "ful discharge of the duties of his office in the Provincial Grand Lodge." Brotlier Thomas Barron was unanimously elected to be sent to the Provincial Grand Lodge at Montreal, to assist in framing By-Laws for the government of that Lodge. Among the members of this Lodge previous to 1826 appear the names of Wm. Beaton Wm. Streeter, jun. John McArthur John Harrington James Proctor Elijah Kellogg Timothy Bristol James VoUa Judah Center Archibald Rae Richard Mears • Justus Barnet Peter F.Le Roy Benj. Wales Wm. Dixon Daniel Foss Andrew Simmons P. F. Peabody \Vm. Streeter Wm. McDole W. G. Blanchard. Later, appear the names of Wm. Zearns, John Oswald, Hugh Dunlop, D. Beattie, H. Maguire. This was called "Murray Lodge No. 5 " until April, 1825, after which it was called " St. Andrews Lodge No. 5." J. A. N. Mackay is the only representative of the legal fraternity in St. Andrews besides Mr. de La Ronde. He was born 1840, in St. Scholastique, and educated in colleges in Montreal, Ottawa and St. Hyacinths, — the latter being the place where his studies were completed. The ancestors of Mr. Mackay were men of military proclivities, and distinguished in the service in which they were engaged. Francis Mackay, who was a near relative of Lord Roe, had three sons — Stephen, Francis and Samuel ; the two former in their youth served under the Prince of Orange, as lieutenants of The Guards. Samuel, who was then too young for military service, subsequently, distinguished himself in Hungar}', in the service of Maria Theresa. In 1756, the three brothers all entered the 1^6 HISTORY OF ARGENTEOIL. "Royal American Regiment," which afterward became the 6oth Reg. of Col; Alexander Mackay ; Stephen, J^e eldest, died while captain in this Regiment, before the Conquest of Canada. The ^'ojretii^ining brothers served during the Conquest, at Montreal, where they remained, '^amuel served at the blockade of St. Johns, and was with Burgoyne during his unfortunate expedition to the States. He was buried at the foot of Mount Royal, Montreal, near the garden of the Seminary, where he had formerly commanded a picket at the taking of Montreal. The brothers all married French ladies belonging to the most prominent and aristocratic families of Canada. Samuel Mackay left two sons — Samuel and Stephen ; the former settled in the States ; the latter, as captain and major, served in the war of 1812. He married Miss Globensky, settled at St. Eustache, and died there in 1859. He left several childien, of whom one son was Augustus Mac kay, wlio practised the notarial profession for forty-seven years, and died in 1872. J. A. N. Mackay, one of his sons, and the subject of our sketch, studied law under the Hon. Wilfrid Prevost, the late Hon. L. T. Drummond, and the Hon. Louis Belanger, Judge of the Superior Court. During the year 1862, he practised with Mr. Drummond, and the same year was admitted to the Bar. The prospects for business at that time being much better in St. Andrews than in the city, he settled here, and has since practised with much success. He has been employed in several murder trials, in which his success has given him no little celebrity. The following are the most important of these cases with which he has been connected — Queen zw. James and John Byrne, for the murder of Valiquet in 1867 ; — this trial was conducted at St. Scholastique, before Judge Monk, and lasted fifteen days ; Queen vs. Barnard Cain, for the murder of James Nagle ; Queen vs. Pierre Durocher and wife, for the murder of John Mullin ; Queen vs. Mrs. Lacroix and daughter, for the murder of a child. In most of the above casss, and especially the first, Mr. Mackay was the only lawyer for the defence, and in every case he was successful. In 1894, he went to England, and argued before the Judicial Committee and Privy Council of Her Majesty an important waier-power case between Hamelin & Ayre and the Banner- mans. Sir Richard AVebster, Attorney General, was Mr. Mackay 's Counsel, with Vernon Smith, Q.C. ; the former argued the case personally with Mr. Mackay. He was married in 1864 to Miss Papineau of Montreal ; she died in 1870, leaving one son Alfred, now a barrister in Montreal. In 1874 he married Miss Desjernier of St. Hennas ; they have three son* : the eldest, Adolphe, is in the employ of Messrs. Hodgson, Sumner & Co., Montreal ; the other two are in college. Mr. Mackay has an attractive residence surrounded by well laid out grounds in St. Andrews, and a fine farm near this village, which he lias brought to a high state of cultivation. Col. D'Hertel was, for quite a number of years, Registrar of the County of Argenteuil, and relinquished the office when it was removed from St. Andrews to Lachute. He enlisted at the age of eighteen, and was in the battles of Plattsburgh HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 1 27 and Chrysler's Farm. Deserving promotion, he was eventually rewarded with the commission of Colonel. He came from Montreal to St. Andrews, and during his residence here was esteemed for his intelligence and probity. At the time of the Fenian Raid in 1866, several companies of Volunteers having been called out, they assembled at St. Andrews, preparatory to their departure for other points. Col. D'Hertel, on account of his position and military experience, naturally was requested to address them. He was a fine, soldierly-looking man, full six feet in stature, but the days of his military prowess had passed. In full uniform, but trembling from weakness and age, he spoke a few words, and then closed with the remark: "You know I cannot always be with you, boys." He then returned to his home, which was the present residence of Mr. De la Ronde, barrister, and had scarcely reached the threshold when he expired. In 1837, Mr. Adam Dkvsdale and Mary Black were married in Montreal at the house of James Roy, merchant, and they immediately removed to St. Andrews. The father of Mr. Drysdale, who was a retired sea ciptain, having for many years sailed between Glasgow and Montreal, came with them. While living at St. Andrews. Capt. Drysdale taught J. J. C. Abbott, afterwards Premier, the use of the compass, astronomy and higher mathematics — subjects for which young Abbott, in his thirst for knowledge, had a great liking. Adam Drysdale was a wheelwright by trade, and a good carpenter and builder. He was engaged in manufacturing plows while he lived here, and as they proved very satisfactory, many were sold to the farmers in Argenteuil. In 1842, he returned to Montreal with his family — then increased by three children, Adam, Thomas and Margaret. One of his daughters— Grace — was married in 1879 to Joseph B. Taylor, of Isle aux Chats, Argenteuil County ; she died a few years since. William Drysdale, another son of this family, is the well-known bookseller and publisher of Montreal. He married a lady of St. Andrews, as stated elsewhere ; and it is no discredit to Argenteuil that in the phalanx of prominent and worthy men with-whose associations 'she is blended may be numbered William Drysdale. He has had large experience in his present business, and has ever taken a lively interest in the development and promotion of Canadian literature. His establishment on St. James Street, ij2 X 20 ft. in dimensions, and four stories high, is fitted up with all the requirements of the trade, and every variety of useful books may here be found. David Drysdale, his brother, who is also much respected in Montreal, has a large hardware store on Craig street. William R. Hibbard is another of the esteemed citizens of St. Andrews. - Many years of his life have been devoted to railroad affairs, and he is now connected with the Canada Atlantic. In 1853, he purchased a farm for his parents in St. Andrews, where they spent the remainder of their days. William R. was married in 1852 to Sarah Cameron, of Montreal ; they have had six children, of whom one died in infancy ; two sons and three daughters are now living. The sons are in business, 128 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. and of the daughters, the eldest, the widow of George May, sen., resides in Los Angeles, California, and the two others live with their parents. Mr. Hibbard came with his family to St. Andrews in 1876, and during his residence here he has been an earnest advocate of temperance, and active in Christian work. Mrs. Hibbard and her daughters have also won the esteem of Christian people by their acts of benevolence, and the earnestness with which they have encouraged and aided every moral reform. Hugh Walsh, the present Mayor of St. Andrews, and proprietor of the flourish- ing grist mill, came to this village from Ormstown, Que., in 1883. His grandfather and two of his sons enlisted in the British Service, and lost their lives in the Peninsular War. His father, R. J. Walsh, was educated in Dublin, entered the British Navy as midshipman, and after serving seven years, came to Canada, and was one of the early settlers in Chateauguay. He was in Montreal at tlie time of the Riot of 1849, ^"^^ ^^s writing in the Parliament House when it was mobbed and set on fire ; he died at Ormstown. He had seven sons and two daughters that grew up. Hugh, next to the youngest son, was married j6th February, 1869, to Catherine M. Campbell of Ormstown, and was engaged in mercantile business in that place for a number of year?. He purchased the grist mill on coming to St. Andrews, and has improved it and increased its capacity for work. It is now one of the best equipped manufactories in its line in this part of the Province, and it does a large business. Mr. Walsh is a public-spirited, enterprising gentleman, and takes much interest in local affairs; he has been mayor of the Parish, and chairman of the Model School Board several years. James Martin from the County Down, Ireland, came with his family to Montreal in 1828, and after living there till 1830, he settled at St. Andrews on the River Rouge. In the fall of 1838 he removed to a small farm on the Lachute Road, but as he was a carpenter by trade, his time was almost constantly devoted to this occupation. Mrs. Martin died with the cholera in 1832, leaving three sons— Edward, Charles and James, and three daughters— Mary, Martha and Jane. Edward died in Illinois in 1894; Charles is still living in Marquette Co., Mich., and James died in 1854— aged about 22. Mary married John McMartin of the River Rouge ; Martha married George Powers, and died in Ottawa ; Jane married John Parker, and after living in St. Andrews a number of years, they removed to Ottawa, where Mr. Parker died. Mrs. Parker now lives in St. Andrews with her sister Mary, the widow of John McMartin. Mr. Martin's second marriage was, in 1835, to Clarissa Flint, daughter of a merchant of St. Andrews, whose store occupied the site of the present dwelling of Mr Hibbard. They had five sons and two daughters-two of the former and one of the latter d.ed in childhood ; the other daughter died at the nge of 20. Of the remaining tLr.e sons, Thom.s B. lives in California ; George H., the younge.t, in Vandalia! HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 1 29 111, John, the eldesiof. those living, remained on the homestead, and added to it till it comprises about 120 acres. Mr. Martin ha.ving also become joint owner witli A. Le Roy of the Harrington estate, comprising 240 acres, has recently removed to the commodious brick dwelling on this estate in the village. He is one of the leading men of the parish, is a J. P., and secietary of the Model and Elementary School Boards. He joined Maj. Simpson's Troop when it was organized, and after serving in it eight years joined the St. Andrews Troop, with which he was cj^iinected sixteen years, and was at the front during the Fenian Raids. Mr. Martin has taken a lively interest in the County Agricultural Society, of which he was vice-president four years, and presidentfive years, during which period the Society was in a most prosperous condition. He has been twice married — first, to Ann Mclntyre, 6th August, 1864 ; she died 19th October, 1890, and he was next married to Kate Mclntyre — his first wife's sister — in December, 1891. Since the above was written, Mr. Martin has sold his property and removed to California. Thomas Turner, from London, Eng., came to Montreal a short time previous to the Rebellion of 1837, and was married there, 22nd May, 1837, to Ellen Walker from Dunbarton, Scotland. A few years later, they removed to Toronto, and after living there and at Stowvilie and Claremont about a quarter of a century, they removed to this section, being interested in the settlement of the estate of Mr. Walker — Mrs. Turner's father — who had lived near Belle Rividre, and had recently died. They settled in St. Andrews, where Mr. Turner died nth February, 1875, ^"^ Mi's- Turner gih December, 1878. They left three daughters — Elizabeth, Mary and Helen. Mary married John Webster, and Helen was married, 25th November, 1884, to Vfm. Somerville, a farmer of St. Andrews ; Elizabeth lives with her sister, Mrs. Somerville ; these sisters are among the respected Christian ladies of this locality. Peter Webster from Leeds, England, settled in St. Andrews in 1839. He was a'tailor, and after plying his trade here eighteen years, he conducted an hotel at Gushing for a year, in the present stone dwelling of R. Hartley. He then returned to St. Andrews, and about three years later purchased the lot and erected the brick house where his son J. W. now lives. During the later years of his life he was much interested in religion, and was active in religious work. He died 21st March, 1891, at the age of 82 ; Mrs. Webster died 16th June, 1877. aged 65. They had eight children ; three sons and two daughters grew up. William, the eldest son, a steamboat engineer of long experience, died in Toronto in August, 1890. Thomas, a merchant tailor in Montreal for many years, died 28th June, 1890. John W., .who has long been a popular tailor and citizen of this place, was marriel 15th May, 1873, to Mary Turner. He joined Co. No. i of the Rangers at its formation, and served seven years. He then joined the St. Andrews Troop, and served in that, also, seven years. Mr. Webster has a good farm of about 200 acres in Bethany and another of 100 acres on Beech Ridge. 130 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Daniel Sutherland was born in 1819, in Cromarty, Rothshire, Scotland, where his father, WiUiam Sutherland, was a contractor, and owner of a granite quarry. In his youth, the younger Sutherland had the good fortune to enjoy the friendship of the celebrated geologist and author, Hugh Miller, who worked in the quarry j Mr. .Ross, who built the St. Ann's Bridge, was also his school-mate in Croinarty. Mr. Sutherland's brother-in-law conducted a large military tailoring establishment, and it was here that Daniel learned his trade. He came to Canada in 1842 and settled in St. Andrews, opening a shog in the brick building opposite the hotel ; he afterwards built the house in which he has since resided. Mr. Sutherland was married -April nth, 1852, to Mary Ann, daughter of the late Robert Simpson. Mr?. Suther- land died in 1887, leaving two sons and one daughter; the youngest son, William E. D., died 1894 in Pasadena, Cal., whither he had gone hoping to benefit his health, leaving a widow and one child. He was interred in St. Andrews' cemetery. The eldest son, Robert S., is a commercial traveller in Chicago, and the daughter, Catherine Mary, is living in St. Andrews with her father. Mr. Sutherland is one of the respected citizens of St. Andrews ; owing to advanced age he has retired from business. William Caution, from Perthshire, Scotland, came to Canada in 1843-; he was a cabinetmaker by trade, also a carpenter. In 185 1 he was married in Point Fortune to Agnes, daughter of the late John Pitcairn, and the sime year he settled .in St. Andrews. He opened a cabinet shop here, and did an extensive business as .contractor and builder, employing many men and several apprentices. He died in March, 1891, aged 70 ; his widow still lives here. They had four children — three sons and one daughter, but only one sou and the daughter are now hving. Alexander, the son, residing here with his mother and sister, still industriously prosecutes the business followed by his father. W. J. MoRAw, second son of John Moraw, was born 24th July, 1856, in Center- ville. He remained on Ihe farm until twenty-five years of age, when he started in the cheese business with Thomas Ross, at Point I'ortune, and remained with him a year. He has continued in the business ever since, and has bought one factory and built four in this county. Mr. Moraw has also a creamery in this village, which has been •in operation four years. He was married September 7th, 18S7, to Mary, daughter of Martin Puncheon, of Beech Ridge. They have one son and one daughter. Joseph Robinson, from the County of Antrim, Ireland, came to St. Andrews in. 1845 ; he was married 23rd July, 1852, to a widow, Mrs. Rlizabeth Colligham. They have had five children — three sons and two daughters. Joseph, one of the fornner, when seven years old met a sad death by the destruction of the St. Andrews bridge, an account of which is given elsewhere. Margaret, the eldest daughter, was married isth June, 1887, to John Henderson, abrass finisher by trade, of Montreal. He died 14th May, 1891, leaving one child, a HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. I31 boy three years old. Mrs. Henderson resides in a fine, comtnodiousj brick dwelling, beautifully located on the bank of the North River, where she ably entertains summer guests. James Middletok was born 9th April, 1809, in Cortachy, at the county seat of Lord Monboddo, Monboddo House, parish of Forden, Kinkardineshire, Scotland, After leaving school, he received thorough training in agriculture and arboriculture, and was yet a young man when he managed these departments of an estate at Castle Semple. Mr. Middleton left Glasgow in March, 1842, on the sailing ship " Mohawk," and with his wife and family reached Montreal after seven weeks. A short time after his arrival, he took the position of superintendent of Judge Reid's house, property and grounds, on the spot where Sohmer Park now stands, remaining here until 1848. He then came to St. Andrews and farmed for five years, after which he entered into the management of the late Mr. William Lunn's estate, taking charge of it twenty- three years. His reputation as an arboriculturist may be somewhat apparent from the fact that, from 1847 ""^'^ he ceased active labors, he had gained 650 prizes. In grape culture, he almost invariably won first prizes, and had no superior in Canada. He was one of the earliest members of the Montreal Horticultural Society, and was one of their judges for many years. Mr. Middleton possessed much ingenuity in handicraft, and some articles of furniture made in his spare moments — especially a finely carved clock and a centre-table, which was made from 1500 different pieces of wood, and a diminutive summer house — are well worth seeing. He died at his home in St. Andrews, 2nd November, 1895, leaving a widow, one son, Mr. J. Middleton of Point Fortune, and a daughter, Mrs. Smile, of Montreal. MERCANTILE. The men who in past years were for some time connected with mercantile busi- ness in this place have already been mentioned, as well as Mr. Dewarand Mr. Wales, who are still trading here. Besides the stores of these two gentlemen, which are of long standing, especially that of Mr. Wales, which is. almost coeval with the village, there are the stores of Thomas Lamb, J. H. LaFond, the grocery of Chas. Ladouceur, and the tin shops of Dorion and Ladouceur. Thomas Lamb is a son of the late Wm. Lamb, noticed in the history of Point Fortune. He came to St. Andrews as clerk for the late Charles Wales, in 1856, and remained in this position five years. In 1S66, he entered into partnership with Alex- ander Dewar, and in 1877 became a partner of Charles Wales, jr., in the present store of Mr. Wales. In 1886, he commenced trade on his own account, in the store occu- pied for some years by the late Thomas Meikle, and where he still continues the business. Having the unqualified respect and confidence of the public, he receives a good share of public patronage. He is also Postmaster, having been appointed to the position in 1870. He joined the Rangers in 1862, at their organization, and was 132 HISIORY OF ARGENTEUIL. promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieut, iu 1866, to that of Captain in 1870, and to the rank of Major in 1880 ; he has been Paymaster of the Battalion since 1870. He was married July rsth, 1869, to Margaret S., daughter of the late Chas. Wales, sr. Like her husband, Mrs. Lamb is well known for her interest and activity in Temperance and Christian work, and esteemed for her deeds of kindness and benevolence. Their only son, W. H. Lamb, is assistant in the store hnd post office. Thomas Meikle, mentioned above, was for several years a prominent man in this place. On his monument in the cemetery is the following: " Thomas Meikle— a native of Glasgow— was for many years Postmaster and merchant at St. Andrews. He perished with his aged father by the burning of the steamer ' Montreal ' near Quebec, 26th June, 1857. He was 45 years of age." F. H. LaFond is comparatively a newcomer, having opened his store in this place in 1893. He is a native of St. Hermas, and after spending some years as clerk in Montreal, he began trade in Lachute in 1887, where he remained till he came to St. Andrews. He has quite an extensive stock of merchandise, and seems to be pros- pering in his business. The store he occupies is that built and occupied so long by Mr. Guy Richards. Frank Farish also was a merchant in the same store for many years. He took quite a prominent part in local affairs, and was secretary of the School Board for some time. Some of his letters, which are still extant, show elegant penmanship, and are also very '<=orrectIy written. It was he who built the present dwelling of Mr. McKay, advocate. Charles Ladouceur who has a grocery here, has been in the grocery business and a successful dealer in live stock for the past twenty years. Hercule Ladouceur is proprietor of a bakery, which he has successfully conducted for many years. His father, Joseph Ladouceur, came to St. Andrews from the county of Two Mountains nearly sixty years ago, and died here about 1867. He had four sons and six daughters who grew up. Hercule, the third son, spent several years of his youth on the Ottawa, after which he found employment for four years in the States. Returning in 1865, he took up the mason's trade, which he followed a number of years, erecting, besides the brick hotel of John Kelley in Carillon, many other good buildings in this part of the coun- try. As Mr. Ladouceur has always been inclined to work, whenever he had oppor- tunity, during the winters of the period when he followed the mason trade, he was em- ployed in different ways, and sometimes as clerk in a store. In 1878, he opened a bakery, with which he is still engaged. He was married in March, 1864, to Ksther Haspeck, whose grandfather, from Germany, was one of the early settlers of St. Andrews. Of their four children, three are married. Mr. Ladouceur has been Municipal Councillor nine years, and Churchwarden three. VV. A. LaFond, who came from St. Hermas in 1894, is the only barber in the village. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. IJJ Edward Dorion was one of tlie active business mea of St. Andrews in the generation past. He came here a young man from St. Eustache, and married a Miss Ladouceur of this village. He was by trade a tinsmith, and followed this through life, much of the time doing quite a prosperous business. He had four sons and two daughters that grew up. Ferdinand, his third son, learned the trade of his father, and has followed it very successfully for many years. During the last decade, he has employed several hands in the work of furnace setting, plumbing, roofing, etc. His house is one of the most attractive in the village, and his shop contains a good stock of tinware and a variety of stoves and other hardware. He was for several years a member of the local Council, but, owing to the demand of his business, he declined further service. He was married 8th April, 1861, to Margaret Hariigan ; they have had six sons and seven daughters, but three of the former are deceased. Their eldest daughter is a nun of Providence of tRe Sacred Heart at Great Falls, Montana. St. Andrews has not been fortunate in her efforts to obtain a railway — the first one which was to have passed through this parish never having approached nearer than Carillon. In 1 891, the Parish Council granted a bonus to C. N. Armstrong, for the construc- tion of a railway from Lachute to some point on the Ottawa near St. Andrews, and a railway station within half a mile cf the iron bridge. It was supposed that this would form part of a railway crossing the Ottawa not far from St. Andrews, and thence running to some point in Ontario. The road was constructed from Lachute to St. Andrews, but the other terms of the contract were not fulfilled ; and as the amount of travel and freight to be carried between the two places is insufficient to pay the expense of running a train and keeping the road in repair, especially in winter, there are only a few months in the year at present when St. Andrews has railway accommo- dations. A daily stage conveying the mail runs between Carillon and I.achute via St. Andrews ; this line has been in operation for the last fifteen years under the proprie- torship of Magloire Campeau of this village, who also has a contract for carrying the mail. The Town Hall, a fine, brick building, was erected in i88r. Members of the Municipal Council of 1855 — ^the first under the present municipal system ; the meeting was held in Jones' " white house " : — Robert Simpson, John Hoy, Carillon; Edw. Jones, jun., La Baie ; John Bur- wash, River Rouge ; John McPhie, Fred. H. McArthur, La Baie ; Thomas Jefferson, Lachute Road. Robert Simpson was elected Mayor, and Thomas Wanless appointed Secretary-Treasurer. Among the different enterprises which have been started in St. Andrews was that of a newspaper, TAe Progress, which was first published in 1873, edited by — Chambers ; Thomas Dorion, proprietor,' Mr. Chambers subsequently was con- 134 HISTORY OF AKGENTEUII.. nected with The.Chronich (Quebec). During the early part of its existence The Progress was Conservative in politics, but afterwards it came under the editorial management of R..P. de La Konde, advocate, when it became politically identified with the Liberal party. It appears to have been a lively, well conducted, local sheet; but owing to the removal of the printer, its publication ceased in 1876. A Model School was established in St. Andrews about 1850, Adam Walker being the first teacher. For some reason this school did not prosper in after years ; the Government grant was withdrawn, and the school closed in 1876. It was reopened in 1891, in a substantial, commodious brick school building, since which it has been in a flourishing condition ; many good scholars having been fitted here for the higher institutions of learning, the counting-room, or other business vocations. The teachers who have officiated since the opening of the -school in 1891 are as follows : — John Proctor, A. E. Rivard, Thos. E. Townshend and F. W, Vaughan. Frederick W. Vaughan, the present Principal, was bom in Coaticook, Stan- stead County, Que., in 1875. He attended the village school in Ayer's Flat, to which place his parents moved in 1876. Until fifteen years of age, his academical education was acquired at Hatley Model School and Coaticook Academy, from the latter of which he graduated, and matriculated at McGill. He received his Academy diploma in 1 894, and has since been teaching in St. Andrews with a marked degree of success, the standard of scholarship under his tuition having materially advanced. Mr. Vaughan's energy and ability give promise that he will be an important addition to the educators of the Province. The village was erected into a separate school municipality in March, 1891, and the Model and Elementary Schools are taught in the same building. Mr. Colin Dewar contributes the following history of the bridges : — " The maintenance of the bridge across the North River at St. Andrews has always been a heavy tax upon the inhabitants, especially since some of the adjoining parishes were released from their liability to contribute to it. The first bridge was erected in 1807 ; it was a bridge of very moderate dimen- sions and primitive design, consisting of five spans, supported on four trestles, and occupying a much lower level than the present structure ; as the country was not then cleared up and drained, the spring freshets were not so great. This bridge, with occasional repairs and renewing of portions in whole or in part, supplied the wants of the inhabitants until 1833, when a new one was erected alongside of the old -one, higher up the river. It was on this old bridge that a sad accident occurred, by which a man lost his life ; it was caused by two of the stringers slipping off the trestles, taking a portion of the covering with them, leaving a large open space, which, unfortunately, was left unguarded. A tanner by the name of Daggett (who was the owner of the first tannery that started working in St. Andrews) was coming home late on Saturday HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. 1 35 night, and not knowing that part of the bridge had fallen down, fell through the open space, striking his head on a boulder, and was killed. On Sunday morning, there was quite an excitement when his dead body was discovered by individuals on their way to church. The testimony of at least two living witnesses confirms the above facts, and places the date of the occurrence at about 1817. In 1832-33 a contract was given to a man by the name of Pierce, for the con- struction of a new bridge of larger dimensions and different design, consisting of four spans resting on three cut stone piers and abutments. The plan and specifications were drawn up by a well-known land surveyor ; but they, unfortunately, exposed his ignorance of architecture, as the specifications were in the main points very defec- tive, and, in consequence, the work was not well done. The bridge was opened for traffic in the summer of 1833, ^"^^ i° ^^ spring of 1837 ^ large portion of one of the piers was broken up by the action of the ice and high water, causing the bridge lo topple down. It was temporarily repaired to allow traffic to be carried on, and in the month of September a heavy trestle was substi- tuted for the pier, and with other necessary improvements and occasional repairs it stood until the iglh March, 1859, when it was swept away as before. A temporary foot bridge was made by stretching three strong chains across the open space, cover- ing them with plank$, where people could cross in safety ; while a ferry above the mill dam, and another at McMartin's, served for horses and carriages, until the bridge was ready for traffic on the 27th August the same year. It was not for any great length of time that the rate payers were exempted from further expense, as in the early part of March, 1863, a large portion of the bridge was again swept away ; this time, unfortunately, attended with loss of life, two young lads who were on it at the time being drowned. A temporary structure for the con- venience of people on foot was placed opposite Mr. Duncan Dewar's and Mr. Edward Jones', while the ferry was again opened above the mill dam, and at Col. De Hertel's for horses and carriages. This arrangement continued until 1865, when a new bridge of a more pretentious and different style of architecture was built by Messrs. Moody of Terrebonne. It was supported on piers of close crib work filled with stones, and strengthened overhead with short trusses, and was opened to the public in September of that year, and lasted until the present beautiful light iron structure was completed in 1885." The present bridge was erected at an expense of $10,200 ; the iron part of the structure costing $5,950, and the abutments and approaches forming the balance of the cost. The following, the writing of which was suggested by another letter in The Star, was copied from that paper : — " Your reminiscences, of course, deal principally with the Rebellion, as it existed in another part of the country from where I was living at the time ; but I have a distinct recollection of the events (being about 14 years of age) from reading the same in the public journals of the day, and your account brings all these scenes very vividly back to my remembrance. 136 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. " I see that you mention the attack and burning of the village of Si. Benoit. I may state in this connection, that seven or eight companies of Volunteers from St. Andrews and vicinity were there at that time, having been ordered to meet those coming from Montreal, as you relate. As you may not know why there were so many companies of Volunteers organized in St, Andrews, a short statement may not be out of place. Tlie village at that time was largely settled by English-speaking people, not many French being among them ; but on two sides — the east and south — were the French parishes of Cote St. Pierre and Les Eboulies. In the latter place, they were red hot ' Patriots,' meeting, drilling and getting ready for the fray ; and on a hill a short distance from the Ottawa River, not far from St. Placide, on Point Aux Anglais, they had formed a barricade or fort, with trees and brush, which would have been of great service had a small number of men come against them. Early in the month of November, 1837, a courier came galloping up to St. Andrews with the intel- ligence that the ' Patriots ' were preparing to make a raid on the village and country adjoining. We well knew they meant to plunder, burn and kill ; and well do I remember hearing him cry out, ' They are in the Bay ; will be here in a short time ! Anything you have put it out of the way ! ' etc. In less than an hour, all who were able were marching into the village, and such a crowd I Among two or three hun- dred men, there were not even fifty fowling pieces. The remainder were armed with pitchforks, clubs, broken scythes, etc., and nothing but an overruling and kind Providence saved us from attack. If they had come on, as was intended, they would have had their own way, as there was not sufficient force with suitable arms to stop them. There was at that time a small detachment of the 24th Regiment stationed at Carillon, under the command of Capt. Mayne, who supplied a few old, flint-lock muskets ; and with these, all the roads leading out of the village were guarded, night and day. Companies of Volunteers were formed as quickly as possible, so that by the lothor 12th of December seven or eight companies were regularly enrolled, armed and drilled, and, as already stated, were marched to Grand Brul6, according to orders from headquarters. The expedition was not attended by any loss of life, the ' Patriots' wisely keeping out of the way, but it was attended with a great deal of hardship and exposure to the rigors of a Canadian winter. Owing to inadequate clothing and want of proper food and shelter, many of them were not the better of that trip for many a day. A few of the companies were disbanded and allowed to return to their homes, to be ready, if wanted, at a moment's notice; the rest were kept in barracks and thoroughly drilled, so as to be ready in case of another outbreak, which, happily, did not occur in our pait of the country. I think the few remaining Volunteers of that period who took up arms to defend their country are entitled to some compensation for service which ought to have been acknowledged long ago. I have no personal interest in this movement. My father and two brothers who took an active part in it have long since passed away to the silent majority ; but I havcan old friend who was among the first to join the ranks, and on his account, as well as on that of others, I should like to see them paid a small sum in cash, to sustain their declining years. "Yours truly, " Colin Dewar." o D o « >5 o HISTORY OF AROENTEUIL. I37 An incident of the Kebellion, which has never before appeared in print, deserves notice, if for nothing more than to perpetuate the name and fame of Joe Girbux. He was a loyal Frenchman, living a few miles from St. Andrews. On the morning of the day that proved so disastrous to the Patriots at St. Eustache, a large number of them were marching toward St. Andrews. On arriving at the house of Giroux, and seei: g him at his door, they halted, and the leader of the party demanded his gun on which he leaned. " Come and take it ! " was the reply. " If you don't come and join us, we'll shoot you," was the stern rejoinder; and at the same instant more than one gun was leveled at him, as if the threat \rerc about to be executed. Turning to his wife, he bade her seek safety beneath the bed which stood in a corner of their single apartment, and then, exposing his broad chest to view, asid standing erect in the doorway, he coolly invited them to shoot. What did this mean? They knew Joe to be a brave, manly fellow, but what hope could he have with such odds against him, unless the loyalists, wiih whom he was in constant communication, were in force at no great distance ? They hesitated, and a whispered consultation was held, which resulted in their hasty retreat to the ■ renJez-vous whence they had come. As soon as they had departed, Joe mounted his horse, and galloped to St. Andrews, to assure the terrified citizens that they need not fear ; the rebels had gone back. " Never," said our informant, " was there a more welcome herald of more joyful tidings than Joe Giroux." Near the bridge which crosses the River Rouge to the south side may be seen the ruins of an old mill.- This, which was originally a saw mill, was built by the Seignior, Sir John Johnson, in the early years of St. Andrew's history. After doing service for many years, a man named Samuel Dale, son of Daniel Dale of Dalesville, transformed it into a grist mill ; but a few years later, the machinery was removed to the other giist mill in the village, and this mill was abandoned. About i8co, an American named John Glines built acarding mill, just below the old mill above mentioned, on the same stream. After a decade or more, this mill was rented to a man named Leonard Clark, who kept it in operation a few years, when it fell into disuse, and it is now in ruins. Mr. Clark had a large family, and he is remembered as a good citizen, a zealous worker in the cause of temperance, and active for the promotion of sdiools. He removed from this place to Lachute, where he died suddenly from paralysis. The mills referred to above are shown in the engravinjg. 10 CoJte du Midi and the Bay. The above localities are in ^e parish of St. Andrews, between tlie River Rouge Settlement and the Ottawa, Cote du Midi being, as its name indicates, a hill or ridge of land lying north of the Bay Settlement ; the latter settlement is generally designated as "The Bay," bordering, as it does, on a very pretty bay formed by the Ottawa. Though the land is considerably diversified in both these localities, and the roads hilly, there are some fine farms which are comparatively level, and the scenery in certain parts is romantic. The farm of Charles Hunter, a prominent and respected citizen on' the Bay road, with its neat buildings, is attractive, and another large one adjoining it, owned by A. C. Robillard, one of the ex-Municipal Councillors of the parish. "Glencoe," the estate of Mr. John McGowan, the old homesteads of the Hydes, Burwashes and Albrights are all valuable farms located at the Bay. " Silver Heights," and the farms of John McMartin and Archibald Graham, are among the most attractive and valuable estates at Cote du Midi. Captain John Wainwright of the Royal Navy, came to Canada with his family in 1833. He was born in Wickham, Hampshire, England, 3rd May, 1800, his father also being a captain in the Royal Navy. When he was only eight years of age, his father took him on his ship to India ; but while there, he was ordered to proceed up the Persian Gulf, and thinking that the mission might be attended with danger, he sent his son back to England on an East Indiaman. Soon after this, he was sent to a Naval School, from which he entered the service as midshipman, and passing the different grades of promotion, in time, secured a Lieutenant's commission. While holding this rank, he sailed with Captain (subsequently Admiral) Beecher, who was sent, in the interests of science, on an expedition to the Pacific and Arctic oceans. On this voyage they came near a small island in the Pacific, which some of the young devotees of science insisted on visiting. A heavy surf rendered the approach to it dangerous, and their boat was smashed in the effort to land, though all reached the shore in safety. But now a difficulty arose as to the manner of returning to the ship. One boat only remained, and this the Captain positively forbade his men to lower, fearing that this, too, would be ruined ; but he gave orders to construct a raft with which to bring the men off, and when it was finished, Lieut. Wainwright, with some others, went to the relief of their stranded friends. They had to remain for some time a little distance from the shore before all were embarked, and mean- while Lieut. Wainwright, stripped to the waist, had to stand in the water exposed to a boiling surf The exposure was more than his constitution was able to bear, and he was soon seized with a severe illness, from the effects of which he never entirely recovered. Eventually, he was awarded a medal for the part he took in this expe- dition. Not long after his return to England, he was married to Elizabeth Powers, daughter of Samuel Poweis, Esq., of Harley street, London, and soon afterward he HtSTTGilir elf' AfteKRtkiHt. 1^9 sailed for the Mediterranean io His Msjeatfr's ship " Mplrille." ^Within a year, however, he was again, taken ill from the same cause, it was believed,' that gave rise to his former illness, and invalided home. During his abseoce at se^, »o\h December, 1839, his eldest son, John Wroughton, was born. Though he received his commie- sloe as captain, Mr. Wainwright, on account of the debilitated condition of liis health, never accepted command of a vessel. In 1833, through the ii^uenceof Commissaiy C. J. Forbes, who was then in England, and of whose wife Mr. Wainwriglit was cousin, he came with his family to Carillon. After remaining a year with Mr. Forbes, he purchased of Archie McVicar, a Nor' Wester, for ;£iooi, the farm of 400 acres known as " Silver Heights," which is now owned by his son John Wroughton Wain- wright. This spot, which he chose for his home, possessing naturally rare features of beauty, he adorned in many ways which characterized it as an English homestead. Possessed, as he was, of English ideas with regard to social status, and having been a. naval officer, it is not surprising that he should have formed one of an exclusive circle, and been regarded an aristocrat. But whatever may have been his ideas of social rank, he performed the duties of Justice of the Peace, for many years, with strict impar- tiality, careful consideration, and to public approval. James Francis Ballard, the youngest brother of Captain Wainwright, became Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy, and was in command of the " Black Prince," a vessel which formed ihe escort of the '■ Great Eastern " when she was laymg the Atlantic cable. In 1851, Captain Wainwright visited the Great Exhibition in London, and later he removed with his wife and daughters to England, where he died; Mrs. Wainwright died in i88r. They had six children — two sons and four daughters. They were John Wroughton, Emily, Harriet Forbes, Mary Elizabeth, Charlotte Catherine, and George Hadden Richmond. Emily, the second child, died at the age of 8 ; Mary Elizabeth, the third, was married to Lieut. Penethorne, of the Royal Artillery, but died soon afterward. George H., unmarried, is a broker in Montreal. John W., the eldest of the children, has always remained on the homestead; content with the society of his family and with the enjoyment of his rural abode, he has had little to do with public affairs. He was married May nth, 1864, to Amelia Elizabeth Caroline Carter, daughter of the late Dr. Edward Carter, of Sorel, P.Q. They have had seven children — three sons and four daughters. Of their sons, J. E. R. is employed in the Merchants' Bank at Calgary j J. G. R., who graduated with honors from McGillin 1892, is a civil engineer in Hamilton, Ont., andS. F. A. is a student in the Medical Department of McGill University. FiNLAV MacMartin was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 181 2, and came to Canada with his father, Donald MacMartin, in 1827, and settled in Grand Fournier, near St. Eustache. The following interesting letter, written by his sister, was copied from the British Whig (Kingston), of October 28, 1890: — I40 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. "THE REBELLION OF 1837-38. " Montreal, October 23, — . '^To THE Editor,— My brother, Finlay MacMartin, served as a Volunteer under Captain Globensky, of St. Eustache, County of Two Mountains. He was at the battJfr of St. Eustache, 14th December, 1837, and was one of the party finding the body of the rebel leader, Dr. Chenier, shot down trying to escape, his followers having taken refuge in the Catholic church, hoping thus to save their lives. I well remember my brother's tale of the exciting times they had, while wailing at the village of St. Martin (nine miles from St. Eustache), for the ice to become strong enough to enable soldiers to transport their cannon and ammunition across the Riviere du Ch6ne, a branch of the Ottawa. The Regulars were commanded by Sir John Colborne, who afterwards became Governor-General of Canada. After imprisoning all who surrendered, the troops fired the church and village of St. Eustache, then marched to the village, twelve miles west, St. Benoit, another stronghold of the rebels. Here lived Dutnouchelle, a noted rebel, father of the late Senator Dumouchelle, of Two Mountains. Although only six years old at the time, I well remember passing through St. Benoit, when it was a heap of smouldering ruins. My mother, being very nervous, left home with the younger members of the family, to reside with an uncle at St. Andrews, where the English population was more numerous ; my two elder brothers were enlisted as Volunteers. My father, then over sixty years of age, ;ind a farmer, located in the very centre of a rebel community, was placed in a trying position. He could hardly leave home, and by remaining would be forced to join the rebels, or be put under arrest by them. He and my only surviving brother, James MacMartin, now living on the homestead at St. Eustache, betook themselves to the woods, then pretty dense, and made dismal by the howling wolves, which they kept ofif by burning fires day and night. As the night advanced, they would venture out as near home as they deemed safe, then my sisters, aged respectively eighteen and twenty, who had bravely volunteered to remain at home, would set out a signal^ when it was safe for them to come to the house. My father finally got things satis- factorily arranged, such as putting all his threshed wheat into barrels, and concealing it where the rebels never thought of looking for it. There was not much to conceal, as threshing was a slow process in those days. All had to be done with the flail, an implement of which the farmers of to-day know little. He placed his highly prize d gun (after taking it apart) in an old metal pot, and buried it in the earth. No vile rebel would ever get that into his hands. He then started off, accompanied by my brother, who was then a young boy, to rejoin mother and family at St. Andrews. They had to keep under cover of the woods, as they were sure to be arrested if they ventured on the highway. The hardships and sufferings they encountered were terrible; wending their way through snow and half-frozen swamps, up to their knees in water. My brother was taken ill with inflammatory rheiimatism shortly after, and has been a martyr to that disease in a chronic form ever since. After wandering for HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 141 two days and a night, they reached Lachute (instead of St. Andrews) in the early part of the second night, well riigh exhausted by fatigue, hunger and cold. TWey got a hearty welcome from the loyal-hearted Scottish farmers, who attended to their wants, and sent them on their way rejoicing to St. Andrews. Of the sisters who remained at home and attended to the cattle, the youngest, Mrs. Alex. Patton, County Bruce Ontario, is still living ; the other, Mrs. Maxwell, mother of John Maxwell, barrister and Crown Attorney for Prescott and Russell, also of Robert Maxwell, carriage builder, of Eden Grove, Bruce County, Ontario, died ten years ago. Finlay MacMartin, whose service as a Volunteer is above recorded, died sixteen, and his brother died nine years ago. "Shortly before the battle of St. Eustache, a party of rebels came to our home while my sisters were alone, and asked where my father and brothers were. They were very civil, with the exception of one, who shoved his old rusty gun through the window, for which he was sharply reprimanded by his leader. They asked for fire- arms, money, etc. ; not getting this, they went to the stables, took the best horse, harness, and an old traineau, — for sleighs were not in use in those days. From the sheep pen, they took of the fattest. Returning to the house, they gave my sisters a note to the effect that payment would be made when ^he * Republic of Canada was declared and established.' " The leader of this party, named Jerod, was recognized by my sisters on the morning of the battle of St. Eustache, making his escape on horseback, without saddle or bridle, but a halter made of his military sash. " Respectfully yours, "Jeane MacMartin." Finlay MacMartin came to Cote du Midi 'in 1848, and settled on a farm which he bought from Archibald McCallum, one of the first settlers here. He was married, April 9th, 1850, to Christiiia, daughter of Donald McKeracher, of Dalesville, the first settler of that place. I'hey had four sons and four daughters. Mr. MacMartin died nth December, 1874, aged sixty-two ; Mrs. MacMartin still survives him, living on the old homestead. Ofthechildren, Margery A., the eldest,marriedtoW.G. Cameron, lives in Ontario ; Jean O., married to M. L. Foley, in British Columbia ; Maggie L., married to J. E. Playfair, in Ontario ; and Eugenia, who is a teacher, is also in Ontario. James A. P., the second son, learned his trade as bridge builder, and was a contractor in that line; he was last heard from when in New Mexico, six years ago. Geo. D., after spending four years with Mr. Chas. Wales of St. Andrews, in the mercantile business, went to Montreal and spent six years — ^part of this time in travelling — ^in the same line of business. In 1891, he went to Chicago, and now has charge of the office in that city of J. W. Goddard & Sons, wholesalp, woollen merchants of New York. While in Montreal, he was a member of the .Victoria Rifles, and was cham- pion shot of Quebec for two years. Colin B., the youngest son, lives at home. 142 HISTORY OF ARp^NTEUIL. John F. K., eldest surviving sop, was born in Cote du Midi. It was his inten- tion to prepare for business or a profession ; but the father dying when the family was young, it became necessary (or him to take the management of the farm, in which he is still engaged. Being a teetotaler from infancy, he ea,rly became an active temperance worker, taking a prominent part in attempting to secure the passing of the Dunkin and S,eott Acts, an,d al,so by working as a member of the Sons of Temperr ance, I. O. G. T., and Royal Templars of Temperance, having filled the leading offices of the different societies for various terms in succession. He was Master of St. Andrews L. O. A., No. 52, for a number of years, and was also an officer of the County L. O. A. of Lachute. He became a member of the active militia of Canada at an early age, and served as a private and non-commissioned officer ; in 1880, he went to a Military school, and, having obtained a certificate, was given the commission of Second Lieutenant in No. i Company, Eleventh Battalion, A. R., and three years later, the commission of First Lieutenant ; he is also a commander of the Colors party. He early took an active part in religious matters, became a member in full com- munion of the Presbyterian Church, and, a few years later, was elected to the Eider- ship. Since the introduction of the Patrons of Industry, he has been President of one of the Associations, and has successfully organized a number of Associations through- out the (bounty and Province. In the summer of 1817, Alexander McGregor, of Breadalbane, Perthshire, Scotland, came to Canada, and found employment at Chute au Blondeau, Ontario. On the last day of the following April, he crossed the Ottawa on the ice, and made his way to Cote du Midi and purchased the two lots now owned and occupied by his son John. He was a weaver by trade, and with that thrift characteristic of his country- men made a hand loom earn many a penny during the long winter evenings and days when he could not wage war on the forest with which much of his land was covered. Owing to the scarcity of cloth manufactories, his loom was an implement of great utility to his neighbors, for whom he wove many of the fabrics then in common use. In the Rebellion of 1837, he and his eldest son, Alexander, promptly enlisted in the Company commanded by Captain Robert Simpson. He had eight children, but only two of the sons, Alexander and John, respected citizens, live in this section. The latter, who lives on the homestead, is a prosperous farmer. The history of Thomas Hyde, whose descendants are numerous in this section, is replete with romantic incidents. His home was in Exeter, England, and his father was a captain in the Royal Navy. Thomas had spent some years on the ship of Admiral Rodney, and in company with a young friend named Ramsey he left the service and came to New York. Both had money supplied them by their parents, and they purchased a stock of goods, and went to the North West to trade with the Indians. But they met different tieatment from what they had anticipated, and learned the treachery and barbarity of the. HISTORY Of AKGENTEtJIi. I43 savages r they were robbed of their goods, aad soon saw that their lives were in danger. Hyde made good his escatpe, but Ramsey iras captured!, bounxi, and then', according to the custom of the Indians, ^vas subjected to torture. While lying on his back, stripped, his tormentors amused theiaselves by pricking his body with theit kniveS) and then wiping the blood from them on his lips. But his revenge was at hand. They had been drinking, from the effects of which they were soon in deep slumber, leaving him, as they supposed, securely bound, Wlien he saw their uncon. scious condition, however, by great exertion. he freed himself foom the thongs, seized a tomahawk, dispatched fourteen of • bis captors, and escaped. He finally • reached England, but nxst receiwimg the welcome from, his family which he desired, and induced by- that love of adventure which young men having once experienced, seldom abandon, he colored his red hair, came to America, and once more mingled with the. Indians. His dJsgjiise, however, was not so complete as to prevent recognition, but by some means, of which we are ignorant, he gained the esteem of the Indians, married a squaw^ and wa-s granted by her tribe a large tract of land in the vicinity of the Great Lakes. Some years subsequently he corresponded with his old friend Thomas Hyde, who was then at St.. Andrews, and made him liberal offers of land, if he would go oat and settle near him ; but having too vivid recollections of his former experiences among the Indians, Hyde declined the tempting offer. After escaping from the Indians, Hyde went to Michilimackinac, and was there employed by the superintendent of Indian affairs, as elerk in the Indian Stofre. While there, he married Margaret Anderson, a young woman who had been, indentured, when quite small, by her mother to the superintendent, and whose terrri of indenture had now expired. Her father lived, at the opening of the American Revolution, on the Susquehanna River; and being an U. E. Loyalist, his property was confiscated, and he came to Canada in. com- pany, it is said, with two families named Ogilvy and Glassford — both having been exiled by the same fete' — and whose descendants are now prominent citizens of Montreal. These loyalists were at Michilimackinac, and the celebrated Indian chief, Brant, was also there at the same time. Brant, knowing Mr. Anderson, borrowed of him a sum of money, which was counted and delivered in presence of a number of Indians. Whether incited to the crime by the sight of the gold, or whether they were led to it by some other motive^ is unknown ; but soon afterward, they shot Mr. Andeison between the crevices of the logs in. the house where he resided. Being unwell at the time, he was lying on a couch when the dastardly act was committed. Mrs. Anderson being thus left a widow with her young children, was prevailed on to indenture her eldest child, Margaret, to the superintendent, and it was to her, now arrived at womanhood, that Thomas Hyde was wedded. A few years after this marriage, some dissatisfaction having arisen between the superintendent and the Government, he left his position, and tiiough he offered Hyde the use of his house, furnished, if he would remain at Michilimackinac, on account of his dislike and distrust cf the Indians,. he declined the offer, and with his wife and 144 HISTORY OF ARGENTBUIL. two children catne with the superintendent to Montreal. There he was introduced by the superinteddient to Sir John Johnson, Seignior of Argenteuil, these two gentle- men being cousins ;. and by Sir John he was ind ced to purchase two lots of land at St. Andrews Bay, to which place he removed about 179*. In the war of 1812, he became Captain of a Miliiia Company, and his eldest son, who was born at Michilimackinac in 1789, was Sergeant of the same Company. In 1815, they were ordered with ihe Company to Montreal, but before arriving there peace was declared, and they returned home. Mr. and Mrs. Hyde, whose early life had been one of so much romance and sorrow, lived here until their death. They h^d twelve children ; George, the eldest, bought . a farm at the Bay about a mile from the homestead ; he also had twelve children, who grew up; he died in 1887. Jane, the eldest daughter, born at Michili- mackinac, married Martin Albright ; she died in 1879. Sarah, the second daughter, married Edward Jones. Alexander, another son, bought a farm and settled on the River Rouge J he had eight children, — three sons and five daughters; his own son George, who remained on the homestead, and still owns it, has recently purchased the fine old homestead of John McMartin. Charles, another son of Thomas Hyde, pur- chased a farm on the River Rouge near his brother Alexander ; but he had no children. Nelson, the youngest son of this old family, never married, and remained on the home- stead till 1880, when he sold it, and now lives in the village of St. Andrews. He is another of the octogenarians in this section, who are witnesses, not only of the salu- brity of the climate, but of the benefit resulting from industry and temperance. John Cameron came from Fort William, Inverness-shire, Scotland, and after living a year in Lachine, came to Cote du Midi about 1802. He was a Presbyterian, and the first, or one of the first, who preached hereabout ; the reader will find him alluded to in Dr. Paterson's sketch of the Presbyterian Church, St. Andrews, as one of the early workers for the Christian cause ; his sermons were delivered in Gaelic. As there were so many of the same name in this section, he was distinguished by the name of " Preacher Cameron," and one of his sons in turn by the same cognomen. Mr. Cameron took up the lots of land now owned by his grandson John. While he was away six weeks in Lachinj, on duty as a Volunteer in the war of 1812, a large number of his sheep died from cold and starvation. His eldest son Hugh, who was in Capt. Simpson's Company in 1837-38 lived on the homestead. He had seven sons and six daughters ; he died about 1867. John and Alexander are the only two living in this section ; Hugh, a farmer, lives in Ottawa. Simeon LeRoy was the earliest pioneer of whom we have received any record • he located here as early as 1 785. At the opening of the American Revolution, he, with two or three brothers lived in Genesee County, N.Y. ; but their loyalty to the British Government for bidding their casting in their lot with those who had thrown off their allegiance, they felt that safety demanded a removal. -Simeon first went to No /a Scotia, and after HISTOHY OF ARGENTEUIL. 1 45 spending a few years there, and in other- places, he came to SL Andrews aM settled on the Rirer Rouge, on land now owned by John McGregor and Stephen Burwash< At the riffle the LeRoys left Genesee County, haste prevented their making any effort to sell their property, hence they left all, glad to escape only with their lives. The country then being new, and land worth but little, they probably did not regnrd the sacrifice they were making as a great one. Since then, however, the same land — owing to the rapid growth of villages and cities — has become very valuable, and, not many years ago, an effort was made to find the heirs to the real estate vacated by the LeRoys. An agent visited this section of Canada, and endeavored to induce descendants of the LeRoy brothers to l3ok up their claims to the property ; but believing they had no right to the improvements which had been made thereon, and regarding it of little value when their ancestors abandoned it, they, conscientiously, decided to have nothing to do with the matter. Mr. Simeon LeRoy lived on the land where he first settled on the River Rouge till his death ; he had three sons — William, Simeon, Henry, and two daughters — Sophia and Hannah. The homestead was divided between William and Simeon ; Henry bought the lot now owned by John McMartin. He sold out not many years subsequently, and moved to East Hawkesbury, where he spent the remainder of his days. William was the only one who remained in this section. He married? a daughter of Martin Jones, an early pioneer at St. Andrew's Bay, and spent his life on the hom /stead. They had ten children — five sons and five daughters ; six of these — three sons and three daughters — settled in East Hawkesbury, Ont., one son and two daughters in Montreal, and another son, Martin, bought a farm on the Rivjr Rouge. He was married to Mary, daughter of Malcolm McCallum, a worthy pioneer of this locality. They had twelve children — eight sons and four daughters. Mr. LeRoy died ist January, 1893; ^^^- LeRoy, ist November, 1889. Of the children, six settled in the State of Michigan ; one daughter in Manchester, N. H. J Malcolm, the eldest, in Calumet Island ; Archibald C, and Mary, who married Martin LeRoy, in Hawkesbury, Ont. Alexander is the only one who has remained in the neighborhood of his birth. He is one of the highly respected citizens of the parish, whose counsel is sought in matters of moment to the municipality; and he has served it in the capacity bf Justice of the Peace for a decade, and as School Com-nissioner about the sam: time. He married Hannah, a daughter of Henry Albright, in 187 1. They have three children living, and Osman Edgar, their eldest, is a graduate of McGill and ha] obtained an Academy Diploma. Mr. LeRoy has lately purchased the Hirringtm Estate. The BuRWASHEs, of whom there are many in this section, are among the sober, thrifiy and industrious citizens who do credit to their country. Nathaniel Burwash was bom in Kent, England, and his father dying while he was very young, he was adopted by an uncle — captain of a vessel in the Merchant Marine. He was employed several years on this vessel, during which time" it was 1^6 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. ca.'pimed by the. French and retakea by the Ei^Ksh, Finally, Ke caaie to the United Staites*, watried', »nd settled in Vermont ; but preferring to live under the British flag> aijid induced by the cheapness of land, in j8o«, he came with his eldest son to Canada to prospect for a location. They had but one horse, and this they rode by turns. They came to Carillon, and after surveying different lots, selected three on the River Rouge. After returning home, Mr.. Burwash learned that his mother had recently died in England ; and on going there, he received, as legacy a sum of money, which placed him. ijB good cvrcmastariices, aad. enabled him to.pm-ciiase lands in. Canada for his sonsi Sooa after. returi^ing from England, he moved with bis family to this section, and took up hijs ijesideiDce 0n tfce River Rouge, on land now owned by his greatr grandsons, Mantio Buirwash and Martin Albright. A few years subsequently, he divided this farm between his two elder sons, Adam and Stephen, and purchased another tract, which, forms a pan o« the farm long knowQ as " Silver Heigh-ts.!' Later, he bequeathed this to his joungeSit son., James,- who soon sold it to Archie McVicar, a Nor' Wester, and moved to PJattsburg, N.Y., where he died. Mr. Burwash, s.en., after seeing kh sons well settled, mad-e his home with the eldest, Adam, and lived with him. till his dea'h, 7th November, 183 r, at the age of 88. Adam Burwash had ten children — seven sons and three daughters, but only one pf thescj John, is now* living. Four grandsons of Adam Burwash are clergymen, three of the Meihodist and one of the Baptist deuominaiion. Stephen Burwash, , the second son of Nathaniel Burwash, had eight children who grew up — six.spns.and two daughters. Of the sons, Matthew and John still live here,-rthe. former in- St. Andrew's village, though still owning his farm; the latter, on the River Rouge. Mr. Burwash died 18th January, 1887, aged 60. Matthew, the third son of Nathaniel Burwash, whose farm given him by his father was located at St. Andrew's Bay, was drafted in the war of 1812, and though not a participant in that engagement, was within hearing, marching toward it, when the battle of Chrysler's Farm was fought. ; Two years previous to his death, he was awarded a pension by the Government. He died 13th September, 1:876, aged 87 ; Mrs. Burwash, in 1890, aged 95. He was married to Mary, daughter of Ewen McI achlan, who came from Scotland and settled on the River Rouge in 1802. Mr. McLachlan sold his farm and purchase 1 one in Point Fortune, on which his great grandson, Victor Angus, now resides. One of his sons, Ewen, built the mill at Arn- prior, which is now owned by his own sons, Hugh F. and Claude McLachlan. The only children of Matthew Burwas'i, sen., now living are Maiia in St. Andrews, and William at Southamptpu, Ont. Hi^ son Matthew remained oii the homestead, and during his lifetime was one of the influential farmers of this section'. His widow still lives on the homestead, which is now nianaged by her son Thoma"-, a Municipal Councillor, and a member of the St. Andrew's Troop. His brother Harry, also a member of the Ttoop, is. c'erk in the store of Mr. Bahford, Lachiite. Thomas, the fourth son of Nathaniel Burwash, though very young, was drafted during the war of 1812, biit he soon died from the measles which he caught in camp. River Kouge. This settlement is an important gmd beaulifijl district of St Andrews parish, about five miles in leqgth, commencing about a mile east of St. Andrew's village, and termipating at the east line of the county. It embraces two ranges of lots — one on ieach side of the river called the Roi^e, a small stream about ten miles in length, rising in the county of Two Mountains, and pursuing a devious course westerly into the North river near St. Andrews' village. The locality is elevated, affording aa extensive view, and as an agricultural section it is rarely equalled, the farms being beautifully located and possessing a strong and productive soil. Among the fine farms here — many of which are mentioned in the following sketches — is that of R. P. De La Ronde, barrister af St. Andrews, which contains over 300 acres with good buildings. William S. Todd, eldest son of Andrew Todd, was born in 185a, in St. Eustache; he was married in 1882 to Agnes, daughter of Joseph Rodgers. In 1890, he bought his present farm, the old Peter McMartin place, on the north side of the River Rouge. William McEwen came from Perthshire to Canada in 1818 j he was a carpenter, and worked at his trade in Montreal for some time, then came to River Rouge, and bought the farm now owned by James McOuat. He was married in Montreal to Catherine McLean, of Breadalbane ; they had thirteen .children — eight sons and five daughters. Donald, the eldest son, bom 1820, always remained in this; locality. In 1838, he became a member of Captain Simpson's company of Volunteers, and was married the same year to Elizabeth, daughter of Peter McMartin. They had three children, — one son and two daughters. Catherine, the eldest, married John McGivern, and died in Montreal in 1877, leaving one daughter. Margaret, the second daughter of Donald McEwen, married to J. C. Lock, is now living in Montreal. William A., the son, remained at home ; he was married June 4ih, 1884, to Catherine, daughter of Alfred Center, of Centerville. They have four children, — three girls and one boy. Mr, Donald McEwen now lives on the old homestead, his father having retired from active work. James, eldest son of Walter McOuat, was born 1818, in Montreal. In 1825, he removed, with his father, to Lachute, and in 1844 was married to Jeannetie, daughter of the late John Christie, of the East Settlement j she died 25th August, 1888. In 1845, ^^^- McOuat came to the River Rouge, and bought the farm now owned by Mitchell Fournier; he afterwards sold this, and bought his pre;sent fine farm of Charles Albright. Mr. McOuat has six children — threp of each sex. Of the di^ghters, Elizabeth, the eldest, lives at home ; Jane is the wife of Nelson Albright ; 148 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. and Jeannette, who married Gavin J. Walker of Lachute, is deceased. Henry, the youngest son, remains at home ; John R. is a merchant in Lacbute ; and James, the eldest, lives on the south side of the River Rouge ; he was bom 8th November, 1848, and removed to his present farm, Lots 28 and 29, in 1876. On the 21st November, 1888, he was married to Agftes, daughter of the late James McAdam ; they have two children — both boys. Mr. McOuat has a good farm, fine brick residence, and all his surroundings betoken enterprise and thrift. He circulated a petition to have a Post Office established here, and that object was accomplished in July, ^894. The Post Office, bearing the name of Kilowen, is at the east end of the River Rouge settlement, and from it the mail is distributed twice a Week. Mr. George Giroux is postmaster. Peter McMartin, whose ancestors were Highland Scotch, came to Canada from Stirling, Scotland, with his family in 1830. They were eleven weeks making the voyage across the Atlantic, being shipwrecked during their passage, Mr. McMartin first began work in Vaudreuil, remaining there two years. He then came to Carillon Hill, and hired the farm of Peter McArthur, now owned by Henry Bar- clay, dying there at the end of eleven years. He had five children, of whom two daughters, Catherine and Elizabeth, and one son, Peter E., are now living. Catherine is the wife of Dr. Christie, M.P., of Lachute, and Elizabeth is married to Donald McEwen. Peter McMartin, the son, wlio was born 1822, October 6th, came with the family to River Rouge in 1844, and bought the farm now occupied by Andrew Doig. He afterwards sold it, and bought his present farm from Thomas Fouraier. He was married in 1849 'o Susan, daughter of the late William McEweri, and has seven children -four girls and three boys. Peter James, the eldest son, after spending several years in New York and Montreal, where he was employed three years as shipping clerk for William Johnson & Co., returned home in 1890, and is now man- aging the farm ; Alfred, the second son, is living in Iowa ; and Norman, the youngest, is with Wm. Johnson & Co., Montreal. Margaret, the eldest daughter, is in Montreal; Charlotte, a teacher, is at home; while Caroline and Priscilla, the yoimger daughters, who are both trained nurses, are working at their professions — the former in New York and the latter in Massachusetts. Mr. McMartin, their father, and the subject of the latter part of this sketch, has taken an active part in military affairs, having been Sergt.-Major of the 6th Cavalry Regiment, of which he was a member thirty years, and he was in the Eastern Townships with the Volunteers during the Fenian Raid, 1870. He has been Municipal Councillor of St. Ar.rfrews Parish for seven years. William Young, a Sootchman, was an actor in the American Revolution, and also served under Admiral Nelson, as sailor in a British man-of-war, and was in the battle of Trafalgar. He retired from a sea-faring life, and came from Stirling, Scot- land, about 1825, first settling in Chatham; he afterwards sold out here, and went to Huron County, OnUrio, where both he and Mrs. Young died. They had six sons and two daughters ; of these, Elizabeth, married to William Fraser of Bethany, and Thomas, the second son, bora 1821 in Stirling, Scotland, are the ojly ones iii this HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. I49 country. In 1849 Thomas came to River ^ouge, and bought his present farm ; the same year he was married to Jeannette, daughter of John McOuat, of "Btirnside Farm," Upper Lachute ; she died 26th June, 1886. They had six daughters and one son, of whom all but one daughter are now living. Of the others, Elizabeth and Ellen live in Kansas; the former being the wife of Alexander Mustard, and the latter of James Mustard. Margaret, the eldest, Janet, Mary and William live at home. Mr. Young has a large farm, owning one lot on the south side, and two on the north side of the river, also one hundred teres bush land in the rear of Lachute. Nicholas B. McKerricher, a Highland Scotchman, was one of the early settlers on the River Rouge, coming here about 1831. He was twice married — the first time to Miss Clark ; by this marriage they had one son, who went to Missouri years ago, and has not been heard from since. Mr. McKerricher married the second time Catherine McOuat, and became the father of three children, of whom only one, Nicholas, is new living. The latter, born in 1843, has always remained here; he was married in 1885 to Mary, daughter of Ewen Cameron, Cote du Midi ; she died five weeks after the marriage. Mr. McKerricher's father having died soon after the birth of his son Nicholas, the latter lives with his mother oil the old homestead, where he has a fine farm of 270 acres. His grandfather, Donald McKerricher, came to Canada in 1802, settled on the south side of the River Rouge, and afterwards went to Cote du Midi. James Gordon came from Scotland to this place about 1835 ; he was married to Catherine, daughter of John McMartin ; they had thirteen children — seven sons and six daughters — ^all of whom are living. Of these, Peter A., John, and Ellen, the wile of Charles McGregor, live in this place. Mr. Gordon died 5th March, 1886, at eighty- six years of age, and his wife died 27th January, 1886, aged seventy-nine. John, on of the sons, bought his present farm on the north side of River Rouge from Die Howard about 1875; l^'s brother, Peter A., the youngest son, born February, 1847., lives on the old homestead. He was married in 1894 to Anna, daughter of David Paul, of Bethany. James McAdam, from Ayrshire, Scotland, was one of the early settlers in this place, coming here about 1849. ^^ ^^ married in Lachute to Catherine, daughter of John Mclntyre ; they had ten children — eight sons and two daughters — all of whom are living. Mr. McAdam died February sih, 1884, aged seventy-three. Mrs. McAdam died 25lh March, 1 888. Of the children, Agnes J., married to James C. McOuat, is living on the south side of River Rouge ; Alexander, Thomas A. and Elizabeth live on the homestead, and the other sons are in the Western States, — David in Kansas, William and Andrew in Nebraska, James and Quintin R. in Colo- rado, and John in California. John Eraser came from Inverness-shire, Scotland, and was one of the first settlers here. James, his second son, was married to Ann, daughter of John McMartin, and bought the farm now owned by Alexander, his son, and lived here until his death. 150 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. which occuired 6th January, 1876. Mrs. Fraser died 2Sth October, 1882. They had eight children, of whom three daughters and four sons are now livine; ; the daughters and two sons, Angus and Alexander, being on the homestead, while James and Samuel are, respectively, in California and Missouri. Duncan McGregor came from Perthshire, Scotland, and settled in the States. On the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, being' too loyal to fight against King George, he came to Canada, and remained in or near Quebec city until 1802. In this year he removed to River Rouge, and bougtit the farm now occupied by his grandson, John McGregor; Mr. McGregor was a Captain of the Militia during the war of 1812 ; he died in 1819. His son, Gregor McGregor, reinained on the home- stead ; he was married to Susan Robertson, and had five sons and two daughters ; the latter are both living ; but of the sons, only one remains. Mr. I^cGregor died in 1850, aged fifty-two, and his wife died ten years later. JoHtj McGregor, their son, now living here, has always remained on the home- stead. In 1848, he was married to Miss Mc Arthur, daughter of Archibald McArthur of Dalesville ; they have eight sons and one daughter. Of the sons, Gregor A., the eldest, is with Sheppard, Knapp & Co., and Arthur A. is with Oppenheim & Sons, both in New York city ; Robert S. is studying medicine in Columbia College, New York ; John R. is with J. C. Wilson & Co., Montreal ; Peter C. is studying for the ministry in McMaster University, Toronto ; Harold W. D. is with Dobson Bros., New York j and Herbert D. and Norman F. are at home. Miss McGregor is attend- ing college in Montreal. Malcolm McCallum came from Argylesh ire, Scotland, located in the River Rouge Settlement in 1820, and bought the farm now owned by Mrs. David McAdam. Donald, his son, who was born in 1817, always took an active part in the military affairs of the country, and in 1837 was a member of Captain Jones' Company. After the Rebellion, he became a member of the militia, and held the rank of Captain, when the soldiers were disbanded. He was married to Mary, daughter of John McMartin, of River Rouge, in 1850. They had two sons and five daughters, of whom one son and three daughters are now living. Beech l^ge. This locality is in the eastern part of the parish of St. Andrews, and received its name from the quantity of beech growing here at the time of its early settlement. A post office was established here in 1878; A. B. Bell, wito settled here in 1851, being appointed post-master — a position he still holds. Mr. Bell has also won the esteem of his fellow-citizeBs — the fact being attested by his election as Municipal Councillor of the Parish. The first settlers here were Nichols, Jacob Minkler, William, Stephen and David Bond, and another, whose surname was Borden. Nichols settled where William Drew now lives ; Minkler on the lot now owned by William and Malcolm Smith. A man named Ward Smith had located on land now owned by G. W. Bond, whose brother, Stephen Bond, purchased it of Smith. In 1824, the latter sold 200 acres of land to William Catton, who for some years previous had been in business at St. Andrews. He had been an officer in the British army, and was a good linguist, being able to speak several different languages. He rather astonished the inhabitants of this section by the stock of merchandise which he brought, with the view of engag' ing in mercantile pursuits — having, besides a lot of fancy goods, a large stock of the finest and most expensive silks. A few years later, deciding to engage in farming, he sold the land he had bought of Bond, and purchased a tract about a mile further east, where his two sons, George and James, now live. The old log house which he erected in the days of his pioneer labors is still standing. He remained here till his death, and his sons, who are among the industrious and respected citizens of the locality, have continued the improvements he began, developing good farnds with corresponding comforts. In 1825, the improvements made by Borden were purchased by Thomas Cook, who in company had been engaged in the jewelry business in London, Eng. The firm was known as Cook & Walker, and they had a branch house in Montreal. Mr. Cook, however, did not live long after his removal to Beech Ridge, for in 1832, while on a visit to Montreal, he was suddenly seized with the cholera, and died. His son Thomas remained on the farm at Beech Ridge, and cleared much of it. In 1834, Donald Lovnachan, from Argyleshire, Scotland, came to Canada, and in 1837, bought a lot on the Ridge, now owned by John Webster of St. Andrews. There were only two acres cleared, on it at the time of his purchase, and Mr. Loyna- chan, in common with the other pioneers, endured many hardships in clearing it and providing for the wants of his family. Bears were not numerous, but wolves made frequent raids on the cattle and sheep, rendering it necessary that the latter should be kept in folds, from which they were not released till late the next morning. Wood, as may be supposed, was not of much value. Mr. Loynachan in those days bought 152 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIt. a COW valued at $30, agreeing to pay thirty cords of hard maple wood for her, aad deliver it at the village of St. Andrews. About twenty years after he came here, one of his small boys, one day in summer, finding a large wasp's nest in a stump near the house, and little knowing the consequents, set it on fire. The wind soon blew the fire into another slump, which in turn kindled others, from which the fire was com- municated to the woods. It continued to rage for six weeks, Covering a large area of forest land, destroying much timber, bark, shingles and cordwood. Mr. Loynachan died in 1886 ; his widow still lives here. Angvs D. Loynachan, one of his sons, an intelligent farmer, married the daughter of Mr. Thomas C. Cook, and until recently lived at the Ridge, his time being employed between the duties of farmer and that of auctioneer ; he removed to Montreal about a year since. Through the .influence of Donald Loynachan, a friend of his, named Angus Loynachan, also originally fiom Argyleshire, Scotland, settled at Beech Ridge in 1842. He arrived in Canada in 1837, ^°<^ ^ short time subsequently* joined the Glengarry Volunteers. In the fall of 1838, he joined a Volunteer company of artillery in Montreal. On coming to the Ridge, he purchased two lots of land, where he still resides. Through strict industry, integrity and good judgment, he added to his estate, and provided a competency for his declining years. His wife died in 1889 and he now lives with his son-in-law, R. Morin.* He has had ten children, six of whonr. — four sons and two daughters — are now living. The eldest ton, Duncan, and second, John B., are with the Shedden Company, Montreal ; the third, Angus A., is in company with Ford, and they are milk dealers, 29 Coursol street, Montreal : the youngest, Donald H., is in company with Scriver, and they are wholesale commission merchants, 321 and 323 Commissioners street, in the same city. Mary Jessie — second in the family, now Mrs. Robert C. Morin — lives on the old homestead ; Flora Jane, fourth in the family, lives in the same place with her sister. As above mentioned, one of the first settlers in Beech Ridge was Stephen Bond, who came with his family, among whom were three sons— William, David and Stephen — ^from Randolph, Vt., about 1797, and bought five hundred acres of land on the road from St. Andrews to the Ridge. He afterwards returned to Vermont, and died there, Stephen, the youngest of the three sons, was born in 1792; he was married in 1827 to Miss Dorinda Powers of Bethany, and took part of his father's farm, which is now owned by John Loynachan. He lived there a number of years, and afterwards sold it, buying the lot opposite, where he died in 1858, aged sixty- five; Mrs. Bond died in 1844, aged thirty-eight. Mr. Bond was drafted into the militia in the war of 1812, and was stationed three months on Isle aux Noix; he served a year altogether. Mr. and Mrs. Bond had two daughters and four sons'; of these, George W., the second son, is the only one of this family now living in Quebec. He was born nth June, J83S, and has always lived in Beech Ridge ; in i860, he was married to Eliza, daughter of the late Walter McVicar, of Chatham. They have two * Mr. Loynachan died 2nd Feb., 1896. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 1 53 sons, George W. and Franklin, who are both merchants in New Mexico, the former being in Wagon Mound, and the latter in Espanola, about 185 miles apart. Samuel Rennie came from Belfast, Ireland, to Canada in 1838. He was an engineer by occupation, and was employed as such in Montreal for seventeen years ; during that time he was with William Dow, J. H. Molson, Handyside and Wm. Johnson. He was also a distiller, but owing to ill-health was obliged to give up this business. He came to this place in 1851, and bought the farm now occupied by his son, with whom he is living, still active at ninety-three. George, the youngest son, born 1852, who remained a* home, deals extensively in live stock, taking it to the Montreal market. He was married in 1879 to Jennie, daughter of the late John Oxley of Montreal ; they have one son and one daughter. Mr. Rennie is Municipal Councillor of St. Andrews. Thomas Smith was born in Dundee, Huntingdon Co., Que., May 24th, 1829. He was twice married — the first time, to Catherine Stewart of Huntingdon ; by this marriage, they had two sons, Malcolm and William Scott. In 1855, Mr. Smith came to this place, and bought Lots Nos. 4 and 5. Mrs. Smith died in 1867, aged 37, of diphtheria — one of the first cases known in the country. Mr. Smith was married the second time in 1864 to Mary Ann Ford, of Huntingdon ; Mrs. Smith died in 1875, aged 37, aud Mr. Smith died ten years later, on his 66th birthday; they had two sons and one daughter — one son is now deceased. Janet L., the daughter, married to F. McArthur, lives in Montreal ; and Thomas F,, the son, is in the milk business in the same place. Malcolm, the eldest son, born June, 1855, remained at home, and was married in June, 1887, to Jane, daughter of Hugh Cleland, jun., of Jerusalem ; they have three children. Mr. Smith lives on Lot 4 — the old homestead ; he has taken an active part in the County Agricultural Society, having been director of it for several years. He is also licensed auctioneer for the District of Terrebonne and agent for the Canada Carriage Co. He has a fine farm, on which he has this year been awarded a silver medal ; he has also engaged extensively in fruit growing, having an orchard of about 700 trees; 25 different varieties of fruit from these were shown at the County Fair in 1894. William Scott, second son of Thomas Smith, was born 12th September, 1858, and was married lolh September, 1884, to Ellen, daughter of Captain Kenneth Urquhart, of Glengarry ; they have four children, — all boys. Mr. Smith lives on Lot 5, half of the old homestead ; he also takes much interest in fruit-growing, having an orchard of several hundred trees. James Cowan was born in Co. Antrim, Ireland, in 1792. On first coming to this country in 1823, he settled in Jerusalem, and in 1841 removed to Beech Ridge, where he lived for eighteen years on a farm owned by David Bond. He then bought the farm. Lot No. i, now owned by his son Thomas. Mr. Cowan took an active part jn the movements of the Militia, being with them at St. Eustache in 1837-38. He died in 187 1, aged seventy-nine; he had five sons and three daughters, of whom three J 54 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. sons are now living. James is living in New York State ; William in Vermont ; and Thomas, the youngest son, born 1833, remains at home. He was married in 1S63 to Isabella, daughter of the late Francis Carson of East Settlement ; they have three sons and one daughter, all at home. Mr. Cowan has been Municipal Councillor and School Trustee.for several years, also a member of the St. Andrews Troop of Cavalry for eighteen years. John Francis Mitchell was born in Brussels, Belgium, and when 10 years of age came to Canada with his father's family. He was married to Hannah M. Lawson of Sheffield, England, and came to this place, hiring the farm, Lot 22, on the south side of Beech Ridge. This he bought a few years later, and has since put it under a fine state of cultivation, making many improvements, and building a new residence ; he keeps a stock of sixteen head of cattle and three horses. Mr. Mitchell has three boys and three girls ; Hannah, the eldest, married to William Hume, lives in Bethany ; Harriet is in Montreal ; Hugh B., the eldest son, in Minnesota ; John F. is in Montreal; and the two youngest remain at home. The following sketch of pioneers of this locality was prepared at our request by a former citizen of the place : " About the year 1829, Beech Ridge was inhabited chiefly by New Englanders, ' whose habits of neatness and thrift, with fair practical knowledge of farming, resulted in giving the locality a prominent position in the county. " The Pecks, the Bonds, the Minklers, the Greens, Centers, McArthurs, Coles and other pioneers of that comparatively olden time had cut away the forests, erected comfortable dwellings and substantial out-houses, planted orchards, laid out gardens, and, generally, created one of the prettiest rural settlements in Lower Canada. The very few who remember the widow Peck's residence and surroundings, some sixty- seven years ago, will have difficulty, even now, in finding an equal in all respects even in progressive rural Ontario. The homestead with its immense barns, byres, stables, sheep houses, cheese room, corn house, swine pen, driving sheds, and all necessary buildings, large orchards and gardens, well tilled and fenced fields, and fine sugar bush, was too attractive to remain long without a purchaser, after the owner had decided to cast her lot in the embryo village of Chicago. The new proprietor, anxious to have early possession, had already sent in some servants with furniture, before the widow, her two sons, and old " Uncle Bill " had fairly started for the new home in the far West. " Capt. McLean about this time bought the Dr. Green property ; Thomas Cook, Esq., the farm opposite Peck's, besides the disposal of several other farms to new comers, among whom were Mr. Catton, Capt. McCargo and Major May ; but the Yankee settler made no objection to this foreign invasion. " No man could be more respected and beloved by his neighbors than James Kennedy Johnstone, Esq., of Ayreshire, Scotland, who succeeded Mrs. Peck. Though highly educated, by birth an aristocrat, and son of an aspirant to the titles and estates of Annandale, yet he appreciated the quiet, honest, pious, respectful people among HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 1 55 whom he had come, and in their religious meetings and Sunday School he took an active part, thus gaining the affection of old and young, especially of the latter, upon whom his smiling countenance and pleasant words of advice made an indelible im- pression. In religion, Mr. Johnstone was Scottish Episcopalian ; in politics, Conser- vative. At the time of his death in March, 1833, he had arranged to visit Scodand, during the summer, with the object of pushing his claim to the Marquisate and estate of his forefathers in Annandale. Five sons and two daughters with their mother were left to mourn his death. The sons were James Kennedy, Wellesley, Quintin, Samuel and Washington Joseph, and the daughters — Matilda and Elizabeth. " James, without issue, died at St. Andrews, after having long retired from active business ; Wellesley, with a family in the West — his son James being inspector of gas, Toronto, — devotes himself to the political press, favoring responsible government and every real reform, entire free trade, beginning with the Mother land, standing in the front. He sometimes expresses serious dissatisfaction with the ignorance of political economy evinced daily by Canadians in the House of Commons, who claim to be statesmen. Quintin adopted the profession of land surveyor. He died at Thorold, Ont., leaving a family ; one son — James Kennedy Johnstone, M.D. Samuel had long resided in New Orleans, where he died leaving a family. Washington and his son of the same name entered the Civil Service — the former as inspector of weights and measures, the latter in the Post Office Department. Matilda and family reside in the Slate of New York. Elizabeth died early, at the old homestead on Beech Ridge, deeply regretted. Like her mother, she never sent the beggar away empty-handed or hungry. Her chief happiness in the absence of children of her own was in doing good, and not refusing ' the cup of cold water ' in His name. "The residence of W. J. Johnstone, Esq., with its orchard and well laid out grounds, still helps to preserve the fair name long enjoyed of Bonny Beech Ridge." Geneva. This is the name of a Post Office established in i860, nearly midway between St. Andrews Village and Lachute. It is on the road connecting these places, and which has always been designated as the " Ijachute Road " — the name being much more frequently used to distinguish places, even in proximity to the Post Office, than Geneva. The Lachute Road settlement has always been an important district, both in the parish of St. Andrews and in the County — from the fact that it possesses superior agricultural qualities, and for two or three generations has been inhabited by a class of most intelligent, upright and thrifty farmers. There is neither a poor farm nor a poor farmer on this road, in St. Andrews parish ; and a drive along this route in summer is one of interest to any individual interested in agriculture. Those of whom the following sketches are given reside in St. Andrews, and have good farms, and besides these are the fine farms of William Todd, — Wood, Jas. Bradley and some others. Early in this century, Gustavus Adqlphus Hooker, a young man who had worked in a paper manufactory in Boston, came to St. Andrews, and was employed for a number of years in the paper mill in that village. He was born in Boston, 3rd April, 1784, and was the son of one of the revolutionary heroes, whose name was Zibeon Hooker. History informs us that the latter was born in Sherburne, Mass., i2th February, 175J, and that he was one of a company of " Minute men " organized in the place of his nativity, who proved themselves deserving the title assumed, by proceeding to Lexington on the 19th of April, 1775, as early as intelligence of the battle at that place reached them. They were not in season, however, to aid the inhabitants in defending their homes from the invading foe. From the same source we learn that Mr. Hooker commenced his military career at the age of seventeen, as a musician. During the engagement at Bunker Hill, the drum which he carried was pierced by a shot of the enemy. Divesting himself of this now useless instrument, he seized the musket of a fallen companion and rushed into the heat of the battle. This circumstance attracted the attention of the commanding officer, and he was raised above the rank of a common soldier, from which appointment he eventually succeeded to a lieutenantcy. Having joined the Continental army under General Washington, he never grounded his arms until peace was concluded in 1783. From a sermon delivered at his decease, we copy the following : " As a man, our departed father possessed great moral worth, the strictest inte- grity, uncommon purity of character, and in the most exemplary manner discharged the relative duties of life. Such was his peaceful disposition that, during an unusually protracted life, never was he known to be at variance with any human being. Of him It can with truth be said, he had not an enemy in the world. Above all, our HISTORY OF ARG]i:MTEOtL. I'S? departed father was a sincere Christian ; no man entertained a more becomiilg sefise ■of his own unworthiness than this Israelite, indeed." '.',.,[ Not long after, his son, Gustavus Adolphus, came to St. Andrews, he purchased a gore in this parish, known as Lot 5, comprising about 200 acres, and a part of which is now owned and occupied by the family of his son, G. A. Hooker. On January 6th, 1808, he was married to Pamelia McArthur, daughter of Peter McArthur of Carillon Hill. After the paper mill was closed, he gave his attention to his farm, and, like the other pioneers of those days, he made many a barrel Of potasti, with which to procure the necessaries of life. He was Captain of Militia many yearsi and in the troubles of 1837-38 was a member of the Home Guard. It is quite probable, therefore, that, had the opportunity been given, he would have emulated the bravery of his father. He died 7th April, 1870; Mrs. Hooker, ist April, 1 8^6. They had twelve children 'who grew up — six sons and six daughters. One s6n, George, and four daughters are now living. Of the latter, Mrs. Giles resides in Lachute, one in Illinois aiid two in Glengarry, Ontario. George in his younger days bought a farm in Centerville, Chatham, on w.hich he lived till a few years since, when, selling it to his son George, he moved to StL Andrews. He has been one of the substantial men of Chatham, has served as Muni- cipal Councillor, two or three times as Assessor, and as President of the' County Agricultural Society, He was married June 14th, 1845, *» Sarah Jefferson from the North of England, by which marriage he had eight children. Mrs. Hooker died iSth November, 1870, and he was again married in September, 1873, to Annie M. Hoare, from Surrey, Eng., and by this marriage has three children. Gustavus Adolphus, who remained on the homestead, preferred to give his atten- tion to his farm rather than to public affairs ; he, however, was a School Commissioner, and accepted the position of Post-Master when the post-ofBce was established, holding it until his death. It was at his suggestion that the office received the name Geneva. He was married in 1864 to Alice, daughter of Peter McMartin of the River Rouge Settlement; four children — two daughters, twins, and two sons — were born to them. Mr. Hooker died 20th August, 1895, and his loss was deplored by a large communityl James BucHAN, with his wife, his son David and three daughters, from Perthshire, Scotland, settled on the Lachute road in 1817, taking up a large tract of land, part of which is now owned by his grandson, William Buchan, and tbe balance of it by Mr. R. W. McGregor, who still occupies the stone house built on it by Mr. Buchan. He was followed, in 1823, by his son, John Buchan, who settled on part of the land taken up by James Buchan, and which part is still in the possession of the family. John brought with him his wife, four sons, Thomas, Peter, James and Andrew, and one daughter. Andrew died soon afterwards. Thomas and James went to Ontario and settled near Hamilton; the former died in 1895, James is still living. Their father, John Buchan, died in 1876, and their mother in 1873, both of them being upwards of ninety years of age. ....', Da'vid, some years after their arrivial, purchased land at L'Orignal, which.is now in the possession of his son Andrew^ David married Flora McLachlan, sister of 158 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Hugh McLachlan, Esq., ofAmprior, and had a large family, of whom two, David and Daniel, died, the former early in i8g6, and the latter about 1877. Another son, William, lives at White Lake in Ontario, and Andrew and a daughter, Mrs. Campbell, still live in L'OrigDal. William, the youngest son of John Buchan, and his sister Mary were both born in Canada, and both have remained at the homestead. In December, 1851, William married Katherine Stewart; they have had five sons and four daughters, but four of the sons are deceased. Peter, aged twenty-one, died July 2nd, 1875. William, aged eighteen, died April 21st, 1882; Andrew, aged sixteen, died at Los Angeles, California, the 28th of November, 1888, and another died in infancy. John S., the only son now living, graduated from McGill University in 1884 and is now a successful Barrister in Montreal. He married on the 15th September, 1885, Katherine, second daughter of Mr. F. McMartin, of St. Andrews. She died in August, 1894, leaving two children, John Stuart and Katherine McMartin Buchan. Katherine, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Buchan, married David Todd, and lives on the farm adjoining the homestead. Annie, another daughter, married Duncan McGibbon, and lives in Brownsburg. Mary and Margaret, the two remaining daughters, live with their parents. Mr. Buchan is one of the thrifty, intelligent and highly respected residents of the county, and for a number of years filled several public offices with great ability. Among the early residents of the parish was "Johnny" Blais, who was for many y«ars almost the only French speaking settler in Lachute Road. He owned the farm next to that belonging to John and afterwards to William Buchan, where he lived with a large family until his death, about the year i860. His funeral was attended by almost the whole of his neighbors, by whom he was held in the highest respect in his lifetime. Walter Galloway lived on the farm adjoining that of Mr. G. A. Hooker. He was a typical Scot, and very popular with his neighbors. His son James lived for some years in Carillon, but died in middle age. His daughter Isabella married J. A. Sharman, who lived until the time of his death, in 1874, on the Galloway farm, where he also carried on a tailoring business. After his death his son, Walter G. Sharman, lived in the same place, and carried on the business until about the year 1884, when he sold the farm and removed to Montana, where he is now living. Thomas Jefferson was a typical English Squire. He owned the large and fertile farm now the property of Mr. Robert Watson, where he employed a large number of people, and prospered from year to year. He always practiced the best methods of farming, and by his success demonstrated the truth that business methods pay in farming as in any other pursuit. After selling his farm to Mr. Watson he lived for some years on a piece of land opposite the homestead, which he reserved, and eventually removed to St. Andrews, where he died. This sketch would be incom- plete without a reference to James Foley, long the trusted foreman for Mr. Jefferson. "Jimmy," as both young and old loved to call him, was capable, hard-working, and of sterling integrity. When the Jefierson farm was sold he moved to Point Fortune, where he purchased a farm, and farmed it with the success which he well deserved. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 1 59 Benjamin Cole, from New Hampshire, was one of the earliest settlers on the Lachute Road, and he lived here till his death. Wiliard, one of his sons, bought the lot on which his own son Benjamin now lives; he was married in 1818 to Susan McLaughlin, of St, Andrews. They had two sons and seven daughters— of whom only one son, Benjamin, and three daughters are now living. Benjamin lives on the homestead with one of his sisters, Isabel Cole ; neither of them has ever married. Mr, Cole is very particular respecting the care of his cattle and horses, of which he always has a superior quality. Richard Wilson McGregor was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in October, 1815 ; he there learned the carpenter's trade, and followed it until the spring of 1841, when he came to Canada, remaining for a time with his brother on the Lachute Road. He worked at his trade in this locality, St. Andrews and Carillon, for five years. In 1848, he was married to Jane, daughter of the late Dr. McGregor, of Lachine, and came to live on his present farm, which he had bought from David Buchan, two years previously. Mr. and Mrs. McGregor have had three sons and five daughters,. all of whom are living. Margaret, the eldest daughter, and Anna, are both in California; Mary, mar- ried to Wm. Elliott, grocer, lives in Montreal ; Isabella, married to Wm. McOuat, lives in Brownsburg ; and Catherine is at home. Norman P. is a Commercial Traveller in Minneapolis ; John and Andrew live at home. Mr. McGregor has taken an active part in the affairs of St. Andrews Parish, having been Councillor several terms. Chairman of the Board of School Commis. sioners fifteen years, and Justice of the Peace and Commissioner for the trial of small causes for twenty years ; he was also a member of the Militia for a number of years, and held the rank of Sergeant when the Militia was disbanded ; he was Quartermaster of the Argenteuil Rangers, and retired with the rank of Major. John Fraser came from Banffshire, Scotland, to Canada, in 1834, with his wife and eleven children. He first settled in Thomas' Gore, remaining there one year, and then went to Hill Head, where he lived seven years ; he afterwards came to Lachute, and bought the place now owned by his youngest son, Hugh. After this, he spent seven years on a property near Back River, Montreal, returning at the end of that time to the Lachute farm, where he and Mrs. Fraser both died. While in Hill Head, Mr. Fraser conducted a distillery five years. George Fraser, the third son, born 1824, remained at home until sixteen, at which age he went with his father to Montreal, remaining on the farm at Back River seventeen years. During that time, he had opportunity to help back to health some of the victims of the terrible ship fever raging in Montreal, by supplying them with buttermilk, carrying to them 140 gallons, daily. He was asked one day by the doctor who attended the emigrants if he was not afraid ; upon his answering " No," the doctor remarked — " I do not want to stop you, for taking the buttermilk means life to them." .\s is well known, hundreds, even thousands of these poor people perished ; l6o HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Mr. Fraser says, he has seen them die by the dozen in the large emigrant shed. He at last gave up supplying with buttermilk from fear of spreading the disease. He was married in 1848 to Miss E. Carmichael, daughter of Donald Carmichael of St. Eustache, and in 1864 came to Lachute Road, and bought from the late Andrew McGregor his present farm, on which he has made many improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser have had three sons and three daughters, of whom only two sons are living, — Daniel, the elder, is farmingon the Island of Montreal, and John, the younger son, remains at home. Miss Jessie Carmichael, sister of Mrs. Fraser, also makes her home with them. Andrew Todd, third son of the late Wm. Todd of East Settlement, was born Au- gust, 1831, at Lachute. When sixteen years of age, he commenced learning the black- smith's trade with John McAllister of East Settlement. He was married in 185 1 to Margaret, daughter of the late David Roger of the same place, and first started in business for himself in St. Eustache. He opened a shop there, remained two years, and was afterwards in Lachute ten years, and in Beech Ridge the same length of time. In 1874, he bought his present farm from John McConnell, but still has found time to work occasionally at his trade. Mr. and Mrs. Todd have six sons and four daughters ; Robert, the youngest of the family, and Jennie, are at home. The former, having taken a course in the Military School at Quebec, is 2nd Lieutenant in Captain Wanless' Company of Cavalry at St. Andrews. David, third son of David Rodger, was born in East Settlement in 1838. In 18681 he bought his farm here, and in 1869 was married to Alice Young, adopted daughter of the late Dr. Barr of Belle Rividre. Mr. Rodger has been one of the prosperous farmers of Argenteuil, bringing his farm into a fine state of cultivation. Mrs. Rodger died in 1878, and her death was followed, twelve years later, by that of the oldest son, David John. The latter was an exemplary young man in every respect, and his early demise at the age of twenty years was deeply deplored. Agnes H., the daughter, was married in July, 1895, to David Taylor of Isle aux Chats. William George is attending Military School in Toronto, and holds a com- mission in the St. Andrews Troop. Mr. Rodger has retired from farming, having sold his farm to his brother in 1893. James Armstrong was born in 1803, and came from County Monaghan, Ireland, to Canada about 1825, aud died May 7th, 1873. Mrs. Armstrong died in 1878, at the age of seventy-five. James, their second son, was born April 17th, 1836, in the Seigniory, and remained at home until about twenty-six years of age ; he was married Feb, 25th, 1862, to Margaret, daughter of the late James Scott of Lakefield, and after living ten years on the farm given him by his father, sold it and bought his present one from Dr. Christie. Mr. Armstrong has erected several new out-buildings since coming here, and made other improvements ; he has always been a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian Church, and has been Elder in Henry's Church, Lachute, for the past HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. igj twenty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have had four sons and six daughters ; of whom two sons and five daughters are now living. James, the elder son, has 'taken an active part in the Y. P. S. C. E. of Lachute, having become a member soon after the Society was organized, and was President of it for a year; Bella teaches the Geneva school ; Catherine A. attends the Lachute Academy ; and Mary, Elizabeth E. Lucinda J. and George S. remain at home. The following sketch is contributed by Colin Dewar : John Dennison Was the man chosen for Captain by the Volunteers of Lachute Road at the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1837 ; he was a cooper by trade, which at that time was a good paying business. He was a man in the prime of life, active and intelligent, and although moving in the humbler walks of life, was well fitted for the position to which he had been chosen, and which he filled to the complete satis- faction of his commanding officer, as well as that of his Company. He was passion- ately fond of hunting and fishing, a circumstance he turned to good account, as wolves were very numerous and a great nuisance to the farmers ; and he was successful in capturing quite a number, for which he received the Government bounty of ten dollars each. He left St. Andrews a few years after the close of the Rebellion, and as the part of the country he went to had few postal facilities, there was very little heard of him, and in a short time he was in a measure forgotten. About the year 1880 or 1881, I noticed an article taken from a Renfrew paper mentioning the death of John Dennison, and giving some details of his previous life, which sufficiently identified him as the former Captain of the Lachute Road Volunteers. The article went on to say that Mr. Dennison, although well up in years, still kept up his habit of hunting, and had left to visit his traps at some distance from his house, and not returning at the usual time, search was instituted, with the terrible result, that his dead body was found very much mutilated, and every indication of a fearful encounter having taken place, as the dead body of a large bear lay close beside him ! What a fearful struggle that must have been to a man nearly eighty years of age, and at what a cost ! Mr. Dewar says : " Thdfcsummer of 1847 brought that terrible scourge, the 'Ship Fever,' 'into Canada. A few emigrants from an overcrowded steamer going westward landed at Carillon, and two of them, a man and his wife, left there to seek friends living beyond Lachute. They got as far as Andrew Shield's house on La- chute Road, and being unable to proceed any farther, were cared for by his wife, who, with the help of some of the neighbors, placed them in a nice, clean, airy build- ing, and nursed them for many weary weeks. But with all their care, the husband succumbed to the disease, and was decently buried in the cemetery on Carillon Hill. His wife eventually recovered, and was sent on to her friends. In this case, those who nursed and cared for this suffering pair, for so many long weeks, were those who had their own daily tasks to perform, which at times were none of the lightest, but they never shirked the duty, faithfully attending them, night and day. Truly, it l62 HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. was a labor of love, for there was no reward in prospect, only the satisfaction of a good conscience ; and it is worthy of remark that none df them took the disease. John Watson came from Glasgow to Canada, and started in business in Mont- real, in the boot and shoe trade. He was married in this country to Miss Janet CuindufF, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. After leaving Montreal, he went to East Hawkesbury, and bought the Island at the foot of the Long Sault, now owned by Henry Stevens. He afterward removed to Melbourne, Que., and becaine superintendent of the slate quarry in that place. Robert Watson, his eldest son, bom in 1845, remained with his father until 1873 ; he was married in that year to Jane, daughter of Mr. George Hooker of St. Andrews, and went afterward, with his wife, to California, where they remained six years. On his return, Mr. Watson bought the old Jefferson farm on the Lachute Road. His father lived with him until his death, which took place in 1883; his mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have four sons and three daughters all living at home, with, the exception of Roy, the eldest son, who is in the milk business in Montreal. Carillon. This place, the name of which in French denotes a chime of bells, is located on the Ottawa, two miles west of St. Andrews, and is famed for the beauty of its scenery. It is a part of St. Andrews' Parish, and was incorporated as a village in 1887. Land here had been granted to individuals by the Seignior previous to 1800, but there is no evidence that, they ever settled on it. Peter McArthur was undoubt- edly the first actual settler in the limits of what is now the corporation ; hence we are to understand that the subject of the following flcetch was the first in what is generally regarded the village, i.e., the most populous part. Capt. Jacob Schagel is said to hiave been the first settler, and to have built the first house in Carillon ; this house (of course a log one) was located on the river's bank, just in rear of the present hotel of John Kelly ; this occurred about the year 1804. He came from the States, and lived a while in Stanbridge, one of the Eastern Townships, before coming to Chatham. Soon after this, he sent to Stanbridge for his brother Samuel, who, on joining him, erected for an hotel the long, low building now owned by Mr. Kelly, which stands a little to the west of his present hotel. This building he used as a public house for a number of years ; he died at Carillon in 1 839. Mr. Jacob Schagel, soon after his arrival, took a contract from Government for carrying freight between Carillon and Grenville,— a business he followed several years. o 3 < o HISTORY OF ARGENn:UIL. 163 In 1809, April 2nd, he married Polly, a daughter of Captain Noble. The latter came from England, where he obtained his title from having command of a militia company, and had settled in Chatham on a lot of wild land, a few miles from Caril- lon. Quite a good sized creek crossed this land, and on this he erected a saw mill ; he died some time previous to the Rebellion of 1837. '^^^ ^"^ became the property of his son-in-law, Captain Schagel, who spent many years of his life on it, and died there, i6th May, 1874, attheage of 88. Captain Schagel's military title was conferred on him a short time previous to the Rebellion, he having been appointed Captain of Militia ; his Company was ordered to the front, and he gained much credit for his activity during the troubles of that period. Before his death, he was promoted to the rank of Major. In the early part of his residence in Chatham, he purchased a tract of land ad- joining that of Captain Noble, and which is now owned by William Graham ; he lived on it till he sold it in 1851. That Captain — or, more properly. Major — Schagel was much respected, and a man of influence, is evident from the manner in which his name is always mentioned by those who still remember him, and its association with every important local event of the generation past. He had fourteen children, of whom one son and eight daughters grew up. Jacob D. Schagel,* the son, was married, 17th December, 1850, to Phillippa Grace Mount-Stephens, and in 1856, or the following year, he bought the homestead on which he still resides. He built a new saw mill on the site of the old one erected by his grandfather, Captain Noble, and it answered its purpose well for several years ; but owing to the partial drying up of the stream, as the land was cleared, the mill fell into disuse, and the only vestige now remaining is the dam ; this is a stone struc- ture, and now, covered with soil, makes an admirable bridge. Mr. Schagel ably sustains the fair reputation of his ancestors, and while giving due attention to the cultivation and improvement of his farm, he has not neglected those thinp tending to the moral and intellectual growth of his family. He has had ten children — five of each sex ; two of the sons are deceased. Of the daughters, Charlotte Amy, married to William Nichols, lives in Ottawa ; Julia Agnes, married to W. S. Gliddon, also lives in Ottawa ; Alice Phillippa, the wife of George W. Bixby, resides in Steele county, Minnesota; George S., one of the sons, living on the homestead, was mar- ried 6th September, 1894, to Justina Elliott ; he was licensed by the Methodist Con- ference as a Local Minister, 22nd February, 1892; he is also Secretary of the Argenr teuil County C. E. Union. Peter McArthur was one of the very early pioneers in this section, having located on Carillon HilL His house, which was a large two-story building, occupied die site of the present residence of Henry Barclay. The hospitality of the family was well known; and for a number of years this house often afforded a home for Scotch immigrants until they could secure homes of their own. • Mr. Schagel died in December, 1895, since the above was written. 'k64 filSTORY OF ' AUtSBHTTEUlL. Ml', McArthur had lived hi the States;previous to ixMning hete, and had married Tiif Vermont, Phteb6 Lahe, a sister of Jedediah Lane, who purchased tfie tract of land iit Lachute kn6wnaS" Lsiae's Purchase.''' - ' • They had sec sons'*^tahe. Royal, ' Peter, Erick, Atmand arid Arthur; aindfour - daughters, tdfena, Charlotte, Phoebe and Pamelia: Of the latter, Lurena was married to Moses Davis ; Charlotlie, to John Harring- ton j Phoebe to Robert Simpson ; Pamelia W G. A. Hooker. - ' Erick McArthur' remained on the horbestead till he sold it to James Barclay in 1^35, when he went to Ottawa, opened a public house, and remained there until he died. Lane McArthur, the eldest son,- erected a large buildbg in St Andrews, where he kept hotel for a number of years, and owned a stage line. His two sons, Crosby and [Frederick, followed mercantile life — the former in Ontario, the latter in St. Andrews, having purchased the store of W. G. Blanchard, whose adopted daughter he married. He was killed by accident, in Montreal, leaving one son, William, now living in St. Andrews, and a daughter who married William Larmonth, a merchant in Montreal. Arthur McArthur, the youngest son of Peter, 'bought a lot in Lachute, and lived there some years ; but he finally sold out and left the county. Royal, another son, studied surveying, moved to Ohio, and surveyed much of the wild land of that State. Ottawa, January 23, 1894. Mr. C. THOMAS, Dear Sir, A history of Argenteiiil would be incomplete without more than a passing notice of that lovely spot well known as Carillon Hill. In point of situation, nothing can surpass its loveliness. Standing on the brow of the hill, and taking a survey up and down, whichever way you turn, your eyes rest on the natural beauties of both land and water-^the View of the Rapids and country away to the west, the lovely appearance of the country to the south, the course of that magnificent expanse of water, as it flows on until it seems to be lost or shut in ■by the Rigaud Mountains, and the pure invigorating breeze as it rises from that majestic stream of water, always spoken of in early days as the " Grand River." No wonder this lovely spot could always boast of an- intelligent and industrious class of honest yeomen ; and if it be true that " he who makes two blades of grass to grow instead of one " can be called a benefactor, so well might they be called by the same name, as all of them did their best, not only to beautify their homes, but also to benefit future. generations (and it was from no fault of theirs that, in afler years their labors were destroyed). This thrift could be witnessed by the splendid gardens and orchards surrounding their homes — the shade trees andcherry' trees growing along the highway, the pastures HISTORY OV ARGENTEUIL. 1 65 filled by nut-bearing trees, as the hickory, oak, beech and butternut ; all of this, and more, could be seen in the first decade of this century, when such men as my grand- father Uewar, Major Muir and Auer Mathews occupied the property now known as " Bellevue" — Peter McArthur owned where Mr. Barclay lives, Peter Benedict whe/e Benj. Wales, and in later years John Dewar lived, and Mr. Donnelly was on the farm now held by Hugh Robertson. It was a sight well worth witnessing for one to pass through their gardens and see the beautiful flowers and vegetables, and to go through their large and extensive orchards and see the lovely and delicious apples and plums growing in such rich pro- fusion, scarcely a vestige of which is to be seen now. Scientists may be able to explain the cause of the destruction which came upon the fruit trees in that locality the fact remains that they have nearly all disappeared. C. Dewar. From the deck of a steamer ascending the Ottawa, the traveller notices as she rounds a headland, away on his right, a high ridge, or bluff, descending abruptly to the river. Cultivated farms with good looking dwellings and white picket fences in front stretch along the brow of this ridge, and these, with the fruit and ornamental trees around, give the impression that the proprietors are well-to-do as well as per- sons of taste. The river, still preseiving its noble breadth and volume, flows quietly on ; but just ahead are rapid, tumbling waters, and, beyond, the imposing Dam of Caril- lon, stretching from shore to shore. On the left, the land, for the most part pasture and meadoWj and clothed here and there with groves of trees, rises gently as it recedes from the river. The steamer now draws nigh to the wharf, yet the traveller is scarcely conscious of the fact, so engrossed is he with the scenery around him. The ridge above re. ferred to, receding at this point a little farther from the shore, leaves a level space of ground near the river, at the eastern end of which is Carillon Park, shaded with a thick growth of hickory, oak and maple. Standing vis-a-vis on opposite sides of the river are the small, quiet villages of Carillon and Point Fortune, the white cottages of which, with their green fields and evergreen trees in the background, form, espe- cially at sunset, a most beautiful picture. A number of substantial brick and stone houses are also found in each village, and especially the Government houses in Carillon, in which dwell the ofllicjals con. nected with the canal, are attractive, as well as the grounds around them. At the steamer's wharf is a long, low building, which serves as station and freight house for both steamers and the railway. Several rods distant, and the first structure at the entrance to the village from the east, stands a very large and imposing stone building which a sign proclaims is the " Sovereign Hotel," but which for several decades has been known through all the country side as " The Barracks." f66 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. But directly back of the station, on the brow of the ridge, one hundred feet or more above the river, is a clump of buildings to which the traveler ascends in order to enjoy the wide view which their location commands. But his attention is soon engrossed by the buildings and surrounding objects ; everything has such an evidence of care and prosperity in years bygone, that he will inevitably wish to know the history of the early proprietor. A delightful grove of pine, butternut and acacia trees, in which squirrels chatter and gambol, nearly approaches the buildings on the east. Passing through this, one enters an extensive pasture, where a number of horses, sheep and cattle are grazing, or seeking shelter from the sun, in the shade of gigantic elms, oaks and maples, A few yards in front, a lakelet, formed partly by nature and partly by art, sends its waters in a babbling stream down through a deep gorge,, rendered dark by overhanging trees across the park to mingle with the Ottawa. On the farther side of this gorge, located in a bower of evergreens, stands the cottage of Mr. John Halsey, the engineer on the Carillon & Grenvil'.e Railway. Twenty yards in front of this are the roofless walls of a stone structure, enclosing trees whose tops shoot many feet above them. And thus one may wander for a day, over a tract of land stretching from the Ottawa half a league back to the North River ; and at every step will be discovered some memento of a time when energy and wealth were expended with lavish hand to render this a beautiful and productive homestead. Here and there tumble-down stone walls ^re found in woods where once were cultivated fields. Here, the last decaying timbers of an old mill ; and there, in the forest, are moss-covered mounds, which tradition says are the resting places of the servitors of the " Lord of the Manor " — ^the toilers who helped to clear these lands and rear the structures now in ruins. ^ During this survey of so many vestiges of the past, the impression has been stead- ily growing, that the early proprietor of this estate must have possessed means far exceeding those of most of the early pioneers, and that he used it in opening up busi- ness, the extent and character of which seem unique in the features of a new settle- ment. The researches incited by our curiosity develop the following facts : — One hundred and six years ago, or in 1790, the lot on which the house and out- buildings stand was granted to a man named L'Olive. In May of the same year, however, it was reunited to the domain, by a judgment of the Court of Common Pleas ; and on the 3rd of May, 1792, it was granted anew to M. J. Ladouceur. It seems, however, that it must have once more returned to the Seignior, as it was again granted, Jan. 7th, 1800, by Maj. Murray to J. Whillock. Eight years later, it was sold to Peter Dewar, who retained it till the year 1819, when he sold it to Maj. Muir. On the 27th May, 1827, Maj. Muir conveyed it to Commissary General C. J. Forbes, during whose ownership the buildings— house, barns, hotel, brewery, malt house and saw mill— were erected, and the large improvements made, the place receiving the name " Bellevue," by which name it has been known for more than three-score years. By HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 167 request, the following interesting sketch has been prepared by one familiar with the history of " BELLEVUE." " Charles John Forbes was bom in Hannpshire, England, Feb. loth, 1786, and during his life on the Ottawa, the 10th of February was as well known to his large circle of friends as Christmas or New Year. At an early age he was sent to the College of Altona in Denmark, and when only fourteen, was wrecked in returning to England, on the coast of Holland. While waiting for a ship to carry them to their des- tination, he was taken by the Captain to a country Fair, and such was his wonderful memory and genius for picking up languages, even at that early age, that he learnt there a song, sung by the peasantry, and afterwards discontinued by order of the Govern- ment, but remembered and repeated by him in a visit to Holland in his seventy-third year. On his return to England, he entered the Navy ; but when he was nineteen he went into the army, and first saw active service in that unfortunate affair in Egypt under Sir John Stuart. He was taken prisoner and confined in the dungeons of the citadel of Cairo, but was fortunate enough to attract the notice of Mahomed Ali, and a friendship struck up between the English boy and the powerful Pasha. The following year, he again served under Sir John Stuart, at the battle ofMaida, and then the English arms was victorious. For several years he saw service in the Mediterranean, being present at the taking of the Ionian Islands and the taking of Sicily. He was also daring enough, on one occasion, to swim out under a heavy fire with despatches to the Admiial of the fleet, for which service he received the thanks of Government and a gold snuff-box. He served in the Commissariat department through the Peninsu. lar war, where his knowledge of languages made his services very useful. From there, he was sent to join the army under Sir James Packenham, and was present at the battle of New Orleans. In a letter, now in possession of his family, written to an uncle in England, immediately after the battle, he describes that unfortunate affair and the misapprehension of the feeling in the Floridas and Louisiana, which led to such a small force being sent ; but he always retained a profound respect for General Jackson. " On his return to England, the following summer, he married Miss Sophia Mar- garet Browne, and their bridal tour was from the church door to Waterloo. Imme- diately after that decisive victory, Mr. Forbes, accompanied by his wife, was sent to Vienna, to take charge of the money lent by the Rothschilds to the British Govern- ment for the payment of the Prussian troops. Mrs. Forbes often described the heart-rending scenes they witnessed ; whenever they stopped to change horses, they saw women who, having heard of a great battle, were hoping to get news of husbands, lathers and sons. " The peace of Europe being now established, they went to Florence, where they continued to reside for some years, their eldest children being born there. During their sojourn in that delightful city, they made acquaintance with some very cele- l63 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. brated people, — among them, the Countess of Blessington, Lord Byron and the Abb6 Mezzofanti, known as the greatest linguist of his own or any other day, being able to speak and write seventy different languages. In 1825, Mr. Forbes was ordered to Nova Scotia, leaving Mrs. Forbes in England. She followed him as soon as possible under the escort of an old friend, whose son was afterwards Principal of the Lennox- ville College. From Halifax, Mr. Forbes was transferred to Montreal, but as that town was not healthy for his children, they decided to buy a place where they might be sent. Accordingly, they bought the property known as Bellevue at Carillon, on the Ottawa, from Major Muir. They liked their home on the Ottawa so much, that they bought two other farms, one from Major Burke and the other back of the village of Carillon from Mr. Cameron, which was ever afterwards known as " Cam- eron's Land. " The society of Montreal was at that time exceedingly good, as, besides the mili- tary, there was the old aristocratic French element, — the De Montenachs ; the De Lolbini^res, whose daughters inherited the seigniories of Rigaud, Vaudreuil and De Lotbinidre ; and many more of the old French families who formed at once the most exclusive and charming of societies. There were, besides, the Scotch merchant princes of Montreal, whose dignified hospitality added so much to the delight of Canadian life. "This pleasant style of life continued, partly in Montreal and partly at Bellevue, till Mr. Forbes was ordered to the West Indies, at the time of the emancipation of the slaves. While theie, he had two attacks of yellow fever in three months^ and was invalided home. He returned to Canada, and took up his abode permanently at Bellevue. His only official duty from that time was acting as adviser to Sir John Colborne, Governor General and Commander of the Forces, during the Rebellion in 1837-38. He also acted for many years as Paymaster to the old pensioners, and was once unanimously returned as Member for the county of Argenteuil. A curious thing happened in connection with his election. At a dinner given at Bellevue to his constituents, a quantity of silver was stolen, but was shortly afterwards returned by the priest, who requested that no questions should be asked, as it was restored under the seal of confession. Families of old friends and relations had, in the mean- time, come out from England, and settled in the neighborhood ; the society was delightful : Mr. Wainwright, R.N., bought a place which he named " Silver Heights,'* from the white daisies growing on the hill at the back of the house ; Mr. Cunning- ham, afterwards Sir Francis, at Milnecraig, called after the family residence in Scot- land, and whose house — as they insisted on being their own architects — was found to be minus stairs or a support for one of the gables, which had to be built on a heavy beam through one of the bedrooms ; Mr. Stikeman, at Rose Cottage, across the river, one of whose sons married Mr.. Forbes' second daughter, Florence; and Mr. William Abbott, the genial clergyman of the parish, without whom no festivity in the neighborhood was complete. His still more talented brother, the Rev. Joseph Abbott, was also a constant visitor, while his son— afterward Sir John Abbott— spent a great HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. j69 deal of his early life at Bellevue. Prior to this, the building of the canal from Caril- lon to Grenville brought a large military force into the neighborhood, the officers of which generally made their headquarters at Bellevue ; and for many years afterward, soldiers were stationed at Carillon for the protection of the canal — the military ele- ment adding much to the social enjoyment of the neighborhood. In connection with military matters, may be mentioned that, during the Rebellion, Bellevue became the ' House of Refuge ' of the ladies who were left defenceless from their male relatives going off to join the volunteer companies then formed. Some of these ladies thought the cellars, which run the entire length of the house, would be a hiding place, in which no adventurous rebel would ever find them, and insisted on dragging bedding and other things down there. Mrs. Forbes, however, who felt the warlike spirit strong within her, remained on deck, spending one whole night casting bullets, as Mr. Giraud, one of the leaders, and who had been tutor to her sons, knowing how well the place was victualed, declared his intention of eating his Christmas dinner there. His intentions, however, were frustrated by the determined defence made by our Volun- teers. Mr. Forbes' son-in-law, Mr. Edward Jones, immediately formed a Cavalry company, in which Mr. Forbes' eldest son, Carlo, served as cornet They did va- liant service, both at Grand Brul6 and St. Eustache. Many deeds of valor were done by heroes from that section, a son of Judge McDonell, of Point Fortune, driving down on the ice and capturing some of the enemy's cannon, and dragging them up behind his sleigh. Quiet was at last restored, and Mr. Forbes, who always had a mania for building, was able to pursue his favorite occupation in peace. " His fancy for building and agriculture never proved profitable, the brewery, which was built in 1833, being a constant bill of expense, and the Barrack, which was built in 1830, became useless after the troops were removed ; the powder magazine had only the advantage that it blew up without hurting anybody, and the saw mill only led to a feud with his old friend. Col. Johnson, the Seignior. In right of the seigniorial law as at that time established, he prevented his using his saw mill for anyone's benefit but his own. The agricultural arrangements were not much more profitable, except so far as it enabled unbounded hospitality to be at all times exer- cised. Arthur Young, the great English authority, was constantly consulted; but what might have suited English farming did not suit Canadian, all root crops had to be transplanted ; a lime kiln was built, to keep a constant supply of lime on hand for the land; large holes were dug in the bog to extract the marl at the bottom ; and though the farm included 500 acres of woodland, a number of Irish laborers were constantly employed to make peat to burn in the house, as the ashes were supposed to be good for turnips. However, all these theories gave constant employment to the people around there ; those who wanted work were never denied it; and if sickness overtook , tliem or their families, they were always generously provided for. All this time, the social life was of the pleasantest : people of distinction constantly coming there to stay. Sir John Colborne, the Earl of Dalhousie, Sir James Kempt, Sir Charles Bagot, Sir Charles Metcalf and Lord Sydenham — all Governors of Canada — have been enter- 12 l^O HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. tained at the old homestead. Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson Bay Company, was a frequent visitor, while Monsignor Forbin de Jonson, the Catholic Bishop, who put up so many of the crosses on the Catholic churches in Canada, staytd at Bellevue, and even claimed relationship, as he said his family were origin- ally Forbes, but the French pronunciation had changed it to Forbin. Of the Epis- copal Bishops, Stuart, Mountain and Fulford always made Bellevue their stopping place on their parochial visits up the Ottawa. While, in spite of political differences, Mr. Papineau was a welcome guest, his courtly French manner being delightful. " Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Forbes, only four are alive. The oldest son, Charles, or Carlo, became a civil engineer, and is now living at St. Paul, Minn. The youngest, Frank, is in the City Engineer's office in Chicago. The second daughter, Mrs.Stikeman, removed after her husband's death to California, as did the youngest daughter, Elizabeth ; while of the two nieces of Mr. Forbes, whom he took as children and brought up as his own, the eldest married Captain Powell, of the 9th Regiment, and the youngest married Dr. Mayrand, of St. Andrews, who is related to some of the old French families. Bellevue, as a home of the Forbes family, has long ceased to exist; and the life in the old homestead is only a pleasant memory of a by-gone time to many scattered in various parts of the world." F. Mr. Forbes died 22nd September, 1862; Mrs. Forbes died 23rd June, 1869. The latter had been on a visit to " Silver Heights," accompanied by one of her nieces. In returning, the horse, a spirited animal, took fright, the carriage was over- turned, and Mrs. Forbes being thrown violently against a rock was instantly killed. Her untimely death was the cause of much sorrow in the community, especially among those who had experienced her kindness and benevolence. She was a woman of excellent judgment, active temperament, generous and kindly disposition. Mrs. Palliser, now living in Carillon, spent several years of her early life in the service of the Forbes' family, and has many interesting reminiscences of Bellevue. She remembers particularly the benevolence of Mrs. Forbes, and how generously she always supplied poor families with fruit at the season of fruit-gathering. In those early days, serious and bloody fights were of frequent occurrence among the raftsmen on the river, which were usually followed by the arrest of one or more of the most vicious combatants on their arrival at Carillon. The culprits were usually brought before Mr. Forbes for trial, and a strong-room in the basement of Bellevue confined the prisoner till the hour of his trial arrived. The door of this "lock-up," together with a padlock, which looks as if it might have done service in the Bastile, still remain as mementoes of those rude scenes which, happily, no longer occur. In 1864, the Bellevue property, consisting of 700 acres of land and four houses, was purchased by the Ottawa River Navigation Company, of which the late R. W. Shepherd, sen., was president, and his son R. W. Shepherd, jun., is now manager. ' HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. lyr The latter left school in 1865, and entered the office of the Company as clerk. During the time thus employed, he overlooked the building of the steamer "Dagmar,"' in the Company's shipyard, learned much about boats, their speed, construction, etc., — knowledge which was of much service to him in after years. In 1866, when the " Dagmar " commenced running, he was appointed purser on her, and remained two years, when he became purser on the mail steamer " Prince of Wales," and held the position till 1870. In February, 1871, he made a trip to Europe, and on his return, the same year, was appointed assistant manager of the Company — a position he occupied till 1882, when he became general manager. The construction of the palatial iron steamers " Sovereign '' and " Empress " was entirely under his control and supervision, and the designs for them were prepared by him, after several trips to the States to obtain the most modern and suitable plans for river steamers designed for pleasure travel. That he attained his object is abun. dantly proven by the fine appearance of these steamers and their popularity with the traveling puDlic. Mr. Shepherd was married 26th June, 1879, to Miss Margaret A. Robertson, daughter of Hugh Robertson, of " Milncraig," Carillon Hill, Quebec. Military affairs have also engaged a share of his attention, and during the Fenian raids, he was ensign in the Como Rifles, and was stationed with his company to guard the approach to the bridge at St. Ann's. For eight years, he was an officer in the Prince of Wales Rifles, ist Battalion, and retired with rank of Captain. He saw active service when connected with this Battalion, during the Fenian excitement, the Guibord interment, and the Bread Riots in Quebec, in 1878. He has taken great interest in horticultural matters and fruit growing, and for several years was director and vice-president of the Montreal Horticultural Society, and is now vice-president of the Pomological Society of the Province of Quebec — a Society indebted chiefly to him for its formation. Fruit growing has engaged much of his atteniion for more than twenty years, especially the cultivation of the best table apples, and his fine nurseries at Como are now well known in this part of the Dominion. He was assistant Commissioner of this Province for the World's Fair at Chicago, and the fine collection of fruit sent from Quebec was collected under his supervision. Carillon, even for a country village, is remarkably quiet ; a bakery and a carpen- ter shop comprising all its manufactories. It has neither church, minister, or lawyer, and but one store. The Roman Catholics attend their church at St. Andrews, and the Protestants the different denominational services of the same place, or the service held occasionally at the residence of Mr. Sharman in this village. But notwithstanding the lack of mills and stores, there is considerable travel through the place even in winter ; and when the spring opens and the boats begin to run, the aspect of Carillon, as a business place, is greatly improved. This being the terminus of the steamboat line from Montreal, as well as that of the railway running 172 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. to Grenville, it is a depot for both passengers and freight ; and when summer advances, and people seek the refreshing air of the country, numbers flock to Carillon ; its beautiful and expansive water front and otherwise charming scenery attracting num- bers which, through July and August, greatly enhance the life and gayety of the village. The store referred to above is worthy of notice, not only on account of its anti- quity, but from the events which have therein occurred ; more than one of the occu- pants having acquired a competency, while others have experienced the lot of bank- rupts. It was built, sometime in the third decade of this century, by A. E. Monimar- quet from Montreal. Having no competitors in the place, he soon became forehand- ed, and possibly, it may have been from the opportunity he had, of making what the Scotchman called "four per cent." profits, really four times the cost. However this may be, he acquired much influence in the County, and the following letter, copied from one in the archives of Quebec, shows that he was not devoid of public spirit. Carillon, Sept; i6th, 1846. To the Supt. Schools, Canada East. Sir, — We have received a petition from the inhabitants of the school district of Carillon, asking for help towards erecting a school-house in said district ; and as we are not aware that there is any money in the Government hands to be appropriated to this district, we would feel extremely obliged if you will let us know whether you have any to spare, and what will be the amount you will be able to grant them. An answer will greatly oblige the inhabitants of Carillon school, particularly Mr. A. E. Montmarquet, who is taking great interest in having a school-house erected in said village. We are, sir, Your obedient servants, G. N. Benedict, Moses Davis, Secretary-Treasurer. Chairman. When Mr. Montmarquet left Carillon, rumor claimed that he was worth the snug sum of $100,000 ; it is said that he was one of the founders of the People's Bank at Quebec. In 1837, his store was the scene of a startling occurrence. At the time when the greatest excitement prevailed in St. Eustache, many of the inhabitants of that place fled from their homes, leaving them to be plundered by any who might feel so disposed. Very soon, therefore, the work of pillage began. Stock was drawn off hen roosts and pig sties were rifled, houses broken open, and their contents carried ofifor scattered along the street. In such a condition of things, it was quite natural that many who would scorn to be the first to enter a house to appropriate its effects should pick up and carry off things which they well knew would otherwise soon be^ come the prey of others. HISTORY OF ARGRNTEUIL. 17.3 On the Saturday night following the fight at St. Eustache, a man named Hoyle was in the store of Mr. Duncan Dewar of St. Andrews, declaiming loudly against those who would appropriate the property of the absent proprietors. At that moment Mr. Jamieson, a brother-in-law of C. J. Forbes of Carillon, and who lived on the Forbes' estate, chanced to pass with a single sleigh load of the confiscated property from St. Eustache. The opportunity was favorable for Hoyle to advertise his hon- esty and achieve notoriety; and abruptly leaving his auditors, he rushed out, caught up with the sleigh on the bridge, seized the horse by the head, and launched into a furious philippic against the astonished Jamieson. The latter merely replied that he deemed himself quite responsible for whatever property he had taken, and drove on. On the succeeding Monday, Hoyle inquired at the store of Mr. Dewar for a quantity of his favorite brand of tobacco, and Mr. Dewar having none, he informed him that he could procure it of Montmarqnet, at Carillon. To the latter's store, therefore, Hoyle proceeded, and Jamieson, in whose breast the insult recently offered him was still rankling, seeing him pass, and divining that he had gone to the store of MoDtmarquet, followed. His first words on entering the store and seeing Hoyle were : " How dare you insult me, sir, as you did Saturday night in St. Andrews ? " and at the same moment he struck him across the back with his cane. Without a word of warning, Hoyle instantly drew a pistol from his pocket and shot him. A crowd soon collected, in which there were three physicians, who pronounced the wound fatal. Hoyle quickly placed himself under the protection of Maj. Mayne, commanding the two companies of soldiers at the Barracks, who refused to deliver him to the in- dignant citizens clamoring for his trial, according 10 the code of Judge Lynch. " You do not know," l.e said to them, " that Hoyle has committed murder ; Jamieson may yet recover ; " and he did recover. Forty-one years afterwards, when he died, the bullet and a part of a suspender buckle which it carried with it were found in his body. FROM THE FENELON FALLS (ONT.) GAZETTE OF DEC, 1878. Rflics of 1837. Mr. Jamieson, of Point Fortune, Quebec, who died in this village on Monday last, at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Cunningham, requested a few days ago that if the attack of heart disease from which he was suffering should prove fatal, his body should be opened before burial, and a search made for a pistol bullet and a portion of a brace buckle which he had been carrying somewhere within him for about forty-one years. In 1837, the memorable year of the Rebellion in Canada, Mr. Jamieson, then a young and strong man, resided at Carillon in the I.ower Province. One day in the post office there, he got to arguing politics with a rebel, whose language became so insulting or otherwise provoking that at last Mr. Jamieson struck him, whereupon he drew a pistol and fired at his loyal opponent. The bullet broke the iron buckle of the right suspender, and then entered his breast, inflicting a wound which nearly proved fatal, and from which he was laid up for six weeks. At the expiration of that period, he was neaily well again, and never afterwards felt any ill effects from the hurt ; but as the bullet had not 174 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. been extracted, and as it was believed to have taken the missing part of the buckle with it, Mr. Jamie- son often expressed the wish daring his last illness, that, after his death, the locality of the "foreign bodies," as medical men would call them, should be ascertained ; and Drs, Allen and Bryson searched for and were successful in finding them on Monday last. They were near together and close to the spine — the bullet resting on the diaphragm, and entire- ly enveloped by a cartilaginons formation of considerable size, while the other article was partially hidden by a deposit more nearly resembling flesh. The bullet is for a pistol of rather large size, and was originally round, but is much damaged at one spot, no doubt where it struck the buckle, which was broken by the blow. The part with the tongue or tongues attached probably remained fast to the suspender. . The portion driven in by the bullet formed three sides of the buckle, and is of the simplest description, being merely a piece of iron wire about two inches long and bent at right angles, a little more than half an inch from each end. It is only rusted in spots, and not deeply, and the mark made by the blow of the bullet is still plainly visible. Mr. Jamieson died 28th December, 1878. After two weeks, Hoyle was sent to Montreal to be tried, but received bail the same day, and nothing further was heard of the case. A. K. MoNTMARQUET sold his store and other property in Carillon to Mr. Schnei- der, and left the place in i860. In 1871, Schneider sold to John Fletcher, a young man from Rigaud, who had spent the four previous years in Scotland in acquiring a know- ledge of mercantile business. He died, however, a short time subsequently, and his brother, Wm. L. Fletcher, became his successor in the store and post office. The latter was married in June, 1872, to Miss O. Charlebois, daughter of the postmaster at Rigaud. During the few years that he survived, Mr. Fletcher was an active citizen, and filled municipal offices. He died 23rd November, 1877, and Mrs. Fletcher was appointed postmistress, a position which she still retains, assisted by her daughter Maud. Five or six years ago, the Montmarquet store was purchased by M. Dwyer, of Kingston, who had been in trade in this village for several years. Success attended him, and after sixteen years' residence in Carillon, lie left in the Spring of 1894 for Kingston, several thousand dollars better off than he was when he came here. As he had always dealt fairly with his customers, and on leaving took special pains to accommodate his debtors, the good wishes of the community went with him. About two years before his departure, he sold his store and stock of goods to R. V. Gauihier a young gentleman who had acted as clerk for him during the six preceding years. Mr. Gauthier springs from stock whose energy and loyally form an heir-loom of honor to their descendants. His grandfather, John Baptiste Gauthier, was bom aist October, 1796, at Montreal Junction. At the age of 18, he enlisted at Montreal in a regiment of Voltigeurs, and took an active part in the battle of Chateauguay, for which service he subsequently received a pension. In the Rebellion of 1837, he joined a company of loyal Cavalry, and was often employed in carrying dispatches. After the Rebellion, he settled at St. Anne, where he died in 1886, upwards of 90 years of age. He left two sons and two daughters. Victor, one of the former, a man of much enterprise and intelligence, learned the HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. "75 trade of carpenter, and for some time was employed by the Great North Western and Montreal Telegraph Company. In charge of a number of men, he erected many of the lines of this Company in Ontario, and in 1872, as a stationary mechanic of the Company, settled in Carillon. In 1867, he was married to Fterminc Crevier of St. Anne. During his life in this Village, he took an active part in whatever promoted its prosperity. He was a member of the Municipal Council, and also of the Board of School Commissioners ; in the latter, owing to his desire for the encouragement of education, he was particularly active. He seems to have been one whose natural endowments and poweis of observa- tion compensate for the lack of a liberal education, and his charts display no little skill as a draughtsman. He died in 1890, leaving a family of children whose modesty and politeness reflect no smalt degree of credit on their parental training. His eldest son, R. V. Gauthier, took a commercial course at Rigaud College, from which he graduated in 1887. While there,- the same devotion to duty which has characterized his subsequent career, enabled him always to take either first or second place in his classes, and win honors of which a young man less modest might sometimes boast. He won the highest prize offered for proficiency in the study of commercial law, political economy and bookkeeping ; the first prize in science, grammar, analysis and themes ; and in 1887 he won the silver medal offered by Messrs. Fogarty& Co., of Montreal, for pro- ficiency in the study of commerce, besides the $30 prize awarded by the Institution. Since his purchase of the store in 1892, his trade has steadily increased, custom- ers being attracted, not more by the fair prices than by the probity and courtesy of the merchant. His younger brother, Thomas, entered the boot and shoe store of James Leggatt of Montreal, in 1889, as clerk ; he has been their manager, and is now tra . liiiig for the same firm. Donat, a brother still younger, is the assistant of R. V. in his Kiore. James Barclay, who lived for many years in Carillon, was one of her most enterprising and influential citizens, and was well known and popular throughout the County. His father had taken an active part in the political troubles by wiiich Scotland was agitated, and his radical principles incurring the animosity of the Gov- ernment, his property was confiscated and a price set on his head. But he succeeded in escaping, and in 1820, with his wife by a second marriage, and his only surviving son James, then 17 years of age, came to America. He remained two or three years in Montreal, and then removed to New Glasgow ; but the place, at that time especially, offered but little encouragement to men of enterprise and ambition : and after a residence there of three or four years, the father and son decided to go to South America. With this design they had gone as far as Montreal, when, by one of those simple events which sometimes effect great changes, they were led to throw up their plan and remain in Canada. The younger Barclay happened, unexpectedly on the street, to fall in with a man named John Wanless, whom he formerly knew in Edinburgh, but who then lived Ij6 HISTORY OF ARGEKTEUIL. in St. Andrews. On learning Barclay's intention of going to South America, so eloquently did he portray the risk he was incurring in going to that semi-barbarous and tropical country, and so effectually did he plead the advantages afforded by Canada, that young Barclay and his father decided to return with him to St. Andrews. One Sabbath morning, while living in this Village, James strolled out on the road leading to Carillon, and as he passed over the " Hill," and saw the beautiful gardens and the fine orchards just then gorgeous with a profusion of blossoras, he thought he had seen no other spot in this country so attractive, or one which reminded him so forcibly of Scotland ; and he then said to himself that, if he ever purchased a farm in Canada, it would be on Carillon Hill. After a residence of a few years in St. Andrews, he removed to Carillon Village, where for a long time his enterprise contributed to the activity of the place. Besides opening a boot and shoe shop, he started a stage line between this Village and Grenville, which at that time, before the construction of the railway, was an enterprise of great utility* In accordance with his determination mentioned above, in 1 835, he purchased the farm on Carillon Hill which had been owned by Peter McArthur. It was some time, however, before he lived on this farm, though he employed men to cultivate it. He was for some years agent for the McPherson & Crane Forwarding Company. When the Carillon & Grenville Railroad was completed, he was the first conductor on it ; but soon afterward, advancing age compelled him to resign this position, and his last years were spent in quietude 'on the pleasant farm still occupied by his ■children. During the Rebellion of 1837, l^'s knowledge of the country and extensive acquaintance with its inhabitants, added to his good judgment and activity, rendered him a very useful servant of the Government, and he was frequently employed to .carry despatches between Montreal and St. Andrews. One night, having occasion to stop at a wayside tavern to have his horse fed, he found there a number of rebels who suspected him, and intended to take him prisoner ; but one of their uumber, who some time previously had, been in his employ, followed him to the stable, revealed the plot of his fellow rebels, and advised him to escape. Trusting the man, and deciding to follow his advice, he mounted his horse, and putting spurs to him, was soon clear of the place, but only in time to escape the volley of shots fired after him. It is perhaps needless to say that he did not draw rein until he was well out of their reach. The despatches were carried between the soles of his boots. In politics, he was a staunch Conservative, being a warm admirer of the late Sir John A. Macdonald, and his influence in behalf of Conservative candidates was always displayed, in no small degree, in times of elections ; indeed, he was one whose abilities were worthy of a broader field of action. He was a man of sterling integrity and inflexible will, yet he possessed a great fund of humor, and enjoyed a good practical joke. Mr. Barclay was twice married : the first time, in 1832, to Ann Hayes of Limerick, Ireland, who died in 1839, and he then married her sister, Joanna, who died in 1866. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. lyy By the first marriage he had four children, but only the eldest, John, is now alive ; he is engaged in an extensive commission business in Glasgow. By ihe second mar- riage, he had a large family of children ; but of these, only four sons and two daughters are now alive. William, the eldest of these, and a man of ability, is a. commercial traveller for the house of Frothingham & Workman, Montreal; he was married in 1873 to Adria Haines of that city. His family resides in St. Andrews, where the influence of Mrs. Barclay in support of temperance and Christian work is strongly exerted. Hanam-, their eldest son, is pursuing a course of study in mining and engineering, in Chicago. George, the second son of James Barclay, is engaged with McLaughlin Bros., lumbermen, in Arnprior, Ont. Henry, the third son, after spending some years in Montreal as machinist, returned to Carillon ; and now lives oh the homestead with his sisters, Joanna and Florence — all, hke their parents, deservedly esteemed by the community around them. Colin Campbell, the fourth son, is in Rico, Colorado — a dealer in hardware and mining supplies. Alexander McIntosh, from Lochaber, Scotland, spent part of his early life in England, and in 1850 went to Australia, being in the latter country while the gold fever was at its height. He afterward returned to Scotland, and in 1866 came to Can- ada and bought the "Priory" on the " Field Farm" in St. Andrews. This building was then the property of Mrs. Abbott, widow of the late Rev. William Abbott. Mr. Mcintosh was married in England to Miss Ward, and they had three children — all daughters ; he died in St. Andrews in 1884. Mrs. Mcintosh survives him, living with her daughter, Mrs. McNaughton. The latter, who is the youngest of the three sisters, married Dr. Donald Mc- Naughton of Hudson ; they removed to Carillon, and purchased the present pro- perty of Mrs. McNaughton, " Dunderav," formerly known as " Milncraig," a beau- tiful place on the road leading from Carillon to Si. Andrews. Dr. McNaughton died in December, 1888, leaving a widow, one son and five daughters. The eldest daughter, Anna, married to C. V. De Boucherville, lives in Ottawa; Eliza, married to Martin S. Albright, lives at Prospect Place, La Bale ; Eleanor, married to James Machan, lives in Grenville ; Grace M. and Flora are attending Dunham Ladies' College; Duncan, the son, is in the States. Miss Agnes Taylor, of Carillon Hill, has been a resident of this place for several years. Her parents, James and Elizabeth (Beattie) Taylor, came to this country from Scotland in 1837, and first settled in St. Andrews. Mr. Taylor was employed, soon after his arrival, as foreman on the estate of Commissary Forbes, Carillon ; and as the Rebellion was then in progress, in going to and from his work he was daily chal- lenged by sentinels posted between the two villages, and compelled to give the pass- word. He afterwards removed to Isle aux Chats, where he died in 1883; Mrs. Taylor died in 1888. 'Jhey had four sons and six daughters. lyS HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. James, the eldest son, is the proprietor of a fine farm in East Hawkesbury ; David, the second son, is in Independence, Oregon ; Joseph, third son, lives on the homestead ; and Robert, the youngest, in British Columbia. Of the daughters, five married, and all who are now living remain in Canada. Mary A., one of the daughters, married to James Taylor, lives at Isle aux Chats. Agnes R., who is the fourth daughter, came to this place in 1889, and purchased the residence of her brother David, who was about leaving for the. West. Miss 'I'aylor has made many improvements, and her pretty residence, known as "Rosebank Cottage," with its fine view of the Ottawa and profusion of flowers in summer, adds much to the attractiveness of the street. John A. Sharman, a native of Norfolk, England, a tailor by trade, came to America in 1830. He soon returned to his native country, but came back again in 1833, ^''d before 1849 ^^'^ crossed the Atlantic with his family nine times, on a few occasions as super-cargo, thus saving the expenses of the voyage. On one of these trips, the vessel, when returning to England, heavily laden with lumber, encountered a severe gale, and sprang a leak. The storm continued three days ; the hands were all set at the pumps, and to encourage them, the captain supplied them liberally, as well as himself, with rum, till, with the exception of the carpenter, they were all drunk. Mr. Sharman, seeing the condition of things, and knowing that their escape from death depended entirely on the ability of the sailors to work the pumps, assumed command, and with the aid of the carpenter managed, with much difficulty, to keep the sailors at work. So badly did the vessel leak, that for some hours he could not see that the water in the vessel diminished. Concealing this fact, however, from the sailors, and exhorting them to persevere, the ship out-rode the storm, and even- tually, badly water-logged, reached port. During the year that Mr. Sharman lived in this country, he plied his trade in different places : New York State, East Hawkesbury, Ont., Chatham and St. Johns, Que., and lastly on the Lachute Road, St. Andrews, where he died, 24th January, 1875, aged 79. He lived in New York about the time the Canadian Rebellion was approaching ; and his outspoken English opinions were not calculated to make friends in that locality, hence he came to Canada. Mrs. Sharman, his second wife, died t4th November, 1852, aged 44. He married a third time, but had no children, save by the second marriage ; these were two sons and two daughters. Alonzo L., the eldest son, followed the trade of his father, which he still pur- sues in Carillon. He was married 26th October, 1865, to Mary Gordon. She died 20th June, 1875 ; they had two sons and a daughter. He married a second time, 2Sth February, 1878, Mary L., daughter of the late John Dewar ; they have one son and one daughter. Mr. Sharman is a Christian man, and an earnest advocate of temper- ance. In the fall of 1894, aided by Mrs. Sharman, he organized a Sabbath School in this village, which is held at his residence. HISTORY OF AKGEKTEUIL. 1 79 The Carillon & Grenville Railway is only a section of a road which was to be built from Montreal to Ottawa ; and though it commenced with a fair prospect o^ success, it ended disastrously for its projectors. It was begun in 1857 by two brothers from ErgJand, William and Samuel Sikes, both skillful mechanics, and one, at least, being a mechanical engineer. The money for the enterprise was to be provided by an English banking firm, Sikes, DeBerg & Co., of which firm, Alexander Sikes, a brother of the two named above, was a member. Labor on the road was commenced at different points, Montreal, St. Eusiache, St. Andrews, etc., a steam mill being erected at the latter place, near the River Rouge, to saw lumber required in the construction of the road, and artesian wells were sunk to provide the mill with water. The work had progressed favorably for nearly two years — the men employed had been promptly paid, and the money to pay the last sum of indebtedness for kbor had been sent from England, when a sad accident abruptly terminated the whole project. Immediately after the last instalment of money had been sent, Alexander Sikes took passage on a vessel for America, with a view, it is su| posed, of inspecting the work in which his company had invested so much money : but the vessel, with all on board, was lost. When this sad accident became known in England, the company of which the deceased, Mr. Sikes, had been a member sent to their representative here, requesting him to return the money he had lately received. The order was obeyed, and thus the Sikes brothers on this side of the Atlantic were without means to accomplish their object. Unwilling, however, to abandon the work, they invested what little capital they possessed, which being soon swallowed up, the work, from necessity, was abandoned. Others besides the Sikes brothers lost heavily in this unlucky venture ; none, perhaps, more largely than Sydney Bellingharo, M.P.P. for Argenteuil. The only completed portion of the road was that between Carillon and Grenville, and this coming into possession of the late Hon. J. J. C. Abbott, solicitor for its managers, was, by him, sold to the Ottawa River Navigation Company in 1863, John McGowan, the present superintendent of the above Railway, and one of the prominent citizens and business men of Carillon, was born in Balmagh parish, Scotr land. He came to Montreal in 1842, and was first employed by a farmer residing near the city, with whom he remained two years. He ihen engaged as clerk to Thomas Masson, Notre Dame street, Montreal ; but at the erpiration of three years, declining health compelled him to abandon the store. His father's family was then in this country, and in connection with his father, he bought a farm at Hudson, P.Q., where he was engaged till about 1858. In the year previous, he was married to Jane McCuish, who died in 1870, leaving eight children. Four of these died in infancy, and two more after reaching the age of eighteen. In 1859, Mr. McGow^n engaged to the Ottawa River Navigation Company, and for five years was located at Ottawa. I go HISTORY OF ARGENTEIJIL. In 1863, the Company purchased the Carillon & Grenville Railway, and the following year he came to Carillon to act as superintendent for the Company. While thus engaged, he has not been indifferent to the public affairs of the .village, and has taken special interest in schools. He was Secretary-Treasurer of the School Board when living in Hudson, and is now Secretary-Treasurer of the dissen- tient school of this village. He was Mayor of the village in 1893, and once smce has been elected to the same office. In 1874 he went to Scotland, and while there was married to Jane Edgar. Mr. McGowan is a man of much energy and activity, and a very proficient and careful manager of the interests committed to his charge. John, his eldest son, who was employed several years as purser on the steamer " Princess," the duties of which position he discharged to ihe unqualified approval of the Com- pany and the public, has recently been appjinted CapUin of the new steamer " Duchess of York." George, the only son by his second marriage, who has lately attended a Com- mercial College in Montreal, is now at home. Isabella, his only daughter, was married in May, r893, to Ernest Howe, of the firm of Howe & Mclntyre, commission merchants of Montreal. John Halsey, the engineer on the C. & G. Railroad, was born of English parents in Dublin, and cam,* to Canada in 1870. His father and grandfather had been in the Navy, and the former served at the blockade of Kiel, and in Egypt won three medals for his proficiency and bravery. He afterward entered the Coast Guard service, and moved to Dublin. Mr. John Halsey served his apprenticeship as locomotive fitter on the Great Southern & Western R.R., and received the most flattering testimonials from the officials. After going to Montreal, he worked two years in the Grand Trunk shops, then three years in Brockville for the Can. Central R.R., after which he worked another year in the Grand Trunk shops at Montreal. He then accepted the position of Locomotive Engineer for the Ottawa River Navigation Company, and has held it, to their great satisfaction, for eighteen years. He was married, 22nd June, 1876, to Margaret, eldest daughter of James Beaton, of Her Majesty's Customs, Stornoway, Island of Lewis, Scotland. They have had nine children — eight sons and one daughter, of whom six sons are living. The eldest, Robert, who is learning the trade of machinist, has been with the IngersoU Sergeant Drill Co. of St. Henri, since March, 1893. Kelly's Hotel, which has been known to the public for nearly fifty years, is the only one besides the Sovereign, in Carillon. Large as these two houses seem for so small a place, they are inadequate in the summer season to accommodate the number • applying for board. JoH^f Kelly, the oldest English-speaking resident of Carillon, is a son of J. elly,oneof the early settlers of Grenville, and he came to Carillon in 1848. Patrick HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. igi Murphy, who had kept a public house in this village, was now deceased, and Mr. Kelly married his widow, and became proprietor of the hotel. Being active, and possessed of an enterprising spirit, as well as shrewdness, he engaged in whatever kinds of business besides hotel keeping presented to him an opportunity of making money. Jn those days, before the advent of railways, the travel through Carillon far exceeded what it has since. The large number of lumbermen who were employed on the upper Ottawa and its tributaries all passed to and fro through Carillon, and the lumber manufactured at the Hawkesbury and other mills, which now is borne oif by locomotives, all came down the Ottawa in rafts, manned by a number of men whose patronage added not a little to the profits of the hotel-keeper. At that time, the business of towing, in which Mr. Kelly largely engaged, was not the least profitable source of his income, and, besides, he also became a dealer in wood. He had several horses, and their constant employment in conveying travellers, towing and drawing wood and freight, together with his farm, secured to him a good income. While others slept, or whiled away their time to no purpose, Mr. Kelly was hard at work — three and four o'clock in the morning being not an unusual hour for him to begin. In those days of greater financial prosperity, his income from different sources often exceeded $150 a day — $800 sometimes being realized between Monday morning and Saturday night. To the credit of Mr. Kelly it can also be said that, while he was economical, his economy never bordered on penuriousness, his purse always being ready to encourage charitable objects or public improvements. " Money is power;" and when to this its possessor adds shrewdness and affability, he exerts an influence among his fellows which those who seek favors at the hands of the public are always sure to court. For this reason, the aid of Mr. Kelly has not infre- quently been sought in election campaigns ; and a history of the scenes of political excitement and political chicanery he has witnessed would alone fill a volume. In 1875, ^^ ^^^ induced with some others to place a steamer on the Ottawa, to run in opposition to the old line between Carillon and Montreal, he advancing the money for the purpose. The first boat purchased was the " Manitoba,'' at a cost of $] 4,000^ which, after running for four years, was condemned by the inspector. The company then purchased the " T. B. Maxwell," but after a while financial difficulty arose, in consequence of which the shareholders — with the exception of Mr. Kelly and Nelson Burwash — ^withdrew, Mr. Kelly again advancing money to purchase the shares of the retiring partners. After running the boat five years longer, and not finding it a remunerative investment, they sold out to a company in Toronto. Mr. Kelly was a member of the Municipal Council of St. Andrews for a period of fifteen years, but seeing the necessity of sidewalks and other improvements in his own village, he took steps to have it incorporated into a separate municipality, which event was secured in the fall of 1888, against determined opposition j he was Mayor the first four years after its incorporation, and has recently been elected Mayor by acclamation. In 1874, he erected his present hotel, which is of brick, and the finest building in Carillon ; he has retired from active business, having given the manage- ment of his business affairs to his son, T. P, Kelly. The latter was married 5th jg2 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. February, 1890. to Emma Burrows, of Prospect, Ont. They own considerable real estate in this section, the taxes on which amount to a large share of all levied m the municipauy ^^ first wife died 19th September, 1870; he was married, 27th October. ,87s." to Julia, second daughter of the late William Lawler, Esq., of Hawkesbury ; she died 18th October, 1889. ,1 j and enlisted in Capt. Quinn's Company of Volunteers. He went with that Company to Cornwall where he became ill, and died in 1838 ; he left one son and four daughters. Margaret, one of the latter, taught school in Lachute for a number of years. John, the son, at an early age, went to live with an uncle in St. Andrews, and remained with him until his marriage to Mary Banfield in 1864. Miss Banfield's father was a sergeant in the Royal Staff Corps, and after the canal was completed, he was appointed Lock Master of Lock No. 2, Carillon. He died in 1841, leaving two sons and three daughters ; the sons are now deceased, and the two sisters of Mrs. Brophy, Anna and Susan, — the former married toRufus Lamkin, and the latter to William McKeever — live in Cambridge, Mass. Mr. Brophy is a carriagemaker by trade, to which he has devoted many years of his life ; in June, 1872, he was appointed Lock Master at this place, and still holds the position. He has most carefully provided for the education of his children, who have proved themselves worthy of his solicitude. John C, the eldest son, received a thorough training at the private school of George Wanless of Carillon, and then attended Montreal College, from which he graduated in 1885 with the highest honors, winning the Lansdowne Medal, and taking first prize in every branch of the curriculum. After a few years' study of Philosophy and Theology, he received his degree of Bachelor of Divinity, and in 1890 went to Rome, where he pursued his studies for two years, and received the degree of D.D. Before returning to Canada, he visited France, England, Ireland, and other countries of Europe. On his return, he accepted a Professorship in his Alma Mater, and is now Professor of Theology in the Grand Seminary. The two remaining sons of Mr. Brophy — Thomas J. and William P. — are both employed in the General Post Office at Montreal, the former in the Money Order, and the latter in the Registry Department. Mary J., the daughter, attended the Convent of the Sisters of St. Ann's, at Lachine, where she also received the Earl of Derby Medal, in 1893. John Mason of Wolverhampton, England, at the age of 18, enlisted at Charlton, on the 24th April, 1820, in the Royal Staff Corps. He was made a corporal in his company, which was commanded by Col. Duvernay. Mrs. Duvernay accompanied her husband to Canada, and her maid was a girl named Mary Ann McCue. Between this maid and John Mason, an attachment sprang up after they had arrived in Canada, and, in time, they were married. The young couple were deservedly esteemed by the Colonel and Mrs. Duvernay, who, cherishing the best wishes for their prosperity, advised them, when the canal was finished, to remain in Canada. But John Mason had decided to return to England with a number of his Corps, who could not be induced by the offer of free grants of land to remain. After vainly endeavoring to dissuade him from his purpose, his wife appealed to her mistress and the 1 88 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Colonel to intercede more vigorously in her behalf, so her liusband was finally induced to remain. The Colonel offered him any position on the canal, not already filled, that he might choose, and as a Lock Master was required at Chute au Blondeau, he accepted that appointment. He remained there until his children were old enough to attend school, when, for the purpose of giving them better educational advantages, he removed to Carillon. He acted as Lock Master at the latter place for a number of years, and then was succeeded by his son Henry, who still occupies the position. He died 23rd November, 1873 > Mrs. Mason died in the January preceding. They had eight children — two sons and six daughters. John, the eldest of the children, is in the employ of the Government, as a mechanic, in Ottawa. One of the daughters married James Barron of Grenville. Theresa, the youngest daughter, was married in 1866 to Joseph Bryarton, bailiff of Carillon. Henry, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Mason, after being employed many years on the Ottawa, was appointed, ist August, 1871, to his father's position as Master of Lock No. 2, Carillon. He was married i6th February of the same year to Agnes Doyle of Hawkesbury Village. Like his father, Mr. Mason is desirous of educating his children, and has sent his son Herbert to Rigaud College. P. GiRARD, who lives in Carillon, is foreman on the canal, and also Secretary- Treasurer of the Village Council and Board of School Commissioners. His native • place is Point Levis, Quebec, and there he learned the trade of his father who was a boat builder. In connection with him, he built many of the fine boats now plying the rivers and lakes of Canada. In the fall of 1871, he came to Carillon to build the steamer " Princess, " and in the following May was married to Mary Boyer of this vil- lage ; they have eight children — four of each sex. Since that period, his home has always been at Carillon, though for a year he worked in Ottawa, and was also three years in the North West, building boats for the North West Navigation Companv. In 1884, he was appointed foreman on the canal, and after the Superintendent, Mr. George Simpson, was incapacitated through illness, Mr. Girard performed the duties of the office for sixteen months, or until the appointment of the present superin- tendent, Mr. Herbert Simpson. Mr. Girard is a carefyl and efficient business man, and possesses the geniality and courtesy of the people of his nationality. Frederick Poulin, who has a farm and a fine brick residence in Carillon has been an employee on the canal for many years ; he was formerly foreman of the mechanical department ; he married Miss Boyer of Carillon. Godfrey, his eldest son, is employed in the boot and shoe store of Mr. Mallette, McGill street, Montreal • Alphonse, his second son, is checker for the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co. ' John Hodgson, a native of the county of Vaudreuil, has been employed as mechanic by the Government, for several years ; he has recently erected a good residence in Carillon. Mr. Hodgson was married isth June, 1887,10 Elizabeth HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 189 daughter of the late James Beggs, of East Hawkesbury. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson are staunch and worthy members of the Methodist Church. Walter McGregor, a young man of industrious habits, has been a faithful employee here for the last eight years. His parents formerly lived in Carillon, but removed to Ottawa in 1889, where his father has since died. Thomas Fagan, who owns the stone residence formerly known as the Wanless Academy, is employed by the Government as diver ; it often being necessary to descend to the bed of the canal to make repairs. A water-tight rubber suit, supplied with life line and hose, through which air is pumped to the diver, renders the occu- pation a comparatively safe one, though somewhat gruesome to the novice. Alex. Berniquier and C. Raffertv are lock-men at No. 3 ; the former has been employed on the canal 10 years. During this time, he has spent his winters in the lumber-woods, where he formerly worked. The river boats, also, obtain several employees from Carillon. Isidore Lefebvre has been an engineer on the Ottawa 32 years. His eldest son, Isidore, is assistant engineer on the steamer " Hall," and his second son, Florimond, holds the same position on the " Olive ;" Olier^ another son of Mr. Lefebvre, is one of the noted cheese-makers of Argenteuil. Alfred Boileau, a very industrious and skillful mechanic of this village, has been in the employ of the Ottawa River Navigation Co. far 32 years. Carillon, besides being supplied with three mails a day in summer, and two in winter, has a telegraph and a telephone office. The former is in the house of N. Raymond ; his daughter. Miss Donalda Raymond, being the operator. The telephone is in the office of the Canal Superintendent. J. B. GAUTHiER.'a brother of the late Victor Gauthier, has long been in the employ of telegraph companies as a mechanic, and is now in the employ of the G. N, W. Company. He came to Carillon from New Brunswick in 1889, leaving there his two eldest sons, Edmund and Joseph ; the former has succeeded to his father's position, and the latter is engaged quite extensively in the electric light and telephone business. Victor and John, two younger sons of Mr. Gauthier, who live at Carillon, are also in the employ of the G. N. W. Telegraph Co. Victor, besides possessing much mechanical ingenuity, is also quite a skillful taxidermist. The succeeding paragraph or two, and account of the robbery at Carillon, are sent us by Colin Dewar. The water was very low in the North River during the summer of 1840, and considerable difficulty was experienced in passing heavily laden barges through the canal, as the " Feeder" could not get the supply. To remedy this, a large sum of money was expended on the dams at the mouth of the " Feeder," in the spring of 1841, which, however, was not of permanent benefit. In 1842, John Brophy, Esq., C.E,, was appointed Superintendent of the Carillon and Grenville canals, a position which he held for many years. igo HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Owing to the constantly increasing traffic through the canals, the old-fashioned system of working the lock gates by means of a capstan was too slow and tedious, and Mr. Brophy had them removed, and the windlass introduced instead which proved a great benefit. Under his directions the dams on the North River were greatly improved by filling up, and preventing the waste of water, thus keeping up a uniform height. It was also under his directions that the Upper Locks were taken down and rebuilt, a defect in the " Tuddling " when they were constructed causing a continual leakage. On the night of the " Cattle Show " in September, 1844, the Government office at Carillon was broken into, and robbed of a large sum of money. The robbers had procured an old ricketty ladder, which they placed against one of the upper windows in the rear, and entering the cashier's office, secured the small iron chest, which at that time contained over one thousand dollars, as pay day was near at hand. They threw the chest out of the window, where the marks were visible, and carried it down near the locks, where it was found in the morning, broken open and empty. Three or four suspected persons were arrested, and sent to Montreal ; but as nothing could be proved against them, they were discharged , and that was the end of it MUNICIPAL COUNCIL. Mayor, John Kelly ; Councillors, Mercien Desjardins, ex-mayor, Andr6 Vivarais, Fred. Poulin, G6d6on Thibodeau, Emile Rochon. M. Desjardins, owner of a pleasant brick cottage in this village, has long kept a boot and shoe shop here, assisted by his son G6d6on ; the latter received a two years' course in the Commercial Department of Rigaud College. Hilaire Desjardins, father of the ex-mayor, now 88 years of age, lived at St. Eustache duriDg the Rebellion of '37, and was wounded in the leg while watching the combat. Mr. Thibodeau was engaged in teaching for many years ; he was also Secretary- Treasurer of the School Board at Hochelaga, previous to coming to Carillon. A few years since, he married Miss Boyer, of this village, sister to Mrs. Poulin and Mrs. Girard. £. Rochon has long been a skillful blacksmith in this village ; he has a penchant for fine horses, of which he always has one or more. Andr£ Vivarais, eldest son of Andre Vivarais, was born in Brown's Gore, Ar- genteuil County, in 1848 ; he lived there until March, 1886, when he sold his farm, and bought from Robert White the one on which he still lives in Carillon, He has been twice married, first to Agnes Ploof, who died in 1883, leaving two sons ; and the second time in 1885, ^'^ Addle Beaudry, widow of Baptiste King. Mr. Vivarais has been Municipal Councillor of Carillon for the past five years. His father died here in 1894, and Mrs. Vivarais, sen., resides with hei»son, who is one of the industrious farmers of the community. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 19I William Manson is proprietor of the bakery referred to elsewhere. He is a native of Como, ahd was married ist June, i88o, to Miss Louisa Parsons, of Hudson; He has lived in Carillon but four years, during which he has prosecuted his business with a good deal of energy, and the productions of his manufactory have given general satisfaction. Mr. and Mrs. Manson have three children,— one son and two daughters. Among the several fine stone dwellings of Carillon is that of T. Fagan. This was erected about 1830, by Rinaldo Fuller, contractor, for an academy, and soon after- wards was bought by John Wanless, who lived in it, and conducted a private school many years. Mr. Wanless was from Scotland, and was a graduate of one of the Scotch Uni- versities. On coming to America, he was first employed in teaching in New York, and afterward, about 1827, came to St. Andrews, and for a year or two conducted a private school in the building which is now the Anglican parsonage. While there, he married a cousin named Wanless, and moved to Carillon. He was a fine scholar, a strict disciplinarian, and his school was highly popular, being patronized by the sons and daughters of all the leading citizens of this section, the late Hon. J. J. C. Abbott being of the number. He died in 1882, and his former pupils, from respect to his memory, erected at their own expense a tombstone at his resting place in the St. Andrews cemetery. THE DAM. The Carillon Dam, across the Ottawa, is one of the great works of art and triumphs of engineering s kill of the present century. It was built by the Canadian Government, in the interests of commerce, to increase the- depth of water in the canal, constructed at this point to overcoine the obstruction of rapids in the river; it cost $1,350,000. On account of the great expense, there was much opposition to the project, and for this reason, during the McKenzie administration, work on the structure was wholly suspended ; but it was resumed when the successor of McKenzie came into office. The Dam is 2,400 feet long and 12 feel high ; its construction was commenced in 1873, the engineer being Horace Merrill, late Superintendent of the Ottawa River Works ; and the contractors were F. B. McNamee & Co. It was made of cribs filled with stone, which was supplied by the neighboring farmers, at 45 and 55 els. per yard. Near the middle, is a slide for the passage of timber; this is 28 feet wide, 800 feet long, and approached by 2800 feet of boom ; an apron, at the top and foot of the slide, regulates the quantity of water required, and " stop logs " serve the same purpose in the passage of timber. A house, painted red, covering the entrance of the slide, is quite a conspicuous object on the Dam, and serves to attract the curiosity of strangers. The structure was completed in the fall of 188 r, and when the sluices were closed, and the water had reached its full height, it was found that it raised the water at Greece's Point — six miles up the river — two feet. jnj HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. In 1883 a portioa of the Dam gave way, and was repaired at an expense of $20,000. Although the bed of the river, where the Dam crosses it, is entirely of rock, it was found to be so soft in character, that the water had undermined the Dam, thus causing the breakage. Since that, much money and labor have been expended to add to its strength and durability, and it is believed it will now effectually withstand the assaults of water or ice. Mr John Middleton.of Pt. Fortune, slide master, reports that m 1882, 73 raits passed through the slide ; in the years following, the number varied considerably, and in 189s only 6 passed through. But the rafts of late years have been much larger than formerly; one composed of 50 cribs used to be regarded a raft of good size, while now one of 210 is not uncommon. Notwithstanding the large number of men employed for 50 long a time, and the danger of the work, only one serious accident occurred during the construction of the Dam. On the day the sluices were closed, a man named Dernier, who had been employed on the work, slipped as he was walking on the Dam, fell into the river, and was drowned. A few years later, however, an accident occurred, which, though not attended with loss of life, escape from so sad a result seems due to nothing short of a miracle. Late one summer night, a steam tug came down the river, having in tow several barges laden with lumber. Just as the tug entered Lock No. 2 at the Dam, t'le nearest barge struck the end of the pier; the tug gave a vigorous pull, but instead of bring- ing the barge into the lock, the tow line parted, and the barge swung outward into the swift-flowing river, a few rods above the Dam. Capt. Smith, the owner of the ill fated barge, and his wife, both quite aged people, were on board. Like an electric shock, news flew through this little fleet that Capt. Smith and his barge were going over the Dam. Quick hands seized ropes, and soon the men were on the broad pier running at right angles to the Dam, and several feet above it. Through the vapor and darkness, they descried the outline of the barge fast hasten- ing to its doom. But there was no need of light to show them where to direct their aid, the cries of Capt. Smith and his frantic appeals for help defined the spot. A rope thrown by dexterous hands falls on the barge at the Captain's feet. He is safe. Alas ! he is not; h'; sees it, but the roaring of the grim monster, now but a few yards distant, which he feels will in a few seconds devour him and all that he holds most dear, has filled him with an awful dread, and rendered him powerless to act. The barge is gliding on, and the rope falls into the water, astern ; but still there is a moment left, which the anxious, beating hearts on the pier are determined to improve. Again the rope shoots out, and, fortunately, this time rests on the Captain's shoulder ; now, surely, he will grasp it and be saved, but no, he sees it slip downward, glide across the deck, and drop into the water ; he is too paralyzed to move. His last chance has flown, the awful moment has arrived, yet, strange to relate, his facul- ties return, — reason resumes her throne. He knows that his wife has descended' to the cabin, and believes it to be the most dangerous place. He calls her, and then, HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 193 throwing himself flat oa the deck, he thrusts his arm through a large hole in an upright plank before him, bends his elbow, and to this object clings with desperation. The other arm encircles the waist of his wife, who has thrown herself beside him. They were not kept long in this awful suspense. Fortunately, the water was low ; the barge struck the Dam, and quickly swung around, so that she lay broadside against it. The water, thus checked, raised the opposite side sufficiently lo throw her entire deck load of lumber, consisting of many thousands of feet, into the abyss below. The barge, now buoyant, rose to the surface, and so quickly followed the lumber, that it rested fairly on it, and thus was prevented from being submerged. The boil- ing waters, however, soon carried away the lumber ; the barge, borne down twenty yards or more, struck broadside against a large rock, and there, nearly broken into two parts, remained. The Captain and his wife retained their recumbent position, till they found the barge moored against the boulder, when they rose to take notes of their strange situation, and calculate the probabilities of once more seeing New York. It is to be presumed, however, that, like Christian people, their first act was to thank God devoutly for their late miraculous escape from death. But like the novelist, we must now invite the reader to another scene in this story. After the barge went over the Dam, the men on shore hastened to the nearest point whence they could see the barge, and shouted to ascertain if it con- tained any living occupant. No answer being returned, they turned away with sor- rowful hearts, to ponder and discuss the awful doom of their companion and the sad tidings they must bear to his friends. But not long afterward, Mr. Mason, the Lock Master, who had been roused from his sleep, discovered, as the mists from the river rose occasionally and floated away, that there were living people on the wrecked barge ; but, to his surprise, he could obtain no answer to his shouts. The next morning, he and one or two more with a skiff rescued the ship-wrecked couple, and then learned that their shouts had not been heard, every other sound having been drowned by the roaring waters of the Dam. We may add that Capt. Smith made two or three trips up the Ottawa, after his per- ilous adventure. . His barge was insured, but the lumber it carried was a total loss. ISLE AUX CHATS. The Isle aux Chats is a small island in the North River, located about a mile from Carillon. It contains no inhabitants, but the fact that it has been the site of mills for many decades, and that there is a small settlement of intelligent farmers near it, has rendered the locality quite noted. The Island itself is in Chatham, but the settlement, which is always called « Isle aux Chats," is in St. Andrews. The name, it is said, was given to the Island on account of the number of wildcats mfestmg it when the country was new. It is quite evident, also, that Indians used to frequent it, as many Indian relics have been found here. 194 HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. -HufcH Robertson came to Canada from Glasgow, with his wife and family, in 1857. After spending some time in Quebec and Three Rivers, he came to Canllon, and bought the property owned by Mrs. McNaughton, giving it the name of " Ottawa Lodge." Later, he came to Isle aux Chats and bought the Island, and the saw, grist and woollen mills, which did quite an extensive business, giving employment to a number of hands. Mr. Robertson had six sons and two daughters, of whom all but one son are now living. Hugh William, the eldest son, bom June, 1848, in Glasgow,, was nine years of age wh en his father came to Canada. He was educated in Bishop's College, Lennoxville, Que., and afterwards took the mills and farm from his father, who went to Owen Sound, where he still resides. Mrs. Robertson died there i6th March, 1895, and was interred at St. Andrews. Hugh, the subject of our pre- sent sketch was married in 1874, to Miss De Hertel, daughter of Daniel De Hertel, of Centerville. They have six sons and three daughters, all of whom, with the excep- tion of the eldest son, are still at home. The son, also, Hugh William, after spending some time in the office of Molsons Bank, Montreal, went to Owen Sound, where he has a position in a bra nch office of the same Bank. Mr. Robertson continues to keep his mills in operation, and also manages hi& farm, which comprises Isle aux Chats and half a lot in Centerville. Town of Lachute.* This place, the chef-lieu of the county of Argenteuil, is located 611 the North River, 9 miles from the Ottawa and 44 north of Montreal. It is also on the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, — :forrnerly the Q. M. O. & O. Railway. Its location is very pleasant, level, high, the center of a good agricultural district, and the scenery around,. especially along the river, is picturesque. The name was first derived from- the fall or chute, and was formerly written La Chute (The Falls), but afterwards the two words were united, hence the name Lachute. No one seems to know how the name of the Parish — St. Jerusalem d'Arg enteuil — of which Lachute forms a part. * Lachute Town shall be that portion of the parish of St. Jerusalem in the county of Argenteuil,. contained within a line drawn as follows, to wit ; Commencing on the line dividing the said parish from the township of Chatham, at a point due west of the south-west corner of lot 14 19 of the official plan and book of reference of the said parish, (rope-walk), thence northerly, along the said line to where it intersects the base of the mountain on lot 1692, and on said plan, eight hundred and fifty-eight feet English, from the centre of Chatham road north ; thence eastward, along the base of the said mountain (east of Leggo's. farm house) t'6 where it joins the North River, thence ascending the centre of said river, to a point formed by the inter- ection of the northerly continuation of the eastern boundary line of lot 329 A on said plan with the HISTORY OF" ARGENTEUIL. 1 95 originated ; but it has been stated — we know not on what authority — that the name was suggested by Governor Metcalfe. As the place has grown up chiefly within the last quarter of a century, it natur- ally has a youthful appearance, nearly all the best buildings being new. From no one part of the corporation can a view of much of -it be obtained, hence, on traveling over it, one finds it much larger than he had supposed. The main street, from the West End, through Upper Lachute is two miles in length, and there are several shorter streets well populated. Many of the private dwellings, both from their location, and architectural neatness, are attractive, while some of the public buildings — the Registry office, Ville Marie Bank, Argenteuil Hotel, the Academy, the establishments of J. Roby and J. A. Bedard, besides the immense structures of J. C. Wilson, are most imposing in appearance. Fortunately for us, nearly half a century ago an effort was made to collect a few facts with regard to the early settlement of this place, and preserve them for future use. Commendable as was this act, and valuable as are the few facts thus trans- mitted, it is to be deplored that the researches were not far more thorough and extensive. While we are told that, in 1796, a man named Hezekiah Clark came from Jericho, Vermont, with his family, and planted the first cabin here, the antecedents of Mr. Clark, and his motive in coming so far into the wilderness, are left as matters only for speculation. It would, indeed, be interesting to know why he sought this particular place for a home, inasmuch as many leagues of land just as fertile, covered by forests just as dense, with scenery equalling it in beauty, lay between this place and Jericho. Within half the distance from that town to Lachute, lay a great part of what is now the Eastern Townships, but then an unbroken wilderness. Why, then, did he come so far? Was he a fugitive from justice ? Not at all ; for we are inform- ed that he was soon followed by a number of others, and that all were observant of Christian ordinances. We can no more answer the question, than we can tell why some of the pioneers located on rough, stony, rock-bound land, when they could just as easily have procured the finest land in the country. The most probable reason that we can assign for the course he pursued is, that he calculated the chances for getting to market, and found that, compared with other places, they were decidedly in favor of Lachute. . In no other unsettled section, did he find such a natural highway to other settlements and to Montreal, as was present- ed by the North River and the Ottawa. It is possible also, that with that prophetic said centre of liver (Morrison's Bridge); thence somberly, along the said last mentioned line to the main road ; thence to a point on the south side of said road, where it is joined by the lines, between lots 312 and 325 of said plan (Lane's) ; thence southerly, along the continuation of the said last men- tioned line, to a point formed by its intersection with the easterly continuation of the centre line of Henry street on plan B of said parish ; thence westerly, along the said last mentioned hne '» » P°'"' fonneil by its intersection with the centre line of Isabella street on said plan B (Barron s ""sni ; thence southerly, along the last mentioned line, to a point due east of the point of commencement j ana thence to said point of commencement. jn6 HISTORY OF AUGENTEUIL. vision which characterized, now and then, one of those early settlers, he foresaw soine-, thing of what really has occurred— the rapid opening up of the country along the great river, the utilizing of the admirable water-power, and decided that no other sppt presented such a fair prospect to himself and posterity. But whatever were the in- ducements, the fact that he came is unquestioned, and we can judge only froin that fact, that he was a man of superior energy, great endurance and courage, and was skilled in woodcraft. Without these qualities he never would have come, nor <:ould he have maintained his family, while surmounting the difficulties frequently intruding. ^i u His family, consisting of his wife, three sons and two daughters, came through the woods with an Indian sled from St. Andrews, not even a cow path, at that time, leading to the place of his future home. No house, not even a bark shanty was there to receive them, and the first night was passed beneath the shelter of a few {.ranches of trees hastily gathered. The next day, with that tact and energy characteristic of a woodsman, Mr. Clark constructed a hut, or wigwam, which answered the purpose of a domicile, till opportunity was given to erect a better one. Tradition claims, as the site of this habitation, a spot near the present Lachute mills. But who does not envy the lot of this pioneer ? What a chance for enjoyment ! On the threshold of summer, when nature has donned her richest, garb, and we are entranced by the melody of her voices, what seems more akin to paradise than a home in the boundless forest ? The woods in summer ! What visions of undisturbed retirement, blissful solitude, do they not suggest ? Hardship and privation are ascribed by general report to the lot of a pioneer. But what life is there among the laboring class free from those perplexities and sor- rows incident to a life of toil ? Though the first settlers had to work hard, and sometimes, especially in the beginning of their career, were saddened at the small «tock of provisions in the larder and the condition of their wardrobe, yet, who ever saw a pioneer that did not look back on his life in the woods as a pleasant one ? Who did not regard with pride every acre of land reclaimed from the forest, and brought to a slate of cultivation? And how many pleasant memories are associated with those early struggles? What stories the old man will tell of the feats of labor in chopping or logging in this spot or that on his farm. With what pride, too, he will recount the number of bushels of corn or potatoes he raised on yonder acre — the first crop produced by the virgin soil. We are not favored with an account of Mr. Clark's experiences while he lived here, yet we cannot forbear thinking that he had many pleasant ones, even though there might have been many discouragements. Of one thing, at least, he had an abundance, and that was fuel. Then, too, past his door flowed a fine stream, whose waters teemed with fish, and the forest was alive with a variety of game — all of which not only prevented the possibility of famine, but provided means by which the taste, even of an epicure, might be gratified. The seed planted in the new soil grew as if by magic ; and the crops were of a quantity well calculated to satisfy and glad- ■den the hearts of their possessor. HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. JCff How different, too, must have been his emotions when, in the morning, he stepped forth from his cabin to begin his daily task, from those of the laborer dwelling in a dilapidated tenement on a narrow street of a city. No vitiated, smoke-laden air for inhalation here; no sound of cars or carts rattling over the pavements, but the purest of heaven's air, exhilarating from its burden of ozone, and fragrant with the odor of many trees and forest flowers. No discordant sounds, but, instead, the songs of birds, — solos and duetts, and then the whole choral harmony, amusing and cheering through all the summer day. And what relief from care ! No watching for callers at that cabin. No feverish anxieties with regard to the toilet, or fears that mesdames will find too much dust collected in the parlor ; on the contrary, the inmates realize their emancipation from the. bonds of fashion. What liberty ! What comfort I Perfect abandonment to ease T The wild animals, though giving no real cause for apprehension, suggested enough of danger to relieve this life from monotony, and tinge it with romance. And withal, how much to encourage and spur to renewed exertion ! No surly employer to issue orders, and growl at the manner and amount of work performed, and then, at night- fall, to dole out with grudging hand the wages of their toil. Free from restraint, no one but themselves to please, in the most beautiful locality, labor itself was a recrea- tion and pleasure, giving as it did strength to the muscles, vigor to the whole frame, and, consequently, buoyancy to the spirits and happiness to the mind. Every day, the expanding clearing encouraged to another day of labor, and gave promise of the pasture, the meadow, the flocks and herds, and well filled barns. But what of the Sabbath ? Could there be any moral growth in this isolated spot, far removed from church and the sound of church-going bell ? Ah ! yes, the Sabbath I But perhaps they attended church. Seven miles only, intervened between this and St. Andrews, and women, as well as men, often performed longer journeys on foot, even though the labors of the previous week inclined them on the Sabbath to take a needful rest. Who can doubt that people of moral habits, distant from every scene of vice and wickedness, in communion with the fairest scenes of nature, should "be led through nature up to nature's God ? " Who can doubt if, in their early years, they had been taught to respect things divine, that in their present abode, their gratitude to the Author and Giver of their blessings increased, and that they remem- bered the Sabbath to keep it holy ? Hezekiah Clark has no descendants in this part of the country, but report says that they are an intelligent and reputable class who occupy responsible positions in distant places. According to a brief History of Lachute referred to above, which was compiled by Mr. John Meikle, sen., •' Mr. Clark remained the sole inhabitant of Lachute for two years, when he was joined by six more families from the same place." But a sketch of Lachute, by F. C. Ireland, published in ne Watchman of 3rd September, 1886, mentions but one family which came within two years after the arrival of Clark. He says : " The next pioneer was also one of the hardy sons of Vermont, who 1.98 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. came about two years later, or in 1798. His name is familiar to most of the resi- dents of Lachute to-day. " JOHM S. HuTCHiNS had married Miss Cutter, in their native State, and migrat- ed to Canada, to join hands as neighbors with the Clarks at Lachute. They endured all the hardships, privations and vicissitudes incident to such a journey and such a life. They worked hard on a coarse diet, but the labor brought sweet rest, and the diet gave strength to the constitution, as they and their children have proved, for where is there to be found a family with more active frames, better developed muscles, firmer limbs and stronger minds than the descendants, who still live and move among us, of these early pioneers. The organ of continuity was so largely dev- eloped in this family, that they remained on the site of their early choosing, and brought up sons and daughters, many of whom became the first men and women of the place, in position as well as in point of time." There are none, probably, who will deny, that the above tribute to the Hutchins family is well deserved. Two brothers, John S. and Phineas Hutchins, seem to have settled in Lachute about the same time. The former located on a lot now owned by David McFarlane ; the latter on one owned by Mr. McGregor. Both have transmitted to us the reputation of being energetic, intelligent, Christian men, with a strong desire to encourage whatever promised to enhance the physical, social and moral progress of their adopted country. John S. Hutchins had learned the printer's trade in Boston, and on first coming to Canada, he engaged as compositor in the office of TTie Courant, in Montreal. He soon began to write articles for that jotlmal, and for some time was a regular contri- ibutor to its columns. After coming to Lachute, he took an interest in religious work, and it was through his efforts that the Rev. Mr. Osgoode, mentioned on an- other page, came here and organized a Sabbath School. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and his house was always a home for the ministers who, from time to time, visited the place. For many years, he was Clerk of the Circuit Court which held its sessions here. In 1801, his wife died, and it being the first time death had visited the new settlement, we can well imagine the gloom his advent created. Mr. Hutchins had one son at this time, whose name was Osman. He married, and' after living some years at Hawkesbury, Ont., moved West. His father also married again, and by this marriage had three sons and five daughters : Hawley, Phineas and Benjamin ; Eliza, Maria, Catherine, Matilda and Mary Ann. Of the latter, Eliza was married to Milo Lane, Maria to Geo. Glines, Catherine to Lemuel Gushing, and Mary Ann to Geo. Holland. Matilda, who never married, died a few years since in Montreal. Mrs. Gushing and Mrs. Holland, both widows, reside in that city. Hawley R. Hutchins, the eldest son by the second marriage, married 15th Octo. ber, 1835, Harriet, a daughter of Dr. Rice, of St. Andrews. He engaged in trade a while at Lachute, then at Carillon, and finally was in business in Montreal. He had but one child, which died, and this was followed by the death of his wife ; he then went -to California, and died there 12th June, X882, at the age of 62. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. IQq Phineas R., his brother, married Jessie Walker of Lachute, 4th May, 1838. They had eight children, the most of whom, at the present time, are said to be in prosperous circumstances in California. Mr. Hutchins always remained on the homestead and engaged in farming until he moved with his family to the Golden State, where he died 15th January, 1875, aged 75 years. Benjamin, the third son of John S. Hutchins, has spent nearly all his life in busi- ness, in Montreal, where he is much esteemed. He is at present a broker in real estate, having an office in the New York Life Insurance building. He was but 14 years old when he came to Montreal, and he worked for some time without salary, but he soon made his way upward. He was a Candidate in 1867 for the office of Representative for Argenteuil County in the Dominion Parliament, and was defeated only by a small majority. Mr. Hutchins has been twice married; first, in 1841 or 1842, to Miss Felton, of Sherbrooke ; the second time, to Miss Sherwood, daughter of Adiel Sherwood, Sheriff of Brockville, and an U. E. Loyalist. John S. Hutchins, the father of the children named above, was born 15th August, 1776, and died 4th May, 1865, at the age of 88. Phineas Reed Hutchins, like his brother last named above, took a prominent part in every important public movement, soon after coming to Lachute. We first hear of him as Captain of a Volunteer Rifle Company, which he organized during the war of 181 2. We next find him assiduously laboring to erect a church edifice at St. Andrews, and contributing liberally towards the cost of its erection. Evidently, he was a man with the requisite energy and ability to push to completion whatever work he commenced, — one of the kind who, with better opportunities, broader fields for action, have won for themselves enduring names: He was thrice married, and had one son and six daughters. James Reed Hutchins, the son, married Elizabeth Ross of Montreal; and, for a number of years, was in mercantile business in that city. He died 28th June, 1856, leaving one son, Joseph Ross Hutchins, who is also engaged in trade in Montreal. " * Among other settlers from the American side was a young man, handsome and strong, whose services were secured by Mr. Hutchins in clearing away the forest and in building up a comfortable and prosperous home. This was George Glines, whose engagement with Mr. Hutchins was severed by an engagement with one of his most beautiful daughters, and resulted in a long, felicitous life, and a large and beautiful family, whose record is a credit to any community. In fact, it would be difficult to find a new settlement peopled with a better class of residents than first made their homes along the banks of the North River at Lachute." In the year 1796, Jedediah Lane, also ftom Jericho, purchased a tract of land comprising several thousand acres, on which Lachute is located. Having a sister at * From a sketch by F. C. Ireland in TAe Watchman ot 17th September, 1886. 20O HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. Carillon, the wife of Peter McArthur, he doubtless had been here before, and selected the tract he desired to buy, as, at the time he made the purchase, he came on horse- back, according to the custom cf those days, with saddle-bags, in which was the gold to pay for the land. All that we know respecting this pioneer, may be summed up in the few following facts. He was a prosperous farmer, had a good education, - was tall and prepossessing in appearance, a widower and the father of seven sons and two daughters j only two of the sons, however, settled in this country. He was a college graduate, and for a number of years after coming here taught school in the school-house occupying the site of the one near the store recently burnt of his grandson, P. H. Lane. He also taught in St. Andrews, but how long it is impossible to say ; it is certain that he taught there in the years 1837-38. Although so brief is his biography, he has an enduring memorial in the tract of land which he first bought in Lachute ; for " Lane's Purchase " * is familiar to the citizens of Argenteuil, and will continue 10 be "while trees grow and water runs." His fame was also enhanced, no doubt, by a famous law-suit to which his purchase gave rise. By the terms of the contract between him and Major Murray, the Seignior, of whom the land was purchased, this particular tract was to be exempt from the rent imposed on other lands in the seigniory; but not so understanding the agreement, the succeeding Seignior, in 1807, brought suit against the settlers for the amount of the unpaid rent. The time in which this suit was dragged through the Courts has a parallel in the case of " Jarndyce & Jarndyce," described by Dickens in Bleak House. After seven years of litigation, it was decided in favor of the Seignior. The settlers, however, satisfied that their case was on'S of equity, appealed it to the higher court, by which, after five years more, the decision of the lower court was reversed. Catherine, the eldest daughter of Mr. Lane, was married to John N. Hutchins ; Maria M., the youngest child, married William Gibson, a contractor ; she is now a widow, and resides in Montreal. Jedediah, his eldest son, settled in St. Andrews, and died there. MiLO, the second son, born in Jericho, Vt., i8th July, 1800, married Eliza, the eldest daughter of John S. Hutchins, in 1825. After living a few years on a farm, he * Records which we have examined since the above sketch of Mr. Lane was written show that he purchased his tract from Major Murray, seignior. 3rd December, 1796. The followine shows thfr names of several who purchased, the quantity purchjised, and date of the transaction J. Lane sold to ; — Date. Price. Acre^ ''•" I believe, was Husten — away from home. After they had been away some time, Husten came back for food. A large pan full of doughnuts was hastily emptied out 2IO HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. for liiirij in my presence. I thought the horrors of war were considerably miti- gated by the chance of getting such luxurious fare. When the cruel war was over we returned home, and on the night of our return we saw from Carillon the flames of the burning church of St. Eustache. It stood in ruins for some years, and I remember seeing the ruins as I went to Montreal. Dr. Chenier's death occurred at the battle of St. Eustache, and I remember a gruesome report, that his body was cut open, and his heart laid on the counter of Addison's hotel ; but I think the story was likely without foundation. In the winter of 1848-49 a sad calamity happened to the family. The smallpox was communicated to them by a French family living at Vide Sacque, from whom they bought some onions, a vegetable which never after- wards was used in the house. The first three children had been vaccinated ; only one of them was at home, and he escaped, — a most convincing proof of the efficiency of vaccination. All the other children, six in number, took the disease, and Sarah Phebe, the pet ofthe household, in her fifth year, died. I was then living at St. Andrews. I came home to attend the funeral, but did not enter the house. I saw through a bed- room window the scarred and bloated face of the little darling. My father died in his seventy-third year; his funeral service was conducted by Rev. S. G. Phillips. When I went home to the funeral, I called on John Meikle, Esq., who said in all sincerity, that my father had not left his equal behind him in Lachute ; this referred of course to his reputation for honesty, morality and religion. My mother died in her sixty-seventh year; her funeral service was conducted by Rev. Mr. Robson. The family consisted of eight sons and two daughters : Elias Samuel, born in 1829; Wesley Fletcher, born in 1831; James Edwards, born in 1833; George Matthew, born in 1835 ; Priscilla Jane, born in 1837 > Adam Clarke, born in 1839 ; William Edgerton Ryerson, born in 1842 ; Sarah Phebe, born in 1844; Watson Coke, born in 1846 ; and Marcus Arthur, born in 1851. I will briefly mention some events in my own life. My education was limited to the common school ; my first teacher was Jedediah Lane ; another, a Mr. MacPherson ; another, Lachlan Taylor ; another, John W. H. Brunton ; another, Adam Walker. I attended also, for a little while, a French school at St. Andrews, taught by Antoine Moret. On the 25th day of October, 1839, being the centenary of Methodism, a prayer meeting was held in the old school-house led by Mr. Taylor ; he prayed that some who were present might remember the blessings of the day, fifty years afterwards. The prayer has been more than answered in the case of my brother, W. F., and myself as we have been spared nearly fifty-six years from that day. In that month of October,' 1839, revival services were held at Lachute, as a result of which, several young persons jomed the Methodist Church. Henry Shaler and William Willoughby conducted the meetings; they both lived for over half a century after. Mr. Shaler died at Kemptville, Ont., less than a year ago, aged over ninety. HISTORY CV ARGENTEUIL. 211 There are but few living now who joined the Church at the time I ref^r to. Robert Kneeshaw, Esq., of Ingersoll, Ont., my brother and myself were among them. Of my old scbool-fellows, Dr. Christie, G. L. Mejkle and Tliomas Barron yet survive. In the year 1843, my brother, W. F., and myself assisted in drawing bricks from ihe front of Chaiham to St. Andrews, for the Methodist Church ; a church in which I afterwards worshipped and preached for thirteen years. On the 8th day of March, 1847, I entered the service of the late Charles Wales, as clerk in his store. In 1854, I became the junior member of the firm of Charles Wales & Co., which was dissolved in April, 1864. On the 9th September, 1856, I was married at No. 10 St. Joseph Street, Montreal, to Miss Jane Colclough White, daughter of Mr. John D. White. The issue of that marriage was William Arthur, who died in i860, aged 2 years and 10 months; James Edward, who also died in childhood ; John Samuel, who died at Anamosa, Iowa, in his zpih year ; Alfred Elias, now known as Dr. A. E. Orr, of Montreal ; and Florence Lilian, teacher and artist. In i860, I left St. Andrews for Sawyerville, P. Q., where I carried on a country trade till 1868. In 1869, 1 received the appointment of County Registrar, which I still hold. Wesley Fletcher, next in age to me, left home early for St. Laurent, where he was in the employ of the MacDonalds; he went to Ontario many years ago, where he carried on for a while the manufacture of saleratus. He was engaged in country trade and lumbering at Lynden, Barrie, and elsewhere. He subsequently went to Alberta; he now resides in Calgary, of which city he was, and is still, the first Mayor. He is married, and has two daughters and one son. James Edward also left home early ; he entered the employment of Chas. D. Proctor in Montreal, was also in the employ of Finley McMartin at St Andrews, and the late Mr. St. Denis at Point Fortune. He was also engaged in country trade in Ontario, at Lynden and elsewhere; he now resides in Calgary, is married, and has a son and daughter living. G-'orge Matthew spent some time as clerk for Chas. Wales & Co., at St- Andrews, and also in the store of Thomas Meikle. He removed to Cookshire, P.Q., where he carried on trade for some time ; he now resides in St. Catharines, Ont. ; he is married and has two daughters living. P/iscilla Jane studied at the Normal School in Montreal, and taught at Riviere Rouge and in the Lochute Academy. She did not marry, but spent her time in loving ministrations to the declining years of our parents. After their death, she occupied the old home for some years, then went to Montreal and to Ontario ; she now resides in Chicago with Adam C. Orr. Adam Clarke, named after the celebrated commentator, was noted for his early love of books and pursuit of knowl- edge : he read the New 'testament through at a very early age. When very small, the Rev. James Musgrove called on the family ; the children were asked their names ; Adam replied, " Dr. Adam Clarke ;" the reply caused the minister to smile. A pro- found discussion arMe between Adam and a younger brother on the origin of evil, and the opposite forces of God and Satan. The younger boy propounded the question : " Why does the Lord not kill the devil? " Adam's reply was : " If he did, the Jews 212 insTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. would have no father." At the age of i8, Adam >yas a successful teacher at Hill Head, Lachute. He has lived for many years in Chicago, his portrait and biographi- cal record appear in an American publication, from which I. will make some extracts : " Adam C. Orr is one of the highly esteemed citizens of Park Ridge. His home is the centre of sociability, and there men of culture delight to gather and discuss topics which tend to mental advancement. On the paternal side, our subject came from the old McLean family of Scotland. At length, however, the family became divided in the Scottish feuds, and those who located in the Lowlands took the name of Ayrs, which was subsequently changed into the present mode of spelling. In the common school of his native country, Adam C. Orr acquired a good English education. In his father's •country store, he received his first lessons in business, but he left mercantile pursuits to engage in teaching, which profession he successfully followed for thirteen years in Canada. In 1863, he spent a term at the Normal School, affiliated to McGill College, Montreal, and subsequently, while engaged in teaching, read the Art? Curriculum of that University, and made translations of the Satires of Juvenal and Odes of Horace into English verse ; the manuscripts of which were destroyed in the Chicago fire. He was for some time employed as teacher of the French language and literature in Lachute College, P.Q., and later, as principal of the Central Scliool, St. Mary's, Ont. It was in 1870 that he came to Chicago, where soon after he engaged as superin- tendent with the Gillet Chemical Works. On the 1st October, 1876, Mr. Orr was united in marriage with Miss Cleo Petne. 'Jo Mr. and Mrs. Orr was born a son, Samuel Henry, who died at the age of thirteen years. He was a boy who attracted almost universal attention because of his perfect physique, fine intellectual attain- ments and gentlemanly bearing. He was a member of a company of Zouaves, in which he held the highest oflSces, and was laid to rest in their uniform. Both Mr. and Mrs. Orr hold an enviable position in social circles, where true worth and intelli- gence are received as the passports into good society. They have made their home in Park Ridge since 1881. Socially, Mr. Orris connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Royal Arcanum ; he is also a member of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific." William Edgerton Ryerson, thus named after two members of the celebrated Ryerson family. It is seldom that Sweet Williams blossom in midwinter, but this one did, as he was bom in the month of January. He had the good fortune to be taught writing by Mr. Gibson, a teacher of Lachute, who boarded with the family, and has made Bookkeeping the principal work of his life. He was in business at Cookshire and at Durham for short periods ; he now resides at Teeswater, Ont. ; has been twice married, and has several children. Watson Coke bears the name of two distinguished Methodists. He went to Ontario early in life, and is now engaged in fruit farming at Winona. He sells grapes by the ton, and is successful also with many other fruits. Francis Arthur, the tenth and last child, was born twenty-one years after the present writer. He learned photography while quite young, and has pursued it ever HISTORY or ARGENTEUU. 213 since. He is at present a resident of Chicago. The family present an instance of nine out of ten who grew to maturity, and whose members are at the date of this writing stiU unbroken. For the most part, they have had good health, and all of them moderate prosperity. For about sixty years, the name of Orr was a familiar one at Lachute, but ihey have all left it, except those who are quietly sleeping in the old cemetery, that is, Samuel Orr, Jane Orr, his wife and " little Sarah." REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS. Kindly contributed by E. S. Orr. I was born in 1829, and have recollections of some of the early inhabitants of the County of Argenteuil who have long since passed away. Abiathar Waldron was my father's next-door neighbor ; he had been a soldier of the Revolutionary War, I think, on the American side. He must have been one of the earliest settlers of Lachute. He used to say that the sun had never found him in bed for fifty years. Mr. Waldron's wife was a Hutchings, and was said to have been the first white woman at Lachute. The Waldrons were, like many of the first settk-rs, Methodists. A story is recorded by Carroll in his " Past and Present," as follows : (It must have occurred about 1816.) There is a beautiful tract of land in the neighbor- hood of Lachute, on the North River, which falls into the Ottawa. This was originally . settled by an interesting class of people from the United States, from among whom a large and prosperous society was raised up by the labors of a Sawyer a Luckey and others. But a succession of blighting frosts had caused such a failjre in the crops for several years, that one family after another had left and sought a home in a more genial climate, till the society was not only much reduced in numbers, but very few homes were left to shelter the hapless itinerant in a place which had always been considered " head-quarters " on the circuit ; and the occupant of the itrin- cipal one of the few remaining " lodging places for wayfaring men," " Father Waldron," as he was called, had also resolved to leave. The two preachers (Ferguson and Peel) were spending a night under his hospitable roof, but the intention of their host to leave communicated to them, had made them sad ; they did their utmost to persuade him to stay, setting before him the evil that would result to the cause if he left, and the consequent good he would be the means of doing if he remained. When the hour of devotion arrived, both the preachers engaged in prayer, one after the other, and made the subject which lay near their hearts ground of earnest supplication. Ferguson prayed first, and earnestly besought the Lord to prevent Bro. Waldron from going away. To each petition. Peel subjoined the expressive response, " Hedge him up, Mighty God ! " And when the time came to plead in prayer, he told the Lord they could not afford to part with Bro. Waldron— besought him to induce him to stay— and to reward him for so doing with an abundant crop. He enumerated every kind 214 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. of produce he could think of by name, and prayed that Bro. Waldron's hay and potatoes, and wheat and rye, and oats and peas, and barley, etc., might be abundant. Mr. Waldron was induced to stay another year, and by a very remarkable coincidence with Mr. Peel's request, he had an abundant crop of everything both in field and garden, excepting onions. When this fact was mentioned to the preacher, " Oh," said Peel, " I forgot the onions." To my personal knowledge Mr. Waldron remained many years after this incident at Lachute, — perhaps twenty. His wife above mentioned was a second wife, and not the mother of Linus, Silas and Abiathar, his sons. Her first husband's name was Clark. It was said that he took a grist to the Lachute mills to be ground, and that, while waiting for the grist, he went to fish for salmon, which were then to be had below the dam, and was drowned. Mr. and Mrs. Waldron, at a very advanced age, finally returned to the States, I think, about 1836. John S. Hutchins was a man whose personality made a deep impression on my mind. He was small of stature, with partially bald head, the remaining hair on which was bleached by many winters' snows ; he was Clerk of Court, and I suppose possessed a monopoly of the legal knowledge of the settlement. He used to come in a camlet cloak from his residence on the north side of the river, to lead the four o'clock prayer-meetings on Sunday afternoon, where I have often listened to his prayers and exhortations. When I knew him, he was living with his third wife. He survived till about the middle of the century now drawing to a close, and has been sleeping surrounded by his wives in the old burying ground for more than forty years. The Rev. William Brunton. — This hoary, reverend and religious man is no doubt still remembered by some who knew him when they were children. He was the Minister of the Secession Congregation in the old stone church. I was sent to his house on an errand, when I was about six years old. I remember well his venerable appearance as he stood in the doorway and handed me a tract entitled, " The Spoiled Child," which made a deep impression on my mind ; it lies before me as I write. I have also before me " The Judgment of God— a Call to Repentance," a sermon preached at Lachute, Lower Canada, on Tuesday, the 26th of June, 1832, which day was devoted to the exercise of fasting and prayer in that settlement, on account of the alarming progress of the cholera morbus in various parts of the Province, by the Rev. William Brunton, Montreal ; published by Thomas A. Starke, 1832. The following prefatory notes are reproduced from the pamphlet : " Lachute, 2nd July, 1832. " At a quarterly meeting of the Lachute Temperance Society held here this day, the Rev. George Poole in the Chair, it was resolved unanimously : That the Rev. William Brunton be requested to furnish to a committee of the Society a copy of his Sermon preached here on the 26th ult., in order that rt may be printed for the benefit of the Society. It is now, accordingly, published by their authority. "Thomas Barton, Vice-President. "Jedediah Lane, Secretary." (Barton is a misprint for Barron.) HISTORY OV ARGENTEUJL. 2ie " To the Lachute Temperance Society : — " The following Sermon, which was hurriedly prepared for the occasion on which it was delivered, without any idea whatever of its being printed, being now published in compliance with their unexpected and unanimous request, is respectfully inscrilsed by their obedient servant, " THE AUTHOR." The text of the sermon was Joel, 2d chap., 12th and 13th verses. An Appendix gives an address delivered by Mr. Brunton before the Lachute Temperance Society, 2nd May, 1832. In this it is stated that the Temperance Society was formed at Boston, Mass., in July, 1826. I quote a few words to show the gist of the address : " Your abstaining from drinking such intoxicating liquids, though ever so tnoderately, except- ing as a medicine, can do you no harm. Your drinking thus, unless for a medical purpose, can do no good to yourself. But your abstaining from them, and becoming a member of a Temperance Institution, may do much good, indeed, both to yourself and to others." Mr. Brunton preached in the old school-house before the stone church was built. I may have heard him there, but have no distinct recollection of it. I am not sure of the date of Mr. Brunton's death, but think it must have been in the fall of 1837. His library with other effects was sold at auction. I have some books which formed part of it. One which lies before me now is a collection of tracts ; on the fly- leaf is a neatly written table of contents, dated 28th August, 1809. It was written, I was told, with a crow-quill, the kind of pen which he preferred to use. The funeral was a solemn event. I remember a funeral sermon preached some time after his decease, by whom I cannot say, and the singing of the paraphrase which begins, " The hour of my departure is come." In 1834, came another Scotchman, John Hay, from Inverness-shire. He was an excellent mechanic, a stone-layer, and a man of intelligence, yet, like most of the new comers in those times, he was obliged to accept the wages that were ofiFered, hence he engaged to Colin Robertson for $5.00 per month. His skill, however, and his industry soon attracted notice, and it was not long before he was made foreman of the work, with a proper increase of salary. The lot on which he settled and spent his life is now owned and occupied by his son, John Hay ; he was a Justice of the Peace many years. Two of his sons, George and William, now live in Ottawa, — the former a retired merchant, the latter an accountant. John Hay, the son, who has always remained in Lachute, is one of the prominent citizens of this place, and has always taken an active and important part in municipal affairs. He has been a School Commissioner and Municipal Councillor for thirty years, and was Mayor of the parish until he resigned, declining longer to serve. In 1892, he was a candidate for the Legislative Assembly on the Liberal ticket, but was defeated by the election of the Conservative candidate, W. J. Simpson. Two sons of Mr. Hay are doing a prosperous business in a flour and feed store on Main street in this town. 2l6 HISTORY Of AKGENTKUIL.. James Fish, Postmaster of Lachute Mills, has been a familiar figure in Lachute for half a century, and to-day feels that his life is an illustration of the vicissitudes of fortune. A sketch in The Watchman, that delineates him as he appeared in the -days of his youth, after having engaged a while in the grist mill of the Seignior, says : " His was a hobby to play the clarionet, and, scarcely ever absent from church, he led the choir with this musical instrument for about half a century, and was always in his place, which, to his mind, was as important as that of the minister." * To be explicit with regard to dates and events, Mr. Fish came, when at young boy, with his father, Wm. Fish and family, to Lachute from England in 1832. His father, however, soon moved to St. Andrews, where he was employed in the grist mill as miller for four years. He then went to Cobourg, Ont., where Mrs. Fish died. James, in 1838, returned to St. Andrews and engaged to R. King, proprietor of the grist mill there, for some years. In 1844, he was married to Ellen, daughter of Thomas Wanless of that village, and, after finding employment in mills at Hawkes- bury and other places four or five years more, he came to Lachijte, and for three years tended the grist mill for Col. Macdonald, agent for the Seignior of Argenteuil. For the nine years following, he acted as superintendent of all Macdonald's mills — grist, saw and woollen mills. Afterwards he obtained a lease of them for a term of years, and then bought them, his income having been so carefully husbanded that he now had quite a snug sum to invest in property. After keeping these mills in successful operation some time longer, he rented them to different parties ; but the carding and fulling mills were soon destroyed by fire. Mr. Fish rebuilt them, and added another two-story building, designed for the manufacture of wooden-ware. Within two years, however, the latter manufactory was burnt, by which fire he suffered a loss of $7,000 ; and after this, he sold all the other mills. In 1877, with that public spirit which has characterized his actions, he built the bridge, which is known as Fish's Bridge, at his own expense. ThSugh very indus- trious, and much devoted to his business, he has found time to serve his parish in different positions ; he has long been Commissioner for the trial of small causes, Councillor both for the parish and town, Mayor of the latter two years, and post- master and mail contractor. since i88o. In 1890-91 his real estate was appraised by the valuators at $25,525. Misfortune, however, has since deprived him of this pro- perty — the accumulation of a life of industry and economy. Mrs. Fish died 2nd January, 1891. Their only child, a daughter, was married to F. C. Ireland. In 1892, 13th January, Mr. Fish was again married, to Miss M. £. Barley, daughter of John Barley of Lachute. Henry Hammond, who owns a large farm near the village, on which the County Agricultural buildings are located, was one of the pioneers of this County. He was born in the County of Monaghan, Ireland, in 181 8. His father's family came to ♦ From a sketch by F. C. Ireland. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 217 America in 1831, and settled in the North Settlement ; but after living with his uncle five years, Henry went with his brother John to Mille Isles, and took up a lot of wild land. They were the first settlers in that parish, and their nearest neighbor* were three miles distant. Settlers soon began to come in, however, and after remain- ing there five years, receiving a good offer for their land, in 1841, they sold it and came to Lachute. Mr. Hammond says, even at that date, the only buildings there were in what is now the West End of Lachute were the Seigniorial Mills, a part of what is now the Victoria Hotel, and a school-house, which answered the two-fold purpose of an educational institution and a place for holding religious worship. Wolves still prowled in the surrounding forests, and occasionally made an attack on the sheep-fold. Mr. Hammond was a Volunteer in the Rebellion of 1837, but has since had nothing to do with eithermilitary, public or civic affairs, giving his attention entirely to his farm, save at times of election, when he has always voted the Conservative ticket. He has added to his farm from time to time, until it now comprises a thousand acres. He says that he drew many a load of grain to the Brewery of Com- missary Forbes, at Carillon, for the purpose of raising money, in the first years of his residence here. His brother John, who never married, always lived with him till his death in 1891, and gave valuable assistance in clearing up the faim. Henry Hammond was married to Miss Eliza Bradford, grand-daughter of the Rev. Richard Bradford, of Chatham. Their son, Henry R. Hammond, who now has the management of the estate, after graduating at McGill, studied law, and was admitted to the Bar ; but then decided to follow the more quiet and healthful vocation of agriculture. David Raitt is another who may be styled a pioneer of Lachule. He is a native of Fifeshire, Scotland, and in his youthful days learned the tailor's trade,, and afterwards enlisted at Edinburgh, 23rd October, 1 835, at the age of i8, in the Royal ■ Artillery, in which his services as tailor were called in requisition. He sailed with his company from Woolwich for Montreal, and arrived there 20th August, 1839. He then purchased his discharge, which reads as follows : " Gunner David Raitt of the Royal Artillery has always borne a good character in the corps, and I believe him to be a sober, honest and industrious young man, and one whom I conceive in every way to be trustworthy. "J. Turner, " Capt. Royal Artillery. •" Discharged in consequence of having paid the sum of £25 under item 12 of the Good Conduct Regulations." Mr. Raitt previous to his discharge had been master tailor in the garrison at Montreal. On the 7th January, 1842, he came to Lachute, where he has ever since resided. He bought 100 acres of land, on which he lived some years, and then selling it, he 15 2l8 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. removed to the village, devoting his time chiefly to his trade. On account of failing health, however, he accepted the office of bailiff— thus obtaining ample exercise in the open air — and he has held the position over forty years. Although 79 years of age, on the loth of October, 1895, Mr. Raitt is still active and intelligent, and enjoys relating his early experiences here, and describing the old landmarks and characters of Lachute. Mrs. Raitt, also, whose maiden name was Isabella Dixon, and whom he married before coming to Canada, is still alive and active. They have four sons and one daughter living, two sons and two daughters are deceased. James W., one of their sons, learned the trade of tinsmith, and followed it till 1890, •when he was appointed Secretary of Lachute and Clerk of the Commissioners' Court — offices which he has filled to the general satisfaction of the public. He is also agent for several Fire, Life and Accident insurance companies, as well as agricultural implements. He was married 5th October, 1871, to Janet Isabella Walker. John Raitt, his brother, is also a tinsmith, plumber and roofer, and ha.s a shop here on Main Street, in which he keeps a variety of tinware. He married Margare t a daughter of Nathaniel Copeland. Andrew McConnell whodied in 1893, and who had then been living a few years in Lachute, was for several decades a prominent and influential figure in Argenteuil, His father, Andrew McConnell, came from Glasgow to Canada, with his family. of John, Mary, Andrew, William and Agnes, in 1819, and settled on a farm on the Lachute Road. The son, Andrew, was married to Mary Jane Bradford, grand-daughter of the Rev. Richard Bradford, 31st October, 1851. He settled at Gushing in Chatham, on the farm now owned by J. B. Clerihue ; he erected fine buildings, and lived there till 1887, when he removed to Lachute. He was a very successful farmer, and was careful to educate his children. He filled the office of Justice of the Peace for many years with great ability, and when he died he was the oldest Justice of the Peace in the County. He was also a Commissioner for the trial of small causes, and was appointed Cap- tain of militia during Lord Monk's administration. He died in November, 1893, and the funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Lachute. He had eight children John Bradford, Gilbert Smith, Richard George, Andrew William, Jessie Ann, James Quinton, Jennie and Hugh. Gilbert, Andrew and James settled, a few years ago, in the North West — first at Qu'Appelle; but they are now residing in Vancouver. Andrew acted as courier for General Middleton during the Riel Rebellion, and was one of the nine prisoners rescued at the battle of Batoche. Richard G. is a B.A. of McGill College, and now holds a prominent position in the Geological Survey of Canada. John Bradford McConnell, M.D., CM., was born at Chatham, 28th August, 1851 i educated at Wanless Academy, at Carillon ; entered on his medical studies at McGill in 1869, and graduated in 1873. In 1871, he went through the Military HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 219 School at Montreal, and the same year was appointed Lieutenant in the nth Battalion of Argenteuil Rangers. Subsequently, he was for eight years surgeon in the Prince of Wales Rifles. He has taught many years in the Medical Facultyof Jlishop's College — first, as professor of Botany, his collection of plants being one of the largest in the Dominion ; he has filled several important positions in the University. During the summer of 1886, he made an extensive European tour, visiting the hospitals of Dublin, London, Paris and Berlin, taking a course on Bacteriology, under Prof. Koch at Paris. He has contributed frequently to the Montreal Medical Journal, and his papers have been read at the Medico-Chirurgical Society. He was married in 1875 to Theodora Lovell, daughter of Robert Miller, publisher and stationer. Nathaniel Boyd, from the north of Ireland, came to this country as a member of the Royal Staff Corps. After the canal was completed, he settled in the north part of Gore, and died there, not many years since, within a few months of 100 years old ; Mrs. Boyd died a few years later, at the age of 93. They had six sons and two daughters ; three of the former and the two latter are still living. Hugh, one of the sons, and his descendants live in Winnipeg j his son Nathaniel is the present M.P. for Marquette. Stewart, the eldest son of the pioneer, married Margaret Hammond, aunt of Henry Hammond of Lachute; she died about 1890, at the age of 93. They first settled in Gore, but a few years afterward removed to Chatham, where Mr. Boyd had bought TOO acres of wild land. On this land, and at that time, of course, he had all the varied rough experience of pioneer life ; he earned many dollars in those days, drawing wood to Carillon and selling it for 90 cents per cord. But he survived all this hardship, reared his family, cleared two farms, on one of which, known as the Mile End Farm, a fine tract, he lives with his son James. Though 83 years of age, he is still very active and ambitious. So great is his desire for work, that he insists on taking care of the stock, and threshing grain, daily, with a flail for over a dozen head of cattle. He was one of the loyal actors in the Rebellion of 1837 ; he is Master of an Orange Lodge, a position he has held over forty years. His children — three sons and two daughters — are all living. James, the eldest son, resides on the homestead. William S., the youngest, is connected with the Customs Department in Montreal. Mary, one of the daughters, is married to John Earl, of Lachute; Sarah, the other daughter, married to T. B. Johnson, resides in Lennoxville. John W., third son, at the age of fifteen, was apprenticed to learn the trade of miller, a trade which — sometimes in connection with lumber business — he has fol- lowed to the present. When about 21, he went to California, and was there engaged in lumbering five years. After his return, he and his brother bought the old mills known as the " McKenzie Mills," at St. Canute, with which they were engaged fifteen years, doing an extensive business. They sold out in 1886 for $14,000, after which John W. was connected five years with the new lumber firm of Owens, Lane & Boyd; 220 HISTORY OF AUGENTEUIL. he, also, in 189*, in company with W. J. Simpson, M.P.P., bought the grist mill and saw mill at Lachutie, which, during the past fall, 1895, they sold to J. C. Wilson. Mr. Boyd was married in October, 1892, to a daughter of Dr. Stackhouse of Lachute. James Henderson, a venerable old gentleman, with kind and pleasant face, who lives in a neat cottage near McGibbon's mill, has many recollections of the infant days of Lachute. He came with his father, Peter Henderson, from Callander, Perth- shire, Scotland, in 1820 ; his father settled on a lot in St. Canute in the county of Two Mountains, which is now owned by Wm. Boa. At that time, Mr. James Hender- son says, the only buildings where now the village is located were the grist mill and saw mill, and two or three houses ; one occupied the site of the present residence of Dr. Christie, a man named Proctor lived near the site of the Rev. Mr. Mackie's residence ; and there was a school-house where G. J. Walker, Esq., now lives. The only road to St Andrews was by way of Beech Ridge. Mr. Henderson, who is 82 years old, has spent thirty-five years of his life in Mon- treal. He gives a graphic description of an election that occurred in this county some time during the forties. Among other incidents, he relates that one of the candi> dates had a barrel of whiskey rolled to the place of polling ; the whiskey was served in a wooden pail, supplied with a tin cup, and then carried around, so that every one so inclined could drink to his heart's content. The elder Mr. Henderson died in 1841, and his son was married in 1843 ^o Elizabeth Vart, of England, who died in January, 1884 ; they had four sons and three daughters. The eldest, Peter, and third son, John, are in business in Montreal; the second son, William, is farming near Montreal, and the youngest, James, is also farming in Brandon, Man. Mary, the eldest daughter, and Elizabeth, the youngest, are married, and live in Montreal, and Jean, the second, lives with her father. John Scholefield, son of the Rev. William Stholefield, a prominent clergyman in England, came to this country when quite young, and labored for many years as local preacher. He married Amelia, a daughter of Robert Kneeshaw, an early settler , at Lachute. They lived a while at St. Andrews, and their son William was born there; after this, they removed to Ontario, where Mr. Scholefield died, not many years later. William Scholefield, the son, some years since, became Bookkeeper for his cousin, Robert Kneeshaw Summerby, who had erected two lumber mills and a grist mill at St. Canute. Mr. Summerby was accidentally drowned in his mill pond 31st May, 1886 ; his loss was widely and deeply lamented. Mrs. Summerby, his widow, and Mr. William Scholefield, were married i8th August, 1887, and Mr. Scholefield continued the business; but he died 9th January, 1891. Mrs. Scholefield still owns one of the lumber mills at St. Canute, and hag two lots and a fine brick residence in Lachute, where she lives. She has two daughters— Minnie Summerby and Amelia Scholefield. Another daughter by the HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. 321 first marriage, Ruby Summerby, a bright little girl, nine years old, and a general favorite, was drowned at Lachute, in the North River, 6th June, 1895. Mrs. Scholefield is devoted to Christian work, and has been President, Vice- President, and Secretary of the C. E. Society, and is now Corresponding Secretary. Benjamin Burch came from Vermont to Lachute with the earliest settlers, the Lanes, Hutchins, and others, and settled on land now owned by his grandson, Alfred Burch. The maiden name of his wife, whom he married in Vermont, was Annie Burch. He took up 3 :o acres of land, which he afterward divided among three sons, and lived here till his death. He had five sons and two daughters. His eldest, N. F. Burch, was killed on the railway at Carillon, loth November, 1868. Alvah Burch, one of the three sons mentioned above, married Miss Grout, of Vaudreuil ; she died leaving two sons, and he then married Margaret Matthews, by "which marriage he had seven children — five sons and two daughters. Soon after his second marriage, he sold his farm to the Rev. William Henry, and bought a village lot in Lachute, now occupied by Rodrigue's hotel, and conducted a public house Jiere thirty years. He was also engaged quite largely in other business — had a bakery, grocery,, and dealt extensively in cattle. It is said that, at one time, he was "wealthy, and was always benevolent and kind to the poor. Benj. Burch, an account of whose sad death by drowning is given in the history of Harrington, was a son of- Benjamin Burch, the pioneer. He married Eliza Clark, and settled on the farm in Upper Lachute now owned by his son, Alfred A. Burch. Some years later, he went to Harrington, took up land, and was drowned there in 1858. He had two sons and three daughters ; one of the former died in childhood. One daughter, married, lives in Manitoba, the other two in Grenville ; one, married to David Ogilvy ; the other is the widow of the late Richard Hoare. Alfred A. Burch, the only surviving son, when quite young, went to the States, and was married 7th August, 1873, in Slatersville, R.I., to Margaret Smiley, of Chatham, Que. In 1883, he moved to Manitoba; his wife died in 1892, and the following year he returned to Lachute, and bought the old homestead of about 150 acres, which had been the home of his father and grandfather. In 1893, July 4th, he was married to Elizabeth Fraser, youngest daughter of Amaziah Burch. Thomas Shepherd, who now resides in Lachute, is a son of William Shepherd, who came from Yorkshire, England, to St. Andrews about 1825, and for a year was in the employ, as farmer, of the Rev. Joseph Abbott. About two years after his arrival, he was married to Margaret Graham. In 1834, or thereabout, he bought 135 acres of land in the East Settlement, on which he lived till his death. Mr. Shepherd was one of the loyal actors in the Rebellion of 1837. He had eight sons and four ■daughters. Thomas, the eldest son, remained on the homestead, and was married, «th February, 1864, to Mary Ann Shaw. They have two sons and six daughters. 232 HISTORY OP ARGEKTEUIL. Mr. Shepherd sold the homestead to his eldest son, William, and moved to Lachute in 1891. The son was married, ist of March, 1892, to Grace Griffith. Mr. Shepherd has been a very successful farmer, and has a fine property in Lachute. Before moving here, he was for nine years a member of the Parish CounciL James Campbell came to Canada in 1823, landing in Quebec city on the 23rd of May ; he was accompanied by his wife, two sons, the family of one of the latter^ and a daughter. The married son, Samuel Campbell, settled in November of the same year oa 100 acres of an uncleared lot in Gore, on the shore of Clear Lake, but before he came to this section, his wife (Nancy McLean) died in Lachine. He remained in Gore a >ear and a half, then moved to the i ith. Range, Chatham, where he lived four years. His father, who resided with him, died during their stay in Chatham, and willed to him the lot in Gore, to which he then returned, and lived there for twenty years. He then removed to Fapineauville, and afterwards to Grenville, dying in the latter place at the age of 91. He was twice married ; by the first marriage he had two sons and a daughter, and by the last, two sons and four daughters. Joseph, the eldest son by the first marriage, was born in Co. Antrim, 4th Novem- ber, 1815; he, also, has been twice married: the first time, 6th April, i84r, to Jane McArthur ; six sons and four daughters were born to them. Mrs-. Campbell died 6th February, 1888; and Mr. Campbell was again married, 12th July, 1892, to Catherine A. Smith, widow of the late Captain William Smith. Mr. Campbell is now 81 years of age, and can write steadily, and walk five or six miles a day. He has done much work as a mechanic during his long life, and still keeps busy, usually in the manufacture of light articles of furniture, which are executed with, neatness and taste. John Campbell, one of his sons, is proprietor of the mills at Dalesville. Peter Campbell, another son, lived with his father in Chatham till the age of 17,. when he came to Lachute to learn the trade of miller. He worked five or six years with James Fish ; his employer then leased the mill to him for five years, and after- wards he bought both grist mill and saw mill ; in connection with the latter, he also engaged in the lumber business. He sold the mills, however, at the expiration of three years, and followed the lumber business till the fall of 1895, when the Lachute mills having been purchased by J. C. Wilson, this gentleman engaged Mr. Campbell to resume his former vocation of miller, in which position he is now employed. He was married 13th September, 1876, to Catherine Matilda Palliser ; she died 4th Feb- ruary, 1892 ; he has been a member of the Town Council three years. James Walker from Ayrshire, Scotland, came to Lachute in 1832; he was a miller, and was first employed a year in the St. Andrews mill, and then a year in the mill at Lachute. After this, he purchased of Johnson, a son-in-law of Benj. Burch, the farm of 170 acres, which is now owned by his son, G. J. Walker. A portion of Mr. Johnson's present dwelling was erected by Johnson. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 223 Soon after settling here, Mr. Walker met with a serious accident. Patrick Quinn — or, as he was usually called, Paddy Quinn — a noted character in Lachute in those days, with devoted loyalty, determined to celebrate the birthday of his sov- ereign. Securing an old cannon, he charged it so heavily with slugs and a variety of missiles, that it burst, injuring Mr. Walker so badly, that one of his legs had to be amputated. He spent his remaining days here, clearing up his farm, and was for many years Clerk of the Commissioner's Court; he died 26th April, 1868; Mrs. Walker died 3rd November, 1876. They had six children — four sons and two daugh- ters j of these, Gavin J. is the only one now living. The eldest, a daughter, born in Scotland, died soon after their arrival in Canada j the second, a son, died at the age ■ of 18. Two daughters, Jessie and Eliza, who married, respectively, G. L. Meikle and Thomas Patton, are now deceased. Gavin Walker has always remained on the homestead, and has been closely connected with all the affairs of the Town and County. The following is a list of the positions he still holds and those he has filled : Secretary County Council, appointed March, 1868 ; Secretary Parish St. Jerusa- lem, appointed 1879 ; Secretary School Board, appointed 1867; Secretary Agricultural , Society, appointed 1869 j Clerk of Commissioners' Court, appointed 1868. He was also Secretary of the town of Lachute for a year after it was formed, and took an active part in its formation ; he then resigned in favor of W. J. Simpson, the present M.P.P. He was Official Assignee for a number of years, is also a Justice of the Peace, and has been Curator for several estates, and is agent for different Life and Fire Insurance companies. The duties of these different offices-Mr. Walker has dis- charged efficiently, and to public satisfaction. He is a supporter of the Presbyterian Church, and for some years has been an Elder. He was married, 29th October, 1873, to Janet McOuat ; she died 25th January, 1890, leaving two sons and three daughters. Mr. Walker's commodious residence, beneath stately trees, with its view of interval meadows across the road in front, is peculiarly attr.ictive, and suggestive of the comforts and pleasures of an old-time, model homestead. In 1827, two brothers, James and John Caldep, weavers, from Paisley, Scotland, settled in Lachute, on the bank of the North River, on land now owned and occupied by the family of the late James Pollock. Finding that they could im- prove their circumstances, they soon removed to Chatham, in the vicinity of Dales- ville, where, in the history of Mt. Maple, will be found a sketch of one of these brothers, John Calder. James Calder, whose wife was a Miss Macfarlane of Paisley, had three sons, — John, Robert and James, and two daughters,— Margaret and Elizabeth. John, one of these sons, at an early age, manifested a desire to preach the Gospel, and had decided to enter the ministry; but, owing to the circumstances of the family, and their hardships in the new country— due, in some measure, to their utter ignorance of pioneer life — he was compelled to relinquish his cherished desire. 224 BISTOKY OF AROENTKUIL. As he was the eldest son, his services were sorely needed at home, hence he re- mained. But this did not prevent his preaching the Gospel ; and from that time till his death in 1876 he never neglected an opportunity to make known the glad tidings of salvation. In those days, churches were few ; and in log school-houses, on winter nights, after the day's work was over, and in neighbors' houses, on Sunday, he continued to hold meetings and expound the Scriptures. He had a natural talent for preaching and singing — the latter gift contributing much toward awakening and sustaining interest in the meetings. He married Sarah Kerr, daughter of an old Irish pensioner who had passed his days in the army fighting the battles of his country. The old veteran often boasted of his campaign in Egypt, under Abercrombie against Napoleon. He lived ' until he was 97 years of age, and died at the home of his daughter. John Calder prospered, and became one of the leading farmers in his settlement. For several years before his death, he was a colporteur for the Montreal Auxiliary Bible Society, travelling over a large section of this province, especially in the Eastern Townships, preaching Christ and distributing His word. It was on a trip of this kind that he contracted the cold which resulted in his death. The sudden death of his eldest son, James, and the failing health of his wife induced him to sell his property and move to Lachute in !May, 1875. In the following winter, while on a trip to Har- rington, he fell ill, and returning home, was seized with an attack of inflammation of the bowels, which, at the end of a week, proved fatal. His wife, who had been an invalid for over a year previous, survived him only a few months. Of him tliere was much good and^little ill that could be said. A kind-hearted, generous disposi- tion, a sterling Christian_character, no more fitting epitaph could be written than " he was a good man." The family consisted of four sons and three daughters. The eldest son, James, dropped dead (2nd Sept., 1875) f™™ heart disease, at theresidence of the late John Douglas, Front of Chatham, while waiting for the train which was to take him on a visit to his brother John, then in Tiverton, Ont. The latter married Elizabeth, second daughter of the late Finlay McGibbon of Dalesville, and now resides in Montreal, where lie is City Inspector of the Fire Underwriters Association. George F. and Charles, the other two sons, are the editors and proprietors of the Lachute Watchman. Of the sisters, Mary, the eldest, married Archibald Murdoch of Dalesville, and died in June, 1895, leaving a large family. Elizabeth married Mr. Wm. Heatlie of Stonefield,fand Susan married Mr. W. J. Thompson, of Lake View, P.Q., all of whom are yet alive. G. F. Calder, B.A., was born 22nd December, 1862, on the eighth concession of Chatham. In his early years he attended school in the old log school-house known as " Warwick School," being situated near the residence of the late David Warwick, but now commonly called Mount Maf>le. When the family left to reside in Lachute, he commenced to attend Lachute Academy, then under the principalship of Mr. A- Monroe. It is needless to say, the lad was far behind those with whom he now had HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. 225 to Study, for it must be remembered that our elementary schools in those days were not what they now are. He then learned the printer's trade in the Watchman office, which at that time was under the management of D. Kerr, and in 1880 returned to the Academy, of which C. S. Holiday, B.A., was then Principal. To this gentleman, Mr. Calder feels himself deeply indebted for his earnest and painstaking efforts in preparing him for college. He entered McGill in 1881, matriculating in Arts, received his degree of B.A< in 1885, and the same year obtained a first-class Academy diploma from the McGill Normal School. He then accepted the principalship of the Academy at Aylmer, Que., and after teaching there successfully two years, entered into partnership with W. J. Simpson (now M.P.P.), in the publication of the Watch- man, and removed to Lachute, where he has since resided. In 1892, he was married to Miss J. C. Roger, one of the staff of teachers in the Girls' High School, Montreal, and daughter of Mr. Jos. Roger, then of Wickham, but now of Lachute. In 1891, he was appointed a Commissioner of the Superior Court for taking affadavits, and in 1892 was admitted to the Bar for the study of Law. In politics- Mr. Calder has always been an active Conservative, and is able to express himself on the platform in clear and forcible language. He is a member of a Christian church, and an earnest advocate of temperance and every moral reform. As a writer, he has a clear and vigorous style, and when he sets out to answer an oppo- nent, he does it with an array of facts and force of logic that are not easily overcome. Charles Calder, a younger brother of G. F., and assistant-editor of the Watch- man, was born 13th May, 1865. After attending school in Chatham and Lachute, he spent four years in the Baptist College at Woodstock, Ont., from which place he entered the Watchman office in 1891. He was married 7th June, 1893, to Margaret, daughter of Archibald Graham, Cote du Midi, St. Andrews. In the publication of the Watchman, his labors are confined chiefly to the mechanical work; he is also agent for several Fire and Life Insurance Companies. The following obituary is taken from The Watchman of 29th April, 1870. Col. Simpson was the father of the present member of Argenteuil, in the lx>cal House. DEATH OF LIEUT.-COL. JOHN SIMPSON. " Death has been very busy in and around Lachute for the last few months, takmg many of the old and prominent resideniers. The last to fall under his stroke is the gallant officer whose name heads this article. " Col. Simpson was bom at Auchenterran, parish of Keith, Banffshire, Scotland, on 9lh February, i8ti, and died at Lachute on 29th April, 1890. He joined the Royal Artillery in June, 1836, and on the breaking out of the Rebellion in Canada, sailed from Woolwich for this country, on the 7ih April, 1838, and arrived in Montreal on the rsth of June. After the close of the Rebellion, in which he took an active part, he received his discharge, and came and located in Lachute. Here he formed a troop of Cavalry, which was reckoned the best disciplined in the Province, and at the time of 226 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. its disbandment, the troop presented him with a sword, belt and sword knot, in ac- knowledgment of his worth, and the esteem in which he was held by the individual members of the Troop. Subsequently, he was urgently solicited to take comihand of the 4th Company of Argenteuil Rangers, which Company he has been the Captain of for eighteen years, during which time he has on every occasion of the calling out of the Regiment accompanied it on active service. "Colonel Simpson was a gentleman held in great 'esteem in this community, and in his official capacity as a magistrate his judgments were always respected ; his object being to examine carefully into all cases brought before him before deciding upon them. We speak open to the corrective when we say that Col. Simpson was the oldest magistrate in theCounty, or it may be in the district of Terrebonne. One fact we do know, that in the early days of this County's history no man occupied a more prominent position in the administration of local justice, when that administra- tion was more in the hands of the magistrates than at present. The Colonel was always a warm and enthusiastic supporter of the Hon. Mr. Abbott and the Conser- vative party. " The Funeral. " Lt.-Col. Cashing, Commandant of the nth Battalion, and all the Officers and men in the immediate proximity of Lachute, together with the Band of the Regiment, attended the funeral. Lt.-Col. Simpson's horse, with his boots fastened in front of the saddle, was led by one of the men belonging to the deceased's Company. The pro- cession was the largest ever witnessed in Lachute, an evidence of the esteem in which the deceased was held in this community. The pall-bearers were the Officers of the nth Battalion, and on the coffin were three beautiful wreaths of lilies and myrtle. The corpse was taken to the First Presbyterian Church, of which the deceased was a member, the Rev. John Mackie, pastor of the church, officiating. As the funeral cor- tege entered the church, the organist began playing the dead march in Saul. After the people had all got seated, Mr. Mackie gave out the 276th hymn, a very appropriate one, at the clo;e of which the pastor ofiFered up a most feeling and impressive prayer. Then followed an appropriate address, the preacher's text being taken from 39th Psalm and 15th Corinthians, at the close of which the 23rd Paraphrase was sung, the Rev. Mr. Higgins closing with prayer, a very solemn and impressive one. " The officers present were Lt.-Col. Cushing, Major Lamb, Captains Weightman, Walker, Adj. Martin, Lieuts. Pollock, McPhail, McCallum and McMartin, Sergt. Major Earle, and Capt. Wanless of St. Andrews Cavalry." William John Simpson, M.P.P. for Argenteuil, has always taken an active in- terest in the affairs of the County, and has been a staunch and influential supporter of the Conservative party ; he was for several years Secretary of the Conservative Association, and three years Secretary of the Lachute Municipal Council. He joined the Rangers when quite young, as bugler during the Fenian Raids, and subsequently was Lieutenant of the same Company for twelve years. WM. JOHN SIMPSON, M.P.P. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 227 In 1881, he formed a partnership with Dawson Kerr, for the publication of The Watchman, which continued till ist January, 1892, when they sold to Messrs. Calder. He was married April 22nd, 1874, to Miss Mary Fitzgerald. Mr. Simpson's first experience of political life was when he was Secretary-Treas- urer of the Liberal Conservative Association, during which time there were many exciting political contests in the County. When Mr. Owens resigned his seat in the Legislature, the Convention called to select a candidate were unanimous in their choice of Mr. Simpson. He won the victory after an exciting conflict, in which the united forces of the Liberal party were arrayed against him. The issue seemed for a time uncertain, as his opponents had selected a most popular candidate — Mr. John Hay, a man of well-known integrity, and a prosperous farmer — the latter fact enhan- cing his chances of success, as two-thirds of the constituency are farmers. Moreover, the Liberals were fresh from a cheering victory, in which they had elected Dr. Christie to the Dominion Parliament by a large majority. These considerations apparently affected Mr. Simpson's chances seriously, but his popularity over-balanced every adverse influence, and he was returned. In the Legislature, he has been one of the most useful members in the Private Bills Committee, and has received, on several occasions, the grateful thanks of the Good Government Association of Montreal for the aid given them in obtaining proper amendments to their Charter. He has always supported the legislation popular with the temperance people, notably the " Tobacco Bill," the license amendments, etc. Among the measures he has introduced, are amendments to the Municipal Code, an act to abolish lotteries, an act to open the meetings of School Commissioners to the public, and the extension of the franchise to spinsters and widows. The following notice, which was taken from the Montreal Witness, was written by a Trooper of St. Joseph du Lac. It shculd have been inserted on a former page, in connection with the St. Andrew's Troop, but was overlooked : — " Having observed, in a January number of the Montreal Daily Witness, the death of Mr. John Oswald, a native of Stirlingshire, Scotland, aged 86 years and 6 months, at St. Augustin on the 16th inst.,and having served as a trooper under his command, I feel it my duty to narrate, through your valuable paper, the following, from official documents: — The deceased, John Oswald, when in Scotland, was a trooper in the Stirling Yeoman Cavalry, and in 1830 came to Canada and joined the Argenteuil Troop of Cavalry. On ist December, 1837, he ^^s commissioned Lieutenant by Sir John Colborne, and was inactive service during 1837-38. In 1848 he was promoted to a Captaincy by the Earl of Elgin. In November, 1856, he was appointed by Lord Monck, LieutCol. of the Militia, until declining years caused him to retire, very much esteemed and respected by all his troopers." PROFESSIONAL. Mr, John Meikle, sen., says: — "About this time (1831) also, the first doctor arrived in the settlement — Dr. McDowell, who, however, did not remain long. But 258 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. previous to his coming the settlers had enjoyed the services of a Mr. Ellis, who, though not an M.D., had much skill in medicine." Mr. Robertson succeeded him, but soon removed to St. Andrews. Thomas Christie, M.D., and the present member for Argenteuil in the Doininion Parliament, is doubtless the oldest medical practitioner in the County. He is the son of the late John Christie and his wife Elizabeth Nichol, both of Stirlingshire, and was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1824. He came to Canada with his parents in 1827, was educated at McGill University, and obtained his degree in 1848. He was married in October, 1849, to Catherine, daughter of the late Peter McMartin, of St. Andrews, Que. During the terrible ship fever in 1847-48, the Doctor was assistant surgeon at Point St. Charies, and the experience amid siich constant scenes of misery and deatii must have been severe for one so young, and in the outset of his pro- fessional career. Six thousand immigrants, it is claimed, are buried there, who died from that dreadful scourge during the years 1847 and 1848. Besides his professional duties, and those devoli^ing upon him as a member of Parliament, he has taken a deep interest in local affairs, and been called upon to fill responsible local positions. He has been Chairman of the Board of School Commissioners of the parish, Secre- tary of Lachute Academy, Warden of the County, etc. An account of his different elections to Parliament will be found in a list of the representatives of the County on preceding pages. The following sketch of the Doctor, found in F. C. Ireland's " Sketches of Lachute," published in The Watchman, \a 1886, will doubtless be endorsed by all who know him : — " Dr. Thomas Christie commenced his professional career in Lachute under discouraging circumstances, owing to the sparseness of the population and the bad roads, extending to the far away settlements of the north and west. But from con- stant attention to duty and very moderate charges, he soon entered upon a successful career which has continued to the present day. No physician can be held in higher esteem for faithfulness in the discharge of his professional duties than Dr. Christie ; while, as a public citizen, his life and influence have shown an untarnished record on the side of morality, temperance aCnd religion. He has reared sons and daughters to occupy responsible positions in society, several of the former following the profession of their father, with success shining brightly before them, while they all seem to partake of the same sterling principles of character. " The first really creditable-looking dwelling in Lachute was that erected by Dr. Christie, and it still stands — a most comfortable residence — suitable for anyone in this last qvarter of the 19th century. It is shpded by stately trees, while the grounds contain beds of flowers of brilliant hues, and graveled walks ; and it needs only a fountain ot sparkling water to complete a most beautiful pitture." Dr. Christie has had eleven children — seven sons and four daughters ; one of each sex died in infancy, and the others arrived at maturity. Four of the sons — John, Edmund, George H. and William— graduated from the Medical department of McGill; HISTORY OF ARORNTEUIL. 229 John and William also graduated in Arts. The former, who was a clever physician, and had secured a large and successful practice in Chicago, died in that city in 1 884. His two brothers, Edmund and William, are practbing in Chicago, and G. H. has succeeded to his father's practice in Lachute. Thomas, the third son, has a fine drug store here, and Jisimes P., the fourth, is in business in San Francisco. Of the daughters, the eldest remains with her parents ; the second is married to Mr. Crawford Ross, merchant in Ottawa ; and the youngest is married to Dr. A. D. Stewart, of Richmond, Que. The following Obituary of Dr. William Smith, who died at Lachute, 4th Sep- tember, 189s, is copied from The Watchman (Lachute) : — " Dr. Smith was born in the parish of St. Jerusalem on 4th April, 185 1. He attended school for several years in Brownsburg, being with his aunt, Mrs. Stalker. Afterwards, he prepared for McGill at Lachute College. During his course at ^ McGill, he was characterized by his honest and careful preparation of his work. After graduating in 1876, he commenced the practice of his profession here, which he con- tinued up to the time of his death. On 5th September, 1883, he was married to Mary Jane Hammond, daughter of Henry Hammond of Lachute, by whom he had two children. In February, 1891, the Doctor sustained a grievous loss by the death of his wife. His only regret at going was to leave his two little girls without mother or father. Early in his career, he became connected with the nth Battalion Argenteuil Rangers, and, finally, became their medical officer. He always took great interest in militaiy affairs, and was no mean shot with the rifle. His real entry into public life, however, was in the year 1889, when he first became Mayor of the town. At that time municipal waters were exceedingly troubled ; the Doctor sought to calm them, and his efforts were successful; for, while he never would swerve from a principle to please a friend, he did his duty in 'such a firm and kindly spirit, that he soon won the confidence of the public. It was recognized, that here was a man who had the cour- age of his convictions, and would do what he felt to be right, regardless of the con- sequences to himself. Such a man is a rarity ; and he was continued in oflice five successive years. During these years, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace and a Commissioner of the Commissioners' Court, in both of which offices he proved him- self a painstaking and careful official. Only last July, when a vacancy occurred on the School Board, the public again turned to him, and he was elected School Com- missioner. " As a physician, he w^s frequently jailed upon by the poor of this town and County, and he never refused to give his attendance through fear of not receiving his fee. Born among Liberals, for years he followed that party ; but there came a time when his convictions compelled him to sever his connections therewith, because he felt that the course then being pursued by the leaders of that party was not right j his allegiance was to principles first, and party afterwards. He became attached to the Conservative party, and was looked upon as one of its coming leaders. Last year, he was elected President of the Argenteuil Liberal-Conservative Association; 23° HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. but it must not be supposed that Dr. Smith was wedded to the Conservative party any more than he had been to the Liberals. He freely criticized the actions of the Government, and was ready again to sacrifice his party ties in order to maintain his convictions of what was right. Nevertheless, the party felt that they would never need to look outside for a candidate while Dr. Smith remained with them. " Resolutions were adopted by the Town Council of Lachute, expressing their pro- found respect for the deceased, and sorrow for his death, and all attended his funeral." A sketch of the family of Dr. Smith is given elsewhere in these pages. Dr. Benjamin S. Stackhouse, son of the late John Stackhouse, a well-known citizen of St. Andrews, has for many years been one of the leading, and, in fact, the only Dentist of Lachute. He has a fine residence and ofiice on Main street. Of his three brothers. Dr. Charles Stackhouse, who also adopted Dentistry as a profession, has his office on Sparks street, Ottawa, and a beautiful residence on O'Connor street, in the same city ; John Stackhouse, the eldest, who succeeded his father in the chair, making business in St. Andrews ; and Gilbert, the youngest, who was a photographer in the same village, are both deceased. Dr. L. p. Alexander Rodrigue, third son of Pierre Rodrigue, was born 17th December, 1869, in St. Scholastique, Que. He attended school in Lachute, and in 1883 entered the College in St. ITidr^se. After passing his examination before the Quebec Medical Board in May, 1891, in Montreal, he entered Laval Uni- versity of that city, and graduated in 1895, taking his degree of M.D. ; and also obtaining his license to practise medicine and surgery at the same time. He then came to Lachute, where he has many influential friends, and has opened an office in " Rodrigue's Block," on Railway Avenue. J. B. Menzies, M.D., one of the medical practitioners of Lachute, has quietly and modestly won the esteem of the people of this section, and built up a good practice. He is a son of J. B. Menzies, Registrar of the County of Lanark, Ont., from which place he came to Lachute in 1887 ; he is a graduate of McGill and received his degree in 1879. W. W. Alexander, M.D., now occupies the office of the lamented Dr. Smith. Dr. Alexander was bom in Prince Edward Island, and received his education at the Prince of Wales College, Charlottetown. In 1887, he entered the Medical Depart- ment of McGill University, and received his degree of M.D., CM., therefrom in April, 1891. After some months of post-graduate work in Boston and New York hospitals,' he returned to Canada, and began practice in Hemmtngford, Huntington County,' Que., where he remained till recently, when he came to Lachute. The recommend- ations he has received, and the interest he takes in religious work, give promise of a useful and successful career. Joseph Palliskr, barrister, is a native of Lachute ; his grandfather, Robert Palliser, came from Yorkshire, England, to Lachine, in 1832, with three sons and two daughters ; he was killed at that place during an election riot in March, 1841. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 331 Thomas, his eldest son, was tnsirried in Lachine, in 1838, to Margaret Baird ; he was a member of the Lachine Troop of Cavalry during the Papineau Rebellion. In 1844, he settled in Lachute, and lived here till 1893, when he visited his son Thomas in Morris, Man., and died there, the 17th December of the same year. He had two sons and three daughters, who arrived at maturity. Joseph, the second son, attended Military School in Montreal, and received his certificate in 1869. The year following, while holding the rank of Sergeant-Major in the nth Battalion, he joined the expeditionary force to the Red River. After his return, he studied Law with the late Hon. J. J. C. Abbott, being admitted to study in 1876, taking his degree from McGill in 1878, and was called to the Bar in 1879. He was married in 1879 to Lillian Margaret McGibbon. Mr. Palliser takes an active interest in all local affairs ; he drew the Charier when the Town of Lachute was incorporated in 1885, and has been Chairman of the School Board several years. He was the first to introduce the electric light into Lachute, and has always been desirous of promoting public improvements ; he has charge of the telegraph office here. G. E. Bampton, Q.C, for several years has been one of the prominent members of the Bar in this County. He was born in Plymouth, Eng., and is a son of the late Augustus Bampton, Civil Engineer, M.T.C.E., Chief Surveyor of the Corporations of the towns of Plymouth and Davenport, England. G. E. Bampton was educated at Christ's Hospital, London, and afterward served five years on the Pacific, and at other stations, as an officer in the Royal Navy. He took a Law course at McGill, graduating with first-class honors, and was called to the Bar in 1879 ; he studied with D. Macmaster, Q.C, Bernard Devlin, and others. He began practice in Lachute in 1879, and was married 13th August, 1884, to Ann Louise Pollock, third daughter of the late Thomas Pollock, Postmaster at Hill Head. Mrs. Bampton died 29th November, 1891, at the age of 27, leaving, three children. Mr. Bampton was appointed Revising Officer for the County in 1885, by the Dominion Government, and Provincial Revenue Attorney, by the Quebec Govern- ment, in 1892. He has always taken a prominent part in politics, being one of the effective advocates during election campaigns of the interests of the Conservative party, and has been retained in most of the law cases in the county which were of public interest. Joseph Evariste Valois was bom in Vaudreuil, Que. He spent three years in the College of L'Assomption of that place, then went to the College of Montreal, and passed his examination for the Notarial Profession in 1878. He was admitted as a Notary in May, 1882, and began practice in St, Scholastique the same year. He remained in that village until March, 1890, when he came to Lachute. While in St. Scholastique, he was married in September, 1885, to Corinne, daughter of Joseph Langlois, of that place. Mr. Valois organized a Band in May, 1895; it is composed of sixteen members, and he is instructor. 232 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. A. Berthelot is also a Notary who has practised his profession many years in Lachute. The following history and statistics of schools in this section, during the first decade of this century, was recently found among the old papers of J. S. Hutchins by his daughter, Mrs. Gushing, of Montreal, through whose courtesy they are now pub- lished : — RISE AND PROGRESS OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN THE SEIGNIORY OF ARGENTEUIL, COUNTY OF TWO MOUNTAINS. In 1798, this Parish contained but five families, numbering about thirty souls j in 1800, fifteen families, numbering about seventy-five souls. In this year, one school was put in operation, and taught by a female in a private house near the Chute Mills — numbering about fifteen scholars — for the term of six months. In 1801, a log school-house was built, half a mile above the Chute Mills, and taught by a young man six months, thirty scholars attending daily. In 1802, the settlement increased to more than thirty families, and several small schools were started, located from two to three miles from each other, and generally taught by females. This mode of education was continued up to the year 1810, when, at the request of the inhabitants, a school was established by order of the Governor General, under the Royal Insti- tution, a mile and a half above the Chute Mills — a good, substantial, school building having been previously erected. John D. Ely was duly commissioned by the Governor General to leach in the same, with a salary of sixty pounds per annum. Mr. Ely, being a first-rate elementary teacher, soon raised his school to a respectable standing* and the average number of scholars in daily attendance amounted to sixty. Mr. Ely taught this school for four years very successfully, many children being sent to his school from the neighboring parishes 10 receive instruction in the higher branches of education. The inhabitants made his salary nearly equal to one hundred pounds per annum ; but, unfortunately for him and the parishioners, too, he was obliged to relinquish his trust, and Mr. Aaron Wood was subsequently commissioned to teach the school. The latter continued it for two years, and then resigned his position, in consequence of the Board's reducing their teachers' salaries to twenty pounds per annum. They, likewise, multiplied their schools ; and another was established, abou four miles distant, under the name of the Upper Lachute School. Shortly after this change by the Board of the Royal Institution, the Government bounty was distributed to all the schools in the Province ; and its allowance was equal to that of the schools under the Royal Institution. Mr. Carpenter succeeded Mr. Wood as teacher, and taught for three years successfully. I would here note that, after the salaries of the teachers were cut down to twenty pounds, the trustees were obliged to raise the fee of tuition from is. 3d. to 3s. pd. per scholar, each month, in order to provide competent eachers. The school of which I have been particularly speaking has been continued HISTORV OF ARGE^fTEUIL. 233- up to the present day by various teachers, generally competent ; but it cannot be said that it is in as flourishing a condition as when it was under the Royal Institution,, neither is it so numerously attended. The children under the age of fourteen and over seven, belonging to this district number sixty-one, but they do not all attend school. There are, at the present time; eight school districts in this p.irish, numbering altogether about three hundred and fifty children. In the year 1810, the number of children over four and under twenty one was two hundred and eleven, male and female. The following is a list of the inhabitants, and the number of children between the ages of 4 and 21, in Lachute, in 1810, copied from a document found among the papers of J. S. Hutchins : Number of children, 2ti. John Kelly, Abiathar Waldron, Francis Dureau, Silas Boldry, Samuel Orton, Joel Bixby, Osias Hosilton, Benj. Burch, Benj. I. Burch, Asa Kimball, Wm. Powers, Wm. Evans, Jonathan Burch, Jonathan Hart, Isaac Thompson, John Dunlap, Wm. Powers, jun., Ward Stone, Augustus Stone, Benj. Cutter, David Hubbard, Sampson, Amaziah Church, Knot, John S. Hutchins, Nathaniel Davis, Phineas Hutchins, Samuel Sanders, Jonathan Burch, jun., Hezekiah Clark, Wm. Perkins, John Sparrow, D. Hitchcock, James Draper, Richard Dilly, Daniel Pool, Timothy Pool, John Blanchard, Philander Stephens, Ebenezer Stephens, Cyrus Calkins, James Thompson, Wm. Thompson, Abiram Boldry, John Jacobs, Nathan Jacobs, Alex. Reed, Wm. McNall, Samuel Thompson, Curtis Stone, E. Blackman, Osias Black- man, Charles Ellis, David Bell, James Hubbard, Aaron Stone, Aaron Hamblin, Uriah McNall, Elijah Woodworth, Joseph Herrimon, Rufus Herrimon, Benj. Allen. Wm.. McGloughlin, David Taslin, Timothy Richardson, Moses Snider, John Snider, Samuel Blackman, Isaiah P. Barber, Robert Partlow, Isaiah Hyatt, B. Cramton, Asa Sanders, Israel Brooks, Charles Perkins, Asa Starnes, Gideon Blackman, David Brooks, Jonathan Brooks, Daniel Starnes, Nathan Brooks. LACHUTE ACADEMY. By J. W. McOuAT, School Inspector. Lachute Academy had its origin in the free classes conducted in his own house, by the late Rev. Thomas Henry, who felt the necessity of providing higher education for the young people of the community. These classes were popular, and the attend- ance increased, so that it was soon necessary to remove the school to the basement of the Presbyterian Church, of which: the Rev. Mr, Henry was pastor. At a public meeting, 23rd February, 1855, the people manifested their appreciation of such instruction, by establishing a superior school governed by five directors. These directors organized a school, outlined a course of study, and appointed a staff of teachers, and thus the pastor's private classes became the well-known public instilu-^ tion, " Lachute Academy." 16 234 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. The Academy classes were continued in the basement of the church until proper buildings could be erected. Rev. Mr. Henry was appointed first Principal of the Academy, with the following assistants : T)t. Thomas Christie and Mr. John M. Gibson. John Meikle, Esq., was President of the Board of Directors, and Mr. John M. Gibson was Secretary. After a year and a half of faithful work, the Rev. Mr. Henry, John Meikle, Esq., and Dr. Thomas Christie were successful in obtaining from government, through the kind services and loyal support of Sydney Bellingham, then member of Parliament for the County of Argenteuil, an Act of incorporation and a government grant of jQjs. This Act of incorporation was obtained ori the first day of July, 1856, when the following gentlemen were incorporated a " body politic and corporate in deed and in name," to be known as " Lachute College," viz. : " John Meikle, Thomas Christie, Rev. Thomas Henry, Rev. Walter Scott, Rev. James Bishop, Thomas Lockie, Thomas Pollock, John McAllister and Thomas Morrison, all of the village of Lachute, County of Argenteuil." Thus was Lachute Academy established, on 23rd February, 1855, and incorporated by Act of Parliament, passed at Toronto, ist July, 1856, during the second session of the fifth Parliament of Canada, and assented to by Sir Edmund Walker Head, Governor General. The Academy was established in the municipality of St. Jerusalem, which con- tained, in 1856, 471 heads of families and 740 children from 5 to 16 years of age. The attendance at the Academy in 1855-6 was 210, of which number 94 pupils were under 16 years, and 116 pupils were over 16 years of age. These figures prove clearly the need of a superior school, and the wisdom of those who labored so earn- estly for its establishment. The course of study outlined by the directors comprised Latin, Greek, Natu- ral History, Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, Mathematics, English Grammar and Composition, Geography, Elementary Astronomy, Drawing, Design and French. In 1856, the directors purchased a fine set of chemical apparatus valued at £40, and later, in 1859, they added a complete set of maps and an orrery to their appliances for teaching geography. The public library of the " Mechanics Institute " afforded the students many opportunities of reading, and served as an excellent reference library. In the long period of partial leisure from autumn to spring, how pleasant and profitable it must have been for the young people to attend such classes, and receive instruction from such disinterested and loyal teachers, most of whom were men of zeal for the cause of education, and labored free of charge to the institution ; the total cost of teaching, in 1856, being only £120. Rev. Mr. Henry contipued to be connected with the Academy, for several years after its establishment, as teacher and adviser, while Dr. Christie labored faithfully and gratuitously, for many years as demonstrator in chemistry, and the late John Meikle, Esq., continued President of the Board of Directors, and befriended the school in various ways. On 2oth April, 1858, the directors resolved to erect an academy building in a HISTORY OF ARGKNTEUIL. 235 central place, and selected the site on which the old academy now stands^ in the east ward of Lachute town, midway between two of the parish schools, Nos. I and VIII. These two elementary schools were united by the school commissioners, who built the lower storey of the new building, while the directors built the upper part, thus bringing the pupils of the two elementary schools, and the classes of the Academy, into the same building. The new buildings were occupied in 1859, and the Rev. John Mackie was placed in charge at a salary of $350 (to be paid in silver at par) and all the fees arising from his classes. The staff of teachers in 1858-9, which was the first year in the new building, was Rev. John Mackie, principal; Dr. Christie, lecturer ; Mr. James Emslie and Mr. Adam Orr, teachers. After two years Rev. Mr. Mackie resigned and became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. He was succeeded in i860 by Mr. John Reade, who held the position for three years until 1863. In 1862 the Government grant was reduced by one-half, and a still further reduction left the institution in debt, and unable to continue its educational work. Under these circum- stances, the directors concluded to amalgamate the academy classes with the public schools and make over the Government grant, now ;£44, to the school commissioners, on condition that they should engage a head master who was competent to teach the classics. This arrangement was made in 1864, and has continued to the present time, Mr. Alex. Stewart was principal after Mr. Reade from 1863-4, when he was succeeded by Mr. George Thomson of Queen's College, Kingston, in 1864. Mr. Thomson held the position until February, 1867, when he was appointed School Inspector, and Mr.. G. H. Drewe became principal until February, 1868, when Mr. Alex. Stewart was again engaged as principal until 1870. In 1870 Mr. C.S. Holiday succeeded Mr. Stewart, and remained principal until 1874, when he resigned and was followed by Mr. Murdock Munroe for one year, 1874-5. Mr. Holiday returned in J87S, and held the position for nine years, until 1884, in which year he accepted the position of principal in Huntingdon Academy, and Mr. H. M. Cockfield became principal of Lachute Academy, which position he filled until 1886, when he resigned to accept service under the Montreal School Board, and was succeeded by Mr. J. W. McOuat, until 1892. In 1892 Mr. McOuat was appointed School Inspector, and Mr. N. T. Truell, who now (1895) holds the position, was made Principal. Amongst the numerous assistant teachers are Mr. James Emslie and Mr. Thomas Haney, two of the oldest and best known teachers of the County. In 1875 a proposal was made by the directors to the school commissioners, to erect a "wing " to the east side of the original building. This suggestion, however, was only carried into effect in 1879, when the increased attendance in the elementary departments made an enlargement necessary. At the same time an elementary school was established in the " West End " of the village, thus restoring the former school, No. VIII. The upper portion of the " wing " was used for various purposes until a much later date, 1888, when it also became a classroom of the Academy. This relationship existed between the two boards (the College Directors and the 236 HISTORY OK ARGENTEtJIL. Parish Commissioners) until the incorporation of Lachute Town in 1885, when the parish board withdrew, and re-established their former school, No. i, now called " East End School." The directors, however, established the same relationship with the school board of the Town, and the whole institution bfecame one school and adopted the course of study for academies. In 1891-2 the school commissioners unanimously determined to build a new school building worthy of the large attend- ance, which was rendering the old buildings far too small. This school board was composed of the following gentlemen : — ^Joseph Palliser, chairman ; Hugh Eraser, jun., Thomas McOuat, Peter Cruise and Rev. Wm. Sanders, while William Henry was secretary-treasurer, and J. W. McOuat was principal of the school. Four acres of land were purchased for a playground, and one of the finest school buildings in the province was erected thereon, at a cost of $r2,ooo. In this new building, situated in the centre of the town, large numbers of students continue to attend from all parts of the county and surrounding districts. Amongst the benefactors of the school are Sidney Bellingham, the late John Meikle, and, in recent years, J. C. Wilson, Esq., not to mention the numerous friends and students who have contributed to the library, nor the zealous principals who devoted many extra hours to prepare students to enter courses of study not in line with the Academy work. As a result of the Academy's influence, men are to be found in every profession who must attribute their start in life and much of their later success to the instruction which they received in its classes, while the whole county must confess that the school has been a public benefactor and a blessing to the community in which it stands. Newton T. Truell, the subject of this sketch, is the youngest son of Valorous " Truell, Esq., a prosperous farmer in the Eastern Townships. He was born at Ways Mills, Stanstead County, May Sth, 1866, and received his preliminary education at Stanstead Wesleyan College. At the age of fifteen he went to the ColUge de SU Hyacinthe to complete a course in French, after which he pursued a classical course in St. Francis College, graduating from that institution at the age of nineteen, and obtaining, the same year, an Academy diploma for both English and French schools. Mr. Truell has since devoted himself to the profession of teaching, and has attained a high position among the educators of the Province. He was for several years Priii- cipalof the St. John's High School, but resigned that position in 1892, to accept the Principalship of Lachute Academy, which position he now holds. He is President of the Argenteuil Teachers' Association, Vice President of the Provincial Teachers' Association, and a member of the Protestant Committee of the Council of Public Instruction. Mr. Truell is a strong believer in the theory, that the physical nature and the mental nature of the child should be developed simultaneously, and he was the first head master to introduce an organized system of Calisthenic exercises into any of the academies of our Province. On 27th Dec, 1892, he was married to Miss Julia Maude Fulvoye of St. Johns, Que., second daughter of Mr. I. B. Futvoye, Super- intendent of the Central Vermont Railway. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 337 RISE AND PROGRESS OF RELIGION. A skitch found amotg the papers of the late J. S. Hutchins. In the year 1799, when there were but few families in the place, Dudley Stone, an official member from the Congregational Society, invited the people to attend divine service on the Sabbath. 'J''he service consisted of singing, prayers, and reading a sermon, and he was generally assisted by others ; the place of worship was in a log barn, directly opposite the present meeting chapel, on the north side of the river. These services were regularly observed for about one year, when an itinerant Metho- dist preacher, by the name of Picket, from the Troy Conference, N.Y., found his way through the woods to the settlement, and commenced to preach the Gospel to the people, forming a circuit emb'acing L'Orignal, E. and W. Hawkesbury, Chatham and Argenteuil. As there were no roads at this time for riding on horseback, nor boats for crossing horses over the rivers, he walked from place to place, carrying his portmanteau on his shoulders. He preached alternately every fortnight at Lachute and L'Orignal, and through the week at the other places above named, as these were but thinly inhabited. Thus he continued his labor for six or seven months, when the Rev. Elder Jewel came to look after him and his flock, which amounted to a considerable number, there being no other minister to dispense the Bread of Life. Those who had previously tasted that Bread were not so particular as to whom they received it from, as are many at the present day. Elder Jewel was the first who administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper in this place, in October, 1801. Mr. Picket was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Sawyer, who traveled the Circuit for two years, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Madden, and other ministers from the same Conference up to the year 1812, when the war between England and the United States broke out, and the ministers, being American subjects, were all obliged to leave the Province, leaving the sheep without a shepherd, to do as best they could, A Sunday School was founded in this district, in the year 1818, by the Rev. Thaddeus Osgood, missionary from the Congregational Missionary Society, of Boston, It numbered about thirty scholars, and was superintended and taught .by the writer for seven years, subsequently by others ; and it has been continued through the sum- mer months up to the present time. From the time of the first preaching of the Gospel here, up to 181 2, the Metho- dists had control in religious matters in the above mentioned places, there being no other denomination. During the war, which lasted more than two years, divine service was kept up by a wo rthy local preacher, Mr. Kellog, assisted by the official members of the Methodist Society, and the Rev. Mr. Bradford, Church of England minister, who was situated in the front of Chatham. He visited this place on several occasions, to administer the sacrament to the people. Though the place of meeting was in a barn, the reverend gentleman, after the close of one of the services, declared it to be one of the happiest seasons of his life. After the close of the war, the preachers 238 , HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. returned to their several circuits to look after their flocks ; and now commenced great di£ScuIty and damage to the cause of Christianity; however, we are now writ- ing for the benefit of generations yet unborn. These difficulties need not be detailed. Suffice it to say, that they have all been overcome, and that the cause of religion is slowly advancing." UNITED ASSOCIATE CONGREGATION, OR FIRST PRESBYTERINA CHURCH OF LACHUTE. ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. By Rev. J. Mackie. A few families came out from the west of Scotland about the year 1819. One young man from Stirlingshire, John McOuat, gave an impetus to the cause of Christ 'n this neighborhood. On arriving at Montreal, he remained some time working about the city, but his ambition was to have land, as he had been brought up a farmer, and desiring to follow that occupation, he went to St. Eustache, and worked there for a short time with a farmer. Hearing that a Presbyterian minister preached in St. Andrews, he came to Lachute, and bought a farm on the banks of the North river, and sent home to Scotland for his friends. Many of them came out to this country, and settled in and around Lachute ; but a great want was felt, as the Sabbath came round. They had no church, and their desire for religious instruction was so great, that many of them went down to St. Andrews — a distance of six miles — on the Sabbath to hear Mr. Archibald Henderson, who was the only Presbyterian minister at that time in the county. So many of the people waited on his ministry, that he was induced to come up to Lachute, once a month, and preach in the school- house, as there was no other place of meeting. The people of the neighborhood were drawn together to hear the Gospel preached by Mr. Henderson, and as the congregation increased, they experienced a desire to have a minister settled over them ; but that was not easily accomplished at that time. In the year 1831, they invited the Rev. William Brunton of St. Therese to become their minister; and promised him an annual stipend of $264. He accepted the call, and became their pastor. The people rallied around him in great numbers, so that they were encouraged to build a church, and a subscription paper was circu- lated among them. 1 here was very little money in circulation among the farmers, and the people, generally, were very poor, many of them having left the Old Country with little means. In Scotland, there- was great depression among the farmers, after the battle of Waterloo ; they were not able to pay the high rents the landed proprietors were accustomed to receive during the Peninsular war, and many of them were forced to leave their farms and seek homes in Canada. They had their trials in this new land ; HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 239 bat by perseverance and industry they overcame them. They reared their homes, cleared and cultivated their fields, and were soon in comparative comfort There was one great want — they had no church nor minister, while at home they had churches and godly ministers, who labored faithfully among them. They aimed to have the same advantages here, but there were many difficulties in the way ; they had little money ; some gave work, and a few gave money, one or two subscribing very liberally. Mr. John McOuat headed the subscription list with a hundred dollars — a great sum in those days. They were encouraged to proceed in erecting the church, and it was commenced without a plan, in the year 1833; it was built by William and Andrew McOuat. After the walls were up, they had great difficulty in getting the sashes for the windows made and glazed. Mr. McOuat came to the rescue. He bought the glass and putty, and kept the joiner till he finished the windows and put them in ; then the church was fit to meet in. Great was the joy when the songs of praise to God were heard within its walls and the glad tidings of salvation were proclaimed. The building was a striking copy of an original Secession Church. It lays no claim to artistic beauty, yet it is a substantial structure, characteristic of the men who built it and of the times in which it was built. For a number of years the congregation prospered. Mr. Brunton labored faithfully and successfully among the people, but in a few years the Lord took him up to the higher sanctuary. He died in the year 1839. The tombstone erected to his memory by his congregation bears the following inscription, written by Dr. William Taylor, of Montreal : — " Sacred to the memory of the Rev. William Brunton, Minister of the United Associate Congregation of Lachute, who departed this life 12th August, 1839, in the 73rd year of his age and the 45th of his ministry. " As a minister it was his chief desire to be found faithful, and so to preach the Gospel to save both himself and those that heard him. " As a Christian, he exemplified, in his daily conduct, the virtues which he taught in public, being distinguished for the humility of his disposition and the patience which he displayed in many trials. He being dead, yet speaketh, " The Congregation of Lachute have erected this stone in testimony of their veneration for his memory. He was born in the parish of Newbattle, County of Edinburgh, Scotland, 4th May, 1767. He was ordained to the office of the Ministry in 1795. He arrived in this country in 1820, and, after preaching the Gospel in various other places, undertook the pastoral care of this Congregation in 183T, where he spent the last seven years of his valuable life." 240 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. After Mr. Brunton's death, a dark cloud settled upon the congregation ; most of the people belonged originally to the Church of Scotland, and they wanted a minister of that communion. The few Seceders were strong for remaining in connection with ■the Secession or United Associate Synod. An inducement was held out by the Presbytery of Montreal, in connection with the Church of Scotland, that, if they would join the latter, they (the Presbytery) would give fifty pounds a year towards the minister's salary. A meeting of the people was called to decide the matter ; the Church of Scotland party, being in the majority, thought that they should letain the building, and wished the question to be decided by vote. Mr. McOuat, before putting the question to the meeting, re- minded them that there was an arrearage of salary, which must be paid before deciding the matter. Though the church was crowded before the motion was made, before the vote was taken there .were very few " remaining, principally Seceders, and it was decided that they should have the church. The party wishing to join the Church of Scotland thought it was very hard to lose the church they had helped to build. In a most generous manner, John and James McOuat gave the Old Kirk party a vote, promising to pay them the sum of forty pounds — the amount they contributed towards building the church — to be given when they built one in connection with the Church of Scotland. When they commenced to build the Free Church, they applied for the forty pounds, Mr. McOuat said : " Na, na ; I promised to give it, when you built a church in connection with the Scottish Church." Thus they forfeited not only the forty pounds from the Seceders, but also the fifty pounds promised by the Presbytery of Montreal. These things caused hard feelings between the two parlies. The congregation of the First Church was for some time without a minister j there was no Presbytery in the Lower Province, hence they were without a preacher. Dr. Taylor, of Montreal, the only minister in connection with the United Secession Church of Scodand at this time, was about to pay a visit to the Old Country. They requested him to present their case to the Synod at home ; but he was not suc- cessful in securing a minister. After waiting for some time, two were sent out : Mr. iouden, who was settled at New Glasgow ; and Mr. Andrew Kennedy, who was placed at Lachute. At this time the congregation was very small, and. could not give ■him a salary sufficient to keep him and his family, so the church at home gave con- siderable help, which enabled him to remain some time with them ; but at length he resigned his charge. Thus, again, they were without a settled minister, though oc- casionally one was sent to them. At length they gave a call to the Rev. Walter Scott to become their pastor, which he accepted. He remained a few years, and resigned his charge. This was very much against the prosperity of the congregation ; a few families left the church, as they thought they would never get another minister. The small remnant was very much discouraged, but still were sturdy Seceders. True to their principles, they stuck firm and fast together, and could not be bribed to leave their denomination. By this time, a few ministers had come out to Canada ; a Pres- bytery was formed, and preachers were sent to the vacancies. After hearing a few HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 24 1 they gave a call to Mr. John Mackie, a licentiate of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. He came to Lachute in the month of November, 1858, and preached to them that winter. When navigation opened, the Presbytery of Montreal — com- prising- three ministers— came to Lachute on the 1 8th day of May. They met in the Church, after hearing Mr. Mackie's trials for ordination, with which they were highly pleased. The call that was presented to him was signed by fifteen members and twenty-five adherents. The stipend promised by the congregation was forty pounds — $160. The Presbytery hesitated to place Mr. Mackie on so small a salary. He would take nothing from the missionary fund, so he commenced his ministry with little pecuniary recompense, and a very small congregation. The people were kind to him, and he labored among his little flock with some degree of success, preach- ing every Sabbath morning in the church at Lachute, and in the afternoon, altern- ately at the East Settlement — a distance of six miles — and at Brownsburg — a distance of five miles. By faithful preaching, and steady perseverance in visiting the families, his flock increased from twenty-five members to two hundred and ten, and the salary of $160 rose to $750. Thus, the material success was considerable. The regular attendance of the people, and their marked attention to the mstructioas given, showed that they appreciated the ministrations of their pastor. In this short and imperfect sketch, reference has been made chiefly to the material progress of the K:ongregation. But who can estimate the spiritual results, or the value and import- ance to the people, of the faithful preaching of the Gospel, and witnessing for Christ for over sixty years, by the servants of the Lord ? The Rev. John Mackie, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Lachute, was born in Hamilton, Scotland, in 1822, educated at Glasgow University, and received his theological training in the United Presbyterian Hall, Edinburgh. He was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Hamilton in 1854; a few years sub- sequently he came to Canada, a.nd was ordained at Lachute in 1859. In 1864, he was married to Agnes, daughter of the late CapL Robert Dunlop, of Greenock, Scot- land, who is a faithful helpmeet and a lady highly esteemed in the community. Mr. Mackie, during his long pastorate, has become much endeared to the people of Lachute ; he is a good reasoner, and this advantage is enhanced by his pleasing delivery from the pulpit. He is a typical Scotchman, and, while possessing a fund of humor, he is quick to feel for the afilicted, and is always a welcome and sympathetic visitor at the bedside of the sick. Mr. and Mrs. Mackie have had nine children — three sons and six daughters — the eldest daughter died in infancy ; the third son, in 1888. The eldest son, John McOuat Mackie, is manager of the Gould Manufacturing Company, Boston, Mass. ; the second son, Robert, is an engineer in New Jersey. The second daughter, Mary, was married in 1887 to William Scott, Esq., of the Mackay Milling Co., Ottawa The four youngest daughters are still pursuing their studies. 24S HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. HENRY'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The begbning of this church has already been given in the preceding sketch of Mr. Mackie, and we have no data from which to compile an elaborate history. The Rev. Thomas Henry was inducted in 1843, and continued to minister to the spiritual wants of his people till the year 1862, when he was succeeded by the Rev. John Eadie, who was pastor for seven years. After his removal to another field of labor, the Rev. William Furlong was called to the pastorate, and labored for nearly twenty years. He resigned in the year 1892, and was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. N, Waddeli,, B.D. Mr. Waddeli, whose ability and geniality have rendered him popular with his parishioners, was born in the township of Osgoode, Carleton County, Ontario, in 1857, and educated at the Ottawa Collegiate Institute, McGill University, and the Presby- terian College, Montreal, graduating in 1887. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Montreal, 23rd May, 1887, and inducted to the charge of Russeltown and Covey Hill, Que. After a pastorate of nearly six years, he was transferred to Lachute, and inducted to his present charge, 9th February, 1893. He was married to Miss Mary Jane Eraser of Morewood, Ont., in 1885. The Rev-Thsmas Henry descended from the Kenmore Gordons of Lochinvar, was bom in the parish of Anwoth, Scotland, in 1798, and was educated at the Edin- burgh University ; he was married [2th August, 1840, to Helen Dawson of Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. He taught in the family of Hannay, of Rusco, in the Parish of Anwoth, and was tutor for several years in the family of John Stein, Esq., of Kilbage, Clackmannanshire, one of his pupils being James Duff, nephew of Mr. Stein and son of the Hon. Sir Alexander Duff, G.C.H., Colonel of the 37th Regiment of Foot. The same James Duff was the father of the present Duke of Fife, son-in-law of the Prince of Wales. In 1840, the Colonial Committee of the Church of Scotland sent Mr. Henry to Montreal, where he resided for a few months in charge of a city mission, when he was called to the Church of Scotland congregation at Lachute. At the Disruption in 1844, he severed his connection with that Church, casting in his lot with the Free Church. His congregation, with the exception of one or two families, went with him, and, later, every one of these families joined the Free Church. Henry's Church was then formed as the Free Church, of which Mr. Henry was pastor for twenty-four years. He always look a deep interest in education, and was the first Principal of Lachute Academy, commencing that institution in his own study, the room at present occupied by his son, William Henry, as an office. It was subsequently removed to the basement of Henry's Church, until suitable buildings were erected for it. Mr. Henry died in Lachute, isth July, 1868 j Mrs. Henry, also, died in Lachute, i8th June, 1884. They had six children : Robert Hugh died in infancy; Grace Jane married Ihomas Barron, Registrar, of Lachute; Thomas Hugh died 1889; Helen, a teacher, died 1887 ; William, Secretary-Treasurer of La- chute School Commissioners ; Katherine Stein, teacher, of Lachute. HISTORY or ARGENTEUIL. 243; ANGLICAN CHURCH. By Rev; A. B. Given. A brief sketch of the Mission of L ichute, in the County of Argenteuil, may not prove uninteresting to many of our readers. The town itself is beautifully situated^ lying in a valley of the Laurentian Hills, forty-five miles distant from Montreal, and seventy-six from Ottawa, via the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The population is esti- mated to be about 1,700. The first church services were held about the year 1815 by a travelling missionary, who occasionally ofiiciated in a barn or school-house, as opportunity presented itself. In the year 1868, the Rev. Mr. Codd was appointed a missionary, with headquarters at Lachute, and a number of townships, among others that of Arundel, then in the initial stage of its settlement, under his charge. Let us bear in mind this fact, that this mission is still in its infancy, so to speak, as com. pared with many other parishes in the Diocese of Montreal. Real church life only began here, we may say, in the year 1878, when the Rev. H. J. Evans was appointed the first regularly constituted Incumbent of the Mission. Regular services were held by him at Lachute, Lake Louisa, New Ireland, Glen of Harrington, Arundel, Rock- away and Ponsonby. He was a man who was highly esteemed and loved by all classes of people. To his untiring zeal and energy, Lachute may well feel proud and happy in possessing such a nice, neat, comfortable church in which to worship " the Lord our Maker." Deep regret was felt at Mr. Evans' departure Irom this Mission. His successor was the Rev. R. W. Brown, M.A., who held the parish for a short period, viz., January, 1884, to April, 1885. On the twenty-third day of August of the same year, the Rev. W. Sanders, B.A. (at the present time, Rural Dean), was ap- pointed by the Lord Bishop of Montreal, Incumbent. Rev. W. Sanders worked hard and zealously for the cause of his Master here, and largely through his efforts and generous assistance can Lachute offer to-day a very comfortable home to its clergyman. During his tenure of office, «'.*., in the year 1886, a wise arrangement was effected — to wit — the formation of Arundel and parts adjacent into a separate mission, the Rev. W. Harris being made the first Incumbent thereof. This made the work somewhat lighter, though arduous enough, and permitted Mr. Sanders to concentrate his efforts more upon his work at Lachute, Lake Louisa and £dina» these forming, at that date, the parish of Lachute. Owing to poor health the Incumbent felt obliged to place his resignation in the Bishop's hands, in order to obtain the rest which was needful. This was in the spring of 1892. At the same time, the Rev. Alex. Boyd Given (the present Incumbent) was appointed to succeed him. The church work goes on slowly, but steadily, we believe, in the name of Him who hath said, " My word shall not return unto Me void, but shall accomplish that which I please." Lachute itself is not a Church of England town, it is essentially a Presbyterian settlement. The church is not^strong — it is to be feared, for some time at least, we shall have to depend much upon outside help for assistance to maintain her ministrations. Would that it were otherwise, indeed. Two services are held 244 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. regularly every Sunday, with an average attendance of 44. An occasional week-day service is also held. Our people do well, on the whole, to maintain the church, taking into consideration their numbers and their own property. By the bye, the church, which was always considered to be a "Union Church" at Edina, was burnt -down in the year 1890, and so the services were consequently discontinued there. Lake Louisa, in the township of Wentworth, 12^ miles distant from Lachule, is the only really out-mission station belonging to Lachute. Here, service is held every Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. We are glad indeed to have a church there of our own. Largely, owing to the many kind friends in Montreal and elsewhere, this has become an accomplished fact — built and paid for at a cost of $1,000. Apiece of land has also been procured as "God's Acre," wherein the dead may rest until the resur- rection morn, when the trumpet of God shall sound-^" Arise ye dead and come to -Judgment." Many things are still needed for this mission — such as a " church bell," " font," surplices, etc. We have, indeed, great cause to be thankful for the past. Many have helped us most willingly and cheerfully, and for this " we do, indeed, thank God for the past, and we do, indeed, take courage for the future.'' BAPTIST CHURCH. Copied from Church records. Lachute, 8th June, 1S86. For over a year, the Board of the Convention East have been anxious to have a -Baptist Church organized in the thriving town of Lachute. At the earnest request of the Board, Rev. J. Higgins consented to spend two weeks here, in gathering the few Baptists together, and preparing the way for the student who has been appointed to labor here during vacation. Pastor Higgins came here about the 1st of May, and was nearly a month in the field. The Lord was with him, and gave him an " open door." Special services were held in Olivet Hall, twenty-two sermons were preached, prayer meetings were held from house to house, and the congregation increased from 50 to 100, as the few Baptists were quickened and refreshed by the (Holy Spirit. Five believers applied for baptism, and were baptised by Pastor Higgins in the North River, on the last Sabbath of May. Several persons are enquiring and searching t.he Scriptures to find their path of duty. Bro. Alex. Dewar has now entered upon his labors, and may the Lord bless him abundantly. D. BENTLEY. Lachute, June 4, 1886. . At a special meeting held in the home of Bro. D. McPhail, for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of uniting ourselves in a regular Baptist Church, it was agreed by the brethren present to hold Recognition services in Olivet Hall, on Tuesday, 8th June. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 245; ORGANIZATION AND RECOGNITION SERVICES IN OLIVET HALL. The following persons responded to the call to a Recognition meeting : — Dales- ville Church, Pastor J. King, Deacon P. McArthur and Bro. John Campbell; Osnabruck, Rev. J. Higgins ; First Church, Montreal, Rev. br. Welton, Deacon Kennedy, -Brethren J. S. Buchan and D. K. McLarin; Olivet Church, Montreal^ Pastor A. G. Upliam, Deacon D. Bentley, W. D. Stroud, W. D. Larmonth. The new church was represented in the Council by Brethren D. McPhail, P. Cruise and Alex. McGibbon, also the student, Bro. Alex. Dewar. On motion. Rev. A. G. Upham was appointed Moderator, and D. Bentley, Clerk. Prayer was offered by Pastor Higgins. The twenty-three persons present adopted the New Hampshire articles, as a statement of their faith and practice, believing that to be in harmony with the teaching of God's Word. Th^re are in all twenty-eight baptised believers who have united in forming this Church. The request to Council is here given, as follows : — We, the undersigned, having been led by God's spirit to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, and having been buried with him in baptism on pro- fession of faith, hereby present ourselves before God, and one another, desiring to be organized and recognized as a regular Baptist Church, and we do hereby adopt, as a statement of our faith and practice, the summary of Scriptural doctrine, the New Hampshire Confession. D. McPhail, Alex. McGibbon, P. Cruise, Mrs. T. Jackson, Miss Margaret McGibbon, Mrs. P. Cruise, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Buchan, Miss M. Cruise, Mrs. C. Barker, Miss K. McGibbon, Mrs. Jas. McGibbon, Miss E. Campbell, Mrs. S. Dunne, Mr. B. S. Stackhouse. Miss L. Slackhouse, Mr. A. McArthur, Mrs. Peter McGibbon, Miss S. McGibbon, Miss E. McGibbon, Miss Maria McGibbon, Mrs. A. McArthur, R. Dunne and John Cruise. After hearing this request and the statement of the doctrine by the people, it was moved by Dr. Welton, and seconded by Pastor King, that the Council gladly recognize the body of believers who have presented themselves to-day, before this Council, as a regular Baptist Church. This was carried unanimously. The following committee — Pastors King and Higgins, and Deacon Bentley — were requested to make arrangements for public Recognition services in the evening, at 7.30 o'clock. Rev. J. King addressed the Church members on their new responsibility and duties to each other. The Moderator, Pastor Upham, gave the right hand of fellowship to Bro. Dewar (student) in the name of the new Church, welcoming the Lachute Church into the body of Baptist Churches of Canada. After prayer, the Council adjourned. During the winter of 1887, a gracious work was accomplished from special ser- vices held by the Pastor, and John Currie, Evangelist, of Montreal. About thirty persons professed conversion. The "present membership is 51. Mr. Higgins remained as Pastor of this Church till the fall of 1895, commanding the respect of the people by his able exposition of the Scripture and his consistent Christian life, and winning their affections by his kindly, genial manner. The late Rev, Mr. King, of Dalesville, in his reminiscences, says :— " John Higgins was a remarkable boy. In his early years, by the death of his parents, he was left a helpless orphan, but the Lord, true to His promises, raised up for him friends. He lived in Chatham with Andrew Duncan and his wife, who were childless. Afrer he had been some time with Duncan, he came to Sabbath School,, and proved himself a bright and diligent pupil. People felt interested in him, and predicted that, if spared, he would make his mark in the world. It was while attend- 346 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. ing this school, that he became impressed with divine things, and, along with others, was baptised and added to the Church. He had a strong desire to do good and preach the Gospel, yet, doubt of his own ability and his want of means to obtain an education were obstacles in the way ; but these difficulties were overcome, when he decided to give himself to the Lord's work — God provided him means and raised up friends where he did not expect them. After attending school some time at Lachute, he went to Woodstock, where he studied the usual time under Dr. Fife, with honor to the doctor and credit to himself. During the vacation at Woodstock, he went to preach at Cote St. George, where there is a small church, and his preaching was blessed to the conversion of souls. After completing his. studies at Woodstock, he accepted a call from the church at Petite Nation. Between that place and North Nation Mills, his labors have been greatly blessed of God. He has since removed to Thurso." A good many years have passed since Mr. King wrote the above sketch of Mr. Higgins, during which the latter has labored in different places, with credit to himself and the good of others. He married a daughter of Mr. McGregor, of Dalesville, who has been a worthy partner in his toils — a woman esteemed for her kindness, bene- volence and earnest Christian character. When Mr. Higgins resigned his pastorate at Lachute, a call was given to Rev. J. R. Cresswell, B.A., who had just completed his university course in Toronto, and was then in Montreal. Mr. Creswell was born in Derbyshire, England. He took a Theological course at Nottingham Baptist College, completing which, in the spring of 1890, he came at once to Canada, and entered McMaster University, Toronto, from which he graduated in 1 890. During the time that he remained a student of the Uni- versity, he preached one summer in Clarence and Rockland, the next summer in St. Catharines, Ont., and also the following summer, after graduating, in Montreal. He then visited England, and on his return accepted, November, 1894, the pastorate at Lachute, and was ordained the same month. He was married, 3rd July, 1895, to Miss M. M. Howell, of Montreal. Mr. Cresswell is highly popular in the community; his sermons are clear and logical, diction good, and his delivery fluent and effective. A very neat and comfortable Baptist Church building was completed on Main street in 1887. It is brick, and possesses all the improvements and conveniences found in our most modern city churches. THE METHODIST CHURCH. Notwithstanding considerable effort to obtain data with regard to the above organization, we have gathered but the few following facts. It will be seen by what has already been stated by Mr. J. S. Hutchins, that the Methodists were the first Christian laborers in this field ; a long blank in their his- tory follows, and it was not till 1852 that they erected a church edifice. As the body was neither large nor wealthy, it is not surprising that in building it, they should have contracted quite a large debt ; but all contributed, as far as they were able, toward defraying the expense — none, probably, more generously than the late Thos. Jackson. This church building was erected so far from what now constitutes the main part of the village, that another was erected in a more central and convenient location, in 1882. This is the fine brick church on Main street which this denomination still occupies. The old church was destroyed by fire with the store of P. H. Lane, Esq., near which it stood, in September, 1894. A substantial and commodious parsonage has also been erected contiguous to the new church. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 247 As stated in the history of St. Andrews, Lachute became the head of the Circuit in 1865. The following are the names of the first few ministers who came after the change was made, with a table which shows the state of the Church at that period. «M . •a 73 ii urch fFun h 1^ ■a u 'S a S . a "§ g^ r CO 1865 Wm.Shaw,B.A GrenWUe united with it. 220 335 510 210 1250 1866 Joseph Kilgour, Wm. S. McCullough, B. A 2,M 336 S«5 210 "75 1867 foscDh Kilsrour * + 250 460 S20 .217 1361 * North Gore set off. t Grenville again set off. The ministers who have had charge of this Circuit during the last few years are the Rev. John Walton, John Armstrong, J. V. McDowell, B.A., W. Craig and the present pastor, Rev. Mr. Clipsham. It should be stated that the late Thomas Jackson, besides contributing liberally towards the erection of the new church, also gave the ground for its site. He was one of the early settlers of Lachute, was highly esteemed, and died in the spring of 1895, at an advanced age. He left one son and four daughters; the former^ whose name also is Thomas Jackson, is one of the prosperous and respected farmers of Lachute. Mr. F. C. Ireland, in his " Sketches of Lachute," gives the following ad- ditional history of Methodism in this section of the country, which we regard as well worth preserving : — "In 1 8 10, the Rev. Thomas Madden was appointed to the Ottawa Circuit of the United States. This Circuit embraced all the territory between Montreal and Kingston. Mr. Madden had just married a daughter of David Breckenridge, Esq., of Brockville, a man of considerable standing in the community, and his daughter had been brought up tenderly, and was accustomed to all the comforts and many of the refinements of good society. Mr. Madden took his bride with him on the rounds of the Ottawa Circuit — one appointment of which was in the East Settlement near Lachute. A few Methodists who had come from the American side lived here, and among them was a Mr. Hyatt, whose rudely constructed barn was the first chapel in which the settlers from many miles around assembled to hear the Gospel preached. In the loft of Mr. Hyatt's new log-house, the minister and his wife found a comfort- able lodging place for the night. The Hyatts were an intelligent and interesting couple, and their house was the home of the itinerates for many years, and was en- joyed and looked forward to with pleasing anticipations when traveling for miles, through the uncleared country, over the roughly constructed roads and bridgeless rivers, from Bytown to Montreal." Mr. Ireland also records another incident: "The Rev. Mr. Luckey, who had closed his labors for the year, by preaching his last sermon to the people of the East Settlement in Mr. Hyatt's bam, left the next day, to attend the Conference in New York. In- crossing the Ottawa river at Point Fortune, his horse got into the water, and was nearly drowned. Mr. Luckey also narrowly escaped, but was lucky enough to get safe on the other side. Being fatigued, he went to a French house, to seek 248 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL., rest and something to eat. His appearance was not very clerical just at that time. His beard had grown out considerably since his last shave, some weeks previously, and when he asked for something to eat, the simple-minded but kind French people mistook his meaning, and brought him a razor, and it was some time before he could get them 10 understand that he was hungry. Rev, Mr. Hibbard was another of the itinerates who followed. On one occafsion, while attempting to preach at Hyatt's barn, and the people had just settled down to hear a good sermon, as they had been accustomed to, poor Hibbard suddenly became embarrassed, and " broke down," as many a clever young man has done in his first efforts at public speaking. Mr, Hyatt, being a local preacher, took up the text, and held forth to the great delight of all present, some of whom had traveled many miles to attend the service." 'J'he Methodists have always had a flourishing Sunday School. Olivet Hall, built by Mr. James Fish, was used for some time by this School, but finding it too small for their accommodation, in 1877, Mr. Fish enlarged it by an addition at the end, 24 feet square. Rev. William Wakne Glark, D.D., is a member of an Argenteuil family.- He is a son of Orange Clark and Ann \Varner, his wife, and was born i6th March, 1838. He entered the Methodist ministry when 18, was ordained by Dr. Stenson at Kingston, in i860, went to the United States in 1870, and joined the New York East Conference, of which he is still a member. Dr. Clark received his honorary degree from the Wesleyan University, Bloomington, 111., in 1880. He is a member of the Committee of the Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, and pastor of Brooklyn Sixth Avenue Church. His sermons are illustrated by large paintings, and among the titles are such as these : — "The House that Rum built," " Mr. Tongue of Tattle Town."* R. C. CHURCH. The first regular Roman Catholic services in Lachute were held by the Rev. Calixte Ouimet, cur6 of St. Andrews, who also erected a church building and pres- bytery. This church was destroyed by fire in 1876, shortly after its erection. The present church was immediately erected, though it has since been enlarged; it is brick, 80 feet in length, 35 feet in width, with seats for 400 people. Rev. Arthur Derorae succeeded Mr. Ouimet at Lachute, and was the first resi- dent clergyman ; he remained here fifteen years, extended the church twenty feet in length, and added the sacristy. He removed to Montreal, and was succeeded by the Rev. Anthime Carri^re, on the ist of January, 1894, The Rev, Mr. Carridre, who still remains incumbent, was born at St. Benoit, educated at the Seminaiy of St, Therese, and ordained in August, 1878. Previous to coming to Lachute, he was engaged as assistant in different churches, being thus employed ten years in Montreal. He has recently made extensive repairs on the interior and exterior of the fine brick presbytery at Lachute. His congregation is a large one — the communicants numbering 700. THE W. C. T, U. AND C. E. SOCIETIES. The W. C. T. U. of Lachute was organized by Mrs. Youmans in January, 1883, with Mrs. W. A. Leggo as president ; Mrs. H. Fraser, jun., secretary; and the late Mrs. U. M. Gall, treasurer. It was, with the other unions, formed into a Provin- cial Union in September of the same year, 1883. The present officers are: — Mrs, Mackie, President ; Mrs. A. J. Simpson, secretary ; and Mrs, Barley, treasurer. * Contributed by E. S. Orr, HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. I49 In October, 1895, Lachute entertained (he Provincial Union. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, a Union one, was organ- ized in 1889 ; Malcolm McCallum was the first president of the Local Union, and James Armstrong, of the Lachute Road, is the present president. The first president of the County Union was John Loynachan. A short time after the organization of the Y. P. S. C. E., the Methodist Church formed an Epworth I^eague, which, after about a year, fell through ; but, in 1894, was re-organized, and js still carried on. In 1893, a junior Y. P. S. C. E. was formed in connection with Henry's Chiirch. The original Christian Endeavor Society has never lapsed, but continues to hold meetings each Monday evening in Raitt's Hall. A Mechanics' Institute was formed in Lachute, ist of March, 1855, ^^^ trustees being Dr. Thomas Christie, John Meikle, and Samuel Hills j John Meikle was the first president. It began with a membership of 21, and the amount subscribed was ;^30 los. It soon received quite an addition from the District Library Association which united with it. From a Report to the Provincial Secretary, sth January, 1856, we learn that the Institute had 140 members, and possessed a library of 1,000 vols., valued at ^£200, and that the total revenue was £160 15s. For a time the records were kept regularly, which shows that the interest in the Institute was alive ; but later, the blanks that occur grow longer, until it is evident that the organization existed only in name. An effort on the part of a few individuals has been made at different times to resuscitate it, and recently, some interest has once more been awakened. The present officers are ; Dr. Christie, M.P., president ; Thomas Barron, vice-president and C. D. Dyke, secretary. During the height of its popular- ity, it possessed a library of 1,700 volumes ; many of these have been lost, but the library is still in existence, and contains very many valuable books. Lachute has always possessed quite a goodly number of people devoted to tem- perance. We have no data to show when the first movement in this direction began, but it is well known that it was long before the organization of the Sons of Temper- ance in 1852. The erection of Victoria Hall by this Society shows that it must have been a large and flourishing organization, but, as in all other places, it had its day of progress and popularity, and then its period of decline. The Good Templars and other tem- perance societies have since followed, and been attended with more or less success. But the good work of temperance still goes on, not alone by the influence of organ- izations, pledged only to abstain from the use of spirituous liquors, but by those like the W. C. T. CJ. and Christian Endeavor Societies, which, hand in hand with the Church of Christ, lead the erring one to the light which reveals his weakness, and shows to him a habitation whose foundation is rock. For many years Lachute has not wanted for music to cheer her citizens on gala days. A Band was formed by the Sons of Temperance, aboiit the year 1855, since which a similar organization has usually been in existence here, though sometimes holding to life with a precarious tenure. There are now two Bands-— one composed of English-speaking members, the other of French ; the latter was but recently organized. A Masonic Lodge was opened here in September, 1880, called " Argenteuil Lodge." William Hay was the first Master; W.J.Simpson, M.P.P., filled this office three years, and Harry Slater is the present Master. 17 250 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. MANUFACTURES. One has but to gain a view of the West End, or Lachute Mills, as the post o.ffice is named, to comprehend the fact, that Lachute is a manufacturing town of no little importance. Its water power is unsurpassed ; up and down the river on either side are mills and factories, the din of whose machinery, combined with the ro»r of the falls, is an index of the many industries by which hundreds of families are main- tained. ' By whatever road one enters the west part of Ihe towli, the first object that meets his eye will be the tall chimney and massive stone buildings — the paper mills of J. C. Wilson. They rise conspicuously — a grand witness, not only to the possi- bilities within reach of a young man's industry and energy, but to the progress of Canadian manufacturers. J. C. WILSON. The first view of Mr. Wilson will assure the most casual observer that he pos- sesses more than ordinary ability ; his clear penetrating eye, and quick, dignified movements, at once declare him a business man, and one whose executive ability gives him the right to command. He rather enjoys relating the story of his early struggles, and is pleased to remember that, through the blessing of God, his own foresight and industry have brought him to his present state of financial indepen- dence. He was born in 1841, near Resharkin, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, and soon afterward his family caitie to Montreal, where his father obtained a position as pattern maker in St. Mary's Foundry. The taste of the younger Wilson inclining to mechanics, he was apprenticed, at the age of twelve, to learn the trade of machinist. A severe accident, however, pre- vented his completing the full term of apprenticeship, and then, through the kindness of friends, he became a pupil for a year and a half in the McGill Normal School. Soon after this, the family in which he then made his home moved to Beauharnois, Que. On arriving there, not wishing to depend on his friends for his maintenance, he at once found employment at painting in a furniture manufactory. One evening, soon afterward, when he had finished his work for the day, two gentlemen called to see him. Having' heard, they said, that he possessed a diploma from the Normal School in Montreal, and having also heard of his industrious and steady habits, they had come to engage him to teach the village school, the former teacher having left. Though reluctant, on account of his youth and inexperience in teaching, to accept the position, after some deliberation, he closed with their offer of twenty dollars per month, for one month, on trial. To one knowing him, it is not surprising that he was highly popular with his pupils, and that he remained in the school for three years . One of his greatest anxieties during the first winter was to save money enough to discharge certain debts he had contracted for clothing before leaving Montreal. With his wages and several dollars earned by his mechanical skill during his even- ings, he had enough left, after paying his board, to meet these accounts, and, as soon as his school closed, he visited the Metropolis and paid them. " Never," said Mr. Wilson, " have I felt prouder or more happy than I did when I fulfilled this promise, and my mind was relieved of these debts." The reflection, that the profession of teaching gave little scope for the exercise of his ambition, now induced him to abandon it, and going to Belleville, Ont., he obtain- ed a position in a book store. He remained there some time, gaining that experience ■ ^^^^^^^HF^ '. ^^^^H K ^^^^^1 ■ wP^mf'^^ H ^HHw' s J. C. WILSON. HISTORY or AKGENTEUIL. 251 and knowledge of the business which equipped him for better positions. He was next employed in a large publishing and newspaper house in Toronto, and from this, in 1863, he went to New York. His pecuniary capital at that time consisted of just thirty-four dollars — a larger sum than that of many other young men who have land- ed strangers in the great city, yet not a sum encouraging to one, with neither friends nor employment. By chance, he fell in with another young Canadian of good parentage, but with- out money, who for some time had been in vain seeking a position. They roomed in the same hotel, and spent several days between sight-seeing and looking for employment. At last, one morning Mr. Wilson received an offer of four dollars per week to work in a subordinate position in a warehouse ; but resolving that he would not accept this paltry sum until all hopes had failed of doing better, he arranged with the manager to keep the place open for him for a week. Fortunately, the next morning, as he started out in quest cf work, he noticed the sign of T. W. Strong, publisher, and he at once entered and enquired for the proprietor. He was shown into his office, when he made known the object of his visit. " You have seen the advertisement, I suppose, that I put into The Herald yes- terday for an assistant," said Mr. Strong, who, according to Mr. Wilson's opinion, combined the qualities of sternness and dignity. " No," was the reply, " I came here on observing your sign." " Well," he said, " I have advertised for a young man, and if you will come in again this afternoon, I will tell you whether I want you or not." " Very encouraging," thought the young applicant, and, pursuant to the request, he was at the office that afternoon. The proprietor had just received a large number of letters which he had began to peruse. After reading two or three, he addressed his visitor with : " What wages do you expect, sir ? " " Twelve dollars a week," was the reply. " Here, look over some of these," said Mr. Strong, handing him some letters. With many misgivings, perceiving that they were applications for the position he was seeking, Mr. Wilson took the letters and read. The first one did not allay his anxiety, as the writer offered to work for six dollars per week ; still, his crude style and bad spelling might counterbalance the effect produced by his moderate demand of salary. The next letter was more assuring, as the writer wanted twenty-five dollars per week. After reading two or three more, with the same alternation of hopes and Tears, he returned the bundle to Mr. Strong, who had been carefully observing him, and, no doubt, forming an estimate of his capability. "So you want twelve dollars ? " he queried, as he look the letters. " I trust I can make myself of that value to you," was the modest reply. " Well, you see what offers are made in these letters, but I can afford to give you ten dollars per week." Though highly elated with the offer, he did not accept it till after a few minutes delay. On expressing his willingness to begin work at that salary, his employer said : " Well, now, this is Friday ; you will want a day to look about the city ; sup- pose you come next Monday ? " " Very well," said Mr. Wilson, " I will do so ; " he then departed much happier than when he entered. His friend who had accompanied him was outside, anxious to hear his report, and was scarcely less pleased at the result than Wilson himself. He now decided to accept the position first offered to Wilson, which commanded the salary of four dollars per week. Not long after Mr. Wilson entered the service of Strong, the book- 252 HISTORY OF ARGKNTEtllL. keeper of the establishment was taken sick, and Strong insisted that Wilson should manage the books till the bookkeeper recovered. To his surprise, in going over the books, he discovered the startling fact, that one account contained an error of several thousand dollars in favor of Strong. The fact was reported to his employer, but he was so reluctant to believe it, he asked Wilson to go over the account again very carefully. Though perfectly satisfied that his figures were correct, he did as requested, and with the same result as before. Still doubtful, the proprietor now called in the aid of an expert accountant, and his labors fully confirmed the truth of Wilson's statem'ent, and Mr. Strong had the satisfaction of knowing that he was richer by several thousand dollars than he had supposed. He now insisted that Mr. Wilson, with a proper increase of salary, should take sole charge of his books, and he shortly after left for a visit to Europe. Not long after his departure, a fire broke out in Bar- num's' Museum, destroying a building on Fulton street and another on Ann street, both belonging to Mr. Strong. With the energy and promptness peculiar to him, Mr. Wilson at once set about rebuilding, and, before his employer returned, he had the new buildings, with many improvements, nearly completed. During the remaining years he was with Strong, he had entire charge of his establishment, enjoying his esteem and confidence, as well as that of the other employees. But he married, duiing his slay here. Miss Jeanie Kilgour, of the town of Beauhainois, Canada ; and Mrs. Wilson having a strong love for the home of her youth, and being desirous to exchange New York for Montreal, her husband decided to return to the latter city — a step which he was the more fully inclined to take by the solicitations of friends. On his return, he entered the employment of Angus, Logan & Co., wholesale stationers and paper manufacturers, as bookkeeper. Three and a half years sub- sequently, a desire to enlarge his sphere of action led him to begin business on his own account, and with the assistance of his employers he began to make paper bags — the first ever made in Canada by machinery . The business proved a success, so that Mr. Wilson soon repaid his old employers for their assistance, and became one of their largest customers. His business, begun on a modest scale and sure basis, at first required only two flats of a building, but, in process of time, a whole block of stores, with six flats each, was secured. In 1880, his business demanded that he should make his own paper. He purchased the water power at Lachute, and erected the mills — whose history is given below. Mr. Wilson has not selfishly confined his time and talents to his own personal business ; but, whenever they have been called into requisition by the public for a salutary purpose, they have neVer been withheld. The people of the County of Argenteuil, in consideration of his ability, elected him to represent their interests in the Dominion Parliament. In this new position, fortune, which thus far had been so prodigal of her gifts, did not desert him, and his reputation as a good reasoner, debater and politician largely increased. He contributed much toward the reorgan- ization of the " Fish and Game Protection Club of the Province of Quebec," and for two years was its president. For the same length of time, also, he was pre'sident of the Irish Protestant Benevolent Society, and has been an alderman of Montreal, and chairman of many important civic committees. He is also a Life-Governor of the General Hospital, the Protestant Insane Asylum, the Montreal Dispensary, and the Maternity Hospital. He has taken an interest in the educational institutions of Montreal, and was for some time a member of the Board of Protestant School Com- missioners. Religious and benevolent institutions have profited by his eenerous donations. ^ He has always manifested a fondness for tools, a taste enhanced, no doubt, by u H o o o HISTORY OF ARGEMTEUIL. 253 his use ot them in his early days. He has quite a number which he then made, and exhibits them to his friends with no little pride. Possessed of an accurate eye and much mechanical taste, he dislikes to see any work, no matter huw trivial, bear the appearance of having been done in haste, or with indifference to method. The following story, which he sometimes enjoys telling, illustrates how well his peculiarity of wanting his work well done is known to his employees : — On a certain occasion he had at his mills, in Lachute, one of his favorite handy men, a carpenter whom he had brought from Montreal to do some special work in his office. This man, it seems, had been told that Mr. Wilson was just as particular about his work in Lachute as in Montreal, and knowing how quick was his eye to discern levels and uprights, and that everything must be done by level, square and plumb, he thought to have a laugh at Mr. Wilson's expense. The wood-work around a wash-basin needed repairing, and, on being ordered by Mr. Wilson to repair it, the man came into the office with a spirit level under one arm, a square over the other, a plumb-bob in one hand, and hammer and nails in the other. " What are you going to do with all these tools, Richard? " asked Mr. Wilson. " Repair the wash-basin, sir," replied Richard. " Nonsense, you want nothing but the hammer and a few nails." "Indeed, sir, I know when you want a job done, you want it level and square and plumb, and, by golly, we must use these tools on every job." Mr. Wilson saw and appreciated Richard's humor. " Mr. Wilson is an ardent disciple of Isaac Walton, ond annually seeks the seclu- sion of shady river banks and mountain streams and lakes with rod and line ; but that he is strenuously opposed to the wanton destruction of the finny tribe, is witness- ed by the efforts he put forth in aiding to organize the Fish and Game Protection Society of the Province of Quebec."* He has five children living — three sons and two daughters. The sons are all connected with him in business. William W. C., the eldest, has charge of the pulp mills at St. Jerome, and also looks after the manufacturing and the factory, Montreal. F. Howard, the second son, occupies the position of assistant cashier in the Head Office, Monireal. Edwin H. is at the paper mills, Lachute, learning the art of paper-making, with the intention of having charge of the mills at some future date. His daughters are Ethel F. and Annie L. ; the three boys being the eldest, and the two girls the youngest of the' family living. "LACHUTE PAPER MILLS." The illustrations represent "Lachute Paper Mills" as they now are, in 1896 erected at a cost of over $300,000. As stated in the sketch of Mr. Wilson's life, he was seized with the idea in 1879, that, to place his business in a front position in the trade, it would be necessary for him to own his own paper mills, and he made several visits to different parts of the country near Montreal, where water-powers exist, knowing that a good water-power and proper facilities for getting the raw material into the mill, and the product out of it, were the first and most essential points to consider. * For the last paragraph, as well as for some others in the abjve sketch of Mr. Wilson, we are indebted to " Borthwick's Gazetteer of Montreal." 254 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. The Townships were visited, and the country east and west of Montreal, but none of them seemed to suit. As the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa & Occidental Rai'way had just h«en completed from Montreal to Ottawa, and parties in the parish were desirous of establishmg manufacturing industries there, Mr. Wilson was led to Lachute. After surveying the water-powers, he decided that if a purchase could be made on reasonable terms, he would locate his paper mills here. He did not come to this conclusion until he had found that there was ample water-power for a mill such as he intended at that time to build. Lachute was then a village of about 650 inhabitants, and the site on which the paper mill stands to-day was a forest of pines, oaks and maples._ After considerable bantering between the owners of the land, they agreed with Mr. Wilson m the matter of terms. He then made plans for his first mill, and appeared before the Mayor and Council of the Parish of St. Jerusalem d'Argenteuil, Tnomas Barron, Esq., being the Mayor. At a meeting convened in the old Court House, where the Council sat, Mr. Wilson exhibited his plans, and petitioned the Parish for exemp- tion from taxation for twenty years, providing he built the mills as he designed. The Council, with very lit tie delay, complied with his request, and, certainly, they have no reason to regret their action of the fall of 1879. In June, 1880, the first mill of the four, which the block of buildings now repre- sents, was started. It was a great task to undertake — excavations, flumes, wheel-pits, quarrying stone, and getting the siding in ; but the mill — /. e., the building — was com- pleted some time in November. The machinery was placed in it during the Fall of 1880 and the Winter of 1881, and the first paper run on the machine (which was a double cylinder machine, made by Rice, Barton & Fales, of Worcester, Mass., after Mr. Wilson's special plans), on or about 1st April, 1881. During the years 18S1 and 18S2, Mr. Wilson had great difficulty iii procuring a proper foreman for the mill; — he was intent on manufacturing a class of manilla papers such as were manufactured in the United States. Not until the winter of 1883 di 1 he solve the problem, why he did not succeed in making the class of paper he wished, and not till he had obtained the second expert from the States. It may be a secret in the trade, still it is none the worse for being told, and may help some other paper maker placed in the same position that Mr. Wilson was. The kind of lime for boiling the jute stock was the secret of the trouble and the secret of the success. Lime from Montreal, from Hull, and from Lachute was tried, but it did not prove satisfactory. Not until Mr. Wilson ordered his first carload of lime from Dudswell (away beyond Sherbrooke), and boiled his first boiler of stock with it, did he succeed, and then the mystery was unravelled. The component parts of the lime are a very important matter to consider in boiling jute or manilla stock. The Lachute paper mill took a first rank in the Canadian market for manilla papers from that time forth, and has maintained it ever since. Not only did he manu- facture manilla paper, in rolls, for his paper-bag machines in Montreal, but also made sheet or ream paper for his growing trade with the grocers and general dealers all over the country. ' In 1885, the business had grown so much, that it was necessary to build another mill, or add another paper machine, with ail its attendant machinery. That mill was commenced in May, 1885, and was completed in the fall of that year. The first paper made on the new machine (which was a Harper Fourdrinier) was made on tlie 7lh January, 1886, and after that had been running two or three years, Mr. Wilson saw that it would be necessary, in the very near future, to add still another mill, and of much larger dimensions. The stone was there on the ground waiting to be quarried. The cut stone, of course, for trimmings for windows and HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. 255 corners — lime stone — is from Montreal. So, in iSgt, Mr. Wilson commenced the largest addition, and the completion of the block of buildings, a^ represented in the photograph picture of these mills. Tail-races were carried out in 1891. In 1892, still further work was accomplished, and the bwer flats of the addition were com- pleted. In 1893, the whole mill was finished, and in 1894, 2 ist May. paper was run over the new machine. This new machine, a straight Fourdrinier, one of the largest in the country, specially adapted for fast running, Mr. Wilson prizes very much. The business now has grown so much, that he contemplates, in the very near future, placing the fourth machine in the mill ; the building is already there (that is, the room for it), and all that will be required will be to place the machine and the pulp engines ; — the water-wheels and wheel-pits are all complete and ready. The Lachute Paper Mills now have a daily output of about 15 tons, and when the amount reaches 20 tons, Mr. Wilson's idea of a perfect mill will be accomplished. Not without proper storage could such a mill be carried on, consequently, there have been bi^ilt, on the line of the siding which comes from the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, five large storehouses and a stone warehouse for storing the finished paper. There is also a siding running down in front of the mill, so that raw material may be placed in the mill, or in the storehouses, by just handing the stock out of the cars, or the finished product from the s tone warehouses or mill into them. The facilities for loading and unloading, and for shipping, could not be excelled in any mill in the country. When doubling the mill, in 1885, Mr. Wilson conceived the idea, that he was going to draw heavily upon the water-power, and as his business up to that time was a very exact one, and he could not afford to shut down for any length of time, he placed a large steam engine of 250 horse power, with boilers to supply steam for the same, and this he has found to be a very wise precaution, for in dry summers (such as the summer of 1895), the stearo-engine had to be drawn upon to supply the power, or, rather, to help the power, and so the business gies on without interruption. About three years ago, he conceived the idea of placing not only the paper bag machines that were in Montreal, but a set of the most improved, to manufacture the celebrated self-opening square bag, in the building which he had erected for the purpose, that is, for the paper bag factory, at one end of the mill. In this paper bag factory there are fifteen paper bag mtchines, and three flour sack tubing machines, as well as cutters, etc. The paper is brought in from the mill in rolls, and the paper bag machines take these continuous rolls and turn out bags, some of the ma- chines at the rate of 100,000 per day, others at the rate of 70,000, 60,000, 50,000, and 40,000. There is a capacity in his paper bag factory of about three quarters of a million bags per day, and it is now turning out an average ot about 350,000 bags daily. While all this increase was going on in the way of buildings, of course, the number of hands also increased, and to-day there are employed in this manufactory about no people. The town of Lachute has grown since 1880 from 650 people to about 2000. Mr. Wilson has his private residence on the height of land behind the mill, a beautiful high knoll, and from his verandah a beautiful view can be had of the moun- tains and of the town generally. Here he enjoys, with his family, about three months every summer. Among the eflicient and reliable employes of Mr, Wilson— and he will not long retain any other kind— are his Bookkeeper, Harry Slater, and the Superintendent of his paper mill and bag factory, Robert Daw. Mr. Sl/lter was born in London, Kng., and came to Canada in 1890. He was first employed by the Moffatt Blacking Company, Montreal, as Bookkeeper, but ^5^ HIJSTORT OF Al^GENTEUIL. eighteen mpnths. afterwards, he epgaged to Mr. Wilson, with whom he has since re* mained. Sewas married 2nd Feb., 1880, to Sarah Mary Wenborn, Upper Hollo- way, inin, after which he taught five years in the same school and two years in the public school. He was married 17th October, 1853, to Margaret, daughter of the late Alexandre Fortier, and spent the following eleven years on his father's farm. After devoting a. few years to mercantile life arid hotel keeping, he sold out in 187 £ and bought the " Bee Hive"— the hotel of Alvah Burch in Lachute. This was burnt 7th January, 1892, and, the same year, Mr. Rodrigue built his present hotel. He has been very success- ful financially since coming here, his real estate, within and outside of the Corporation, being valued at $25,000. He has been in the Council five or six years, and in 1894 was elected Mayor, and has been Chairman of the Roman Catholic School Board «ince it was established in 1875, and is a trustee of the Roman Catholic Church. He has three sons and one daughter, two of the former, E. D., married to Mary Poitras, and L. P. Rodrigue, being employed in the hotel. Alexandre is an M. D. The daughter of Mr. Rodrigue is married to Charles Charlebois, proprietor of the Lachute Foundry. , . • 1. a There are two other hotels near the railroad station, of one of which Alfred Lafleur is proprietor. This building also is of brick, three stories, 60 x 40 feet in size. Commodious stables are attached, in which Mr. Lafleur has a good number of horses. He is a native of Ste. Ad^le, County of Terrebonne, where he was engaged in hotel keeping and lumber business. He spent ten years in connec- tion with the lumber traffic in California and the Western States— three years in. 268 HUTOKT OF ARGENl'EUIL. Mftrquettr, Michigan, where he and his father erected several houses. He came to Ladiute in ifi^S and built his present hotel, which he has ever since conducted. The other hotel near the R. R. st&iion, and also on Foundry street, is that of MoiSB PAQUkTTe. Mr. I'aquette was born in St. Scholastique, lived on the homestead fared till i%i%, when he came with his father to Lachute, built his present hotel, and moved into it in 1879. His father, Moise Paquetie, died 14th December, 1891, at the age of 6S. Like the other public houses of Lachute, this is of a good size and appearance, and has ample yard and stables attached. H. Faquette, a brother of the hotel proprietor, has a barber shop in the estabUshment. About two miles above the Lachute Post Office, toward Hill Head, in a good farming section, is a settlement where, in former years, there was a thriving business conducted, of which the tannery of Samuel Hills was the nucleus. Mr. Hills was from New Hampshire, and after living two years at St. Andrews, he came, about 1830, to Lachute. He was a man of much enterprise, and his descendants are people of spirit and intelligence. Soon after his arrival, he erected & tannery, with which he did an active' business, besides conducting a farm, till his - death. The business thus started grew in importance, until " Hills' Tannery," by which name the locality was soon designated, became quite a noted place. Leather of different kinds was manufactured here, and shoemakers, harness makers, and other men were employed, till it was said the Hills would have a village of their own. The founder of this business had four sons — Frederick, Samuel Scott, William Matthews, and Reuben Watson. The latter died at the age of 14, and Frederick, the eldest, died at Hancock, N.H. Samuel S. and William, each of whom had a good farm belonging to the homestead, continued, together the management of the tannery. Samuel married Elizabeth Hastings, and William mariied her sister, Frances J. Hastings, who died loth August, 1891. William was also, for a time, conducting quite a business at Portage du Fort ; but he relinquished it and confined himself to that at Lachute ; he is now connected with an extensive lumber firm in Montreal, though he still has a residence in Lachute. Samuel S. Hills always lived in Lachute, and died here i6th April, 1878; he had three sons and two daughters that grew up. Frederick W., the eldest, lives in the dwelling occupied by his grandfather ; he married Miss E. A. Grant, and has two daughters. Watson S. resides at Brainard, Minn. ; Juha is deceased ; and Mary F., married to Albert I. Green, resides in Minne- apolis, Minn. George H. was married 18th June, 1879, to Jessie Muir; they have three children. He engaged in farming on the homestead till August, 1882, when the • farm was sold. After following agricultural life till 1888, he bought the brick house and lot where he now lives, and, in 1892, opened a store. His dwelling and store are those elected and occupied by Samuel Orr, noticed on a former page. Samuel Edmund Smith, one of the enterprising and leading farmers of Lachute, resides in this locality. William Smith, his great-grandfather, came from Yorkshire, England, and was the first settler at what is now Dunany, in Wentworth. He received a grant of Lot i, Range i, for marking out a road by blazed trees from Sir John's Lake to Clear Lake. He had two sons and three daughters that grew up. Samuel, the eldest, married Margaret McDonald, of Gore, about 1828; settled near the homestead, and lived there till his death. He was the first Postmaster at Dunany, the post office being established there in 1853; was Mayor of Wentworth and Major of Militia ; he was a loyal actor in the events of 1837, and was at Grande Brul6 with the Volunteers. He died nth June, 1893, aged 96, and so remarkably healthy had he beeti, that he never employed a physician till his last illness. His widow IS sUU living ; they had twelve children, six of each sex, that arrived at matur- HISTORY OF ARGENTEUi;-. 269 ity. James, their eldest son, was married in April, 1.858, to Mary JaB§ McLean, of Lachutfe, and settled in Gore, adjacent to D,unaf)y, Sjxteen years later, he bought 210 acres in Lachute, to which he fenioved in 1874; this is the farm no* owned apd occupied by his son, Samuel E. Smith. He was a Sc1)qo1 Commissioner for som? tjiije, and took much interest in the military affairs of the County ; he joined the Rangers at their organization as Lieutenant, and was prompted' to the rank of Major. He died 24th. January, 1887, and was buried with military honors. He had two sons and four daughters that grew up. Samuel E., the only son now living, was married 3pth April, 1890, to Janet Pattison, of Lachute. He has always r'enaained on the homestead — a fine f3,rm^- which he has improved so that it sustains a large stock. Mr. Smith is ist Lieutenant in Company No. 2 of the Rangers. u JoftN McGregor came from Dumbartonshire, Scotland, to Lachute, with his family, about 1826, and bought 100 acres of land, which is now owned and occupied by Robert Beatty. Subsequently, he purchased 90 acres adjacent to his first purchase, which is now owned and occupied by the widow of his son, John McGregor. He moved to the latter farm, and lived there till his death, about 1864, at the age of 87 ; Mrs. McGregor died about ten years later, aged 97. Six sons and three daughters arrived , at maturity. James, the fourth son, now living with his son Thomas, has followed the mill- wright trade forty-five years in this section, building and repairing many mills. He was married in 1846 to Ellen Hay; she died i6th April, 1885. Mr. McGregor's first permanent residence, after marriage, was at Brownsburg, where he bought a saw mill and carding mill, which he conducted for twelve years. He then, about 1860, spld them, and purchased 80 acres of land in Lachute, which he sold to David Pollock in 1890. He has had three sons and two daughters, who grew up. His eldest son, Robert J., lives in Kansas ; George is employed in the store of the Hay Brothers ; and Thomas, with whom he lives, is on a farm which belonged to the paternal estate; he was married 2nd January, 1884, to Margaret Parker, of Montreal. Near this locality is what may be termed a lusus natures, a singular change having occurred in the physical features of quite a tract of territory since the country was first settled. A tract two miles or more in length and many rods in breadth is nothing but a field of drifting white sand, wh6re, not many decades ago, were culti- vated fields. Tiiis strip of worthless land extends across the middle of several farflas, on the south side of the North River. The soil which covered this sand must, of course, have been very shallow, but still it is said that it once produced fine crops of rye. The sand, like snow, drifts with the wind, and a fence crossing it does not long remain visible or effective against cattle. This stratum, it is Claimed, is about twelve feet in thickness, succeeded \ff a substratufnof blue clay, beneath which is' abundance of water. PARISH OF ST. JERUSALEM D'ARGENTEUIL, EAST SETTLEMENT, BETHANY.* This parish, as will be seen below, was not erected till long after Lachute had become a thriving village. As stated in the history of St. Andrews, it embraces the larger part of the Seigniory of Argenteuil, and besides the town of Lachute, it contams other districts designated as the Eist Settlement and Bethany, which will be noticed in the proper place. • That tract or parcel of land, sHuate in the seigniory of Argenteuil, in the County of Two Moun- tains, in that part of the Province of Canada calleS Lower Canada, bounded ^nd abutted as MUows, to wit : on the south by the southern line of lot number fifteen in the west settlement, the rear ot Itie 270 HISTORY OF ARGENHEOIL. » Patrick Strachan Dunbar, Mayor of the Parish of St. Jerasalem d'Argenteuil, was born in Forres, Morayshire, Scotland, 7th March, 1824^ His father was George Dunbar, who was a Captain in the Inverness Militia ; his mother was Katherine, slaughter of Major Patrick Strachan, of Dnimduen, Morayshire, who, on one or two occasions, was in active service. Mr. Dunbar came to Canada with his parents in 1832, and settled in Brownsburg ; the family remained there for two years, and then came to Jerusalem, where the son has ever since resided. He was employed on the first railroad ever built in this County, and helped to run the first engine that went from Carillon to Grenville in 1854 ; in 1856, he was first mate on the steamer " Atlas," plying between Lachine and Carillon. Mr. Dunbar took a most active part in helping to secure the line of the present C. P. Railway— then the' Montreal, Ottawa & Occi- dental — through this parish, and, in 1872, took part with the late Thomas C. Quinn, Provincial Land Surveyor, in running a trial line from Grenville Bay to St. Therdse. This line proved to be die shortest and most direct, and was afterwards adopted by the R. R. Company. Mr. Dunbar has been a Municipal Councillor in the Parish for thirty- two years, and has filled the office of Mayor Since 1880; he married, in 1852, Jessie, youngest daughter of the late Walter McOuat. Mrs. Dunbar is still living, and has three daughters. Mr. Dunbar has also filled the office of President of the Board of School Commissioners, here, since 1885. He is now in his seventy-third year, and has been a resident of this parish for upwards of sixty years. Robert Gordon, from County Down, Ireland, came to the Parish of St. Jeru- salem, in 1824, and bought one hundred acres of laud, which is now owned and occupied by his son Robert. The latter, who is now upward of eighty years of age, has cleared up much of the paternal estate, and also another one hundred acres, by which he has augmented it. He has been one of those industrious, sober men, who exert a good influence, and whose presence as a neighbor is always desired. He has middle settlement or Beech Ridge, the southern part of Duel's purchase, and the line separating the East Settlement from part of Brown's Gore, and that rear of lot number thirty-6ve, on the Kiver Rouge ; on the east by the seigniory of Two Mountains ; on the north by the township of Gore ; on the west by the township of Chatham. Beginning on the line between Chatham and Argenteuil at the distance of three miles and three-quarters from the shore of the Ottawa River ; thence, along the side line between lots numbers fourteen and fifteen, in the west settlement, magnetically south sixty-nine degrees thirty minutes east, one mile, eight arpents and six perches more or less to an angle ; thence, along the northerly rear line of lots numbers five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten of the middle settle- ment or Beech Ridge, north, 86 degrees east, nineteen arpents more or less, to an angle ; thence, along the rear line from the noilhwest comer of number eleven, to the north-east comer of number twenty- two, or the last lot of the middle settlement, to a point about seven miles and one-quarter from the Ottawa River ; north 68 degrees, one mile, six arpents and two perches more or less ; thence, along the line between the ea.'t side of the middle settlement and the tract ofland known as Duel's purchase to the southern extremity of the said tract ; south eleven degrees and ten minutes east, two miles more or less; thence, along the line between part of Brown's Gore and Duel's purchase south, eighty-three degrees east, seven arpents and six perches more or less to an angle ; thence, along the eastern line of Duel's purchase, to the south-western angle.of the East Settlement, six arpents more or less; thence along the southern side line of lot number one in both ranges of the East Settlement, till it meets the eastern line of the seigniory of Argenteuil, at a point distant about five miles from the Grand or Ottawa River south, sixty-nine degrees thirty minutes east, two miles five arpents and five perches, more or less ; thence, along the line between the seigniories of Argenteuil and Two-Mountains, to the north- eastern angle of the said seigniory of Argenteuil north, twenty degrees thirty minutes east, seven miles, eight arpents and seven perches more or less; thence along the rear line of the seigniory ot Argenteuil, which is also the front line of the township of Gore, to the north- western angle of the seigniory to a point on the Clear Lake north, sixty-two degrees thirty minutes west, six miles and fourteen arpents more or less ; thence, along the line between Chatham and Argenteuil south, twenty degrees thirty minutes west, eight miles and seven arpents more or less, to the place of beginning ^ Approved by Order in Council of the 15th July, 1852, minus ; The Umits of the town of llchute by 48 V ., c. 72.' HISTORY OF ARGENTKUIL. 2-j been a Magistrate for a quarter of a century, and his also been a member of the Municipal Council of his Parish. Although an octogenarian, he is still active and takes much mterest in public affairs. One of the latest of his works was to secure a grant of $50 from Government, to pay for placing gravel on a low, marshy piece of road in this section— a work of much utility. Mr. Gordon has had ten children nine of whom are still living. ' Robert Crozikr was bom in County Cavan, Ireland,6th May, 1814, and came to Canada when four years of age. His parents first went to Montreal, and a year later to Chatham, where the son lived for several years, three of which he spent in lum- bermg on the Black River and Ottawa. He was married 30th October, 1838 to Margaret, youngest daughter of the late Andrew Walker, of Lane's Purchase. He pur- chased a farm adjoining that of his father-in-law, remaining there until 1848, when he bought a farm in this section from Chauncey Davis. He had eight daughters and four sons, of whom seven daughters and two sons are now living. The daughters are all married, and Catherine, wife of Simon McGilvray, and John Alexander, are the only children of the family in this County. Mr. Crozierwas at Grand Brul6 in 1837, and was a member of the Volunteers and Cavalry for over twenty years. He was a large land owner in this parish, but in 1894 sold his farm, and soon afterward went to Lachute to live a retired life, but died there ist June, 1895, after only a week's ill- ness. The Montreal Witness sa,id of him in a lengthy obituary notice : " Mr. Crozier was a true husband and kind father, and the loss of his presence to sorrowing re- latives will not be easily or quickly repaired." His wife still survives, at the age of seventy-nine. John A., eldest son of Robert Crozier, was bom 1845, *"d always remained in this section. On 21st Feb., 1878, he was married to Miss Ryan, a teacher, daughter of Thomas Ryan, who was a ship carpenter, living at the time in Mille Isles. Mr. Crozier first settled on the farm now owned by Thomas Black, jun., which he had bought a few years previous to his marriage, but he afterwards sold it and returned home to assist his father, who was alone. In July, 1890, he bought his present farm, on which he has since made many improvements. He was a member of Capt. Bur- wash's troop of Cavalry ten ye4rs, joining it in i860, after receiving a diploma from the Military School in Montreal. He was Corporal of his company when he retired. David Thomas Morin was born 8th February, 1820, in Dumfrieshire, Scotland. His father, who was a guard in Dumfrieshire Jail, was killed while on duty by the notorious thief and pick-pocket, Davie Hagart. He struck Mr. Morin on the head with a stone concealed in a stocking, intending only to stun him, but the blow proved fatal. The son, David Thomas, who was a carpenter by trade, came to Canada with his mother, about 1833. In February, 1843, be was married in Montreal to Miss Janet Craik, sister of Dr. Craik, Dean of the Medical Faculty, McGill University. In 1849, he came to this parish, and bought the farm now owned by his son David ; he died here 20th May, 1873, and Mrs. Morin 17th April, 1890. They had'five sons and five daughters ; three of the latter are deceased. Thomas, David, John, Jane and Janet, the latter married to -William Davidson, lives in this parish — Robert C. on Beech Ridge, and William in Prescott County, Ont. Thomas, born 31st Dec, 1843, remained at home until twenty-four years of age, when he went to Nevada, where he remained about five years.. On his return, he was married 12th February, 1873, to Mary, daughter of the late James Gordon, of River Rouge. He then came to his present farm, adjoining the old liomestead ; he has two daughters and one son, who all live at home. David, born 7th July, 1850, remained on the homestead; 2^2 HISTOKY OF AJ^ENTEUIL. l\t married Mjss Puabar, daughter of Patrick Dunbar, Esq. ; they bAve ooe ton. Mr. Morin has a fine farm, and in 1S90 received a bronze medal and a diploma from the Quebec Government in the competition of that jear. Andrew Walker came to Canada from Barraekshire, Scotland, whh his family in 1833, and first settled on Lane's Purchase in Lachute, where he and Mrs. Walker both died, on the farm now owned by Henry Drysdale. They had five sons and four daughters ; among those now living are Margaret, widow of the late Robert Crozier ; •Alice, widow of William Blow, living in Manitoba ; and George, living in Ontario, Andrew, the fourth son, born 4th May, 1821, was married in 1851 to Catherine A., daughter of Capt. Dunbar ; they had eight children — five sons and three daugh- ters, of whom all but one son are now living. Mr. Walker remained on the home- stead until 189s, when his son Andrew bought the farm of his late uncle, Robert Crozier, in Jerusalem, and Mr. and Mrs. Walker, retired, are now living with him. Mr. Walker has been very active in the afiairs of the County, having be^n Municipal Councillor of lyachute for twenty-one years ; he was also a member of Major Simp- son's company of Cavalry, having been sergeant at ine time they received the Prince of Wales at Carillon. George Dunbar, the eldest son, lives in Hill Head ; Janet I., married to James Raiit, lives in Lachute; Catherine .'*., married to William Cope- land, lives in Lane's Purchase ; Andrew is on the farm in Jerusalem ; William B. and John R. L. live in Manitoba ; and Maggie, married to D. McPhail, lives in Chatham. Hugh Clei,and, son of James Cleland, was born in the parish of St. Jerusalem, and lived on the farm now owned by Thomas Black ; he was married to Mary Ann Cotter. They had five children, of .whom two boys and two girls are now living. Mr. Cleland bought the farm now owned by his son, William J., and for the last eighteen years has shipped milk to Montreal, buying from a good many in this vicinity. Mr. Cleland is now retired, and, with his wife, remains on the old homestead with their second son, William. The latter still continues the milk busi- ness ; he was born January, 1867, and 23rd June, 1893, was married to Mary, daughter of William Brown, of Martintown, Ont. Jane, the eldest, is married to Malcolm Smith, of Beech Ridge ; Mary E. to Thomas Smith, lives in Montreal. Robert James, the eldest son, was born 1857, and always remained at home. In 1887, he was married to Isabella, daughter of Andrew Bell, Postmaster of Beech Ridge ; the same year he took his present farm of his father. He has since erected new buildings, and made many improvements on it ; with his brother, he continues the milk business commenced by their father. James Leishman, Jun., eldest son of James Leishman, was born in Upper Lachute, 26th May, 1864; he remained at home until 1886, and then went to Cali- fornia, where he remained eight years in the lumber business ; on his return he bought the farm of John McGilvray, Jerusalem, and is now living here with his sistef Mary. EAST SETTLEMENT. A Post Office was established here in 187 r, and given the name of Genoa : James Gordon was appomted Postmaster, which office he still holds. Mr. Gordon con- ducted a general store here some time, but having to devote his time to his trade that of carpenter — he discontinued the store, in 1890. The first school-house was built on the farm now owned by Mrs. Black In 1841 a log school-house was bailt on the site of tlie present brick onei near the four corners. HISTORY OF AiROENTBOIL. J73 A -noat wooden church wa? erected in i 86i, on land given to the WesleyaB Metho- dist Conference* by Mr. John Burwash, and it was buik by the M^hodists of this vicinity. Mr. Griffith took an active part iq its erection, and has been a staunch sup- porter of it ever since. It is used as a Union church now, and services are held op alternate Sabbaths by Revs. Clipsham and Mackie, of Ijichiite. The Ghnrch is always open to any Protestant minister who wishes to hold service in it. The first settlers known in- this place were Barber, Draper, and Hyatt, U. E. Loyalists, who came here about the beginning of the present century. Barber was quite a large land owner, having about 700 acres ; he built a three-story, stone build- ing in 1850, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Wm. Black, intending that his sons should occupy it with him, after being married. They, however, being dissatisfied, left ihis part of the country, and none of the descendants of the above-named men now live in this section. A few years ago, considerable business was done in the East*Settlement by govern- ment contractors, who bought several acres of land from Messrs. John Rodger, Arm- strong and Todd. A very fine quality of gravel was discovered here, and a side track was laid from the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railroad to take away ihe gravel dug by ihe large gang of men employed during one'summer. About twenty miles of the C. P. R. were ballasted with the gravel, and a great many carloads were taken to Montreal. The gravel pit is quite a freak of nature, being a high ridge with level land on either side. The ridge is about half a mile long and three acres wide ; the centre, where excavated, has the appearance of having been under-water at one time, there being towards the bottom several feet of fine gravel, and then a layer of stone similar to the dry bed of a river. At the bottom is a very fine quaUty of build- ing sand in which are found springs o^pure cold water. Thomas Miller, a cabinetmaker by trade, was born in Scotland, and came to Canada about 1800 ; he remained about seven years, 'then returned to Scotland, and married Miss Anna Murdoch. He then came back to Canada, and settled at River du Loup, Que., keeping store there for several years, after which he removed to River Rouge, remaining several years on the farm of Gregor McGregor. He then came to this place, and bought the farm now owned by his son, Thomas G. Mr. and Mrs. Miller both died here. Thomas G., the eldest son, born in 1816 at River du Loup, was married in 1851 to Mary E. Green, from County Sligo, Ireland ; they have five daughters and four sons, all living. Catherine, the eldest daughter, lives in Chicago ; Mary and Amanda in Montreal; Martha and Eliza are at home. Of the sons, Thomas, the eldest, John H. and William, are in California, and James, the youngest, remains at home. John Griffith was born in Ireland in 1819, his parents, who were Welsh, having previously settled there: the family came to Canada about the year i8a6, and first settled in St. Canute. When about eighteen years of age, John went to Ontario, and was employed for two years on the Cornwall Canal ; he then returned to St. Canute, and soon afterward joined the St. Andrew's Volunteers, Capt. Quinn's Company, going with them to St, Scholastique. He was in this Company when orders were received to march to St. Eustache. Mr, Griffith afterward went to Thomas' Gore, where he was married to Mary, daughter of the late William Hume, Hill Head. They had eight sons and four daughters, of whom five sons and all the daughters are still living. William, the eldest, is a farmer in Watertown, N.Y.; Henry is mming in Nevada ; John W. is Professor in a San Francisco College ; Isaac lives at home ;and Albert L. is in Montreal ; Eleanor, married to Roderick McDonald, Kves in Vide Sac j Mary J., married to Henry Hadley, lives in Montreal ; Sarah A. is at home ; and Grace, married to William Shepherd, lives in East Settlement. 274 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. James Armstrong came to Canada in 1824 from County Mo;iaghaD, Ireland, and settled in North Settlement, on the farm now owned by William Walker; he afterward bought the farm now owned by his son Robert, where he died 7th May, 1873, aged seventy-five years. James, the third son, born in 1837, was married sth September, 1856, .to Jane Canton, of Lakefield; he then settled on the farm now owned by John Graham, Thomas' (Sore, and remained there five years, when he sold it, and in 1872 bought his present one from the late- William Todd. He has three daughters and two sons ; Julia A. is married to John McOuat, and lives in Lachute ; Mary E., the second daughter, after being a very successful teacher for four years, is now in the Post Office at Lachute j Alice J., John E., and Albert J. are at home. William Black, born 1830, was a son of Handyside Black, who came from Scot- land; William, who was the third son, bought the farm now occupied by his widow and children— the old Barber place, on which was built the large stone house men- tioned above. Mr. Black was married in 1872 to Elizabeth, daughter of WiUiam Dickson, of this place ; he died 22nd March, 1891, aged sixty-one. Mrs. Black sur- vives him, and has four children — one daughter and three sons, named respectively Aggie, John, William and David. Mrs. Black, with her chUdren's assistance, has continued to manage the farm since her husband's death. The eldest son, John, bids fair to be one of the successful farmers of Argenteuil, having already begun to purchase thoroughbred stock. William Todd was born in Roxburyshire, Scotland, in 1808, and came to Canada in 1830, with his wife, Elizabeth Wilson, and two children ; he settled in Beauharnois, where he remained five years, then came to Lachute, and bought the farm now occupied by the family of James I>pllock. He remained in Lachute six years, and afterwards — about 1841 — came to this place, and bought the farm now occupied by James Armstrong,, and lived here a number of years. Mrs. Todd died in i860. They had four sons and one daughter ; the latter is deceased. William, the eldest son, is in Wisconsin ; Thomas lives in Lachute ; Andrew, on the Lachute Road ; and Henry in this place. Mr. Todd was married a second time, in 1865, to Mary, daughter of Andrew McLean, of Montreal. After selling his farm to Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Todd bought the cottage of James Gordon, at the four-corners, and died there i8th April, 1894, aged eighty-six years. Mrs. Todd still lives here. Joseph Roger, whose father also bore the name of Joseph, was born in Scot- land in 1795. He came to Canada in 1833, and the same year bought the farm in this place now occupied by his children ; he purchased this of Isaac Hyatt, one of the first settlers in this section. In 1836, Mr. Roger was married to Miss Jean McOuat; they had seven children, of whom three sons and three daughters — ^Joseph, Janette, Margaret, William, Elizabeth and John — are now living. Mr. Roger died 1870, aged seventy-five ; Mrs. Roger in 1888, aged seventy-seven. Margaret, the second daughter, went to India in' 1873 as a missionary for the Presbyterian Church of Canada, spending eighteen years there, with the exception of one furlough. Miss Roger has the honor of being the first missionary sent by the Presbyterians to India from Canada. Mr. Roger's children are all living on the homestead. David Roger came from Glasgow, Scotland, about 1833 ; he bought the farm now occupied by his son John from L. Barber. Mr. Roger was married to Miss Jane McOuat in Scodapd, and had two children when they came to Canada. Six more were bom to ihem after coming here ; four sons and two daughters are now living. i\tr. RQger died 24th May, 1892, aged ninety-six years, and Mrs. Roger died 1872, aged seventy-six. Joseph, the eldest son, lives in Lachute. Janet, the HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 275 widow of James McClure, and mother of the celebrated missionary, Dr. McClure, of Honan, China, lives in Upper Lachute. Margaret, married to Andrew Todd, and David, live on the Lachute Road. William, and John, the youngest son, reside in this place. The latter, who was bom in 1841, has always remained on the homestead j he was married in 1891 to Jemima, daughter of the late Thomas Bilsland ; they have one son. Jahes Wood, a blacksmith by trade, came, with his wife, from Scotland to Canada about 1830 ; he first worked at his trade on the old Carillon and Grenville Canal, and from this work went to St. Placide, from which place he was obliged to remove to St. Andrews on the breaking out of the Rebellion of 1837. This journey, made on the ice, proved a dangerous one, as the river had but just frozen ; Mr. Wood was obliged to go on foot before his horse, testing the ice. He left his wife and children in St. Andrews and returned with the troops to St. Placide. Some time later, he came, with his family, to this section, and bought the farm now owned by his son Robert. Mr. Wood died in 1881, aged seventy-seven, and Mrs. Wood in December, 1890, aged eighty-three. They had eleven children, of whom seven sons and two daughters reached maturity. Robert, the fifth son, bom 1845, remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when he went to Nevada, remaining five years altogether in that State, but making a long visit at home during the time. After his final return to Canada, he went into partnership with Robert Summerby, and erected a steam saw mill on the North River at St. Canute. He managed this for two years, then sold out and bought his present farm from his father. In 1872, Mr. Wood was married to Miss McGregor, daughter of John McGregor, of Lachute Road. They have four sons and one daughter living. Mr. Wood has made many improvemAits on his farm, and it is now one of the best equipped in East Settlement. WiL-LiAM Roger, second son of David Roger, was born in this Settlement in 1833, and has always remained here j he was married in 1866 to Miss Ann Robertson, of Montreal, whose father came from Aberdeen, Scotland, with his wife and children. Her mother died during the voyage, and Mr. Robertson died a year after reaching Montreal. Mr. Roger bought his present farm, which had previously been owned by James Draper, from his sister, Mrs. McClure, in i860, and has since made many improve- ments on it, besides building his present brick residence. All the surroundings of the place betoken intelligence and industry. Mr. Roger has taken an active part in the Agricuhural Society, having been Director for several years ; he has also been Coun- cillor of the Parish. Mrs. Roger died in 1890, leaving a family of nine children ; one son has since died — five daughters and three sons are now living. James Wilson came from Roxburyshire, Scotland, to Canada, in 1831-, and settled here, being one of the first to arrive in this section. William, his second son, was bom in 1842, on the farm where he now lives; he has always remained at home, with the exception of one year, which was spent m lumbering in Wisconsin. He was married 6th January, 1891, to Jessie B., aa»Jg|i'er of Simon McKimmie, of Lachute. They have two daughters. In 1892, Mr. Wilson obtained the farm, his father dying in that year. „ o • tt * WiLLLAM Todd, eldest son of Thomas Todd, was bom in February, 1858, in Jiast Settlement; he has been twice married, first to Margery M., daughter of Thomas Young, of River Rouge, by whom he had three sons and one daughter. Mrs. loaa died in March, 1889. In 1881, the father of Mr. Todd, wishing to retire from active business, gave up to his son the management of his farm, which he purchased about half a century ago from Milo Barber ; he then went to live in Lachute. 276 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Mr. Todd was married the second time, in June, 1891, to Ida Catherine, daughter of Charles McGregor, of River Rouge ; he has two sons by this Efiarriage, Felix Bigras came to this place in the early years of its history, and settled oh the farm, then entirely covered with bush, which. is now owned by his son Peter. The latter was born in 1855, and hais always remained on the homestead j he was married in 1876 to Miss P. Touchette, of Cote St. Louis. They have two sons living. Mr. Bigras has made many improvements on his farm, and, in 1895, was appointed Director of the Agricultural Society of Argenteuil. He, as was his father, is a mem- ber of the Belle Riviere Presbyterian Church. The following sketch has been kindly given us by a young friend of Mrs. Gordon, it having been written at Mrs. Gordon's dictation : — Mr. and Mrs. Gordon came out from Scotland about 1835, and settled in the bush in Genoa. They had to erect a cabin at once, which was square in shape and covered with "scoops." Their only stove was tin. They had to clear their land by first cutting down the trees, and then rooting up the stumps by means of a pry about ten feet long. This, of course, was very hard work, and, on one occasion, when Mrs. Gordon was helping, she pulled so hard on the pry, that she could see " stars," and her sight was so injured that, from that time, she has had to use spectacles. The first year, they cleared only two acres, burning the stumps when they were pulled, then plowing the land and sowing their seed. As their fields became larger, they some- .times worked in harvesting till eleven o'clock at night, binding their grain and putting it into •' stocks " before the rain came. During the first years of their settlement' they had but one child — a little girl — whom they carried to the field and home again, when they were drawing hay or grain, and put her on the mow till the wagon was unloaded. When they had drawn in all their grain, they threshed it with a flail, and, after being groiuid, it was carried on Mr. Gordon's back to the mill at Lachute. AVhen returning home, it was sometimes so dark that he was obliged to hang the bag of flour or meal on a tree and return for it in the morning. The only place they had to keep their potatoes was a hole in the ground, well covered over. Their only means of travelling was with a horse and a little, low, flat-bottomed traineau, with a bundle of pea-straw for a seat, and no robes. They had to drive to Montreal with a hirse and cart to sell their produce, and often the roads were so bad that the mud and water came up to the axle. Their load consisted chiefly of pork and butter; the general price of pork was $4.50 per hundred, and of butter i2j^c. per pound. Whatever money. they received had all to go in payments on their farm. They lived here at the time of the Rebellion, and were often afraid that the rebels would come and kill them. Once, while trying to take home some of his sheep, the rebels took Mr. Gordon prisoner, and his sheep were killed. The next day, however, he obtained a stick, broke the windows of his prison, and escaped. Another time, a wolf came along in the night, and began fighting with the dog, and they thought it was some of the rebels trying to set fire to the buildings, and were nearly frightened to death. Wolves were very numerous, and used to come in crowds every night, so that they had to shut up their slieep. One little pet lamb did not want to be shut up, so it ran away in the bush and across a ditch. It was never seen alive again ; but they found a piece of its leg, where a wolf had killed and eaten it. For t4iree or four years after they came here, the wolves used to disturb them very much at night by their howling. Mrs. Gordon tells of an encounter she otice had with a w6lf. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. ■j.jj She was away from home, and had about twenty miles to walk, so she started early in the niomiog, on a bush road, not very well marked out. After losing her way three times, she at length reached a house where her sister promised to meet her, and they wa'ked along together until they reached the North River flowing through Lachute. There was no bridge, but they got across in a scow with some school girls, and in a short time reached the home of her friends. They wanted her to remain all night, but she was anxious to get home, «o she went out again, till she came to a bush where she lost her way, and presently saw a wolf among a loi of sheep. She was about to strike him with the sickle carried in her hand, but gave a loud scream instead, which so frightened him that he ran off. She then went on, reaching home about 12 o'clock at night. In the winter evenings, Mrs. Gordon often sat up while the others were sleeping, sewing and knitting for the children ; she often spun one hundred pounds of wool in a year. By hard work and industry they cleared up a good farm, put up comfortable buildings, and took care of a large family, who are all doing well. When their child- ren were all settled in homes of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon sold their homestead, and built a pretty little cottage at the four corners, which is surrounded by trees. They have a small piece of ground which they cultivate themselves, and live very happily together in their old age, and delight in talking of the hardships through which they have passed. BETHANY. This place, so called, it is claimed, because it is " nigh unto Jerusalem," bounds Beech Ridge on the east. The ubiquitous John Smith found his way here, and pitched his tent, in or about the year 1819, on the lot now owned by J. W. Webster, of St. Andrews. A few years later, he purchased the lot now owned and occupied by his grandson, William Hume. Finding clay on this, of the right kind for manufacturing brick, he purchased the necessaiy machinery and began the work. Many of the dwellings in this section weie made from the brick purchased at this yard, and Mr. Hume, who is still engaged in the enterprise, turns out annually from one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand of superior quality. Mr. Smith, evidently, was an industrious man, and learned, in the most difficult way, the varied hardships incident to the life of a pioneer. He cleared up the greater part of two lots, and in the early years of his life here, carried his grain on his back to Lachute — three miles distant. Among the first settlers here were the Pauls, who came from Morayshire, Scot- land. The family consisted of the father, mother, one daughter and four sons, named, respectively, Jane, James, Alexander, John and David. They first stttled in Chatham,, and, a few years later, came to this place. James, who married Janet Ker, afterwards returned to Chatham, and died there, leaving children. Alexandtfr, another of the four brothers, naarried Margaret Lowe ; and John, Maria Chapman. The latter sur- vived her husband, and now lives on Bethany Road with her family. David, the only remaining member of the Paul family, married Elizabeth Doig, and also resides on Bethany Road. Duncan, second son of Alexander Paul, was born 9th April, 1856, on the farm now owned by Mrs. James Kettyle. He was married 28th June, 1882, to Isabella, daughter of the late Henry Griffith, of Vide Sac. In 1887, Mr. Paul went to Water- town, N.Y., where he remained three years. After returning, he worked on the old homestead until 1893, when he sold it, and bought his present farm of eighty-five acres, on which he has erected new buildings and made many improvements. 278 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. James R. EarlEj third son of- James Earle, was born 14th September, 1849, on the farm where he now lives. In 1883, he was married to Mary, daughter of the late ^ Alexander Paul. They have had two litte girls, who are both deceased; the elder.' dying at the age of one year and nine months, and the younger at the age of five : years. Mr. Earle is living on the old homestead. He has been a Councillor of the parish during the last eight years. Thomas Morrison was born in Scotland in 1798, and came to Canada in' 1822. He was married here to Jemima Brown. They had seven children, of whom four sons are now living. After fir^t remaining some time in Lichute, Mr. Morrison went to the Hill Settlement, where his youngest son, Robert, was born in 1841. In 1870, the latter bought his present farm — the old Sleyberg place — ^in Bethany. He was married the same year to Mary Ann, daughter of the late Wm. Barron, of Upper Lachule. They have had five children. Two sons and two daughters are now living. The eldest son, Thomas B., is married to Janet, daughter of John Doig, of Hill Farm, Upper Lachute- The other children are at home. Mr. Morrison has made many improvemetits on his farm. He has been Director of the Agricultural Society of this County for several years, and also valuator of this parish. The people of ' Bethany and vicinity built a cheese factory, in 1895, on Mr. Morrison's farm. It is managed by J. R. Ro=s & Sons, of Hawkesbury. James K. Fraser, youngest son of William Fraser, wais born August 3, 1861, and has always remained here. liii 1891, he was married to Kathleen, daughter of Wm. Henderson, of Arundel, and the same year took his father's farm, known as ■" Highland Farm," Bethany Road, on which he has made many improvement::. Mr. Fraser has se.rved as School Trustee for several terms. He has kindly provided for the comfort and instruction of several orphans, and four have, at different times, ' found a good home in his own family. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser have one son and one •daughter. VIDE SAC, Alexander Smith, from Ayrshire, came to Canada a short time previous to the War of r8i2, and during that war lived at Lachin&, and was employed in the winter, conveying artillery between Montreal and Kingston. Soon afterwards, he cartje to ' Lachute, and & prods-verbal oi the road between that town and Beech Ridge shows' that he was here in 18 16, and owned the lot on which the railroad station and the' most populous part of Lachute is now located. Subsequently, he changed this lot with Colonel Barron for one near Hill Head, on which he lived till his death. He^ had three sons — ^John, William, and Alexander-7-and four daughters, that grew up. Alexander left the country, and no tidings of him have ever been received. John the second son, remained on the homestead, married, and had a large family. ' William, the second son, in 1848, settled on a wild lot in Vide Sac— a name signifying Empty Sack, which was given to the place by the Frenchmen of St. Hennas, who came hereto clear their land, each bringing his provisions in a small bag or sack, which was pretty sure to be empty at night. Mr. Smith spent his days here and cleared up a fine farm. He married Janet Henderson about 1845, and died in 1882, aged 68. They had five children ; two died in infancy, three sons grew up but only one is now liymg. Alexander, the eldest of the three sons, died, unmarried'. in California, in January, 1874. ' William Smith, M.D., another son, of whom a sketch is given in the history of Lachute, died in that place in September, 1895. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. ^-g Mrs. Smith was particularly desirous of having their children well educated, con- sequently, both she and her husband woiked hard to provide the funds requisite for this purpose, Walter, the youngest son, after leaving the Montreal Business College, . remained on the homestead, with the exception of two or three years, when he was engaged in teaching in Alpena, Michigan. He was married, in i88r, to Janet, daughter of John Nicol, of Lachute. He is one of the influential and respected' farmers in Argenteuil, and takes an interest in whatever affects her moral, social or political welfare. He is devoted to farming, and, in 1889, was' awarded a prize on his farm by the County Agricultural Society. He has been a member of the Parish Council for several years, twice has made out the Valuation Roll for the parish, and is President of the County Association and Vice-President of the Provincial Associa- tion of the Patrons of Industry. . In Church and Sabbath School work, he is equally interested and active, being Elder in the Second Presbyterian Church at Lachute, and Superintendent of the Sabbath School. Archibald Boa, youngest son of Andrew Boa, was born April, 1838, on the farm now owned by Paul Smith, Upper Lachute; he learned the trade of carpenter, and worked at this in Lachute and other places in the vicinity for several years. In 1838, he was married to Jessie M. W., daughter of Thomas Buchanan. In 1867, he bought the farm now occupied by his son Andrew. Mr. Boa died in 1893, aged 55. Mrs. Boa and the five sons and five daughters are all living. Amelia D., the eldest daughter, married to Frank Bickerstaff, and Flora H., the second, live in Illinois. Lydia H., the third daughter, married to William A. Gordon, lives in East Settlement ; and Alice W. and Jessie, the two younger, remain at home. Andrew Boa, the eldest son, after spending .some time in Manitoba and in different parts of the United States, returned home and took the farm in 1893. He is an enterprising farmer, and for several years has taken the first prize at the County plowing matches. Thomas B., the second son, is married and lives in Montreal ; Robert, the third son, resides in Atlantic Highland, New Jersey ; and John S., the. fourth son, and Paul, the youngest, are in Illinois. HILL HEAD. This locality, which is located about four miles from Lachute, on the opposite side of the North River, has fine farms and has always sustained a thrifty and intelli- gent population. As shown on a preceding page, Philander Stephens and his brothers were very early settlers here, and he is the only one of the early American pioneers now remaining. A. Post office was established here in 1880. Thomas Pollock, who was the first Postmaster appointed, died in 1892, and Mr. Drew suc- ceeded him as Postmaster. We regret that disappointment in not receiving the data necessary prevents our giving a biographical sketch of Mr. Pollock. A cheese factory was erected here, in 1888, by Frederick Cook, and though the section is almost wholly an agricultural one, there is a grist and saw mill here in a romantic little glen. These mills, which were formerly known as the McOuat Mills, are now owned by Thomas Hammond. About 1820, William Drew, from Steriingshire, Scotland, came to Montreal, and two years later he came to this section, where he married Janet, daughter of James McOuat. He bought 100 acres of Lot 19, 2nd Range, and afterward pro- cured 135 acres more, adjacent to his first purchase. He was on military duty during the Rebellion of 1837, ^^^ faithfully performed all his duties as a worthy «8o HISTOKY OF ARGENTEUIL. citizen till his death, 13th October, 1869. He had seven children — two sons and five daughters — that arrived at maturity, but two of the daughters are now deceased. James, the elder son, has always remained on th.- homestead — a beautiful and productive farm of 235 acres, with commodious, substantial buildings. Mr. Drew was married 17th April, 1862, to Elizabeth, daughter of William Muir, of Lachute. They have but one child, a daughter, Elizabeth, living. She has a Model School Diploma, and has taught successfully several years. Another .laughter of Mr. and Mrs. Drew, Maggie, died in 1895— a great bereavement to the family and a large circle of friends. Mr. Urew joined the Troop of tlie Tate Cal. Simpson, and remained in it till it was disbanded. James Drew, the other son of William Drew, the pioneer, married in April, T863, Eliza Pollock. He has a fine farm on Beech Ridge. Among other valuable farms at Hill Hejid are those of George Morrison and Mr. McOuat. Adjacent to Hill Head is " Thomas' Gore," a section comprising two ranges of lots, which is also inhabited by an industrious class of farmers. Among these are James Berry, Thomas Hume, Henry Padgett, John Smith and others. Tne most, if not all, of the^e live on the homesteads selected by their fathers, and have brothers and sisters residing here, and in other parts of the Dominion. Chatham. (Erected into a township by Proclamation, 13th July, 1799.) This township is bounded on the north by Wentworth, east by the parishes of St- Andrews and St. Jerusalem d'Argeriteuil, south by the Ottawa and west by Grenville. At just what time the first settler located in Chatham, or who he was, are ques- tions we are unable to answer, but Irom information obtained from different sources we are led- to the conclusion that the advent of the first pioneer* must have been about the beginning of the present century. We cannot find a more appropriate introduction to the history of this township than the following letter of our esteemed friend, Mr. Dewar of Ottawa. *Table of Lots patented and sold in the Township of Chatham. Pierre L. Fanet do do Guy Richards Pierre L. Panet do T. A. Stayner and Loaisa Sutherland Maria and Loaisa Sutherland do do do do do do do PART. I 2 3 4 I 7 8 9 10 II 12 »3 14 «5 ACRES; 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 28l Tabi£ of Lots patented asd sold in the Township of Chatham. T. A. Staynerand Louisa Sutherland.., do do Daniel Sutherland and John Robertson , do T. A. Stayner and Louisa Sutherland . . , Daniel Sutherland and John Robertson. do do John Thompson John Thompson, jun Daniel Sutherland and John Robertson. do T. A. Stayner and Louisa Sutherland. . . Wm. Fortune Thomas Barron William Fortune do do T. A. Stayner 'William Fortune do Maria and Louisa Sutberland Thomas A. Stayner do do do Maria and Louisa Sutherland . . . < do T. A. Stayner Daniel Sutherland and John Robertson, do da Thomas A. Stayner Daniel Sutherhmd and John Robertson, do T. A. Stayner Daniel Sutherland and John Robertson, do John Robertson James Heatly John Robertson John Meikle James Walker do do Thomas Barron James Walker do Henry McDowel James Walker Maria and Louisa Sutherland do Matthew Johnston JamesBaxter ■ • •• »9 . • •• 20 • • • • 21 .. .. 22 • ■ ■ • 23 . . .. 24 w* 25 E + as 26 * • . * 27 • • • • 28 • • • ■ 1 • • • ■ 2 .... 3 • • > • 4 ■ > ■ • 5 ■ • • • 6 • ■ ■ • 7 ■ ( • • 8 • • • ■ 9 ■ • • 10 ■ • • • II • ■ ■ • 12 . • • • 13 • ■ > • H ■ • • • 1$ • > • • 16 .... 17 .... 18 . • > ■ 19 • . • • 20 . . .. 21 • • • • 22 . . •> 23 • • . • 24 > • ■ • 2.S • ■ ■ ( 26 .... 27 • • • • 28 • • • ■ I • • - ■ 2 • • ■• 3 • • .- 4 • . • . S .... 6 7 8 . • ■ • 9 .... 10 ■ • • • It W } 12 E i 12 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 100 100 200 200 5 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 6 X 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 6 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 100 100 »9 282 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Table of Lots patented and sold in. the Township of Chatham. Maria and Louisa Sutherland Larety Tooley Guy Richards John McEwen George Brown John Robertson do Thomas Phillips Jonathan P. Sloss John Robertson do Lemuel Gushing John Robertson do do James Goodland William Bowden John Robertson do do James M. Perkins Lewis Breigher John Meikle Thomas Barron William Richardson Andrew McConnell Henry Purse James Henry Lewis Stalker Slater Clark Thomas Barron Kenneth McDonald Maria and Louisa Sutherland Lewis Stalker Archie Murdoch James McKenzie Archie Murdoch, jun William Hutchins Charles Green do Archie Murdoch James Mclntyre John Robertson do do Jaimes Calder John Robertson do Legal Representative! of John Quiry John Robertson do do Thomas Stayner John Robertson do HISTORY OF ARGENTEDIL. 283 Table of Lots patented akd sold in the Township of Chatham. John Robertson do William and John Roger and Andrew Todd. Alexander McGibbon John Robertson do Malcolm Mclntyre Donald McPhail Peter Dewar, jr ., Daniel Dale Wm. YounK.. do Dnncan Mc Arthur John Loggie ■ Peter McFarlane John McArthnr Peter Grant Thomas Dnncan Donald McMartin , Peter Gilmour Francis DuRy Thomas Spencer Geo. Blair Wm. Blairjr John Morrow > ■ Henry Dixon do Frank Connor Mathe w Connor ' Henry Connor James Kennedy Allen Cameron Duncan McCallum < Robert McNaughton Richard Farren Hugh Smith Peter Jesmin D. Sinclair James Pinkerton < Walter Kirconnell Hugh McCallum Arch. McArthur Alex. McGibbon ■ John McFarlane Joseph Sale Duncan McPhail do Malcolm McGregor < John McGibbon Donald McKercher Duncan McMartin do George MoncrieflF Peter McArthur Thomas Duncan W J EJ W i W i EJ EJ' W J NJ Si Ei W } W.J EJ LOT. range 2 9 3 9 4 9 4 9 5 9 6 9 7 9 8 9 9 9 10 9 II 9 12 9 13 9 14 9 IS 9 16 9 17 9 18 9 19 9 20 9 21 9 21 9 22 9 23 9 24 9 24 9 25 9 26 9 26 9 27. 9 28 9 I 10 2 10 3 10 4 10 4 ID 5 10 6 10 7 10 8 10 9 10 10 10 II ID 12 10 13 10 13 10 14 10 IS 10 16 10 17 10 18 10 19 ID 20 10. 20 10 21 10 200 200 100 100 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 100 100 200 200 IOC 100 200 100 100 200 200 200 200 200 100 100 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 100 100 200 2CO 200 200 200 200 100 100 200 284 HISTORY OF ARGENTSUIL. Table of Lots patented and sold ik the Township of Chatham. William Blair Thomas Carpenter John Calder James Sweeney Matthew Connor Legal Rep. of John Burke John Howe W. Anderson.... , Arthur McArthur , James Campbell Joseph McCallnm Sarah Eaton, widow Wm. Mason John Sinclair . ; William Myers Nathaniel Hammond , Legal Rep. Wm. Lenthall John Kein.... , , Alexander Petillo Thomas Barron part of Andrew Walker , Thomas Barron ....part of Francis Millar Robert Meikle South } of Peter McArthur North J of James Hairshaw , Thomas Owens , William Gaustick Thomas Owens Daniel Bonner David Marshall , James South (Sergeant) Samuel Murphy ,...,. ...i Patrick Kelly George Carpenter ,,., Martin Shannon James Golf James Connor John Bamet Martin Oates , , John Fitzpatrick Richard Seddon James Douland , Michael Shea Patrick Moynack John Kelly James Kehoe ., , , James Carpenter ., David Bateman Samuel Moore , Jeremiah O'Brien ., ., Alexander Millor .- Eliza Holmes Widow S.Woods .'.\| James M. Perkins..... Duncan McDong^ John McDougall ....;... .... I • • ■ • 2 . •.. 3 4 ■ • ■• 5 ■ ••• 6 W } 7 EJ 7 • ■ ■ • 8 • « • a 9 ■ • • • lo EJ II W} II E, II N'. 12 S 12 S 12 E, 1.3 W 13 w H E} 14 wj i.S EJ IS I6 EJ 17 W} 17 EJ i8 E* . >9 W} '9 W} 20 Ei 20 EJ 21 W} 21 wf 22 EJ 22 W J 23 E} 23 W J 24 E} 24 25 EJ 26 w'j 26 EJ 27 WJ 27 WJ «8 EJ 28 • « • • I • • •• 2 EJ 3 range i 22 23 24 26 27 28 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 2CO 200 too 100 200 200 200 6S 100 35 100 5° so 100 100 100 100 100 too 200 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 TOO 100 100 200 100 100 100 100 100 U» 200 200 100 HISTORY OF ARGENTBUIL. jg- « The front of Chatham was largely settled by Americans, in the latter part of the last century; some of them bemg refugees, who had left their country for their country s good, and who were remarkable for nothing but their hatred of British mstuutions and love of Brother Jonathan. This was well exemplified a few years later on the breaking out of the war of 1812, when all the loyal inhabitants of the County volunteered as one man, leavmg their families and homes, and, amid much suffering and pnvation. marched to headquarters, which was then at Pointe Claire, where they prepared themselves, as best they could, to repel \ht piratical invaders of the Prov- mce. Many of the above mentioned men refused to join the ranks with the others openly declaring that they were not going to fight against their own friends. Of course, no action was taken against them, but they were marked for all time, and as their principal employment and means of subsistence was the clearing of land and making potasA, as the timber began to get scarce, ihey found it convenient to leave for other parts ; and, for years, their names have been almost forgotten, and I will mention only a few, viz., the Bennetts, Bates, Parchers, and Smiths. Their vacant places were soon filled up by a better class of men, many of whose descend- ants slill occupy the old homesteads, and are a credit and an honor to any country ; among these may be reckoned the Schagels, Fullers, Noyeses, Bradfords, Ostroms, Casses and many others. " The early settlers were often put to great straits for breadstuffs ; whenever the crops failed from any cause, there were no means of supply, except by the natural highway — the Grand River, — and nothing but canoes for transport to and from Lachine. The trip was often very much protracted, especially by the boats getting windbound. " Any scarcity in the matter of cereals was made up by the plenteousness of fish and game. In each year about the first of June, the s/iad (or, as they came to be called, 'Carillon Beef) made their appearance, when each family, in a short time, could lay in their yearly supply. For many years, the North River furnished fine specimens of salmon, when they regularly ascended that river to spawn ; that, of course, was before the river was obstructed by dams. " The system of agriculture was, for many years, of a very primitive character. While the country was being cleared, all their dependence was on the new /a«//crop. After a time, when the land required breaking up, the ' hog plough ' was intro- duced; but that implement did little more than cut and cover, and it was not until the ' Scotch ' plough was introduced, about the yekr 1825, that anything approaching good farming was done. And from that time, the improvement was very rapid, so that in a few years there were as good ploughmen in the County of Argenteuil as in any part of Canada. " Among the early settlers the state of religion was, for many years, at a very low ebb. A Methodist minister, travelling from place to place, would hold services occa- sionally in private houses (no other place of worship being then available), and at stated times camp meetings were held in the open air, at which all ministers within a reasonable distance were expected to attend. After a time, a large building was erected, which was intended to be used as a place of worship and also as a school- house. The Methodist denomination had the honor of erecting in the township of Chatham the first building dedicated solely to the worship of God ; this was in 1830, and it obviated the necessity of holding camp meetings, the last of which, I think, was held in the year 1829. . " An Episcopal minister, the Rev. Rich. Bradford (grandfather of the late Sir John J. C. Abbott), resided in Chatham on a farm now occupied by Donald M. Dewar, and supplied occasional services in St. Andrews ; this was prior to the arrival, in 1818, of the Rev. Archibald Henderson. As you will, no doubt, have the assist- 286 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. ance of abler pens than mine, I will not enlarge on this, or the two following subjects, leaving to them the task of completing what I have begun. " There is very little that can be chronicled in reference to Sunday Schools. A few pious, earnest men had endeavored to establish one in the front of Chatham, but owing to the poverty of the settlers and other difficulties in the way, it was kept open only a few months in summer, each year. It was different in villages, where they had greater facilities, but, still, there were many drawbacks. " The temperance question, as we understand it, was scarcely known by name until after the year 1820, when .a society was formed allowing the use of wine, beer and cider. After a time, more stringent rules were adopted, but for many years there was a determined opposition ; those known to be favorable to the cause were subjected to all sorts of ridicule, reproach and contempt ; but the cause gradually increased, many good, earnest, zealous workers kept up the agitation, holding meet- ings, and disseminating temperance literature, until a very different feeling was brought about, and many strong opponents silenced. We have not yet got prohi- bition, but we expect it; may the Lord hasten it, in His own good time. "I do not know whether it was owing to hostility of race, which always had been prevalent among the French, and which was the principal element of discord in the whole of Lower Canada, or from some other cause, but in the early settlement of the County, there was something remarkable in the fact that, up to the year 1829, there was not one French Canadian fanner in the whole of the township of Chatham. In that year, Pierre Robert took up land in the second Concession, and about the same time, or perhaps a few years prior, one by the name of Mallette settled on a farm in the River Rouge settlement, and in my early days was noted as the only farmer that held the original deed of concession. It was somewhat different in what is now known as the County of Two Mountains,, as many old country farmers settled down among the French ; but it was not until after the Rebellion of 1837 that the French settled among the English. " The causes which led up to the troubles of 1837 ^^^t of course, matters of his- tory ; but whatever feeling the Liberal party had in common with them, was essentially different, because of their loyalty to the British Constitution. " The Carillon canal was opened for traffic in 1834, when small vessels could go through to Kingston ; prior to that date all goods and supplies were brought from Lachine— at first by bateaux and Durham boats, and afterward by steamer — landed at Carillon, and carted by teams of'horsesand oxen to Grenville, and thence shipped to Bytown. " I will close this rambling sketch by relating an incident which will show the past and present modes of transit, and also record an item of history. " It was on his visit to the Maritime Provinces in the summer of 1840, that the Governor General of Canada, Charles Poulett Thompson, Esq., afterward Lord Syden- ham, left Kingston via the Rideau Canal to Bytown, thence by steamer to Grenville ; ?nd as the roads over the intervening link between Grenville and Carillon were too rough for a delicate man like Lord Sydenham, he was taken in a carriage along the banks of the canal to Greece's Point, where he embarked on the steamer ' St. Andrews ' (which was used as a tug for barges between that place and the upper locks), commanded by Captain Lighthall, of Chute au Blondeau fame, and was taken through Carillon Canal, at the rate of about three miles an hour. Think of this, ye votaries of rapid transit, who cannot travel without a parlor, Pullman and dming car attached, and bounding along at the rate of fifty miles an hour, while the Governor General of Canada was carried along on the deck of a tug steamboat, at the rate of about three miles an hour. Truly the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places. « Youra truly, " COLIN DEWAR." HISTORY OF ARGENTEUK,: 287 • As the Dewars were as early settlers in tbiy part of Chatham as any of whom we have heard, we insert with pleasure, the following letter : — " Ottawa, December 27th, 1893. " As you request me to give a sketch of my ancestors, who were early settlers in the front of Chatham, I will endeavor to do so, but will first give the origin of the name Dewar, which simply means, in plain English, 'custodian' or 'keeper.' " The name is sometimes spelt ' Deor ' (which is presumably the Gaelic form) as well as ' Deweer,' and is invested with quite a romantic and historic interest on account of its origin, which was, that one family of the Clan Macnab was selected or appointed to be the custodians of the 'Quigrich' or pastoral staff of St. Fillan, the Abbott, who lived about the year of Our Lord 720, and held his yearly festival on the 7th January. " His principal Church or Priory in Scotland, and which was most closely con- nected with his memory, was in the upper part of Glendochart, in Perthshire, and which takes from him the name oi Strathfillan. There are well authenticated records which establish the fact, that the ' Quigrich ' has been in possession of the Dewar family since the time of King Robert Bruce, and in 1487 the charter was again con- firmed by King James III to Malise Dewar and his successors. The precious relic of a bye-gone age has thus come down through successive generations, until about the year i860, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, having traced it to Canada, found it in possession of Alexander Dewar, of Plympton, Ont., who, being then in his 87th year, was induced by them to execute a deed, transferring the custody of the relic he had brought from his native land to that Society, thus disposing of the trust so long and faithfully discharged by this Highland family, and of which I am proud to bear the name. " Having said this much in reference to the name, I will now give a short sketch of the family. In the month of July, 1804, my grandfather, Peter Dewar, his wife and family, consisting of six sons and three daughters, also his brother Duncan, his wife and one child, together with some two or three hundred other emigrants, embarked at Greenock on a vessel bound for the port of Quebec. A few days after leaving port, the vessel was captured by a French Privateer, who, after examining the ship's papers, and finding there was no valuable cargo on board, and being satisfied that it was only an emigrant vessel, allowed them to proceed on their voyage ; the captain first treating the Privateer's men to a liberal supply of Highland whiskey. The passengers experienced the truth of the proverb that ' blood is thicker than water,' as the lieu- tenant in charge of the boarding party was a Highlander of the name of McDonald, who generously took pity on his countrymen and let them go. A short time after the departure of the French vessel, another was sighted bearing down upon them, and when the captain saw the ' Union Jack ' flying at the peak, he cursed his unlucky stars, as a British man-of-war was more to be dreaded than a French, on account of that abominable system, the ' Press Gang,' which was then in full swing. However, as soon as they came within speaking distance, they demanded of the captain whether he had seen a strange vessel, and in what latitude. Having received the desired in- formation, they crowded all saU and were soon out of sight. On the arrival of the emigrants at Quebec, in the early part of the month of September, they learned that the Privateer had been captured, and great sorrow was felt for the fate of Lieutenant McDonald. On leaving the vessel at Quebec, the passengers separated, going to different parts of the country. The two families of Dewar, with six or seven other families of the name of Cameron, were in due time landed at St. Andrews, whence the Camerons went to the township of Chatham and settled on farms there. 288 BfSTORY OF ARGKNTEUIL. " My grand&ther lived for a time on the farm that is now called ' Bellevue,' afterwards removing to the front of Chatham, on a property purchased from Colonel Daniel Robertson, and which is still in possession of his grandchildren, while he and all his family have long since passed over to the silent majority. " The history of the Dewar family might very properly close here, were it not that you particularly desire a further sketch of my father's family. '• On the first day of March, 1807, he was married to Margaret McCallum, of Caldwell's Manor, and settled on what is known as Lot. No. 4, front of Chatham, which is now in possession of Mr. Fitzgerald. His family of five daughters and four sons, and of which I am the youngest, were born there. My mother died on the nth October, 1826, aged 45 years. My father died on the 4th September, 1869, in the 94th year of his age. I am the only surviving member of his family — the last leaf on the family tree, all the others having long since passed away. " Of my grandfather's six sons, John, the eldest, was the educated man of the family.' He graduated from Edinburgh University, and was for some time tutor in a gentleman's family in Scotland. A short time after he came to Canada, he received from the Government the appointment of teacher in the public school at Chatham, and held that position for over twenty years, being the only teacher receiving fuU salary ever appointed by the Government. He was a man of superior abilities, well read in all the literature of the day, of a reflective and cultured mind; but, owing to a retiring disposition, would take no part in the struggles of public affairs. In person he was of slight build and delicate constitution, in singular contrast to the rest of his brothers, who were all strong and rugged. He married Myra Noyes, and settled on lots Nos. I, 2 and 3, his house standing a little in rear of Mr. Fitzgerald's house. He had a family of two sons and one daughter, and after the death of his wife in August, 1827, he and his family resided with his brothers until his death, July i6th, 1839. As he did not have to depend upon the proceeds of his farm'for a living, nearly the vvhole of his large farm was let out in pasture. His eldest son, John, left home when quite a young man, taking up his residence in New York, where he niarried, and died in 1855. His son Peter married Ann Gordon in 1849, ^^^ died in 1851: His daughter Eliza Jane married Wm. Douglas in 1846, and after a few years' residence in Chatham removed to the State of New York. " Of the rest of my grandfather's sons, Donald and Peter never married, living together on the old homestead with their sister Margaret as housekeeper, until her death in 1857. Donald died in June, 1854, and Peter in 1872. " Alexander married Agnes Dodd, and settled on a farm, and did a flourishing busi- ness with an oatmeal and grist mill for many years, until it was rendered useless by the improvements made to the Grenville Canal. He had a large family of sons and daughters, who are, for the most part, living in the immediate vicinity of their old home. He died in May, 1876, being over 90 years of age at the time of his death. ' Cohn,the youngest son, married Jane Mclntyre in April, 1840, and settled on the farm, where his son Donald still resides. He died in September, i866, in the 66th year of his age. "As already narrated, Duncan, my father, married Margaret McCallum a descendant of one of those families who left their homes in the valley of the Mohawk at the breakmg out of the troubles which led to the separation from Great Britain' After their marri^e, they settled on Lot No. 4 (next to my Uncle John), which wai toen, like most of the other farms at that time, an almost unbroken wilderness. True the potash makers had been over a good part of the front of Chatham at that time', but they had only cut down what suited their purpose for making ashes, leavine the rest as it was.. b "- HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 289 " Whether it was law, or custom only, that gave to the Indians the right to all the Islands in the river, it was from an Indian Chief at the Lake of Two Mountains that my father obtained, for a yearly rental, the privilege of occupying and cultivating the large island in front ef his property, and which was afterward called.after his name. The produce from that island was sufficient for the support of his family, year after year, as he raised good crops of fall wheat, potatoes, corn, hay, etc., besides apples, plums and other small fruit in abundance, which seemed to be indigenous to the place. Having this island to depend on for the support of his family, gave him quite an ad- vantage over some of his neighbors, and, also, an opportunity to get his farm cleared iip. He was what would be called in those days a stock fancier ; he was not satisfied without having the best breed of cattle and horses that could be obtained, and no expense or trouble was spared in order to get them. He brought home, at one time, a small herd of cattle and horses which he bought in the State of Vermont and Eastern Townships, and their descendants graced both his own and his brother's barn yards for many years. " W?ien my parents began life together, there was only a small log house and barn on the farm, and not sufficient accommodation for the stock. Shortly after, a stable of sided cedar was built, and which, a few years ago, seemed to be as sound as ever ; this is merely mentioned to show the durability of cedar. In that old log house, nearly all their family were born, as it was not until the year 1819 that he had finished a snug, comfortable, two-storey stone house, where my youngest sister Kate and myself first saw the light of day, and where my dear mother breathed her last nth October, i8a6. " The face of the country is very much changed since then. At that time, the main road ran along the bank of the river from Carillon to our place. The view from our house was splendid ; away to the west, the river and farm houses were in full view ; down the river could be seen the rapids and part of the village of Point Fortune ; nearly in front of the house was a most magnificent elm tree, whose wide-spreading branches made a very inviting shade on a hot day. " My mother was a woman of a strong and indomitable will, with much native energy and ambition, blended with great mildness and gentleness of character ; cool and collected in the time of danger, as the following little incident will show : " While engaged in her domestic duties, it was customary for the eldest child to take charge of the younger ones ; and one day, as usual, she had taken them out, and was amusing them for a time under the shade of the elm tree, whence she got them into the canoe, that was always moored at the landing place. In their fun and play, the boat was soon loosed from shore, and floating out into dangerous water. My sister, seeing her danger, made a great outcry, which not only brought my mother to the scene, but was also creating a panic among the younger ones. My mother seemg the peril, at once, spoke to them in a soothing, gentle way, and, by her cool and collected manner, quieted the little ones ; while she, with the aid of a pole, ana by wading into the deep water, managed to bring them safely to shore. It was m the same place where my youngest brother, Daniel, was drowned a few years afterward. My three brothers were in bathing, and he, not knowing the danger, climbed pn a sunken rock, and slipped off into deep water, and was never after seen alive, tlie body was recovered in a few days in an eddy, near Carillon. j i,- v, "When the Government expropriated the land required for the canal and higli- way, and which included his dwelling house, my father sold the remainder of his farm to Wm. Cook, a contractor on the canal, and removed in the spring ot 1830 to a rented farm, a short distance away, where he resided until asth June, 1835. He then removed to the property he had purchased on the Lachute Koad, wnicn 390 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. was then almost in a state of nature, so that, for the second time, he _began clearing up a new farm ; and although he was pretty well advanced in life, he lived to see it brought to a high state of cultivation, with large and commodious farm buildings, comfortable dwelling, etc. When the farm was sold in 1862, he retired from active life, and spent the remainder of his days on the old homestead in Chatham, where he died 4th September, 1869, in the 94th year of his age. Of his family of five daughters, the eldest. Christian, bom 6th October, 1809, married James Fraser, 26th October, 1854; died loth July, 1858. Mary, born i4lh April, 181 1, married James Thomson, 30th December, 1834, and died 28th September, 1872. Helena, born 14th November, 1813, married Robert Thomson (no relation of Mary's husband), 2nd January, 1838, and died 26th November, 1887, leaving a family of two sons and two daughters, who reside in Ottawa and vicinity. Margaret, born 2nd January, 1815, died February, 1883; Catharine, born 3rd January, 1821, died 19th May, 1883. " Of his four sons, John, born 26th April, 181 7, was accidentally killed in my father's barn, by falling from the top of the hay mow, and was impaled on a sharp stake ; he lived about twenty-four hours, and died 14th August, 184.1. He was a young man of great promise, of agreeable and gentle disposition, quiet and unassuming manner ; he had a splendid voice and was fond of music ; heavy, muscular build and splendid physique, standing over six feet in height, and weighing 220 lbs. His sudden, untimely and dreadful death was a terrible shock to his father and all his family ; and I cannot recall the sad circumstances, even now, without a shudder. ' Peace to his ashes. Honour to his memory.' Peter, his twin brother, lived on the farm with his father until his death, 22nd November, 1847. Daniel, bom 28th March, 1819, was drowned in July, 1827, as previously narrated. " 1 was the youngest of the family, and was born 12th Septeniber, 1823, at the old homestead in Chatham, where my uncle John laid the foundation of what little education ' I possess, as I never had the advantage of a classical or college education, but had to put up with what was taught in the common schools (and some of them were com- mon enough), our text-books being the Bible and Mavor's spelling-book. Those who were fond of poetry had the Scottish version of the Psalms to revel in, and when the ' English Reader' was added 10 the list of school books, it was thought we were very extravagant. At that time, the greatest part of the ink used in country schools was made by boiling the bark of the soft maple ; we used goose or turkey quills to write with. As my father had not the means to pay help in clearing up and doing the^ work on the farm, each one of his sons had to turn in and help, and, in consequence, I was taken from school before I was thirteen years of age, and never returned. " As I did not relish a farmer's life, I left home, and served in a store three years ; but on the death of my brother John, in 1841, thinking it was my duty to help my father, I went back to the farm, and after a few years took entire charge of it, and relieved him from all responsibility. He deeded one-half of the property for my own personal benefit; on the land thus obtained I built a house, and on the 13th Sept- ember, 1854, was married to Ehzabeth, theyoungest daughter of Charles Benedict of St. Andrews, who was bora nth August, 1823. We went home, and lived there until the spring of 1863, when, having sold the farm in the fall of 1862 to Charles Albright, we remained two years in St. Andrews, and then removed, in 1865, to St. Eugene, in the township of Hawkesbury.. My wife died there nth October, 1866, leaving to my care four sons, our third son, James, having died previous to his mother, of scarlet fever, 24th January, 1865. During my residence at St. Eugene, I received the appoint- ment of Commissioner for taking afildavits in the. Queen's Bench, and was also appointed local superintendent of schools, which office I held for two years until I left the place in 1868. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 39 r " In the spring of 1869, 1 came to Ottawa, and having obtained a situation in the oflSce of Captain Young, lumber manufacturer, sent for my family in November of tlie same year, was married to Esther, the second daughter of Charles Benedict of St. Andrews, who was born ist January, 181 9, and died 22nd April, 1892. " I remained in the employ of Captain Young for seventeen years, the greater part of the time as cashier and confidential clerk, nnd remained with his successors for over two years after he sold out ; and am now and have been for five years in the Water Works departrhent in the City Hall. I never aspired to municipal honors, but represented Victoria ward, as public school trustee, fOr a period of nine years. In politics, I am a Liberal, but not slavishly bound to either party ; would support an honest government, no matter by what name it was called, if the men at the head of it were men of honor, who could not be bought with the spoils, nor contaminated with the lust of office, who have in Ihem that ' righteousness which alone exalteth a nation.' In religion, I can worship with any who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, but am identified more closely with the Presbyterian denomination, and have endea- vored, although with much feebleness and faltering, to do my duty in that state of life in which it has pleased God to call me. My family of four sons are all married, and living in Ottawa. John, the eldest, bom 1st November, 1855, served his time as a machinist, afterward taking a course of mechanical drawing in Richmond College, and received an appointment from the Government as machinist and draughtsman in the Intercolonial shops at River-du-Loup. He left that place for a situation as locomotive foreman at Ottawa, which he resigned to open an office as Insurance Agent and Real Estate Broker. He married, June, 1880, Catharine Isabella, daughter of Aid. Masson of Ottawa. " George, born 28th July, 1857, is now Agent for the Export Lumber Co. of New York and Boston. He was married loth December, 1891, to Mary, youngest daughter of Mr. Wm. Robertson, of Ottawa. " Charles, born 13th February, 1862, for the past eight years has been local man- ager of the Bell Telephone Co. at Ottawa, and is one of the Directors of the Ottawa Electric Railway. He married Annie, youngest daughter of Mr. Arch. Acheson of Westmeath, 9ih June, 1886; they have three children. "Colin, the youngest, born 27th October, 1863, is a graduate of McGill Medical College, and has been a practising physician and surgeon in the city for the last six years. He married, ist January, 1890, Laura, daughter of Rufus Filer of Montreal, and they have two children. " Yours truly, «C. DEWAR." We think the mill referred to in the above letter of Mr. Dewar deserves further notice, inasmuch as it performed a most important function in its day, and proved a great blessing to the inhabitants. Only a vestige of it remains, and the date of its erection could not be learned, till it was discovered in the diary of the late Captain Pridham of Grenville, who refers to it in speaking of the masons who were employed in the construction of his own house ; it is thus learned that the mill was built in 1835. Its location was near the Ottawa, not far above Stonefield, on a small stream, v/hich was then much larger thin at present. It was famed for the excellence of the fiatmeal it manufactured, and was patronized by farmers even from Glengarry. An iiged citizen in the vicinity remembers that many teams were often waiting at the mill, in the days of its usefulness. ■ ,..,_• a _„ Colin Dewar, the youngest of the sons of Peter Dewar, and who is briefly men- tioned in the above sketch of the Dewar family, was three years old when his parents came to Canada. His father had lived on the Duke of Argyle's estate m Scotland, 2y2 HISTORY OF ARGBNTEUIL. and the aged Duchess aometimes called at the house. She took great interest in the wee bairn Colin from his birth, and expressed a hope that his hair would be rea. ane presented him with a suit of kilts when the family was about leavmg, and he was in me fullenjoyment of this Highland costume when the vessel was stopped by the Ji-rivateer. The kilts were long preserved by the family, and we believe that portions are still in existence. Mr. Dewar (the happy recipient of this suit) was lieutenant in the company of Captain Ostrom, in the Rebellion of 1837, and was an active, esteemed member of this community, serving it for some time as School Commissioner. Mrs. Dewar died in 1895; they had four sons— Peter, James, Duncan and Donald, and four daughters— Annie, Christina, Mary and Margaret : Peter lives in this sec- tion, James in Minnesota, and Duncan is deceased. Annie, the widow of Wra. bcott, lives in California; Christina, widow of Geo. Noyes, in this locality; Mary died m infancy ; Margaret, married to James Hawring, Hves in Bntish Columbia. Donald Dewar resides on the homestead— a fine farm with an attractive bncK residence which commands a beautiful view of the Ottawa. Mr. Dewar was appointed commissioner for the trial of small causes in iSgi, and soon afterward was appointed Justice of the Peace; he married Eliza J. Mullen, of St. Andrews parish. Mr. Dewar in a later letter says : . -, , xt " I believe I did not mention the fact of a saw mill having been built on lot JNo. 3, a short distance up the river from Mr. Chisholm's distillery, and a little below my father's house ; it was the first mill erected in that part of Lower Canada. There 13 no documentary evidence to show when or by whom it was built, or the length of time it was in existence, how or by what means it was destroyed, which was, most likely, by the ice in the spring. It must have been destroyed in the closing years of the last century, as there was not a vestige of the mill to be seen (except a part of the mill dam) when my father settled on his farm in 1807. Mr. Duncan Dewar remembers seeing the remains of the dam when he was a boy, and is of the opinion that it was btfilt by Ebenezer Clarke, a well-known millwright in those days, whose family resided in the township of Chatham. I also frequently saw the remains of the dam'in my younger days." Great changes have occurred in the appearance of this locality since the days when Mr. Dewar lived here ; the large elm to which he refers has disappeared, as well as many other of the old landmarks. On the farm of Mr. James Edward Fitzgerald, at a little distance from the high- way, on the left, are the ruins of a house, which, judging from its interior finish and the grounds around it, was the home of some person of taste and means. At the time of its erection the road passed between it and the river, so that the neat fence and shrubbery, of which vestiges may stiil be seen, that were then in front of the dwelling, are now in the rear of its ruins. This house was erected about 1830, by William Cook, a Scotchman, who had been a contractor in his native land. On coming to Chatham he took a large contract in the construction of the Canal, made money, with which he purchased 500 acres of land, that was formerly owned by John Dewar, in this section, and erected the dwelling referred to above. He afterward lost heavily on a contract he had taken for the construction of the locks at Chute au Blondeau. Thomas Fitzgerald, one of the pioneers of Beech Ridge, in the Parish of St. Andrews, received a classical education, preparatory to entrance to the priesthood ; but, for some reason, he gave up the design of following this vocation. He was a nephew of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, who was executed for complicity in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and was himself an exile for nine years in France, for his connection with the same Rebellion. But, being pardoned by the British Government, he HISTORY or ARGENTEUIL. returned to his native land, and, in 1836, came to Canada and settled at Beech Ridge. His son, John Fitzgerald, came to Challiam, and. in 1868, bought three lots of land, on which his sons now live. He was married in 1848 to Elizabeth Delaney, and had three sons and two daughters, . James, married to Joanna O'Con- nor, June loth, 1879 > John, who was married to Martha Dixon, of Little Rideau, in September, i88i ; and Edward, married in 1880, to Mary Ellen Barron, of East Hawkesbury, all live in Chatham. Margaret, the widow of John Lennon, also resides in this place; Elizabeth, the other daughter, is the wife of Richard Puncheon of St. Columba. Their father, Mr. John Fitzgerald, after buying his farm, about 1872 went, with one of his sons, to California, where he earned money to pay for his land, returning in 1874. He was an intelligent man, a great reader, and possessed a very retentive memory ; he was also a man of much energy and industry. The land he purchased at this place he divided among his sons, giving to each a good farm He died very suddenly, 6th May, 1894 ; Mrs. Fitzgera'd died 29th January, 1896' James Miller came, in 1831, with his family, from the County of Monaghan, Ireland, to Carleton County, Ont. Four years later, his son, James Miller, jun,, moved to Pembroke, where he remained till 1870, successfully engaged in lumbering and farming. He then came to Cushing, Que., and bought the Mair property, which he sold in 1888, and, in the spring of the next year, moved to another part of Chatham, where he bought 90 acres, known as the " Feeder Farm," on which he still lives. Mr. Miller has always taken an interest in schools, and was a member of a School Board fifteen years. He was married in 1858 to Susannah O'Brien, who has since died. They had ten children, of whom only one — James Henry — grew up. The latter was married, 28th February, 1894, to Miss Christina McMartin, of River Rouge, and is now employed in Montreal, in the office of the Traveler's Insurance Company. Philabert F. Filion, a very successful business man of this section, is a son of Martin Filion, and was bom near Higaud, Que., and came to Chatham in 1865. Previous to this, he attended college in St. Andrews, and worked some time for IVlcLaughlin & Son, lumbermen, on the Ottawa, being with them, altogether, as clerk and foreman, twenty-one years ; he was also foreman on the Carillon Dam, the Lachine Piers, and in the stone quarry three years at Port Arthur. He has been twice married : the first time in 1866 to Mary Robert, who died about a year after her marriage. His second marriage was in 1871 to Miss Dinah Sauvie, of Montebello. Mr. Filion, for a number of years, has been engaged in the lumber business with his brother Joseph, his fine farm, meanwhile, being to a great extent managed by Mrs. Filion. Antoine Robert, who has lived here for nearly thirty years, has the honor of beine the son of a centenarian. His grandfather, Joseph Robert, came from France, and was one of the very early settlers at St. Andrews. Joseph, the eldest of his children, who had lived for nearly fifty years on the River Rouge, St. Andrews, died there in 1885, upward of 100 years old. He was twice married, and had one son and seven daughters. Antoine is the only son by the last marriage. Edward Barron is one of the respected farmers of this section ; he is a grand- son of the Mrs. Barron mentioned in the history of Chute au Blondeau, who performed the feat of riding on horseback, through the wilderness, to Toronto, to obtain the patent for their farm. It is but just to say, that the industry and perseverance of Mr. Barron emulate those of his maternal relative. His father, Joseph Barron, lived on the old home!stead at Chute au Blondeau, and died there a few years since. He had six sons and three daughters ; three, only, of the sons-^James, John and Edward- live in this section. James conducts an hotel in GrenviUe ; John is a farmer in the 294 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. same township. Edward Barron, in 1882, married the widow of John Thompson, daughter of the late John Mason, lockmaster, and settled in Chatham. Mrs. Barron, by her first marriage, had five children, of whom two sons and one daughter are now living. By the second marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Barron have one son and one daughter. Mr. Barron's present farm was foimerly owned by Dr. Jameson, one of the successful and prominent physicians of Waterloo, Shefibrd County, Que. Capt. John Stephens, whose early career was singularly eyeniful, and who, as his various promotions proved, did honorable service in fighting for his country, was born in Wexford County, Ireland, in 1789. He joined the army at the age of 17, entering the 87th Regt. Foot, in 1806; he was transferred, in 1808, to 4th G. B., and, in 1810, to the 66th Foot, commanded by his second cousin. General Sir Oliver NicoUs. He was promoted to the rank of Senior Quarter Master, while under service at Calcutta, 14th September, 1815. His length of service in the regular army was twenty-six years, four of which were spent in India. From India, he went to the Island of St. Helena, where he acted as one of the Guards of Napoleon I. His family had in their possession for years a ring presented to him by the ill-starred Emperor. He left St. Helena in 182 1, retired from the 66th Regiment, came to Canada in 1827, and in 1830 settled in Chatham. At his own request, he was retired on half-pay gih December, 1831. In 1833, he received a grant of land in Litchfield, County of Pontiac, for military service, but did not remove his residence from Chatham. In 1837, at the request of Sir John Colborne, he raised a company of volunteers, and served as Regiment Adjutant in 1838. It was at this time he won his title of Captain. He became connected with the Presbyterian Church, under the Rev. William Mair, in 1839, and was appointed Deacon of the same in the following year-; he was approved by the session of the Church as Eider, but seems to have declined appointment to that office. His death took place 9th October, 1868. The Rev. Richard Bradford was one of the most prominent of the early settlers in Chatham, chiefly because he was the first to plant the Church of England in the* valley of the Ottawa, and was the first clergyman resident in the County. These two facts alone entitle him to a long biographical sketch ; but, notwithstanding the efforts that were made to obtain more facts with regard to him, we simply learned that he came from England to New York about 1782, and was there engaged in a business partnership with a Mr- Smith. A few years later he came to Canada, and was Chaplain in the 49th Regiment. We do not know just when he came to Chatham, but that he was here ih 1811-12 is evident from the Church Records at St. Andrews. He pur- chased from Col. Robertson his estates on the Ottawa and North River, the first comprising 5,000, the latter 1,000 acres. He left two sons in the States ; the remain- der of his children, four sons, Richard, George, Charles, and William, and two daughters, afterwards Mrs. Abbott and Mrs. Fisk, came with hiui to Canada. George, his eldest son,: married Martha Smith, daughter of a neighbor. Captain Johnson Smith, and he first settled on the homestead near his father ; but, not long afterward, he removed to Upper Canada, and there bought a farm. Three years later in 1820, his father died, and he returned to Chatham to obUin his share of the patrimony. His brothers, at that time, had all left this section, and his brother-in- law. Rev. Joseph Abbott, who was executor of the estate of the deceased, prevailed on George to take the 1,000 acres of land on the North River, instead of money, for his share of the paternal estate. In coDsec[uence of so doing, he had to give up his farm in Upper Canada, on which he had paid £75, and he then returned and settled on his new one, his house being located not far from the site of Earle's Mills, in Lachute. Here he Jived, till near the close of his life. His. children, who arrived at HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 20 C mature age, were George M., Henry, now living in Brandon, Man ; Charles who was accidentally killed on the railway a few years since ; and John, now living in Lachute, where he has a lime kiln. The daughters were Eliza and Martha Jane -the former was married to Henry Hammond, the latter to the late Andrew McConnell In 1838, George married Matilda Stephens, a daughter of Capt. John Stephens, and Henry Bradford married Mary Ann, her sister. These two brothers were members of Captain Stephens' Volunteer Company, and went with it to Grande Brul6 George, the elder brother, purchased a lot on the Ottawa, formerly belonging to his grandfather's estate, and built a house contiguous to that of his father-in-law. About 1846, he opened a store here in a part of the house where his grandsire lived| and, in company with his brother Henry, did a large business. George, who is stili alive, though upward of eighty, engaged in lumbering and piloting at an early age, and followed this many years. He employed many men, and, at times, had as many as seventy-five in his employ. After opening the store, he still followed his old vocation, while his brother Henry managed the store. A few years afterward, George built a saw mill, a few miles away from his home, on a stream called Muddy Branch. The brothers then dissolved partnership — Henry and his nephew John (a son of George Bradford) taking the saw mill, and George prepared to build a large steam mill near his own dwelling. This he erected on a small bay on the Ottawa in 1871-73, and for a few years did a large business manufacturing laih, siiingle, and all kinds of lumber, which he sold to dealers and others. These mills were destroyed by fire in 1877, when they were owned by the Owens Brothers, of Stonefield. At one time, Mr. Bradford owned eighty-six square miles of timber in Ottawa County, which, after reserving a strip nine rods wide, he sold for $13,000. Mr. Bradford has been an ardent disciple of Nimrod, and during his lifetime has killed over five hundred deer, about a dozen bears and three or four lynxes. Sports- men from the cities have often employed him as a guide and companion in their hunting tours, and many times he has spent weeks alone in the fojrest. He lias five sons now living — ^John, George, William R., Edmund* and Frederick Norman. Thiee of these live in Hawksbury, one in Lachute and one on the home- stead. Of the three daughters, Edith married to James McAllister, Postmaster at Chute au Blondeau ; Gertrude to Jas. Cook, farme r, of Arundel ; and Martha to Joseph Thompson, a farmer of Portland, Que. The Noyeses have always been active citizens of Chatham. Thomas Notes was a U. E. Loyalist, and before coming to Chatham lived in New Hampshire. On removirig to this place, accompanied by his wife, three sons and three daughters, he bought two lots of land. John, his eldest son, took part of the homestead, on which he lived till his death. Clark and William, his brothers, built the large brick house now owned by Edward Barron. This they sold to Mont- marquet, and he sold to Dr. Jameson. Both these brothers also died in Chatham. John, the eldest son, mentioned above, was married to Lydia Dexter, of Vermont, and had six sons and two daughters. Of the sons, Thomas, the eldest, married Mary Ann Ostrom, and lives in a pleasant brick residence on a fine farm, about half a mile from the homestead. They have five sons and three daughters. John, their eldest son, who has spent much of his life on the Ottawa, and is regarded as a skillful engineer, is engineer on the steamer " Hall," which plies between Montreal and Ottawa, and is much esteemed by the Company by which he is employed. His wife was Miss Fanny Roe, of Montreal. Benjamin,- his youngest brother, and Ida, his youngest sister, remain with their parents on the home- stead. * Killed in a mill in 1895. 296 HISTORY OP ARGENTEUIL. John, the second son, and Charles, fourth son of John Noyes, sen., live in Butte City, Montana, the former being one of the pioneers of that place. William, their brother, lives in Muskegon, Mich. Benjamin, their youngest brother, when last heard from was in Africa. • ■ . . George, sixth son of the same family, was married in 1868 to Christina, daughter of the late Colin Dewar, of Chatham, and moved to Minnesota, where he died in 1870. His widow, with her two children, returned, and bought a part of her family (Dewar) homestead, on which she still resides with her son John and daughter Georgina. .... Of the two daughters of John Noyes, sen^, Frances, the eldest, unmarried, lives with her brother Thomas. Lydia, the second daughter, married Mr. Williams, of Burlington, Vt., and died at that place. When but a young child, Frances was one day playing on the bank of the river, not far from the house, and a band of Indians ascending the Ottawa enticed her into a canoe and carried her away. By good fortune the Indians at Grenville met Mr. Noyes and Mr. McPhie, His partner in the lumber business, coming down the river. The child, recognizing her father, gave a joyful cry, and was thus rescued from' captivity. About a mile on the road leading from Mr. George Bradford's, on the Ottawa, to St. Philippe, the traveller comes to a good farmhouse and commodious bams. Descending a small hill, he crosses a bridge over a creek and, at his right, lies a small picturesque pond, in a tract of level ground, encircled by gentle hills, and at a point where these hills so nearly meet as to leave only a narrow outlet for the stream is a mill for sawing wood. Farther off, at some little distance beyond the hills, the upper part of a wind mill frame looms in sight. The whole surroundings, the creek, the pond, the well-tiHed fields, good fences and sleek herds, afford a picture and suggest a phase of happy farm life on which the traveller delights to linger. This was the home of Ephraim Fuller, a pensioner of the United States Govern- ment for service in the Revolution, and here he subsequently settled, the earliest pioneer, it is believed, in this immediate section. On the spot where now his grand- son has his mill for sawing wood, he also had a saw mill for transforming the pines, spruce, hemlock, etc., into lumber — a single instance of the enterprise of which he was possessed. He had thirteen children — eight sons and five daughters ; three of the former, Rinaldo, Ivory and Calvin, were the only ones who remained in this section. Rinaldo lived, on the homestead, and had two sons and one daughter. The latter, Marion, married to Daniel, a son of their neighbor, John Cass. Albert, the son, who married Minnie Douglass, lives on the homestead, and is engaged in. farming on improved plans. He has a silo, cuts his ensilage and all his feed by water power, and the same motor is employed to thresh his grain. He keeps a large stock of cattle, and under his able management his farm will soon be in condition to sustain more. Mr. Fuller is a young man of great energy, and his enterprise is a worthy example to the other farmers of Chatham. At a little distance farther west — where we saw the wind null, which is used for hydraulic purposes— on a fine farm, resides the widow of Ivory Fuller and her son Frank. Her maiden name was Marietta Schagel. She is a daughter of Captain Schagel, and her married life has been spent on this farm. Mr. Fuller died in Sep- tember, 1887. They had eleven children, two sons and nine dai^hters. . Albert, the eldest son, is in Carievale, Assiniboia. Frank, the younger, and the only one o{ the children unmarried, remains on the hcMnestead. Calvin, the third son of Ephraim Fuller, who remained in the vicinity of his early home, married, and raised a large family, but was accidentally killed while engaged in lumbering. His family afterward sold their homestead and went to the West. HISTORY OP ARGENTEOIL. » . 297 Passing onward toward St. Philippe, through a low lying belt of thick second growth forest, we arrive at another fine level farm, attractive from its intensely rural aspect and quiet seclusion. This is the home of Mr. John Cass. JosiAH Cass, his grandfather, was one of the U. E. Loyalists who left the Genesee Valley at the breaking out of the Revolution, and he first made his home at theBaie des Chaleurs. There his wife died, leaving four sons and two daughters. He again mar- ried, and some years later, yet previous to 1800, came to Hawksbury, Ont and took up 400 acres of land at the head of the Rapids. By his second marriage he had one son and three daughters, to whom he bequeathed the bulk of his property at which his children by the first marriage, being displeased, left home. Two settled in Treadwell's Seigniory, and Daniel, the youngest, came to the second concession in Chatham, and took up 160 acres of land, now owned and occupied by his son John. Another man had made a small beginning here, but the great amount of pioneer work remained for Mr. Cass. For twenty years he prosecuted his labors without the help and companionship of a wife, but about 1821 he married a widow named Eleanor Brundage, who had five children. In 1837-38 he and his stepson, Levi Brundage, served as volunteers in the Company of Capt. Schagel, This locality seems to have been a favorite resort for wolves in early days, as besides the loss of sheep by Leavitt, mentioned elsewhere, they continued to make raids on tlie flocks of Messrs. Cass, Fuller and others, the former having lost ten and the latter twenty, sheep, at different times, in one night. ' Mr. Cass had, of his own children, three sons and one daughter. Jacob,'\he youngest of the former, now lives in Illinois. John, another of the sons, who re- mained on the homestead, married in August, 1845, to Elizabeth Ramsey, and has had nine children, of whom three sons and four daughters are still living. The two youngest, Johiel and Amelia, still live with their parents on the homestead. • Several years ago Mr. Cass sustained a heavy loss by fire, his buildings, hay, grain, farming implements, wagons, five horbcs and five cattle all being burned, without insurance. He has the respect of his fellow-citizens, and has been a School Com- missioner a number of years, and Assessor fifteen. It should be stated that the road on which the above mentioned families have settled, and which is known as the " Fuller Road," was settled at a very early period j th.t prods-verbal, which is dated 1821, being the oldest known in this part of the township. CUSHING. No one, wjjo travels the road from Carillon to Grenville will fail to admire the section of country through which he passes. The stately trees by the way-side, good buildings, well-tilled farms, the neat stone church with its pretty manse, are objects that will attract one's attention. But he will soon arrive at a spot which, not only from the beauty of the scenery, but from the elegance of the buildings, though few in number, will enhance his interest and arouse his curiosity. An air of profound quiet pervades the place, but it is evident, that it was once a locality of business and activity. This is Gushing, a name which belonged to its founder, who, for half a century, was a leading spirit in the County of Argenteuil. We cannot give a more complete biographical sketch of Mr. Gushing, than will be found in the following obituary, copied from the Montreal Herald oi May 20th, 1875 : — " Mr. Lemxjel Gushing, whose death we announced yesterday, was one of the early settlers of the Ottawa Valley. He was born at Three Rivers in 1806, educated at Peacham, Vermont, and commenced business for himself in the then lumbering district of Chatham, County of Argenteuil, at the early age of seventeen. Like -all 20 agS HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIt. the pioneers and settlers of a new country, he had to struggle hard, and to overcome difficulties which appeared almost insurmountable ; but, by active and persevering industry and energy, he soon earned for himself a place and position among the people of that section of the county, and, for many years, he filled successively the offices of Councillor and Mayor of the Township, and Warden of the County. For more than fifty years, he acted as Justice of the Peace; his jurisdiction at one time extending to, and including the city of Montreal. He look an active part, on the breaking out of the troubles of 1837, in collecting and furnishing arms for the use of the Militia. Enrolling himself as a volunteer, he marched with his fellow settlers to St. Eustache, where he was instrumental in checking pillage and devastation, and, with shrewd foresight, preserved the records and documents which would otherwise have been destroyed in the sacking of the Registrar's Office at St. Benoit. As a business man, he was eminently successful. Three times he became owner of the celebrated Caledonia Springs, and, about fifteen years ago, purchased the property now known as Cushing Island, in Portland Harbor, Me., which soon became a fashionable summer resort, and which remained in his possession up to the time of his death. He was married in the Spring of 1836 to Catherine, daughter of the late John S. Hutchins, of Lachute, by whom he had thirteen children, and he lived to see all his sons— eight in number — established iu business. For several years past, he has himself taken no active part in business. Respected and esteemed by all who knew him, his death has snapped another link of the chain which unites us with thdearly history of the country,'' The following extract from his funeral sermon is copied from the ArgenteuU Advertiser, of 9th June, 1875 '■ — The solemn funeral service was conducted in St. Mungo's Church, Chatham, by the Rev. Donald Ross, B.D., who, after discoursing on the Resurrection, paid the following well-merited tribute to his deceased parishioner and friend : — " In the providence of God, we have come together to-day to pay the last token of respect to one whose name has been more closely identified wiih this district, for upwards of half a century, than that of any other one man, who formed a link between the present generation and the early settlement of the Ottawa Valley. Though he bad not quite attained to the allotted threescore and ten years, he really lived longer than many who fill up the term of fourscore years, for his was a life of intensest activity. He lived in deeds, not years — in thoughts, not breaths — in feelings, not in figures on a dial. If we count time by heart throbs, he longest lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best. A man of strong individuality of chaiacter, he made his influence felt throughout the community, whose development and progress he strove to advance His unwearied industry, his indomitable perseverance, his shrewd speculative turn, crowned him with great success in the sphere of effort which he had chosen for himself. He was fearless in the expression of his opinion, when occasion demanded its expression ; inflexibly just, scorning anything mean, always setting before himself a high ideal of manhood; recognizing and appreciating honor, and justneis, and uprightness iu anyone who exhibited these virtues. As a citizen, he occupied positions of public trust ; and how conscientiously he discharged the duties which these entailed on him you all know. To him this church and parish are deeply indebted. From facts which have come to my own knowledge, and on the authority of those who are competent to speak upon the matter, it is due to him to- say, that this church would, in all probability, not have an existence but for his active efforts, his wise counsel, and his generous aid. "Throughout its history of forty years, in critical and trying days, he has always been its staunch supporter, always willing to assist in promoting its advancement HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 2qo and prosperity, and, so long as these walls sUnd, they will bear witness to the interest which he took in the welfare of the congregation. In him, both my predecessors and myself had a warm friend, who, in reason of his large and varied experience, was capable of advising us in matters of difficulty. Into his private and domestic relations, I would not presume to intrude, though, on these points, I could also speak. But it is no breach of propriety to say what you all know— that he was a faithful and loving husband, and a kind and affectionate father. " He is now gone ; quietly he fell asleep, having finished his work, and the place that so long knew him shall know him no more ; but his memory will live, his influence will still be felt. Though dead, he will yet speak to us. May his example of diligence and devotion to duty stimulate us all to do with our might whatsoever our hand findeth to do, ' for there is no device, nor work, nor wisdom, in the grave,' to which we are so rapidly hastening." It is but just to say that, in his marriage, Mr. Gushing obtained a companion in every respect worthy of the position — a woman, kind, intelligent, pious, active and determined; there was no situation in which they were placed during their conjugal relations in which she did not act her part with true womanly spirit and devotion. She is a daughter of John S. Hutchins, prominent in the history of Lachute, and the qualities she inherited from intelligent ancestors, combined with her early Christian training, eminently fitted her for the station she has been called to fill. Mrs. Gushing, for some time, has resided in Montreal, where she has a fine residence on Metcalfe street. She has been a devoted worker in the cause of temperance, and her benevo- lence has given many a poor orphan and widow cause to bless her. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Gushing, seven sons and two daughters are now living. James Brock (Gol.) Gushing, the eldest, has been more closely identified with the history of this County than any of the other children — as they went to Montreal and engaged in business quite early in life. James B. entered his father's store as clerk in 1856; about five years subsequently, Mr. Gushing, with his two sons, James and Thomas, formed a copartnership in mercantile business; but, a few years later, Thomas withdrew, and, not long afterward, the father, entering political life, removed to Montreal, and James continued the business alone till 1891, when he also removed to Montreal. He was very active and influential while he lived here, and the fine stone store at Gushing is but a single instance of his enterprise. In 1866, he organized a Company of Volunteers, of which he became Captain, and,.on the retirement of the Hon. J. J. G. Abbott from militory life, the officers of the Battalion unanimously chose Mr. Gushing for their Lieut.-Colonel. When his father removed to Montreal, he resigned his local offices — that of Postmaster, Municipal Councillor, J. P., etc., and Col. Gushing became his successor, and, during the last few years of his residence here he was Mayor of the Township. He was married 31st March, 1869, to Elizabeth T. Hill, daughter of the late Francis M. Hill, Barrister, of Kingston; he is now m real estate business in Montreal. Lemuel, second son of the late Lemuel Gushing, was long a Barrister ni Mon- treal, and represented Argenteuil County in the Dominion Parliament, He died about 1880. . C.- Thomas, the third son, is proprietor of the Montreal Brewmg Company ; Francis, fourth son, is manager of the Gushing estate, including Gushing Island, Me. ; Charles, the fifth son, has long been a leading and popular notary in Montreal, and is the senior member of the firm Gushing, Dunton & Barron, which does a large busmess ; Fred., sixth son, is a brush manufacturer, and lives at 143 Metcalfe street, Montreal; William M., seventh son, is a merchant, notary and J. P., in Elkhorn, Man. ; George 300 H15T0RY OF ARGENTEUIL. the youngest, is proprietor of a gold and silver mine in Mexico, where he has jusl erected a crushing mill. Of the two daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Gushing, one is mar- ried to the Rev. Donald Ross, Professor in Queen's College, Kingston ; the other to Mr. Cochran, and lives in Denver, Colorado. A factory for the manufacture of edge tools was erected at Cashing about the year 1850, by a man named Forsythe. Oil of smoke was also made here, and sent to England to be used in the printing of calico. The business was conducted for some time, with considerable success by different parties, but after a period of about fifteen years, the factory was burnt, — supposed to be the work of an incendiary. Col. James Cushing also erected a saw mill and grist mill here ; the former is still in successful operation, but the latter, being out of repair, has fallen into disuse. Derrick Ostrom from Utica, N . Y., settled here in the early part of this century> on a lot adjacent to that on which his grandson, John Ostrom, now dwells. As there was no road, he came up the Ottawa on the ice, bringing his family and household effects on a sled drawn by oxen. His first dwelling — a. rude shanty — was built very near the river; in this he lived until the present road was established farther back on the shore. An incident occurred while the family remained in the cabin, which the children and grandchildren of Mrs. Ostrom never wearied of asking her to relate. One evening, Mr. Ostrom returned to his humble cabin with a fine string of fish, and threw them down outside, with the intention of soon dressing them. Soon after- wards, one of the family discovered the glaring eyes of a wolf not many yards distant, which, tempted by the scent of the fish, was evidently in anticipation of a dainty meal. Mr. Ostrom got his gun, and by the light of the lantern held by his better- half, soon had his wolfship lying beside the fish he had so foolishly coveted. After the road was established and opened, Mr. Ostrom built a large, three-story house a few rods from his less pretentious abode, and in this opened a public house and general store, in which he accumulated property to an amount which won for him the appelation of " rich." Before his death, which occurred in 1823, he had added three lots to his estate. He left three sons and three daughters, but John, the eldest, was the only son who remained here ; and he received, as his part of the real estate, the lot on which his own son, John, now resides. The two remaining sons, William and Derrick, each received a lot, but they soon sold them and removed to Alumette Island, where William is still living. The following sketch from the pen of Mr. Colin Dewar gives a more complete history of this family : — " The old ' Militia Act ' of Lower Canada, which was in force in 1837 gave to the Captains the power of ordering out and compelling all able-bodied men, be- tween the ages of 18 and 45, to attend muster, and perform active duty. In many instances, these officers had not been appointed on account of their knowledge of military tactics, but from being in favor with the officer commanding the Bat- talion. As a result of such a course, a great deal of dissatisfaction was manifested on the breakmg out of the troubles of 1837, when they were called out for active service; the men not hankering after a military experience under the com- mand of such officers. '• The Government, knowing well the axiom that ' one Volunteer is worth more than ten pressed men, got over the difficulty, by allowing all enroUed companies of volunteers the privilege of choosing their own officers, and all such companies to be under the control of the chief officer of the District. Two companies in the town- ship of Chatham were quickly formed on these lines : the first, under the command ^y killed thirty-five of his sheep in one night. After his death, his family sold the farm and left the country. Robert Allen, whose father lived in Thomas' Gore, was one of the quite early settlers here, and he remained and raised a large family of children, but they have long since departed. One of the oldest settlers still living in this section is Michael Brearton, a native of the County of Kilkenny, Ireland. He landed in Quebec, 12th June, 1845, and came directly to Carillon, where he remained with his uncle, Patrick Murphy, four years. On the 29th April, 1852, he was married to Mary Robert, and the next day settled on the farm where he now lives, which contains seventy-two acres, and on which, at that time, there were but ten acres cleared. This is now all cleared up, and neatly and conveniently fenced off into three and five acre lots. He has comfortable 21 314 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUII,. buildings, and, at different times, has taken a prize on his farm, at the County Agri- cultural Fair. Other land which he has purchased, located not far from the home- stead, makes him now a farm of two hundred and ten acres. Mr. Brearton, in 1838, .before leaving Ireland, took (he temperance pledge from Father Matthew, and has faithfully kept it to this day ; and, though his frosted hair and whiskers bespeak advanced age, his fresh complexion, erect form and elastic step give evidence of youthful vigor, and health well preserved. He is a man much respected, and has held the position of School Commissioner eighteen years. He has five Sons, but only one of them — Peter, who lives on the homestead — remains in this section . Many years ago, a boy, son of a man named Hately, living in the front of Chatham, was lost, and, after wandering eight days, he was found in the woods, not far from the house of Mr. Leavitt. He claimed to have had no nourishment in all that-time, save water and a dozen beech nuts — all he could find. The next settler after Leavitt was James Smith, a man froin the States, between whom and Mr. Stayner a law-suit arose, for non-payment of the money due on his land. Others encouraged and aided Smith, and it was some time before he was dis- possessed, and his farm, which was then of considerable value, was sold by Stayner to Robert Cochran. Mr. Cochran came, with his family, from Brussels, Belgium, where he had been foreman in a factory, and it was one of his duties to pay the weavers there employed. He married there a Scotch girl named Amelia Mitchell, sister of Archie Mitchell who was a Commissary in the British service at the time the battle of Waterloo was fought. The two sons, Columbus and Sidney, and two daughters, Jane and Emma, of Mr. Cochran, received a good education in Brussels before coming to this country, so that they were regarded by their less fortunate neighbors in Chatham with a certain degree of awe and respect. They arrived at Chatham about 1824. One of the sons, Columbus Cochran, was a man of greot enterprise, and he erected a brewery and dis- tillery here, bought a large tract of land, and was about carrying out other plans when he was accidentally drowned in the Ottawa. Jane, one of the daughters of Kobert Cochran, was married to James Patton. Some years after the death of Coluinbus Cochran, the remaining members of his father's family sold the homestead, and it is now owned by William Davidson, one of the prominent and respected farmers of St. Philippe. His method of farming is quite in advance of the old style. He has all the improved farming implements j keeps only good stock, swine, etc., and the care that he devotes to feeding them makes a visit to his premises pleasant to those interested in such matters. Before coming here, Mr. Davidson had considerable experience in market gardening at Cote St. Paul, and still gives some attention to this industry. While at Cote St. Paul he was married to an intelligent Christian lady, the widow of William Broml.y. ' John Davidson, his father, who lives in this vicinity, may be classed among those settlers who came after the migration of the squatters or potash makers. He airived in Canada from Yorkshire, England, in 1833, and remained at Cote St. Paul a few years, where he married Hannah Bromby. He sei ved in one of the Volunteer companies of Montreal in 1837-38, and afterward came to Chatham. He first took up but one lot j but has since added two or three more — the last being purchased in 1848. He now has a large farm well stocked, which is managed by his son Robert, who is mar- ried to a daughter of Robert Nichols, of Cushing. One of his daughters is also married to Mr. James Nichols, brother to Mrs. Robert Davidson. Mr. Davidson has had eleven children— eight sons and three daughters— but, besides the children above mentioned, George, one of the sons living in Lachine, is the only one now residing in this section of Canada. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. ,15. Jamks Patton, from St. Andrews, in Scotland, came to this country about i8^4 After staying with his brother Robert at Van's Comer a year, and working in different places till 1837, he bought the land at St. Philippe now owned and occupied by his son, Robert C. Patton. He was married about this time to Jane Cochran, but the Rebellion soon called him from the peaceful pursuits of an early settler to those of a Volunteer. There was a log-house and barn, but only a smal. clearing on the land when Mr. Patton purchased it, so that the work of clearing up a farm of one hundred and fifty acres furnished himself, with the aid of his boys, a life-long work. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace, but always declined to exercise the duties of his office, that of School Commissioner being the only one in which he served, and that he held for many years. He had four children — sons ; one of these died in childhood, another at the age of twenty-eight. His youngest son, Charles J., who is a physician, lives in San Francisco, California. Mr. Patton died 26th May', 1877; Mrs. Patton i6th September, 1853. Robert C, the only son in this section^ has always remained on the homestead, and is one of the respected and substantial farmers of Chatham. H-2 has been Municipal Councillor seven or eight years, and a School Commissioner three or four. He was married to Agnes Dobbie in 1865. Besides a small shop or two, there is one good-sized general store at St. Philippe, which is the property of Pierre Carri^re & Son. Mr. Carrifere came from St! Scholastique to this place in 1855, took his uncle's farm at Staynerville, giving him a life lease. Five years afterward he went to California to earn money to pay for additional land he had bought. After an absence of nearly five years he returned and paid for his land, and once more devoted himself to farming. Believing, however, that he could make money faster in other business, in t868 he sold his personal properly, rented his farm, and went to the region bordering on Lake Superior. There, at his trade of carpenter and by taking boarders, he cleared $2,200 in eighteen months. Returning,, he worked his farm till March, 1890, when he sold it and bought the store in which he is still engaged. The first wife of Mr. CarriSre, Bridget O'Reilly, died in 1857, leaving one daughter, who is now married, v In 1865 he married Marie Cyr, by which marriage he has four sons and one daughter. His eldest son, Arthur, who is with him in the store, received a good academic education at St. Scholastique and Lachute. He was married in January, 1893, to Lia Foucault. Mr. Pierre CarriSre is a member of, the Dissentient School Board, Board of Health, is Assessor, a Director of the Laurentian Granite Quarry, and has been Municipal Councillor several years. Taylor Laframboise came to St, Philippe from St. Scholastique in 1879, and opened a small carriage shop on his arrival, but his business has so prospered that he has enlarged his premises, and now usually employs a dozen men. He has a paint shop, harness and blacksmith shop, so that he is prepared to make all kinds of vehicles, and he annually sells a number of fine buggies of the most improved and latest style. He is also an undertaker, and agent for all kinds of agricultural implements, besides being Manager and Secretary of the Laurentian Granite Quarry Company. The enterprise of Mr. Laframboise has brought him success, and he has erected a neat and attractive residence here. At a distance of about half a mile west from the village of St. Philippe, on a good farm, lives B. Chambers, jun. His father, James Boyd Chambers, came from the County of Tyrone, Ireland, to Chatham in 1841, and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Thomas. There was only a rude hut on it and a small clearing at the time, and he soon erected a more comfortable house, which is still standing, and he also, with the assistance of his sons, cleared up the farm. Mr. Chambers had received a pretty fair education in his early days, which was of good service to him in this country. He was a School ■316 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. ■Commissioner for some time ; but his principal business was buying and selling cattle and sheep— a pursuit he followed for thirty-five years. He died in January, 1893, in the 90th year of his age. He had six sons and four daughters; one of the latter is now dead. Four of the sons live in Chatham and two are in MontMia. James B. Chambers, one of the sons, in his younger days was employed in the lumber business, and thus earned money, with which, in 1868, he purchased of his father the farm of 1 00 acres on which he now lives. He has erected fine commodious bams, keeps a good stock of cattle, horses and sheep, and everything about his premises gives evidence of thrift and prosperity. Mr. Chambers was married in September, 1873, to Margaret Scarborough. He has been a member of the School Board a number of years. John Chambers, another son of the late James B. Chambers, is proprietor of a good farm adjacent to that of his brother named above, though on another road leading from St. Phihppe to the front of Chatham. He was married loth September, 1875, to Nancy Smith, daughter of the late John Smith, of Chatham. HISTORICAL* NOTES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST. PHILIPPE. BY REV. P. CHATILLON. The following few notes have been gathered, for the greater part, from the mouths of several of the most ancient Catholic parishioners of St. Philippe still living. Any one of my successors may, if he wills it, give them a literary form, and complete them. The beginning and developments of the Roman Catholic parish of St. Philippe, County of Argenteuil, Province of Quebec, would be very interesting to be traced up in an historical point of view, the much more interesting, as they would show us how were formed through time most of the Roman Catholic parishes situated on the two banks of the Ottawa River, in the Counties of Argenteuil, Ottawa, Prescott and Russell. The parish of St. Philippe is situated in the centre of the County of Argenteuil, 48 miles from Montreal, and 72 miles from Ottawa, reckoning from Staynerville station. It contains thus nearly the whole of the township of Chatham, from the township of Wentworth to the north, to the Ottawa River to the south. Its territory, consequently, as it is shown by the local geographical map, is found half in the valley of the Ottawa River, and half in the Laurentide Mountains. It is exclusively in the south part of the township of Chatham, from the foot of the 'mountains, that is to say, in the valley of the Ottawa River, that Catholic people have : gathered up to the present time, where they find themselves mixed with an English and Protestant population ; but they have managed to live always in harmony with them, owing to their remarkable spirit of liberality, peace and charity. The parish of St. Philippe is generally known under the name of St. Philippe of Argenteuil, from the name of the county, or of St. Philippe of Chatham, from the name of the township, or of Muddy Branch (La Branche), from the name of a small brook on the Stayner road, to the north of the present village, which brook discharges its -whitish and muddy waters into the North River, at Lachute, thus forming a branch of that much more important stream. Whence follows, that saying that you go to St. Philippe, or to Chatham, or to " La Branche," comes to the same thing, and you ^will be understood by everyone in the neighborhood, and even far away. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL, ,iy The Roman Catholic population of the parish of St. Philippe, nuraberine 230 families and 1,400 souls, are nearly all of French-Canadian race. Th-re are only about a score of Irish families, living, the most of them, in the southern part of the parish. The first Roman Catholic families who came to settle in the township of Chatham do not trace up the origin of the parish of St. Philippe farther back than about threescore years, from the most accurate relations of the old people of the afore- said place. The French-Canadian families, for the greater part, came hither from the various parishes of the county of Two Mountains, where they were already too crowd- ed, to form settlements, and they fixed themselves, in preference, at the foot of the mountain, and in the west of the township, where the land seemed to them better and easier to be cultivated. French colonists, generally speaking, are not so very well oflF, although steady, as the English-speaking settlers, because they are not such good farmers, and spend more money for their table, clothes and carriages. Let that be said tn passant as a piece of good advice, to be fair and impartial, and to furnish them with a good opportunity of improving their morals and methods. Among the French-Canadian families who came successively and settled in the township of Chatham, we may name, specially, the families Trudeau, Sarrazin, Leclaire, Saintonge, Poireur, Bellefeuille, Raymond, Labrosse, Bricot, Lamarche, Lacasse, Desjardins, Lalandc, Latreille, Leblanc, Laurin, Blais, Mauricette, Laurence, Pilon, Foucault, Rochon, Giroax, Ouellel, Carriere, Cleroux, Robert, Morin. Lapointe, etc. Some of those families, in the course of time, left the place, but others are represented there now by a good many members. The most ancient Irish or Scotch^ Catholic families established in the township of Chatham are : the families Byrne,. Brearton, Cameron, Lennon, Derrick, McCoy, Farrell, Wellingham, Baxter, Hart, Kelly, etc. The last three have left the place, or are extinguished at the present time. There, as elsewhere, in general, they have not kept the naive and strong faith, of their mother-country. In that point of view, the free soil of America was some- what harmful to them. Whence and how were those first colonists attended to in the first years of their settlement? According to the testimony of the old people of St. Philippe, quite unanimous on that point, during the interval from 1835 'o 1836, they were obliged tO' go to Saint Andrd most of the time, to get religious assistance. In fact, the first mass was said to them by one of the former missionaries of the latter parish, ()03sibly and probably, the Rev. L. D. Charland, parish priest of Rigaud, in the house of Joseph. Larose, in the row of " La Branche," a house rebuilt by Charles Raymond Labrosse; There, also. Bishop Guigues put up, when he came to fix the place of the first Roman> Catholic chapel of the township of Chatham. The Roman Catholic colonists of th& township of Chatham, during that same interval, from 1S35 ^"^ '836, were also attended to by the missionaries while passing through Grenville, and holding service in the old wooden chapel of that mission, situated about a mile below the present village,, between the Queen's Road and the Ottawa River. You may see still the ruins of that old chapel which was burned later on. The records of baptisms, marriages and burials, for the mission of the township of Chatham, up to 1856, must be found both, in the parochial registries of St. Andr6 and Grenville, according to the case. The Canonical erection of the parish of St. Philippe, which had been till then a simple mission, took place on the 24th of January, 1856, through a decree of Bishop J. E. B. Guigues, first bishop of Bytown, and the civil erection, on the 6th of August, 1861, through the means of Mr. Justice Lafontaine. Those proceedings gave it a regular and legal existence, and contributed a great deal to its spiritual, moral and material progress. One could guess already what it was to become later on. Accord- ing to the contents of the decree, that parish contains that part of the towpship o£ 31 8 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. Chatham which is limited to the south by the Ottawa River, lo the east by the line that separates the township of Chatham from the Seigniory of Argenteuil, includ- ing that part of " I'lsle aux Chats" which is situated in Chatham, to the north by the township of Wentworth, and to the west by the hill which is called Broon's Hill, ■a territory of about 27 square miles. The first election of wardens, under the curacy of Rev. E, H. Ebrard, curate to that parish (the reverend gentleman was drowned some years later in taking a bath at Masham Mills), was held on the 25th of May, 1856; that document, as well AS ihe certificate of marriage between Jos. Lacombe and Olive Leclair, dated 21st of July, 1856, are the two first parochial documents of St. Philippe. The three first waidens elected were: Martin Sarrazin, Amable Trudeau and Wm. Byrne. The warden in charge for the balance of the aforesaid year was Martin Sarrazin. The fourth warden elected was L6on Bricot-Lamarche, on the 6th of January, 1837, ^^c. The Rev. Arthur Mignault, a French-Canadian, was the first parish priest of St. Philippe. Appointed in July, 1856, he did not fix his residence in that place before October, 1837. He occupied at first, till the following spiing, the wooden house at the corner of the street, belonging now to Joseph Corbeil, merchant, then the present priest-house, — ^which became his property — for about two mouths, at the end of which he left the parish in May, I^s8. He left behind him the name of a great preacher of the Roman Catholic faith — dead at the present time. The second parish priest of St. Philippe was the Rev. Laurent Jouvent, a French- man by birth, afterwards a vicar-general of the diocese of Bytown. He came hither in the first days of June, 1858, and left the parish at the end of March or at the beginning of April, 1862. He returned to France, in the diocese of Paris, where he is still living at the present time. The third parish priest of the same parish was Rev. P. S. Mancip, a Frenchman, who came here in the last days of March or the first days of April,- 1862, and left the parish on the 20th November, 1873. He was afterwards appointed parish priest at L'Orignal, where he' died and was buried. The parishioners of St. Philippe, who were acquainted with him, have the best remembrance of him, and are unanimous in their praise. His departure was deplored by everybody, and people spcalk still of him with emotion. The fourth parish priest was the Rev. J. C. Comminges, a Frenchman, who arrived here on the 17th of November, 1873, *nd left at Michaelmas, 1877. He died suddenly in Manitoba some years ago. The fifth parish priest was Rev. Gabriel Joseph Motte, a Frenchman, who came here at Michaelmas, 1877, and left the parish at the end of October, 18S0, now — Septembr;r, 1894 — a professor at Bourget College, Rigaud. (See reg. fol. 46, p. 92.) The sixth parish priest was Rev. Charles Larose, a French-Canadian, who was appointed at the end of October, i88o, and left the parish at Michaelmas, 1886, to :go to the parish of Wendover, to-day parish priest of " The Brook." He succeeded among a lot of difficulties to fix the legal repartition for the construction of the present «tone church. He was esteemed by his people, specially on account of his sympathy for sick people. The seventh parish priest was the Rev. Peter Godin Chatillon, a French-Cana- dian, who arrived here at Michaelmas, 1886. He returned to the diocese of Montreal on the 3rd of October, 1894, to become a chaplain of the Monastery of the Good Shepherd, Sherbrooke stteet. The parish of St. Philippe, which had grown pretty populous, resolved to build a xhapel for their own use. A generous citizen of the place, Joseph Leclair, made a gift, at first verbally, of an acre of land for that object j the deed of the gift was not HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 3I0 signed till the loth of May, 1859. The contractor of the building was Rinaldo fuller, a farmer of the neighborhood. The pews were made by J. B. Beauchamp. The brick chapel, 45 X31 outside, built in 1877, and converted into a store by P. Carriere & Son, was used as a parochial church up to the 6th of January, 1889, exclusively. The land where it was erected was sold, in part, in 1889 to Telesphore Desvoyaux-Laframbroise, carter, and, in part, in 1890, with the chapel itself, to Joseph Mathias Dorion, a merchant of the place, for the sura of $1,000, out of which sum the Trustees' Board of St. Philippe was obliged to pay a hundred dollars to Joseph Leclair. The ground where were erected the present church, presbytery and cemetery, to the east of the town, containing 35 acres, was bought from the Rev. Arlhur Reignaultby the trustees, on the 3rd of February, 1859. The little steel bell, bought by Rev. F. I. Mancip for the Church Corporation, was sold in 1892 to the mission of Eardly, connected with Aylmer. The wrought iron cross of the steeple is kept as a relic in the small cemetery established in the vault of the present church. The mission of Grenville, from July, 1856, up to the appointment of the first parish priest, Rev. D. I. Foley, in 1871, was attended to by the parish priest of St Philippe, who used to say mass there once or twice a month. The mission o f Wentworth was also in charge, from July, 1856, to October, 1884, of the parish priests of St. Philippe, at first without any curate, and afterwaids from Michaelmas, 1892, through the means of a curate, Mr. Dieudonnd Belanger, who went to say mass there once a month. The records of baptisms, marriages and burials of that mission, during those two intervals, were then kept in the parochial registers of St. Philippe. The mission of S'.. Joachim, Chute k Blondeau, was attended to by the parish priests of St. Philippe up to ist January, 1887. The records of baptisms, marriages and burials of the said mission were also kept, during that period of time, in the parochial registers of St. Philippe. Up to the present time, according to the testimony of the old people and the registers of St. Philippe, there have been twelve episcopal visits : the first in June, 1857, by Bishop Guigues, who put up that time at Joseph Leclair's, whose stone house at the entrance of the village is still in existence. It is in that same house that the missionaries of Grenville put up and said mass for several years before the con- struction of the chapel. The second visit took place on the loth of June, 1861, by Bishop Guigues; the third on the 2nd of June, 1864; the fourth on the 6th of June, 1866 ; the fifth on the ist of July, 1872, always by Bishop Guigues ; the sixth on the 3rd of Tune, 1875, by Bishop Duhamel ; the seventh on the 9th of July, 1879 ; the eighth on the 23rd of June, 1881 ; the ninth on the 3rd of July, 1884 ; the tenth on the 24th of July, 1887 j the eleventh on the 28th of June, 1890 ; and the twelfth on the 23rd of July— all of them by Bishop Duhamel. Meanwhile, the chapel, that had become too small, called for a new temple worthy of the Divine Majesty, and large enough to contain, for a long period of time, the Roman Catholic people of St. Philippe. The diocesan Bishop, on the 23rd of June, 1881, gave to the parishioners the order, to get themselves ready to constnirt the new church in the near future. The five wardens elected to put the said decree into execution were : G6d6on Sarrazin, chairman j John Robert, Leon Bruot Lamarche, Joseph Dowick, and Toussaint LacroiSc. Later on, G6d6on Sarrazin left ■ the place, and was replaced by Philibert Filion, and John Robert was elected chair- man The outside plan, in Roman style, was made by Perrault & Mesnard, architects of Montreal, according to which, the church was to be 115 x 50 feet outside, and the vestry 36 x 26 feet inside. The contract was given to Athanase Laiuon, ot Bizard Island, for the amount of $11,800 cash, and the work began on the 2Sth 320 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. ■ of April, 1888. The said contractor did not give satisfaction in many parts of the building. The blessing of the first stone took place on the 15th of the next May, under the direction of Bishop Duhamel, Archbishop of Ot|awa. The building was completed the next fall, apart from the steeple, which was not built till the following spring. The first mass was said in the new church on the 6th of January, 1889 ; three bells of the foundry of Mears & Stainbank, London, giving the notes fa' sol la, and weighing 2466 pounds, were bought at the same time, by the Fabrique of the church, through the means of a bazaar, and cost $1,170.52. Let us praise the generosity of the parishioners of St. Philippe and of their friends, on that occasion. The solemn blessing of the church and the bells took place on the 15th of June, 1889, and was presided over by Bishop Duhamel. The big bell, weighing 992 pounds, was given the names of Mary, John the Baptist, Joseph, Anne, Joachim, Victoria ; the next one, weighing 809 pounds, the names of Elizabeth, Elzear, Alexandre, Theresa, Bruno, Thomas; and the little one, weighing 665 pounds, the names of Rose, Philip, Patrick, Pierre, Agnes. Everyone of them bears a Latin inscription, adapted to the occasion. The sermon in French was given by Rev. J. Rouleau, a professor at the Little Seminary of St. Teresa, and the sermon in English, by the Rev. Wm. Whelan, parish priest of St. Patrick, Ottawa. The sponsors were Messrs. Simon Labrosse, N.P., of St, Eugene, and lady ; W. Owens, M.P.P., of Lachute, and Mrs. John Lennon, of St. Philippe ; H. Berthelot, N.P., of Lachute, and Miss Sauv6 ; Phineas Lane and Mrs. Philibert Filion of St. Philippe ; John Kelly, of Carillon, and Mrs. Kelly ; Michael Dwyer, of Carillon, and lady ; Hugh Robert, of St. Philippe, and lady; Joseph Mathias Dorion, of St. Philippe, and widow Honor6 Desjardins, of St. Philippe; Cyrille Perier and widow Isidore Legault, St. Philippe; John Fitzgerald, sen., and lady, Chatham ; John Fitzgerald and lady ; John Robert and lady ; Augustin Prevost and lady ; Toussainl Lacroix and lady ; C^lestin Leclair and lady. A fine number of the neighboring priests were also present. The collection arooiuhted to $229. The inside of the church and the vestry were completed in 1S91, according to the plan of Messrs. Perreauh, Mesnard & Venne, three eminent architects of Montreal. The joiner's work by Ph. Boileau & Brothers, of Bizard Island, cost the sum of $4rivate and public improvements have been made during the last few years. In fine, let us say it appears that to the parish of St. Philippe is connected a glorious record in the annals of the French domination in Canada. It would appear that it was at the foot of " Long Sault " at Greece's Point, or in the neighborhood on either bank of the Ottawa River, that took place the heroic struggle of DoUard and his twenty-six companions, with forty-six Hurons and Algonquins against eight hun- dred Iroquois, in May, 1660. According to my humble opinion, the Provincial Government of Quebec should not delay ordering thorough explorings in the siid place, in order to try to discover the very spot where was acted that heroic deed of our national history. C. The locality in which the pioneers next mentioned spent their last days is about two miles west of St. Philippe, Captain Johnson Smith, who had been a soldier in the American Revolution, came from New Hampshire to Stanstead, Que., about 1799, and in 1805, to the front of Chatham, and bought 100 acres of land, which is now owned and occupied by Geo. M. Bradford. In the war of 1813, he became Lieutenant of Militia, and after the war, he was promoted to the rank of Captain — a title by which, subse- quently, he was always known and addressed. He had five sons and five daughters. His two eldest sons, Walter and Johnson, were also soldiers during the war of 18 12, and the former was wounded at the Battle of Lacolle Mill. Captain Johnson Smith died 30th November, 1857 ; his wife died 19th February, 1850. Three of their sons, Johnson, Daniel and David, all remained in Chatham till death, and reared large families. Daniel, the third son, at the age of eighteen, bought a lot in the 2nd Concession, on which he spent his life, and which is now owned and occupied by his own son, Johnson Smith. About 1828, he married Esther Dale, daughter of Daniel Dale, of Dalesville, who built the first mills there. Mr. Smith was an industrious, thrifty farmer, and erected a good stone house with tin roof, in which his son still resides. He died 23 rd April, 1889, aged 88 years and 11 months ; Mrs. Smith died 16th December, 1884, aged 72 years and 6 months. They had twelve children, nine of whom — seven sons* and two daughters — grew up. Johnson, the son living on the homestead, married 20th April, 1881, Elizabeth McArthur; John, his brother, lives with him. He has a fine farm of 140 acres, well stocked, and all the agricultural implements employed by a thrifty, intelligent farmer. », u * Daniel, another brother, married in November, 1882, a widow, Mrs. H. A. Hooper. In 1880, he built a powder mill at Brownsburg, which has since become the property of the Dominion Cartridge Company, and Mr. Smith for several years has been their agent. He lives at Brownsburg, and is widely known as a public- spirited, energetic gentleman. , Jacob, another son of Captain Smith, married 24th November, 1862, nuzaDetn Chambers ; he settled near the homestead, and died there nth September, r89i. 322 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. His widow still resides there with her children, of whom they had seven— foar sons and three daughters. Millie, one of their daughters, in 1890, at the age of 13, received a medal from the Montreal Witness, for a story she wrote for the paper, concerning her grand-father Smith's life as a pioneer. Robert Martin, from or near Bury, St. Edmunds, England, came to Chatham in'i84S, and in 1850 settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his son, George B. Martin. He had been married in England, but his wife died, and he left his two children — a son and daughter — there, when he came to this country. In 1849, ^^ married Mary Bothwell ; they had three children — two sons and one daughter— but one of the former died in infancy. Mr. Martin died in July, 1859 ; Mrs. Martin in January, 1891. Their only remaining son, George Broke, received his second name after Captain Broke, who commanded the British vessel " Shannon," which captured the United States ship " Chesapeake," near Boston, in the American War; Captain Broke being an old and esteemed friend of Mr. Martin. George B. Martin, the son, has always remained on the homestead with his sister, Mary Jane. He has a good-sized farm, as well as a good library. In 1867, he joined the Argenieuil Rangers, and has passed through the different grades of pro- motion, till he now holds the rank of Major. In 1891, he was appointed Secretary- Treasurer of the Chsiham Council, and two years later, Secretary- Treasurer of the School Commissioners of Municipality No. i, comprising the first six ranges of lots in Chatham. The rural abode of Mr. Martin and his sister, and the possession of a library, hive enabled them, without the distractions incident to a less secluded life, to profit by extensive reading — a fact pleasurably apparent to those who meet them. STAYNERVILLE. A little more than a mile from St. Philippe, and at the railway station, a post office has been established with the above name, a name of a former Post-master General, who once owned a large tract of land here. There is no village here, the station and an hotel comprising all the buildings, except farmers' houses scattered at various distances along the highway. At a short distance from the Station, running through a narrow valley with steep, sloping sides, is a small stream known as Muddy Branch, on account of the turbid water caused by clay soil. On the opposite bank of the stream from the station stand the buildings of two comparatively early settlers, on difierent sides of the highway ; their names are William Scarborough and William Davis. The father of the former, who was a tailor, came to Canada about 1830, and first lived in the front of Chatham on the farm of Colin Dewar, but about two years later he was engaged by the Rev. Joseph Abbott, who then owned the Bradford estate in that section, to go to St. Andrews, and act as sexton for his church. A year subse- quently, he was induced to obtain a piece of land that he could call his own, and on which his children could do something toward the support of the family, while he could still follow his trade. With this object in view, he took a lot on Muddy Branchj so marshy at the time, that the proprietor, Mr. Stayner, had great difficulty in finding anyone who would purchase it. At the time of the Rebellion, Mr. Parish, merchant of St. Andrews, took a contract for supplying the Volunteers with clothing, and Mr. Scarborough was employed in cutting and making it, and froni that time forward obtained all the work he desired. William, his son, who now owns the homestead; when a boy worked some years for his neighbors, Levi Leayitt and Robert Allen. He was employed by the latter HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 323 ■during the Rebellion, and as Mr. Allen belonged to the Cavalry, and was stationed, sometimes at the " Barracks" in Carillon, and sometimes at St. Andrews, it was a part of young Scarborough's work to bring to Allen, every week, one of the farm horses, ^nd take back the charger used in service the week previous. Mr. Scarborough says he was kept pretty busy at that time, and during the days when the fight occurred at St. Eustache, and the Volunteers marched to Grand Bruld, he had to look after the stock and chores of a nuniber of the Volunteers who lived in proximity to Mr. Allen. Subsequently, he worked a good deal with lumber men, and on one occasion, when, in a camp with a few men, back from the river on the Upper Ottawa, he was left entirely alone for ten days. One of the men cut his knee, and from want of proper treatment the knee swelled, and the man was in danger of his life, so that some of his companions had to convey him on a stretcher to the river, thence by boat to a place where he could receive proper medical aid. In the meantime, Scarborough ■was left in charge of the camp, and he found the first night or two rather trying to his nerves, as wolves surrounded and seemed determined to attack him, but were pre- vented by the bright fire, which he kept burning continuously all night. At another time, when carrying the mail from Grenville to Hull, he was in danger of being drowned. Bridges had been carried away, and the land was overflowed during a spring freshet, so that he had to use a canoe in making his trip. While thus jour- neying near the mouth of the Gatineau, his boat was suddenly entangled in a great mass of floodwood, swept down by the breaking of a dam above. After much diffi- culty, he succeeded in gaining an island, from which he was rescued. But Mr. Scar- borough seems to have borne the hardships and surmounted the difficulties of pioneer life successfully, as he is still active, and performs much hard labor. His farm — the same which his father obtained from Stayner — is no longer a morass, but all cleared and drained, and produces fine crops. He has four children— one son and three daughters ; the latter, all married, live in distant parts ; John, the son, with his family resides here on the homestead. Richard Davis came to Chatham from Gloucester, England, about 1832, and for some time found employment on the canal, which was then in process of construc- tion. One method then employed to procure rum afforded him some amusement, and was an incident in his early experience in this country he used subsequently to re- late. , J • U A A few of the horses of the canal laborers, templed by the fresh feed m the road or fields adjacent, often broke out of their enclosure. A certain foreman of a gang watched for such opportunities, put the horses in pound, and with the poundage thus secured bought rum for his men. ■ • u • Subsequently, Mr. Davis bought the lot adjoining Mr. Scarborough s, which is now owned and occupied by his nephew, William Davis. These two men began work on their land, and built houses about the same time. So marshy was the ground at that lime, that they were obliged to quit work while it was quite light, otherwise thefy would find it necessary to remain over night in the woods, not being able to pick their paths through the morass in the darkness-. On one occasion, Mr. Davis, havmg prolonged his work till it was quite late, was overtaken by night, in attempting to reach the house of Mr. Allen, which he made his temporary residence ; he then kindled a fare, and lay down on a logbeside it to sleep. He was prevented, however, by three wolves which kept him company the entire night, often venturing so near, snapping and howl- ing, that he was in constant fear of becoming their prey. For several years, these animals and lynxes were very destructive to the sheep of these two pioneers- the latter, on account of the stealth with which they carried off lambs, being more dreaded than wolves. 324 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. The children of Mr. Davis all died in infancy, and a few years after the ^ieath of his wife, he went to England, where he also died. Previous to this, in September, 1853, his nephew, William Davis, came to this country, and lived with him eight years. He then worked out a few years, married to Ann Chambers, and return«i, obtaining his uncle's farm by means of a life lease» He is one of the substantial farmers of this section, and has two children — a son and daughter — who both live with him. Mrs. Davis died in 1894. In this neighborhood, on the 6th Range, is also the fine farm of David, the fourth son of David McOuat. In 1879, he purchased 120 acres here, the greater part of which he has cleared and brought to a good slate of cultivation ; his level and well tilled fields and good buildings indicating the presence and management of a thrifty farmer. He has within a few years purchased 150 acres mare in the adjoining Range, He was married 4th November, i8yi, to Ellen Kerr. BROWNSBURG. This pleasant little village or hamlet, which has recently sprung into some pro- minence on account of being the site of the Cartridge Factory, and near the lately discovered granite quarry, was, in early years, made a place of no little importance by the erection of Brown's mills. GxoRGE Brown came from England to Lachute, and was for several years employed as miller in the old seigniorial mill at that place. The exact time of his advent is uncertain, but the fact that, in 18 18, he received a grant of land at what is now known as Brownsburg, shows that he was here at that date. He was a man of enterprise, and very soon after locating his land, he began the erection of mills,, which were of priceless benefit to the early settlers of this section — a benefit which their descendants still enjoy, after the lapse of threescore years. There is good evidence that his dwelling house, which is now occupied by his grandson, D. D. McGibbon, was entered by his family, as a residence, in 1829. Much of the lumber which was used in its construction was floated up the stream on which the mills were built, from Lachute. Mr. Brown became a man of great influence here ; he was a Magistrate and Captain of Militia, from which, on the 2 ist May, 1857, he was promoted to the rank of Major. Much credit is due him for. his perseverance under the most discouraging circum- stances, it being authentically stated that, when the family reached St. Andrews, on coming from England, they had only money enough left to purchase a single loaf of bread. Before closing his career, however, he surrounded his family, with all the com- forts of affluence, and was aible to relieve the necessities qf many others. He left bat two. daughters, one of whom married Alexander McGibbon, the other married James Duddridge. Alexander McGibbon was a distant relative of John McGibbon, the second, settler at Dalesville, and he came to that place very soon after the arrival of John.. The latter was a carpenter by trade, and Alexander worked with him. and learned th« trade, before they left Scotland. Alexander had a fine, melodious voice, and was an excellent singer — a talent that was ofien exercised at religiojs meetings and social gatherings, after he came to- HISl'ORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 325 Dalesville. Possessing considerable skill, also, in treating and nursing the sick, his services were highly estimated by the community around, the members of which he vomited and bled— according to the pathological views of those days— to their heart's content. A much loved man was Alex. McGibbon. His wife died soon after he came to this country— a bereavement he felt very keenlv. He determined never to marry again, and finally moved, with most of his family, to Ontario, where he died. Mrs. McGibbon was the first woman buried in the cemetery at Dalesville ; they had four sons — John and Duncan, twins, Alexander, Daniel, and one daughter, Cathe- rine, or " Kitty," as she was always called. Alexander, their third son, married Jane, daughter of George Brown, Esq., nth June, 1845, and came into possession of his father-in-law's estate, consisting of the mills and about looo acres of land. He rebuilt the mills, and his enterprise and influ- ence for many years showed him a worthy successor of the one whose place he had assumed. In 1855, loth February, he was appointed Postmaster — the Post-office being then established, with the name Brownsburg ; and besides other local positions, he held that of School Commissioner many years. He died 25th June, 1883, aged 62 years, 11 months ; Mrs. McGibbon died, loth May, 1889, aged 70 years, 2 months. They had ten children — five of each sex. The homestead was divided between the two sons, Alexander and Duncan D. McGibbon. The former has 300 acres of land, much of which is valuable and in a good state of cultivation, and the saw mill ; the latter has 325 acres, and the grist mill. Alexander was married, 30th June, 1886, to Mary Jane Warwick ; she died 27th July, 1891. Duncan McGibbon was married to Annie, daughter of William Buchan of Geneva, 20th June, 1 888. Alexander has been a member of the Board of School Commissioners for the past five or six years ; and both the brothers, who are admirable types of physical form and vigor, are esteemed for their genial qualities and public spirit. George Brown McGibbon, another son of Alexander McGibbon, died at Butte City, Montana, 15th April, 1887 ; and James W. McGibbon, another of his sons, died i6th March, 1892, at Victoria, B.C. Catherine, a daughter of Alexander McGibbon, who was married to Archie McArthur, died 23rd October, 1882. The scenery in the vicinity of the Brownsburg mills is romantic in the extreme ; the river on which they are located, and which provides admirable water power, rushing over its rocky bed through deep chasms and woodland bowers, is not the least attractive feature of the landscape. John Macdonald from Sutherland, Scotland, not far from 18 12, engaged as clerk to the Hudson Bay Company, and was thus employed for some years in the North- west. He came to Lachute about 1821, engaged in mercantile business, and acted as land agent for Colin Robertson, whose wife's sister he liad married. In 1835 ^^ took up at Brownsburg 200 acres Lot 9, Range 7, which is still owned and occupied by his children. His selection of land was a good one, as the farm is now a beautiful one, and has been awarded the first prize more than once by the County Agricultural Society. At present, it sustains 32 head of cattle and 8 horses. Mr. Macdonald took an active part in quelling the Rebellion of 1837, *'^d at that time was Captain of a Company of Militia; he died nth July, 1879; his wife died isth January, 1890. They had thirteen children, of whom twelve grew up. Two sons, George and James, and two daughters, Mary, and a widow, Mrs. James Thornton, live on the homestead. James, for some time, belonged to the Argenteuil Rangers, and George, to the St. Andrews Troop. Mills or manufactories usually form the nucleus of a village ; but the little village 336 HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. of Brownsburg, instead of following this time-honored rule, has shown a preference for four " Corners," and grown up at some distance from the mills. There are two stores here, owned respectively by Mr. McArthur, who is the Postmaster of the place, and H. E. Thompson; the store of the latter being an imposing brick structure that would do credit to a city, Mr. Thompson was born in Hochelaga, his grandfather, who did a large business, bemgan early trader m that place. His father was a grocer, and, after living with him till he was thirteen years of age, he learned telegraphy, and for a few years was employed by the Donimion, Montreal and G. N. W. Telegraph Companies, and, afterwards, was on the Quebec, Montreal & Occidental Railway. Subsequently, he was for ten years station agent and telegraph operator at St. Philippe. He left this in 1890, to engage in 4rade at St. Philippe, receiving on his resignation a flattering recommendation from the assistant Superintendent, H. B. Spencer. Two and a half years later, having bought his present store and 160 acres of land at Brownsburg, he removed hither in February, 1892. He was married 19th September, 1893, to Eliza Nichols of Stayner- ville. Que. Among the few dwellings here is the neat brick one of Daniel Johnson, who is mentioned in the sketch of St. Philippe. There is a Methodist church here, in which service is held regularly by the minister at Lachute. The land for this church was given by George Brown, Esq., " to the Rev. Francis Coleman and others, on behalf of the Wesleyan Methodist Church," in 1852. John McLeod, the village blacksmith at this place, descends from one of the pioneers of Harrington. His grandfather, Hugh McLeod, also a blacksmith, came from Sutherlandshire, Scotland, to that township among the early settlers, and worked at his trade, there till his death, about ten years ago. He had four sons and an equal number of daughters who grew up. Donald McLeod, his youngest son, married Bella Dewar, bought 150 acres of land near his home, and still lives on it, engaged in farming. He has five daughters and four sons. John, second son, married Mary McLeod, 26th June, i88j, and for the last five years has plied his trade with ample encouragement at Brownsburg. DOMINION CARTRIDGE FACTORY. Traveling westward from Brownsburg, one first climbs quite an ascent, and then, after passing through a strip of pleasant woodland, descends a short dis- tance, when a scene abruptly meets his eye, which, if he is a stranger in the locality, will both please and surprise him ; this scene comprises the grounds and buildings of the Dominion Cartf^idge Company. All the buildings neatly painted, and the main ones imposing in size, located in a romantic dell, on a stream abounding in scenery the most picturesque — the picture is one to which the memory in after days will often revert. In 1886, a joint stock company was formed, with Hon. J. J. C. Abbott as pre- sident ; capital $10,000. The erection of the buildings was completed in 1887, and work commenced. Mr. Abbott held the presidency two years, when he resigned, and Thomas C. Brainard, president of the Hamilton Powder Co., became his successor. Capt. A. L. Howard, famous for. his connection with the Gatling Gun, was instrumental in forming the Company, and had charge of the works four years, when he was succeeded by F. G. Verity, who for ten years had been connected with the Hamilton Powder Company ; he is now General Agent for the Cartridge Company. HISTORY OF ARGENTEUIL. 327 • Mr. Verily is a gentleman of high intelligence, and his activity, forethought, and care of the men and works in his charge, contribute largely to the prosperity of the Company, They were fortunate, too, in securing the services of a cartridge expert, E. W, Kelly of Lowell, Mass , in whose charge are ths details of the whole manufacturing department. 1 here are 23 buildings connected with this manufactory, besides the factory and office ; the former is 50 ft. by 140 ft. in size, and four stories in height. The boarding house is 100 ft. by 30 ft., three stories, and contains forty bedrooms ; it is hsated by steam, and is supplied with all the modern conveniences. The factory and office are lighted by electric light. Employment is given to a good number of both sexes, and the pay-roll averages about $2,800 a month. This is the only factory of its kind in the Dominion ; all kinds of cartridges for small arms and all kinds of military and sporting cartridges are manufactured here. Extreme care to guard against accident is exercised throughout the establishment. The plan of erecting tenements for their employees is now under consideration by the Company, and, no doubt, will be carried into effect. The fine boarding house at Brownsburg is under the able management of Mks. R. Hardie, who belongs to a family deserving special notice in these pages. James Carpenter, her paternal grandfather, was a soldier in the British service 21 years. He served in the war of 1812, was taken prisoner, and escaped ; he was on a vessel with his Company, sailing to join the force of Wellington, but before their arrival the victory of Waterloo had been won. On receiving his discharge, he was awarded a pension and a grant of Lot 27, nth Range, in the rear of Chatham. On this land he settled in 1832, and for a number of years often had his early military ardor and courage rekindled in the war he was obliged to wage against the bears of Chatham. He died in the house of his son George, with whom he lived, in December, 1878. He had a large family of children, but only six of them— three sons and three daughters — settled in this section. Thomas and Robert, the eldest sons, were twins ; George, the third and youngest son, remained on the homestead, and increased it by 200 acres, which he purchased in the loth Range; he also erected a saw mill. He was for a time member of the School Board of this Municipality; he died in August, 1882. In 1850, he married Sarah Haney; they had three sons and seven aaughters who grew up. Letitia Annie, the eldest, was married to Richard Hardie, 9th November, 1870. Mr. Hardie, who had previously followed farming, has been in the employ of the Cartridge Company about seven years. During the greater portion of this time Mrs. Hardie has had charge of the boarding department. James Carpenter, the eldest brother of Mrs. Hardie, learned the millwright trade, at which he is regarded as an expert ; he has followed it in this section for the past twelve years. Ten of these he has spent in the employ of J. C. Wilson, with whom he still remains at Lachute. He was married 22nd June, 1880, to Elizabeth Robinson. Thomas Carpenter, one of the twin sons of James Carpenter, the pioneer, married Margery Sweeney, and bought Lot 24, loth Range of Chatham, on which he lived a few years till the death of his wife. He then rented his farm, married again, and died in Ottawa a few years ago. By the last marriage he had no children, but by the first he had two sons and five daughters who are now living. The two sons kre Silas Huntington and Robert j the former is chief of the detective secret service of Montreal ; the latter, a merchant in Ottawa. Silas H. Carpenter is a name familiar to everyone in the Dominion who reads the newspapers, as that of a man who has been earnest and successful m thedis. ■328 HISTORY OK ARGENTEUIL. covery of criminals, and in bringing Iham to the Bar of Justice. In the execution of this work, he has traversed land and sea ; in various disguises he has visited the resorts of fashion and the abode of poverty, the gilded saloon and the dark and ■ noisome den of the tenement. In jail and penitentiary, he has listened to the tale of the gambler, the tliief and the murderer. His life has not only been threatened, but he has been assaulted with slung shot, bowie knife and revolver; and yet, notwith- standing these unpleasant experiences, and the years in which he has witnessed so much of the dismal side of life, Mr. Carpenter is a man ofremarkably youthful appear- ance ; he is tall and of fine physique, and though nearly forty-five, very few would ven- ture to place him above thirty. He reads character by intuition, and as he is genial and affable in manner, it is not surprising that he is successful in winning the con- fidence of those whose assistance he requires. John Wade, a son of Charles H. Wade, of Cushing, is one of the efiicient and trusted men of the Cartridge Company, in whose employ he has been for six years. He was married 5th July, 1890, to Katie Alma O'Byrne, of South Indian, Ont: George and David McAllister, brothers, are two young men employed in the factory, and they live on the homestead farm, in a pleasant cottage adjacent to it. Their grandfather, William McAllister, came from Paisley, Scotland, to Canada about 1828. He was a blacksmith by trade, and, after coming here, was for some time employed on the Rideau Canal. In May, 1833, he married Isabella Gray, of East Hawkesbury, and settled at Hill Head, where he followed his trade ten years. He then turned his attention to farming in Thomas' Gore, where his wife died, and a year subsequently he married Elizabeth Wright. By the first marriage he bad four boys and two girls ; by the second, two boys and four girls. His last years were spent in Chatham, where he died in the house of one of his daughters, Mrs. John Clark. William, his eldest son, married Christy Green, daughter of Charles Green of JBrownsburg, in September, i860. About 1866, he bought 100 acres, east half of Lot II, Ranges, at Brownsburg, on which he still resides. Mrs. McAllister died 13th June, 1877 ; they had four sons and three daughters that grew up. James, the second son, a young man highly respected, died 13th December, 1877, aged 22 years, 6 months. George, the third son, who is employed in the factory, was married 25th June, 1894, to Sarah Delacourt, of Montreal. Near the Cartridge Factory also resides William Polson, who, in April, 1894, sold the Cartridge Company his farm of too acres, half of Lot 10, Range 8, reserving one acre in front, on which he has just erected a cottage. His grandfather, John Poison, belonged Jo the 21st Highland Regt. of Infantry, and was in active service