METHUEN.

Methuen was surveyed in 1823, but till within the last nine years rcmained without a settler. One of the first to push his way into the township was Mr. John Vansickler, about the year 1857. The little settlement then formed has increased, till, in the year 1866, the number of ratepayers in Methuen was 22, and the total assessed value of property, $3291. Methuen is still united to Belmont for municipal purposes.

The population of Belmont and Methuen in 1861 was 689. Of these 108 persons were from Ireland, 15 from England, 34 from Scotland, 12 from the United States, 516 from Upper Canada, and 3 from Lower Canada.

In a religious point of view there were in 1861, Church of England 132, R. Catholic 21, W. Methodist 264, E. Methodist 4, Free Church 199, Church of Scotland 48, Baptist 6, others 12.

DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS.

MEM. From 1849 until the close of the year 1854, these townships

were united to Asphodel for municipal purposes.

LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

1844, N. C. Beattie. 1856, Dr. T. W. Poole. 1862, Rev. Jas. Bowie. County Superintendents.1857, Dr. T. W. Poole. 1863, Rev. Jas. Bowie. 1852, Rev. T. Searight. 1858, Dr. T. W. Poole. 1864, W. N. Armstrong, 1853, Thos. Robertson. 1859, Rev. H. McDowell 1865, Rev M. A. Farrar. 1854, Thos. Robertson. 1860, Rev. Jas. Bowie. 1866, Rev M. A. Farrar. 1855, Rev. T. Searight, 1861, Rev. Jas. Bowie.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH MONAGHAN.

That portion of the township of Monaghan comprised within the County of Peterborough, is the rear seven concessions, and is usually known as North Monaghan. As seen on the map, it may be said to be triangular in shape, with the apex downwards, or towards the south. It is bounded on the north by the township of Smith, on the west by Cavan, and on the east by the Otonabee river. The Millbrook and Peterborough branch of the Port Hope and Lindsay railroad traverses the triangle from its southern angle, running parallel with the river to the north-eastern corner, in which the Town of Peterborough is situated. This town, prior to its incorporation in 1850, formed a part of the municipality of North Monaghan. Until that date, the population and general statistics of the town are blended with those of the township, so that neither can be stated independently of the other.

The township of Monaghan was surveyed in 1818. The earliest settlers found their way into its northern portion in 1818 and 1819. Among them were Messrs. William Fowler, Robert Morrison, Robert Thompson, John Tully, William Birdwhistle, Thomas and Robert Leadbeater, Richard Alexander, Robert Cross, John Foster, James Wilson, Matthew Wilson, William Wilson, Wilford Drysdale, John Birney and Thomas Spiers.

The difficulties which many of them had to encounter were similar to to those already mentioned in regard to those in the township of Smith.. Provisions and utensils had to be carried from Port Hope, in the absence of a road, mostly on the settler's shoulders, or as best they could, for several years.

The first of these settlers found their way in singly, or in groups of two or three, roamed through the continuous forest, till having selected a lot of land which appeared to please them, and learning the number and concession from the recently marked posts of the surveyors, they returned to make the needful application to the Land Agent, in order to secure it. During this first exploration visit, one or more nights had to be spent in the forest, where, having kindled a fire, they lay down to sleep beneath the branches of a group of trees, wearied and fatigued, and worse, perhaps, wet and torn with the mishaps of the journey.

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 crackled 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 progressed 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 industry of their sires, and continue 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.

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 Millbrook 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.

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,