men of that period, who at great personal inconvenience and no small risk to their families, and greater risk, prospectively, to themselves, rallied in defence of the Government, and in maintenance of that British connection which is still dear to those of them who survive, and no less so to their children, who have proved themselves not a whit behind their sires in loyalty and devotion to the old flag, and in courage and prowess in rallying to its defence when more recently assailed. One circumstance is worthy of mention as an illustration of the heartiness and alacrity with which the call to arms was responded to in the bygone but not forgotten crisis of 1837. An old pensioner, long past age for military service, came to Francis Crow Esq., during the muster, and thus expressed himself:-"Gonz-a-day, Francy, I'm going too." Mr. Crow remonstrated with him on account of his age and infirmities, and urged him to remain at home, but in vain. "Begonnes," said the old soldier, "the Nankees (Yankees) wounded me at New Orleans, and I'll never die until I have a shot at them," and the veteran proceeded with the rest to Peterborough. The first resident clergyman in Dummer was the Rev. Archibald Colquhoun, who removed thither from Otonabee about the year 1838 or 1839. Service for some years was held in Mr. James McDonnell's house. An Episcopal church was the first erected in Warsaw, about the year 1855. A Free Presbyterian church was erected about two years later. A house was erected for a church in school section number four, in 1834, and made use of as a school house in 1842. Methodist churches were erected on lot number 21 in the third concession in 1850, and on lot number 26 in the fourth concession in 1852. The first Methodist minister was the Rev. John Blackstock, and the first Bible Christian clergyman in Dummer was the Rev. John Hicks Eynon, who is also remembered as a pioneer of that society in Peterborough. A Bible Christian church was among the other public buildings erected many years ago. Miss One of the first school houses was that erected near Mr. John Kidd's, about the year 1836, of which Mr. Charles Murphy was teacher. Jane Batton is also remembered as another early teacher. The Dummer Town Hall was erected on its present site about the year 1855, and a Free Presbyterian church in its vicinity about the year 1861. A Methodist church was erected at South Dummer, (as the Post Office in ́the neighborhood is called) at an early period, and a neat Baptist church on the same concession line, but a little further north, both of which have proved a great accommodation to the worshippers in the adjoining section of country. In the vicinity of the latter a neat and commodious Orange hall was erected within a few years, in which the numerous members of the Order in the vicinity hold their customary meetings. Dummer has several saw mills besides those at Warsaw, that of Mr. Payne on the Indian river, above Warsaw, and the one known as Mr. Ritchie's on the west branch of the Ouse, having been built about the year 1853, and that of Mr. Enoch Reynolds, now owned by Mr. Thomas Buck, some years earlier. It should be stated that although diligent enquiry has been made, the dates in regard to important buildings in Dummer have been ascertained with much difficulty, and in several instances it is feared they are only approximations to the years in which the several erections occurred. Dummer had the honor of furnishing a Warden to the District Council in the person of George Arundel Hill Esq., who was appointed to that position by the Government, and for several years presided over the deliberations of that body. Mr. Hill also acted as township Clerk and Treasurer, and Local Superintendent of Schools for Dummer for several years; the duties of which offices he performed with rare ability and with scrupulous care and precision. In several respects he was a remarkable man, and it is with regret that we find ourselves unable to do but scant justice to the memory of a private gentleman and a public officer who, during the many years he was associated with the public affairs of his township and county, was highly esteemed by the community in which he lived. Soon after his location in Dummer, the late Captain Hill wrote "A Guide to Emigrants from the British shores to the Woods of Canada,” which was published in neat pamphlet form of 56 pages, in Dublin, in 1834. This little work contained much useful information to Emigrants in regard to preparations for their passage, and the mode of locating in the newly settled districts of Canada. It was evidently written with. much care, and bears ample traces of a cultivated and intelligent mind. In the year 1835, Dummer contained a population of 693. In 1842, it had increased to 927. In 1852, the assessed value of the entire property was $118,835; and the total taxation $316.63. By way of comparison, it may be stated that in 1866, the total number of ratepayers was 370; the assessed value of property $128636, and the taxes levied on this township for county rate alone, $1406.16. It has before been remarked that assessed values, convey no adequate idea of the real wealth of township property; as the fluctuations under the manipulations of successive Assessors show differences in value, the result of the ideas in regard to assessment which happen to be at the time paramount. At the taking of the last census, in 1861, the entire population of Dummer was 1757. Of these 914 were males and 843 females. There were in 1860, 13 deaths and 65 births. 472 children were attending school. Looking at the census by origin for 1861, we find, from Ireland 292, England 146, Scotland 90, United States 46, Upper Canada 974, Lower Canada 21, other countries 5. As regards religion, there were in 1861, Church of England 392, R. Catholic 181, W. Methodist 395, E. Methodist 41, Bible Christian 191, Free Church 274, Church of Scotland 146, Baptists 87, other churches LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS. 1844, E. Hartwell. 1855, George A. Hill. 1861, George A. Hill. 1862, Dr. T. W. Poole. 1863, Dr. T. W. Poole. 1864, Rev M. A. Farrar. 1865, Rev M. A. Farrar. 1866, Rev M. A, Farrar. CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWNSHIPS OF BELMONT AND METHUEN. The survey of the township of Belmont was made in 1853, but it was not for several years afterwards that settlers found their way into it. The first actual resident was a Mr. Fiddick, who removed there with his family, but was so alarmed by the howling of wolves that he soon withdrew to reside in the vicinity of the settlement forming around Keeler's mill. The first settler to whom a patent for land was issued was Mr. Robert Stewart, familiarly known among his neighbours as "the king of Belmont." For many years the roads leading into Belmont were of the most primitive description; and great hardship and inconvenience were experienced by the first settlers in the transit, first of their slender store of worldly goods and afterwards in making their way to the mill and returning with the supplies necessary for themselves and families. Since the inauguration of our municipal system, and especially since Belmont became a separate corporation, large sums of money have been expended for the improvement of roads. The abundance of gravel has offered great facilities for this purpose, and the large income from taxes on non-resident lands has provided funds, which have enabled some excellent lines of road to be made without greatly burdening the residents of the township. In several respects, Belmont has made rapid progress. In 1842, the number of its householders was 33. In 1852 these had increased to 41, while in 1866 they numbered 185. A still more striking mark of progress is shewn in the rapid increase of school houses, mostly of a superior kind. Twelve years ago, there were but one or two in the entire township; now there are nine, and six of these are frame buildings well finished, thoroughly furnished, and numerously attended. The first saw mill in Belmont was built by Mr. Jehiel Brekenridge, on the site of the onc now owned by P. Pearce, Esq. This was burned down, and the present one built by Mr. Pearce, who has added to it a small grist mill, the first established in the municipality. Mr. Brekenridge also built a saw mill and small grist mill, at a splendid water-power, just where the stream which emerges from Round lake empties into Belmont lake. There are two other saw mills besides these mentioned, one known as that erected by the Rev. Thomas Searight, and the other that of Mr. Holbrooks in the south portion of the township. Within a few years the "Havelock" Post Office was opened in Belmont, of which P. Pearce, Esq., was appointed Post-master. The office is kept at his residence on the Marmora road. A second Post Office has since been established, still further in the interior of the township. The farmers of Belmont have no reason to complain of want of success in agriculture. Many of them have succeeded admirably. But the chief wealth of the township-especially of the northern portion-consists in its minerals. In the eastern portion, iron ore is found in large abundance, and of excellent quality. Recently, extensive deposits of a pure white marble have been brought to light in its northern section, both of which need but capital and enterprise, joined with some means of transit to the frontier, to render them richly productive, and the "working" of them in the highest degree conducive to the prosperity of the township. We pause not to dwell upon the further incidents connected with the settlement of this township, few of which have been detailed to us, and the early experiences of the first pioneers are more or less similar to those already narrated in reference to other townships. Belmont has had the honor of twice furnishing a Warden for the county, in the person of P. Pearce, Esq., for the years 1863 and 1864. Mr. Pearce is now one of the oldest councillors in the county; and for many years has taken a prominent part in municipal business. |