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off by long expanses of wood and water from the older settlements, and the advantages of a developed social system, have now, for many years, enjoyed all the advantages and even luxuries of which the residents of older communities might well feel proud.

The population of Douro, as shewn by the last census, for 1861, was 2497. Of these 1284 were males, and 1213 females. During the year 1860, there were 6 deaths and 82 births. 513 children were attending school.

The several nationalties were represented as follows, (in 1861):-Ireland 597, being a decrease of 25 as compared with the census of 1851. England 128, being an increase of 54 as compared with the same period. Scotland 68, also a slight increase, United States 18, Upper Canada 1644, Lower Canada 27, and other countries 15.

The census by religion for 1861, showed, Church of England 363, R. Catholic 1230, W. Methodist 67, Bible Christian 54, Free Church 226, Church of Scotland 50, Baptists 15; members of other churches not specified 15.

DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS.
District Councillors.

1842, Smithin D. Gibbs, 1845, George Clarke,
1843, Smithin D. Gibbs, 1846, George Clarke,
1844, George Clarke,

1847, George Clarke,

1848, George Clarke, 1849, George Clarke,

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LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

1844, Maurice Clancy, Next 7 years County

Superintendents.

1855, Daniel Sullivan, 1861, Michael Walsh, 1856, Robert Casement, 1862, Michael Walsh, 1857, Robert Casement, 1863, Michael Walsh, 1852, Rev. E. Roberts, 1858, Michael Walsh, 1864, Michael Walsh, 1853, Rev. E. Roberts, 1859, Michael Walsh, 1865, Dr. T. W. Poole, 1854, Rev. E. Roberts, 1860, Michael Walsh, 1866, Robert Casement.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE TOWNSHIP OF ASPHODEL.

According to official returns, the township of Asphodel was surveyed in the year 1820. Soon after, a few settlers found their way into this township by way of Rice Lake, among the earliest of whom was Mr. John Beckett and his family. Other early settlers pushed through the wilds of Percy, and crossing the Trent river, assisted in its early settlement. Among the names of the pioneers into Asphodel, are Mr. John Cameron, senior, who with his sons James, John, Duncan, Donald and Ewin, located in its south-western portion, but subsequently removed to Otonabee. Messrs. Walter Scott, Robert Humphries, Hugh and Alexander McColl, W. Kirkpatrick, Job Humphries, Richard Birdsall, William Housten and Charles Parker.

Thirty-seven families were brought into Asphodel by the immigration of 1825, and others were gradually added to their number. But the situation was then so remote, and the distance to a market, in the absence of roads, so great, that progress was slow; and the struggle for existence was maintained under very discouraging circumstances.

Soon after the first settlers began to find their way into Asphodel, a little mill was erected at Norwood by the late Joseph A. Keeler, Esq., of Colborne. It contained a single run of rock stones, driven by a tub water wheel and a bolt, covered with muslin. Although a mere "apology for a mill," it was of the greatest utility to the early settlers, who carried their slender store of wheat (usually on their backs) from the adjoining country

for a distance of ten to twelve miles, to "Keeler's mill," as it was then called, to be ground. Just prior to the erection of this mill, a saw mill had been erected by Mr. Keeler, the same dam and flume supplying the motive power for both.

About the year 1826, the first bridge across the river Trent, connecting the townships of Asphodel and Percy, was built. Its site was in a portion of the river then shallow, one mile above the village of Hastings. It was built in the most ordinary manner, and was carried away during the following spring. A second and more permanent structure was speedily erected, chiefly by Government aid, to replace it, and this with constant vicissitudes of fortune, and by the aid of sundry repairs, lasted for a long term of years, and proved a great public convenience, until superseded by a more costly, though not more durable bridge, crossing the stream below the dam, on the site of the present structure. This new bridge was erected about the year 1845, and after a little more than twelve years became so decayed as to render a new one necessary. The present one was accordingly built in 1858, this county contributing towards it the sum of £500.

The old bridge was frequently severely tried by masses of ice and rafts of timber passing down the river. In a humorous letter, written by Thomas Carr, Esq., of Otonabee, and published in the Cobourg Star of May 10th, 1831, it is made to complain of the treatment thus received; and to invoke sympathy and assistance, and not without success; for in the Parliamentary Session of 1832-3, a grant of £300 was made by the Upper Canadian Legislature towards its repair, and in 1834 a further grant of £100 for the same purpose.

According to the official returns of the Newcastle District for 1832, the entire population of Asphodel for that year was 265; the number of persons assessed 55; acres cultivated 767; total assessed value of property £3410, and total rates for all purposes £16 1s. 3d.,—a population, valuation and taxation strikingly in contrast with the expanded figures of the present time.

In November, 1833, N. H. Baird, Esq., Civil Engineer, reported to the Government on the practicability of rendering the river Trent navigable from the Bay of Quinte to Rice Lake;-the cost of the works at Crook's rapids being estimated at £7062.

As late as 1835, the only house on the site of the present village of Hastings was a small frame building on the bank, erected several years

before that date, by the Hon. Mr. Crooks, as a mill, containing one run of very common stones. It is doubtful whether it ever ground much,

and is believed to have been intended rather as a means to secure the valuable mill privilege, at that place, than for practical utility.

Up to 1835, the township had made but little real progress. Only six residents owned horses at that time, and the entire township only contained four frame dwellings. The population in that year was returned at 428.

In the following year (1836) a second run of stones, (those known as the bur stone) was added to the one already in use in Keeler's mill. A smut machine, and also an improved bolt, were provided at the same time. Peter Pearce Esq., was then in charge of the mill, and was also agent for Mr. Keeler's property at Norwood, a portion of which was roughly measured off into village lots,-a regular and systematic survey of which was made and registered in 1853.

Of this property, consisting in all of 2000 acres, lots 18 and 19 in the 9th concession, (400 acres) only were granted to Mr. Keeler, on account of services rendered during the war of 1812, in which he held the position of Major in the Canadian militia. The remainder was acquired by purchase in the early years of the settlement of the township. Since then, the property has been greatly improved. Besides the saw mill at Norwood, a second one, on lot 20 in the 9th concession, on the same stream, was built, in 1848, and within a few years, a fine stone grist mill, of four stories, and several run of stones, has been built by Thomas Buck, Esq.

The first store in Norwood consisted of a slender stock of goods, on sale in 1837, by the late James Foley Esq., in a small house in the mill yard. During the following year, he erected a frame store and dwelling house on the hill between the mill and the main part of the village. Here for many years he carried on a large and prosperous business; which, within a recent period, was transferred to his larger premises in the centre of the village. The second store was built by Messrs. Carr & Rose, on Belmont street.

The first tavern in Norwood was kept by the late Mr. Robert Hartley, and was opened in 1842. Previous to that time, the house of Peter Pearce Esq. was open to all comers, with the most generous hospitality. Travellers and others in a constant stream were kindly fed and housed by this gentleman and his amiable wife, free of expense, in a manner of which

few in later times have any conception, or would care to imitate. Being then the only commodious dwelling in the place, public and religious meetings were held in the house, the inconvenience cheerfully borne, and all made warmly welcome.

Mr. Thomas Mullens was the first resident shoemaker in Norwood; Mr. Thomas Kirk the first carpenter and joiner. The first church built in Norwood was that of the Wesleyan Methodists, erected in 1836. It was a small frame building, and is still in use in a repaired and renovated condition, as a class and lecture room, in connection with the larger Wesleyan Methodist church, completed in the year 1856. The second church erected was that for the Independent or Congregational denomination, of which the Rev. Thomas Searight was for many years the pastor. This society having for some time ceased to exist in that locality, the building has been used by other religious bodies, and particularly, of late years, by the Episcopal Methodists. The first resident minister of any denomination, in Norwood, was the Rev. William Young, of the Wesleyan Methodist church, whose buggy was the first owned in the township.

The first Post Office in Asphodel was kept by the late Mr. Thomas Walker, on his farm near the present village of Westwood. The second was that opened in Norwood by the late James Foley, Esq., at his store in Norwood; the weekly mail bag to and from which place, for many years, was very light, and easily borne. What a contrast is presented by the daily mail of to-day, teeming with letters and huge parcels of printed news!

In 1835, N. H. Baird, Esq., reported to the Government on the practicability of the second part of his survey-for a canal between the Bay of Quinte and lake Simcoe. This time his report embraced the waters lying between Rice lake and lake Simcoe. In 1837 the construction of the works connected with this great work was commenced, and prosecuted during 1838-9. One fine lock was built at Crook's rapids, together with an excellent dam, slides, &c., the expenditure on which gave occupation to a great number of persons; laid the foundation for the village of Hastings, and tended largely to encourage settlement in the portion of the county adjoining.

During the early years of the township of Asphodel, two distilleries were in operation, one managed by the late Mr. John Beckett, a little distance. south of Westwood, and the other by Mr. Patrick C. Foley, a mile or two

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