Jeremiah McCarthy, Esq., Reeve of Ennismore, where they partook of such refreshments as their entertainers could procure.

During the same season, other addresses, numerously signed, from the various townships in which the immigrants were settled, and breathing a similar spirit of gratitude, loyalty and devotion, were forwarded to the Right Hon. Earl Bathurst, Colonial Secretary, to whom they were addressed.

The infant settlements around Peterborough were greatly cheered and encouraged by this visit of the Governor General, proving as it did, the paternal care of the government, and the interest felt in the success and well-being of these hardy settlers. Not only was the moral effect beneficial, in increased confidence and hope, but its practical and material results were of the most gratifying character, as the sequel will show.

It was soon after, that at a meeting of a few gentlemen residing in the vicinity, the name of "Peterborough" was selected for the future town, in compliment to the Hon. Peter Robinson, to whose exertions in promoting the settlement of the neighboring townships they felt so much indebted. The selection was at once ratified by general consent, and "Scott's plains" ere long ceased to be associated with the prosperous town. Before the opening of the next season, (the spring of 1826) it was announced that the government had undertaken the cost of the erection of a mill within the limits of the town, and tenders were asked for this work as well as for the construction of the necessary mill dam. Mr. Thomas Harper was among those who tendered on this occasion, but the contract was awarded to Mr. Horace Perry, and the work immediately commenced. The site chosen was the site of the mill recently burned, on the property of Samuel Dickson, Esq., and the building of late years known as Dickson's mill the one then erected, with additions and improvements. The dam was built in the Autumn of 1826, and the saw and grist mill in the Spring following.

To erect so large a frame as that of the grist mill, was at that time, a matter of much difficulty. The settlers within an area of twenty miles were called upon to lend their aid, and several of them gave a week's hard labor gratuitously, to assist in furthering so desirable a work. The sawmill, adjoining the larger structure, was first put in operation, in order to supply the necessary lumber, and was also a great boon to the new settle

ments.

The grist mill, which contained two run of stones, was completed in

1827, and was immediately offered for sale by the government and purchased by John Hall, Esq., (now of Buckhorn) and Mr. Moore Lee, who continued to run it in partnership for several years.

While this great work was in progress, a bridge was built across the Otonabee chiefly by government aid, which was completed about the same time as the mill, and by the same contractor, Mr. Horace Perry, A plan of this bridge may still be seen in the Town Clerk's office. It was supported by three piers, triangular in shape, with the apex pointing up the stream, and occupied very nearly the site of the present structure. After the destruction of this bridge, the Otonabee was crossed at this point by means of a large scow, sustained in the current by a long rope or cable, to one end of which it was attached, while the other was secured to a point on the bank at some distance above. By a proper application of the helm, the current was made to transport the scow from one bank to the other, a reversal of its position after each crossing, being all that was required. A second bridge was soon after built chiefly by public subscrip

tion.

At this period, and before the erection of a dam at the locks below the Little Lake, the river was shallow, and easily fordable during the summer season, by persons on foot, opposite the old steamboat landing, contiguous to the old steam mill of Messrs. Shaw & Fortune before referred to.

From the date of the erection of the mill, the prosperity of the town and the success of the adjoining settlement were fully assured. "The plains" were rapidly converted into a busy and prosperous village, while the enlarged clearings, and the rapidly increasing produce of the harvest, raised the new settlers from the struggles of a precarious existence to one of comparative affluence.

CHAPTER V.

During the winter of 1827-8, a surplus of wheat was grown; about five thousand bushels of which were sold to the store-keepers in Peterborough.* During the summer of 1827 as many as twenty new frame houses were erected, a tannery, a distillery, and other useful branches of business were in operation or projected, and indications of progress and prosperity appeared on every hand.†

* Capt. Rubidge's Letter to Capt. Hall, Travels in N. America," 1829. Page 337. † Ibid.

Doctor Reade having fulfilled his engagement in reference to the immigrants, withdrew after their location on their lands. Dr. Dowsley soon after located himself here, and was followed by Dr. Roddy, but he was ere long superseded by Dr. Hutchison, who had been for some time practising in Cavan, and was induced to settle in Peterborough about the year 1830. He was a man of much ability, aud deservedly esteemed. Dr. Taylor came in at a later period, and was for sometime associated with Dr. Hutchison in a co-partnership. By this time the little log store kept by Mr. James Gray Bethune, south of the market square, had been superseded by the frame building, known as "the red store," erected on the corner of Charlotte and Water streets, where it still stands, and forms the end of a long row of wooden houses, the property of Edmund Chamberlin, Esq.; but it is now no longer "red". Peterborough was then supplied by a weekly mail, and the post office was kept in this building, in connection with Mr. Bethune's store, the whole being managed, as formerly stated, by Mr. Thomas Valentine Tupper. Mr. James B. Ferguson, (brother of Frederick Ferguson, Esq.,) was subsequently appointed postmaster, and the office was kept by him in a small square frame building with a cottage roof, just south of the red store, to which it was attached, and may be recognized as forming an addition to the rear of the corner building. Its size is about 10 by 16 feet, and the door and one small window still look towards the river, as in former days. It may not be out of place to add that this part of Water street then contained the residences of the principal persons in Peterborough, and was for many years after, the leading thoroughfare. Dr. Hutchison lived in the cottage built by Adam Scott, before referred to, as now the oldest house in Peterborough. Another medical gentleman at a later date, lived in the larger frame house with wings at either end, just north of the cottage, and the large frame house on the river bank opposite, was occupied more recently by a respected member of the legal profession,-so that although this portion of the town is now dilapidated and its glory quite departed, yet old associations and memories hallowed by time, cluster round it, which we would fain rescue from oblivion.

The post office was subsequently transferred to the old government house before referred to, where it was kept for several years by Ephraim Sanford, Esq., who unhappily ended his days in 1843 by suicide, at the American hotel, where he was a lodger. Our present Postmaster, S. J. Carver, Esq., succeeded to the office. At some time later and down to the year 1856, the post office was kept in a small frame building little larger

Carver, Esq., succeeded to the office. At some later time and down to the year 1856 the post office was kept in a small frame building little larger than a shanty on the east side of Queen street, which still exists, unused and tenantless. After two further removals, one of which was occasioned by the destructive fire of 1861, it was removed to the building it now occupies on Water street.

In 1831, under the administration of Sir John Colborne, Captain Rubidge, R. N., was appointed Immigration Agent at Peterborough, and located a number of immigrants sent out from various parts of the United Kingdom. Most of these were located in Dummer, and will be referred to in our future narrative of the settlement of that township. A good many were also employed in various capacities by the older residents, or located on vacant lots in the former settlements.

In 1832 the cholera appeared on this continent, and penetrated as far even as Peterborough, where the prospect of its approach created a good deal of alarm. There can be no doubt but that, as in all visitations of this kind, many died from fear and alarm at the approach of the disease. One prominent example of this kind is still remembered in the person of Mr. Silas Pearson, a strong robust farmer, residing on the shore of Mud Lake, about ten miles from Peterborough. At the first mention of the disease he took to bed in a state of mortal fear, and when the cholera did arrive was one of the first victims. The population of Peterborough at that time was under five hundred, and yet twenty-three deaths occurred from this disease.* The township of Douro happily escaped without a single death, while in that of Dummer, lying beyond it and further in the interior, eleven persons died from this fatal epidemic. A few deaths also occurred in Otonabee, and the other townships adjoining Peterborough.

During the following year, (1833) the first member of the legal profession found his way to Peterborough. This was Elias Burnham, Esq., who has held a conspicuous place, from time to time, not only at the bar, but in the management of the political, educational and municipal affairs of the town and county. His extensive block fronting on the market square, and other properties, entitle him to rank among our most wealthy, as he has long done, among our leading citizens.

The second legal gentleman resident in Peterborough was J. Shuter Smith, Esq., now M. P. P. for East Durham, and long a resident

* Col. Strickland's "Twenty-seven years in Canada West." Vol. II, page 201.

† Ibid. Page 202.

of Port Hope. His stay was scarcely protracted beyond a year. Stafford Kirkpatrick, Esq., became a resident of Peterborough in 1834, and since then we have had a long list of members of the bar, some of whom have held, or still hold, distinguished positions among the legal fraternity.

About this period, the religious element comes into prominence. Besides the Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches, the pastors of which had arrived at a previous date, clergymen of several other denominations appeared in Peterborough, and formed the nucleus of churches and societies which have since largely increased, and now represent important interests in the community. It has been thought best to devote a special chapter to the churches of Peterborough, and for convenience sake, this has been deferred to a future page.

We gladly insert in this place, the following communication, containing reminiscences and personal experiences of the writer, well worthy of insertion in a work like this::

Peterborough, October 29th, 1866.

"Although to look back to the time of my settlement in Peterborough, it seems but as yesterday, yet thirty-three long years have elapsed since then. What a long period to look back upon, and to count the various events and changes which have taken place within it!”

"Well do I remember the evening that I first landed in Peterborough. It was late in November, in the year 1833; but it was indeed a lovely day, and the night was equally so: calm and still, and beautifully moonlight. I remember standing that evening on the very ground where now stands the Commercial Bank building, (north-east corner of Water and Hunter streets.). It was then in a state of nature, as was all that part of the town lying east of Water street, north of Hunter street, south of Aylmer street, and south of King street, with the exception of here and there, perhaps, some small house or shanty, few and far between. And within the limits indicated, the buildings were also few and insignificant. At that time, property was worth very little. A park lot was not worth much over £15, unless in a very few exceptional instances. On the west side of George street, and between Simcoe and Hunter Streets, there were, if I recollect right, only two decent houses; one on the south, where Mr. Sanford kept a store, and one on the north, where Mr. Bailey kept a tavern. All that ground on which Mrs. Dixon's block of three-story brick buildings now stands, with the exception of the small part occupied by the store and a small dwelling house adjoining, was then used for a garden.