Gradually the blue smoke from the settler's shanty, and the tiny opening in the great forest, began to appear here and there, at intervals, often of miles between. But the number of the shanty fires gradually increased the gaps in the woods grew larger, as giant trunk and tender sapling groaned and fell beneath the sturdy stroke of the settler's axe. Then the huge heaps appeared, rolled together by united effort. The flames crack led and roared. Far away into the gloom of the dark forest shot the gleam of the evening fires, which told that a conqueror had come, and that civilization and the luxuries of comfort and refinement were on the way to cheer and enliven those rude fastnesses of nature, and bid them smile with a new growth and a more prolific harvest. Gradually the cleared lands widened and increased into snug farms. The road-way was hewn out, and made suitable for travel. The first rude shanty gave way to a substantial and comfortable mansion. Flocks and herds increased; and as time pregressed and the population grew, the rude wilderness became a comparative garden.

Well may the veteran pioneer pause now in the evening of his days and look around on the wonders wrought by time and industry. Proudly may he point to the spot where he first reclined beneath the spreading trees, wet with the morning dew, during that first visit to his future farm, and contrast with that scene the present, with its broad acres and cultivated fields, its neat farm houses and thriftly barns, which he expects soon to leave a rich heritage to his children. Well will it be for the second generation if they emulate the thrift and in the paths of honorable toil and healthful and happy labor, which have already led to such noble results, and which may lead to still greater triumphs in the future.

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industry of their sires, and continue

Peace hath her victories,
Not less renowned than war."

And there is ample room for the employment of vast energies, consummate skill, and remunerative outlay, in still further subduing the soil, eliminating its forces, reclaiming its waste but luxuriant places, and making it subservient in the highest degree to the wants and the luxuries of

man.

Let not this useful work be deemed degrading. It presents a field worthy of the foremost spirits,- -a career among the most ennobling, and certainly the most independent. What our fathers have so well begun,

should be pushed forward to still higher results by us their children; or else the mantle of honor and the meed of praise which they have earned for good and noble work, well accomplished, will be buried with them, or will pass by their degenerate sons to the stranger and the alien, to whom will pass the fruits of their toil and the heritage they have achieved,

This township is traversed by an excellent gravel road, built in 1850; which, if it has never yielded much return to the stockholders, has been of great advantage to the section of country it traverses. The road terminates in Peterborough on the north, and stretches away in the direction of Mill*brook on the south.

From its proximity to the town, this township has at all seasons an excellent market. This same proximity will account for the paucity of churches, shops or places of local business or resort. The village of Springville, which of late years has grown into existence, is situated on the town line between this township and Cavan, and besides a Post Office, has a neat Presbyterian church, erected nearly thirty years ago. A commodious town hall, built about the year 1858, serves the purposes of township and council meetings, and besides is used for the services of several religious denominations.

The first large instalment of clergy reserve money, after being at first invested in loans, was in part divided among the several wards for the improvement of roads, and the remainder applied to the erection of school houses,—in both cases greatly to the advantage of the people of the township.

In 1852, the number of householders in North Monaghan was returned at 100. The total assessed value of property was $143,228, and the total rates $300.23.

In 1866, the number of ratepayers had increased to 269; the total assessed value of property was $152,929, and the county rate alone, exclusive of township and school rates, was $809.16.

At the taking of the last census in 1861, the population of North Monaghan was set down at 1281. Of these, 651 were males and 630 females. There were in 1860, 8 deaths, 30 births, and 247 children attending school.

The census by origin, in 1861, stood as follows:-Ireland 313, England 125, Scotland 74, United States 15, Upper Canada 718, Lower Canada 24, other countries 12.

The census by religion shows,-Church of England 382, R. Catholic 224, W. Methodist 162, E. Methodist 4, Bible Christian 16, Free church 422, Church of Scotland 61, Baptist 49, others 15.

DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS.

District Councillors.

1842, Thomas Harper,

1843, Thomas Harper.

1844, Thomas Harper.

1845, Charles Perry.

Thomas Chambers.

1850, Thomas Fortye. 1851, Thomas Fortye. 1852, Thomas Fortye. 1853, Thomas Fortye. 1854, Thomas Fortye. 1855, Thomas Fortye.

1846, Charles Perry. 1848, Robt. Thompson. Thomas Chambers. Thos. Chambers.

1847, Charles Perry. 1849, Robt. Thompson. Thomas Chambers.

County Councillors. 1856, Thomas Fortye. 1857, Thomas Fortye. 1858, Thomas Eyres. 1859, Thomas Eyres. 1860, Thomas Eyres. 1861, Ed. Chamberlin.

Thos. Chambers."

1862, Ed. Chamberlin. 1863, John Lockie. 1864, John Gilmour. 1865, John Gilmour. 1866, John Gilmour.

The township of Ennismore was surveyed in 1825. Its first settlers were a portion of the immigrants of that year, to the number of sixty-seven and their families, consisting in all of 297 souls. During the first year,

including the journey up from Prescott, there were among these Ennismore settlers nine births and twenty-three deaths. The official returns show their first year's produce (that is, from the date of settlement in 1825 to November, 1826,) to be 8,900 bushels of potatoes, 3000 bushels of turnips and 1042 bushels of Indian corn. Of the 195 acres cleared up to that date, 44 acres were that fall (1826) sown with fall wheat. They had besides made 1,330 pounds of maple sugar, and owned among them four oxen, nine cows and ten hogs, purchased by themselves.

So large a result for their first year's labor was creditable to these new settlers, most of whom had not the most remote idea of the proper means to pursue in clearing and tilling their land. More than one of them attempted to burn the timber in the winter as he chopped it, and in the spring some of them swept the ground with a besom lest it might not be sufficiently clean for the seed about to be sown. For the first year or two oxen were very scarce, and instead of harrowing in the grain, it was hoed in, as best it could among the stumps.

The Chemong or Mud lake in front, was a serious obstacle in the way of procuring supplies; for as yet the settlers were too inexperienced to construct canoes of any service, and consequently the wheat to the mill, and the flour on their return, had to be carried on their shoulders round the head of the lake. Roads as yet were scarcely thought of; and thus heavily laden, they followed the "blaze" on the trees, through brush, swamps and over fallen timber as best they could. These laborious journeys and heavy burdens were not confined to the men, but even the women too, at times found it necessary to proceed, laden with grain, to mill or market, and in assisting their husbands and providing for their families, performed feats of labor and endurance of which in later times we have but a faint conception.

Sir Peregrine Maitland visited the new settlement in Ennismore during his visit to Peterborough in 1826, accompanied by Col. Talbot, Mr. (afterwards Colonel) Alexander McDonell and others. They put up for a short time at the shanty of Mr. Eugene McCarthy, father of Jeremiah McCarthy, Esq., and partook of such refreshment as the settlement afforded.

During the first ten years, the population of Ennismore rather diminished than increased. This was no doubt owing to the fact that many of the younger men were obliged to seek in older settlements for employment at remunerating wages.

Ennismore is but a small township,-it might be said a mere corner of Smith, cut off from the remainder by Chemong lake. Three school houses supply the educational wants of the inhabitants. It has near its centre a Roman Catholic church, erected many years ago. There is also a Post Office, of which Mr. Patrick Gallivan was first Postmaster. and present Postmaster is Mr. Thomas Lehane.

Its second

The soil of Ennismore is naturally rich and fertile, and nothwithstanding many drawbacks from inexperience and the isolation of the township by water, the patient perseverance of the settlers, in a few years overcame the first difficulties, and they and their families gradually grew into comparative wealth and independence.

Ennismore is situated on the direct route between Peterborough and the Bobcaygeon road. Owing to the influx of settlers, and the extensive lumbering operations carried on in the new townships bordering on that road, during the past few years, it is the thoroughfare for traffic between these points, the bridging of the lakes on either side by the winter's ice, affording the necessary facilities for such a transit. Several attempts have been made to supply this necessary link of communication by bridging the water, and although such a result would be highly beneficial not only to Ennismore, but to the trade of Peterborough, all efforts of the kind to undertake such a work have hitherto ended only in failure.

In February, 1844, a by-law was passed by the District Council authorizing the appropriation of twenty-six pounds, currency, from the wild land assessment fund of Ennismore, "for the purpose of building a scow and ferry boats on Mud lake, to ply from Galt's landing in Ennismore to Edmison's landing in Smith." The councillor for the township and two other persons chosen at the town meeting, were appointed commissioners to have the same in charge, and to contract with a ferryman for performing this duty. The tolls to be charged, which were very low, were as follows:-A span of horses and waggon one shilling. A single horse, with or without a waggon, sixpence. A yoke of oxen and vehicle ninepence. Horned cattle per head three pence. Pigs and calves per head twopence. Each passenger threepence.

The ferry thus established was kept in operation for a few years, but was found troublesome and expensive, and although a convenience to the public, was nevertheless discontinued.