Niagara Genealogy

Your home for Genealogy in the Niagara Region in Ontario!

Search
Links

ELIAS AUGUSTINE, was born in Humberstone Township October 30th, 1834. He is a son of John and Catharine, and grandson of George and Mary (Stoner) Augustine. At the age of eighteen he went to learn the carpenter trade, which he worked at for five years. He has been twenty-three years at the business of carriage building, and is at present the senior partner of the firm of Augustine & Kilmer, of Humberstone, who do an extensive manufacturing business in their line. Mr. Augustine married January 8th, 1861, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Henry C. and Catharine (Bowen) Anger, and grand-daughter of John Bowen. They have two children, Adella Florence, born October 19th, 1862, and Curtis Jerome, who was born September 11th, 1865. Our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the A. O. U. W. The whole family are connected with the Methodist church, of which Mr. A. has been a member for about twenty years.

B. F. CANBY, farmer, was born at Clark Hill, Niagara Falls, on the 29th day of January, 1850. He is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Harris) Canby. The father was born at St. Johns, New Brunswick, in 1796, came to this country in 1837, and for fifteen years lived at Niagara Falls. Although a man of considerable means, his training and disposition seemed to incline him to take a position in an office, rather than the more active field of speculation. For this reason he was for a number of years in the employ of Samuel Street, as his head clerk. He moved from Niagara Falls to Fonthill about 1852, and at one time was the owner of the greater part of the land on which the village is situated. This land he divided into lots and sold ; virtually starting the village. The mother of our subject was born 22nd April, 1822, and was the daughter of Elisha and Rachael (Brown) Harris, the latter born in Nova Scotia, February 14th, 1800. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Canby, was the owner of vessels trading with the West Indies, an enterprise that at one time largely engaged his attention. Mr. Canby, our subject, was educated at Fonthill Grammar School, and graduating from that institution, attended, for a time, Toronto University. He married January 28th, 1875, Victoria, a daughter of Wesley and Martha (Lemon) Buchner, and grand-daughter of Ozias Buchner, born on lot 1 in the 4th concession of Crowland in 1779, probably the first white child born in that township ; and great grand-daughter of Capt. Henry Buchner, a U.E. Loyalist, who left his home on Staten Island in the early days of the revolutionary war, establishing indisputably the fact that the Buchners were among the earliest pioneers of the county of Welland. Mrs. Canby was born in Crowland Township, May 24th, 1853, and because of her birthday being on the same day as Queen Victoria's she was given her name. Her father moved to Fonthill shortly after her birth. Mr. Canby bought a fine farm of 147 acres at Sugarloaf Point in 1878, pleasantly situated at the eastern base of Sugarloaf Hill, moving there in April of that year. He has since sold a part of the farm, reserving the portion bordering on the lake, and has fitted up as a summer resort, where a few select families are furnished board and camping grounds. He has recently purchased a farm of 52 acres on the lake in the township of Wainfleet. His family consists of three children, viz : Lucilla Amelia, born January 2nd, 1876 ; Julia French, born December 19th, 1882, and Charles Sperry, born October 29th, 1885. Mr. Canby is one of the enterprising and energetic young men of the county.

CHARLES H. CARTER, son of Levi and Hannah Carter was born in Chester County, New Jersey, in 1822. A year later the family moved to New York State, near Rochester. They contemplated forestalling Horace Greeley's advice and going west. In fact Mr. Carter and his father made a preliminary trip west, but the Black Hawk war broke out, and after being besieged in Fort Peoria for a season, they returned, and subsequently came to Canada instead. In 1838, Mr. Charles Carter, with his brother William, engaged in the business of towing on the Welland canal, at first with horses and later with tugs, as steam superseded quadrupedal power. The brothers owned the second tug built on the lakes, the "Underwriter" sixty horsepower, built at Buffalo. In 1874, Charles Carter was appointed harbor master at Port Colborne, which position he yet holds. During the seasons of 1885-86 he had charge of the navigation of the Welland aqueduct, his successful management of which won high mention from leading Chicago, and other papers. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and one of the charter members of McNab Lodge, A.F. & A.M., Port Colborne. There are but few, if any, men living better known on the lakes than the subject of this sketch. In 1849 he married Miranda, daughter of Solomon Steele, Esq., of Humberstone. This union was blessed with five sons and one daughter, all yet living. The three eldest sons, DeWitt, Sperry and Frank, are doing a successful tug and wrecking business, having accomplished some notable exploits as wreckers. The other sons are Harry V., engaged in law business in Minnedosa, Man., and Alfred, located in Alberta Territory. Mr. Carter's present wife, to whom he was married on the 13th April, 1887, is Amy, the second daughter of Archibald Thompson, Sr., Esq., of Welland.

L. G. CARTER, Esq., postmaster, Port Colborne, is a native of New York State. He came to Canada with his father in 1834. They located in Port Robinson, but in 1838 moved to Port Colborne, where in 1850 the subject of this sketch engaged in mercantile pursuits. His buciness rapidly increased from a small grocery to a general store. After doing busines in this way for twenty years, and accumulating considerable property by his honesty, carefulness and adherence to his calling, he went exclusively into dry-goods, going the next year to England and to Scotland to purchase his stock in the chief markets of the world. At one time his business was the most important of the kind in the county. In 1880 he retired from active pursuits, and now lives a little way from the scene of his busy life on a farm of eighty-five acres, in one of the finest residences in the county. Mr. Carter was born on the twenty-seventh day of February, 1828, in Brighton, Monroe County, N.Y., and is a son of Levi and Hannah (Green) Carter, natives of New Jersey, of English descent. The ancestors of the family, Benjamin, Daniel and James, three brothers, came from England to America in 1760 and settled in New Jersey. Wm. Carter, son of the Benjamin mentioned above, and Nancy, his wife, was born in 1784 in Gloucester, N.J. ; his wife was Deborah ; they are the grandparents of our subject ; their son Levi, his father, was born at Pedericktown, Salem County, N.J., on the 22nd day of June 1791. "Levi and Hannah Carter, his wife, were married on the twenty-third day of the ninth month of the year one thousand eight hundred and thirteen." L.G. Carter was the eighth of his father's family of eleven children, five sons and six daughters. He was married Sept. 16th, 1851, to Mary Fielden, daughter of Col. John and Margaret (Killman) Scholfield, and grand-daughter of James and Mary (Fielden) Scholfield. Mr. Carter has been a justice of the peace for the past thirty years, and postmaster for twenty-eight years. In 1873 Mr. Carter erected the superstructure of the Baptist church in Port Colborne at a cost of four thousand dollars and deeded it to the congregation. He has always taken a deep interest in morality and religion, doing all in his power to further the cause of both, and has ever shown a generous public spirit. He has been clerk of the church since its organization in 1860, and at present is deacon and clerk.

HENRY CRONMILLER Esq., the senior member of the firm of Cronmiller & White, was born in the township of Bertie in 1829. His parents were natives of Alsace, one of the provinces so long in dispute between Germany and France. Our subject spent his boyhood on the farm and received a common school education. In 1850 he married Miss Caroline Weidman, of Humberstone, and began life on his own account as a farmer in the township of Bertie. About 1860 he started a store and hotel in Humberstone, still continuing to run a farm. This business he continued until 1873, when he sold out and went to Port Colborne, where he engaged in buying grain until 1875, when he started the brewery. The brewing business of the firm is very extensive. Mr. Cronmiller is a good business man and has always possessed the confidence of the public in a high degree. While living in Humberstone he was for ten years treasurer of that township, and since removing to Port Colborne he has been several years a member of the village council, and is now serving his fourth term as reeve. In the county council he is highly respected. Mr. and Mrs. Cronmiller are the parents of nine children and the grand-parents of eleven.

W.T. COOK, merchant, was born in Fort Erie in the year 1834. His parents were Thomas and Sarah Ann (Howell) Cook, the father being a native of the United States. The family moved to Port Colborne when our subject was ten years of age. Mr. Cook, when a young man, began life as a clerk in the store of L.G. Carter, in which position he remained sixteen years. He then went into business for himself in Port Colborne, where he has remained ever since, with the exception of a few years he spent on a farm. Mr. Cook's present place of business is on the line between Port Colborne and Stonebridge. His store, which adjoins his beautiful residence, is very neat and tasteful in its design and fittings. Mr. Cook married Sarah Jane, daughter of John Ashenhurst, of Uxbridge, who has been a most devoted wife and helpmate ; their union has been blessed with only one child - a little girl who died at the age of nine months. Mr. Cook is a member of the R. T. of T. and the C. H. C. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have been for years consistent members of the Baptist church, of which our subject has been the treasurer for nineteen years, almost from its infancy in Port Colborne.

JOHN CROSS, employee of the Grand Trunk Railway, was born in Ross-shire, Scotland in 1814. His parents were Donald and Ann (McCloy) Cross. Our subject spent several years in England at railroad work, and worked in France on the construction of the road from Havre to Paris as foreman for Brassey & McKenzie. He came to Canada in August, 1842, by the New York route and immediately went to work on the Welland Canal. He afterwards went to Caledonia and worked at making a road from that place to Walpole. He returned to this district and ran a boat on the Welland Canal for Richard Boyle. He spent about sixteen years in the employ of the late John Brown, as foreman, occasionally taking a subcontract on the canal and in the construction of the macadamized roads of the county. He also superintended the construction of the Welland Railway as far as Port Robinson, and afterwards was engaged to purchase wood for the use of that road. He went to Pennsylvania to build a projected railway there, but it was a losing speculation. He then returned to Canada and was engaged by the Grand Trunk Railway Company to take charge of the railway bridge on the canal at Port Colborne, which duty he still performs. Mr. Cross enjoys good health considering his advanced age. He owns comfortable premises in Port Colborne, and has the distinction of having built the first macadamized roads in the county, viz : those leading from St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Port Robinson to Thorold.

DR. OWEN W. FARES was born in the township of Humberstone April 18th, 1843, and received his education at Dr. Rolph's School of Medicine, and Victoria College, and graduated with the degree of M.D. in 1864, and for a short time after practised his profession. He afterwards engaged in the drug business, until 1878, when he retired from the active duties of his profession, and is now living outside the borders of the corporation of Port Colborne, enjoying the benefit of a competence. The doctor is a son of Owen and Christiana (Winter) Fares, both native born Canadians. His grandfathers, William Fares and Emanuel Winter, were both born in Pennsylvania. Grandfather William Fares came to Canada when a small boy, and settled in the township of Wainfleet, in the county of Welland, having been one of the first pioneers of the place. Dr. Fares married April 27th, 1868, Mary E., daughter of John and Catharine (Kilman) Shugg, the former of English and the latter of Canadian birth. Mrs. Dr. Fares is a granddaughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Near) Kilman, of German descent.

ELISHA FURRY, merchant, Humberstone, was born in the township of Wainfleet in 1831. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth (McKay) Furry. In 1849 he married Sarah Ann, daughter of the late Matthias Zavitz, of the same township. They have a family of five: The eldest, Mary Elizabeth, married Walter Simpson, (now deceased); Margaret Angeletta, married to Lemuel R. Snider ; and Helena Alberta, Ulysses S. Grant and Ella Ezella A., at home, unmarried. He followed the farming pursuits until 1867, when he engaged in business at Port Colborne as a general merchant - a business which he has continued ever since, either in Port Colborne or Humberstone. He combines the grain buying business with his general store, and is one of the substantial men of the township. He enjoys the respect of his fellowmen in a high degree, and has filled many important public positions. While farming in Moulton he was elected reeve of that township. He has also been a member of the Port Colborne Village and Humberstone Township councils for a term of fifteen years, repeatedly representing the latter place in county council. In 1882 he was elected warden of the county of Welland, and in 1884 he was appointed by the Ontario Government a member of the board of license commissioners for the said county, which position he held for three years. His grandparents were among the first settlers of Canada. His grandfather, McKay Lawrence Furry came from Pennsylvania between the years 1780 and 1790, and enlisted with the British soldiers. He was wounded while fighting in battle during the war of 1812, for which he received a yearly pension up to the time of his death which occurred about the year 1850.

PETER GIBBONS, Esq., hardware merchant, Port Colborne, was born in the town of Newport, county of Mayo, Ireland, on the 22nd day of may 1821. He is a son of John and Mary (Quinn) Gibbons. He was educated in his native land, and came to America in 1847. He landed at New York and proceeded to Buffalo by packet boat; the New York Central Railway was at that time being constructed. Mr. Gibbons, a short time after arriving in Buffalo, came on to Port Colborne, then better known as Gravelly Bay. After filling an engagement as clerk in the store of John McRae at Stonebridge, he began business on his own account in Port Colborne in 1849, and has continued to conduct mercantile business in the place ever since - at present enjoying the distinction of being the oldest merchant in the village. His business career has been - thanks to his ability, application, and fair dealing - an uninterrupted success. His first goods came by boat to Niagara and were teamed from that place by horses, the canal being under repair. Mr. Gibbons was married in August, 1861, to Mary Ellen, daughter of Nicholas Higgins. They have a family of two, John P. and Mary M. Our subject has been justice of the peace for thirty years. He is of the religious faith of the church of Rome, and is a reformer in politics.

MATTHEW F. HANEY, M.D., was born in the township of Pelham April 4th 1824. He is a son of Matthew and Anna (Mains) Haney, both natives of Canada. Our subject received his preliminary education at the St. Catharines Academy, Lincoln County. He then engaged in the study of medicine and became a graduate of the Buffalo Medical College in 1850. He afterwards attended the Toronto Medical University, passing the board of examiners in 1851, obtaining a license to practice his profession in this province, and since that period has been located in the village of Stonebridge. He was married 6th December 1855, to Rebecca, a daughter of Jonathan Wild, of Humberstone Township, and has from the union a family of five children, viz : Helen Susanna Adeline, Anna Rebecca, Thomas Fletcher, Esther Elizabeth, and Frederick Stephen McKenzie. The grand-parents of our subject were natives of New Jersey, and came to this province on account of their love for the British flag. Matthew Haney, the doctor's father, was an artilleryman in 1812, and was engaged in battles along the frontier in the flying artillery, where he served with distinction, and was honorably discharged. Our subject has always taken an active interest in educational affairs, and was for twelve years local superintendant of public schools, during the Ryerson regime. He was elected as member of the township council of Humberstone in 1857, and served in that capacity for four years. He afterwards served as reeve for a like term of years and occupied the warden's chair in 1871. During the Sandfield Macdonald administration the doctor was appointed justice of the peace, and both as magistrate and physician enjoys the confidence and esteem of the entire community.

ALBERT HANNA, farmer, Welland P.O., was born on the old homestead in Humberstone on the fourteenth day of July, 1844. His parents were Richard and Ann Jane (Johnson) Hanna, both of whom were natives of Ireland, his father having been born in the county of Cavan and his mother in the county of Tyrone. They were married in Toronto, where they lived for some time. About 1835 they came to this county and lived for a short time near where the aqueduct now is in the town of Welland, and afterwards settled on the farm where our subject now lives. Mr. Albert Hanna is one of a family of twelve children. He was educated at the common schools, and has always followed the business of farming, but has also engaged in baling hay, dealing in tember, and other enterprises. He married on the 19th day of September, 1883, Miss Jennie, daughter of Hiram Skinner of Niagara Falls, Ont. They have two children - Arthur Alexander, born July 24th, 1884 and Eva Geraldine, born January 3rd, 1886. Mr. Hanna is a member of the Orange fraternity.

DR. FRANK KING, of Port Colborne, is a son of Dr. Richard S. King, who died at Port Robinson, August 2nd, 1885. For years previous to his death, he was perhaps as widely known, as highly respected, and had as extensive a practice, as any physician who ever lived on the Niagara Peninsula. Dr. Richard S. King was born at Mac Mine Castle, county of Wexford, Ireland, in 1817. He was educated for the medical profession and graduated at the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. After graduating he, for a short time, resided in Manchester, England. In 1844 he set sail for Canada, and on arriving here come up the lakes and went to the residence of his brother-in-law, Dr. Morris, at Fort Erie. Dr. King commenced the practice of his profession at Stonebridge, but in 1849 removed to Port Robinson and assumed charge of the practice of Dr. Campbell, and was shortly after appointed surgeon to the police force, who were keeping peace along the line of the canal, then in course of construction. In 1861, at the time of the troubles in regard to the Trent affair, Dr. King at Port Robinson, and Capt. Verner at Port Colborne, organized the Welland Canal field battery. In the March previous to the Fenian raid, the battery was called out, owing to an apprehension of impending trouble, but, no disturbances occurring just then, in April the men returned to their homes. On the first of June, 1866, the battery was again called out, and with Capt. King in command, was ordered to go to Fort Erie and patrol the river on the tug "W. T. Robb" in company with the Dunnville naval brigade. They arrived at Fort Erie at about 8 a.m., landed and marched to Black Creek, where they re-embarked on the tug and returned to Fort Erie. Shortly after their arrival at the village they engaged in battle with the Fenian horde, and it was here that a rifle ball shattered Dr. King's left leg so badly that it necessitated amputation. After being shot, and when the Fenians were charging, he rolled himself over to the side of the wharf, and clung to one of the piles until rescued from his perilous position by his friends. After the battle was over, he was removed to Buffalo to have his wound attended to. When well enough to return home he crossed the river and was met by an immense assemblage of his fellow citizens, headed by the warden of the county, who warmly received him, and congratulated him on his recovery. On his arrival home the doctor was met by the county council, the Welland Canal field battery, and an immense concourse of people, who had come to do honor to the brave soldier. The warden, Edward Lee, Esq., of Marshville, presented a laudatory address on behalf of the county, and accompanied it with the gift of a beautiful sword. The people of Fort Erie also presented an address, which was read by Charles Treble, Esq., then reeve of the village. Along with the latter address there was presented a very handsomely mounted sword of honor, the blade of which bore the inscription : "Presented to Captain R. S. King, by the inhabitants of Fort Erie, for gallant conduct on the 2nd of June, 1866." In the fall of 1866, when the Imperial troops and the volunteers camped at Thorold and Port Robinson, many of the officers enjoyed the hospitality of Dr. King, amongst the more frequent visitors being Colonel Wolseley, now Lord Wolseley. In 1870, at the time of the second Fenian raid the battery was again called out and remained on duty for a short time, and Major King was then in command of the whole of the troops in this district. He retired from the service in 1882, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Dr. King was always a consistent Conservative. In 1867 he refused a nomination tendered him by both parties to a seat in the old Legislative Council, made vacant by the resignation of Hon. J. G. Currie. He also refused the nomination of the Conservative part for a seat in the Local Legislature. He was chairman of the Liberal-Conservativc Association of Welland for a number of years, and contested the county in 1872 as a candidate for the House of Commons. The election is referred to in our chapter on politics.

REV. JAMES KILCULLEN was born in the county of Sligo, Ireland, in the month of November, 1846. Early in the year 1859 he was sent by his parents, whose highest earthly ambition was to see him one day consecrated to the service of the altar, to the diocese and seminary of Ballaghadereen, county Mayo, Ireland, there to study classics. After finishing the ordinary course, preparatory for entrance into Maynooth College, he emigrated to this country in 1864. The same year Bishop, now Archbishop Lynch, received and adopted him as a subject for the priesthood in his diocese. He was sent by his ordinary to the Grand Seminary of Montreal in 1865, to prepare for the priesthood by the study of theology and cognate subjects. On May 30, 1869 he was raised to the order of priesthood in St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto, by the most Rev. Archbishop Lynch. His first appointment was to the parish of Brock, Ontario County, where he served as assistant priest to Father Braire. After about two years and five months he was promoted to the pastorate of Port Colborne and Welland, Nov. 1st, 1871. Since then he has been incessantly engaged in ministering to the spiritual wants of the Catholics of these missions. Port Colbrne, though a parish for about ten years before, was still without a residence where the incumbent might dwell. His first attention was directed to the purchase of a presbytery; in this he was successful, in the autumn of 1871, at a cost of $2,000, which was paid inside of two years. The parish has, despite drawbacks in the way of a dearth of labor, steadily increased, so that the erection of a new church became a necessity to accomodate the people. On the 20th of July, 1879, the corner stone of St. Patrick's church was blessed and laid by Archbishop Lynch. It was dedicated by Bishop O'Mahoney, auxiliary bishop of Toronto, on the 14th of March, 1880. The church is an imposing ediface of gothic architecture, and for beauty of design and artistic finish has few to equal in even towns larger in size and more abounding in wealth than Port Colborne. It was erected at a cost of $10,000, all of which has been paid, with the exception of a debt of $1,100 still hanging over it. In the summer of 1880, an addition was made to the presbytery at a cost of $1,000. The Welland church, called the "Church of the Japanese Martyrs," has also had its due share of care paid it. In 1874 it was supplied with a beautiful altar and vestries. It was also painted and frescoed the same year. These improvements give its interior a chaste, ornate and churchlike appearance, well calculated to inspire piety and devotion. These improvements cost $900. The church was shingled and surrounded by a cornice in 1882. This entailed a cost of $355. To sum up, it might be stated that in round numbers $16, 000.00 have been expended in the parish in fifteen years, for the purchase of church property, erection and decoration of churches, together with fencing and keeping church lots and school yard in good general repair. All the money has been collected by subscription, and from festivals from within the limits of a poor parish - without appeal to the general public for external aid. It has been contributed by protestants as well as Catholics, showing that a kindly and generous feeling exists between all sections of the community here. It is to be hoped that no untoward event may ever occur to remove or even mar this mutual charity and forebearance.

A. B. KNISLEY, M. D., was born in Humberstone Township July 30th, 1858. His parents were Christian and Christina (Bingleman) Knisley. The father of our subject is a Canadian by birth, but of German origin, (being the third son of the late Daniel Knisley, one of the pioneers of Humberstone). He died in July, 1886, having survived his wife six years. Chistina Bingleman was born in Wurtemburgh, Germany, and brought to Canda in her infancy. Our subject was educated at a common school and at the Welland High School, after which he spent three years as a public school teacher. He then attended the Toronto School of Medicine, and in 1885 graduated with the degree of M. B. from Toronto University, and the degree of M.D.C.M. from Victoria University. Dr. Knisley immediately began the practice of his profession in Humberstone, where he still resides. He is of a pleasant disposition, which adds greatly to his popularity. He already enjoys a large and rapidly increasing practice. He was married in September, 1886, to Miss Eva F., only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Learn, of the township of Bertie.

JOHN McRAE, late merchant, who died at his residence in Port Colborne on the 5th of November, 1880, was a native of Ross-shire, Scotland, born at Poolewe, September 15th, 1800, being the son of Donald and Julie Ann McRae, and the seventh child of a family of ten children. It is a family remarkable for its longevity. The mother of John, whose surname was McRae, lived to be ninety-three years old; his father was drowned by accident at sixty-five ; and the grand-father of our subject , whose name was George, was nearly 100 at his death. During the boyhood of John, the family moved down to Kintail, Ross-shire ; he secured a district school education ; farmed and herded until in his twentieth year, when he contemplated going to Cape Colony but finally decided to come to Canada, with the intention, at first , of simply seeing the country. In the latter part of June, 1820, he sailed from Scotland for Canada in the ship "Glentanner" of Aberdeen, and was twenty-one days in reaching Cape Breton - and that was not a slow trip from Scotland sixty-seven years ago. On the 2nd day of August he landed at Quebec. >From Quebec he came to Montreal on a steamboat, named the "Molsom," and, while coming up the river, he predicted that if he lived fifty years he should see steam used as a motive power on the land. Scarcely a lustrum had passed before George Stephenson had the railway system of England pretty well developed. Our subject spent a few years in the eastern part of Upper Canada, in manufacturing potash and in working on the Rideau Canal, and, about 1834, found his way as far west as Fort Erie and Humberstone, settling at the latter place in 1839, where he entered into business as a general merchant. In 1852 he moved to Port Colborne and settled permanently. At the opening of the rebellion, near the close of 1837, he, with others, offered his services to aid in suppressing it, but the rebels soon abandoned Navy Island, and that ended his military career. At the time of the Fenian raid, in 1866, Port Colborne was for a short time full of British soldiers, and the house and store of Mr. McRae were opened to shelter them, other merchants and housekeepers generally doing the same. The village was literally packed with defenders of the country, and for a short time the excitement was intense. Only two or three families that were in Humberstone an Port Colborne villages forty-eight years ago, were here in 1880. For many years he was the leading merchant in the place, and at one time furnished supplies for nearly all the boats that passed through the Welland Canal, being a successful business operator. Mr. McRae had several offices offered to him years ago, but he declined to accept any of them, and lived a very quiet life. He was one of the leaders in organizing the Presbyterian Church of this place in 1870, and was an elder up to the time of his death. He had been twice married : the first time to Miss Barbara McRae, of Glencoe, Upper Canada, she dying in 1847, leaving three children, all now dead ; the second time he was united in 1849, to Miss Mary Louise Graybiel, of the township of Wainfleet, county of Welland. By her he has two children, John C., born at Humberstone, on the 14th of December, 1856, and Edgar B., born at Port Colborne on the 13th of December, 1858. John C., after having taken a course at the Welland High School, and St. Catharines Collegiate Institute, entered as a student in the office of the late, Dr. Mack, of St. Catharines, and commenced a medical course at McGill Universtity, Montreal. The death of his father interrupted his medical studies, and his services were required in assisting in the winding up of the estate, and he has been since the death of his father engaged with his brother in the store. Edgar B., after receiving a general course at the Collegiate Institute, St. Catharines, entered his father's store. Both John and Edgar are members of the Masonic fraternity, Edgar being a past-master in the order.

WILLIAM MELLANBY, Esq., was born near the mouth of the Grand River in the township of Moulton, Haldimand County, on the tenth day of May, 1818. His father, whose name was also William, was a native of England, who came to Canada in 1815 in the service of the British Government as a ship carpenter. He was stationed at the place where our subject was born ; it was his duty to see that the ships were kept in proper repair. He remained in the service until the time of his death, which occurred in 1824. His widow, whose maiden name was Rachel Logan, removed to Niagara in 1826 and in that town our subject received his education. In 1841 the family removed to Allanburgh where they kept a general store until 1845, when our subject removed to the premises in Humberstone, whereon he has since resided. In his younger days Mr. Mellanby was one of the most active men in the county. His father was entitled to receive two hundred acres of land from the Government ; but having lost his certificate the son was unable, on account of a change in the law, to obtain possession of it. By his industry he has been very successful in life, and has amassed a large property. An affliction of the eyes has compelled him to retire from active life on his farm, and also prevents him from taking the prominent part in public affairs that he did in former years. He has repeatedly been reeve of Humberstone Township, and has occupied the warden's chair in the county council. He is a Reformer in politics.

DUNCAN E. McFARLAND, of Her Majesty's customs, is a native of Canada, having been born in Welland County, January 1st, 1831. He is a son of Colonel Duncan McFarland, who represented the county in the old Parliament of Canada about the year 1848, and participated in the war of 1812, and who still lives at old Niagara, having passed the years allotted to man, being in his eighty-seventh year, and a pensioner for services rendered to his country. Our subject married, June 20th, 1856, Agnes, a daughter of John and Mary Blake, of Niagara. Mr. McFarland was appointed to the customs as landing waiter and collector of canal tolls at Port Robinson, in 1875, and in 1878 was transferred to Port Colborne as collector of customs and canal tolls at the latter place, succeeding W.A. Rooth, in the position which he still holds.

ABRAHAM MORNINGSTAR was born in Humberstone, in the year 1821. His father, Benjamin Morningstar, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1789, and his mother (whose maiden name was Leah Stoner) was a daughter of Christian Stoner, one of the earliest settlers of Humberstone. Our subjects grandfather and great-grandfather were born in Bavaria, and emigrated, the latter dying on the passage out. His grandfather was but nine years of age when he landed in Pennsylvania, where, in after years, he farmed and conducted a factory for fulling cloth, until the outbreak of the American revolution, when, being a Loyalist, he sank the heavy machinery of his factory in the river to hide it from the rebels, and came to Canada, settling near Black Creek. At the close of the war he returned to his native land with a horse and cart to bring the machinery to this country, where he contemplated starting a factory. On the return trip the horse gave out with its heavy load (the plate used for pressing cloth weighing about half a ton) and Mr. Morningstar traded the horse for a yoke of oxen and proceeded on his journey. He had not got more than half way home, however, when his funds gave out and he was sorely puzzled as to how the expenses for the balance of the trip were to be met. Meeting a friendly Quaker he related the circumstances to him. The Quaker heard his story, and saying " Thee looks like an honest man," gave him the required amount, for which he took no note or writing of any kind. The Quaker stated that he would be in Canada the next spring and that the money could then be returned to him. Mr. Morningstar arrived safely at home after an absence of nineteen weeks. The Quaker was paid his money when he called at the appointed time. The woolen mill, which was started with the machinery brought from Pennsylvania, continued to exist as the property of the Morningstar family for about fifty years. Benjamin, our subject's father, was born in 1789 and consequently was about three years of age when the family came to Canada in 1792. In 1814 they removed from Black Creek to the farm in Humberstone where Abraham Morningstar was born. He has, until recent years, followed the business of farming in Humberstone. He was married in 1844, to Mary Sherk, who was born in 1826 ; she is a daughter of Jacob Sherk. They have had a family of ten, of whom seven are living. Caroline is the wife of E.B. Near, jeweler, Stonebridge ; Catharine married Philip Zavitz of Bertie ; Wilson is the proprietor of te flouring and shoddy mills at DeCew's Falls ; Clayton is in business at Weston, Ontario ; Cyrenus farms in Humberstone ; Almira and Wallace are unmarried and living at home. Our subject now resides in the village of Stonebridge, where he is enjoying a well-earned rest from the active duties of life.

JAMES B. NEFF, M.D., is a Canadian by birth, having been born in the township of Barton, Wentworth County, Augusst 19th, 1839. He received his preliminary education at the old Hamilton Grammar School, after which he took a course at the college of Medicine, Philadelphia, where he graduated with the degree of M.D. He subsequently passed his examination and became a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Toronto. Dr. Neff then began the practice of his profession at Port Colborne, where he still resides, in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice and the confidence of the community. His father was Jacob Neff, a native of Canada, of German extraction, who died in 1884 at the advanced age of eighty years. His mother's maiden name was Prudence DeWitt. She was born in New Brunswick, of German and Welsh parentage. Our subject has three children living : James Edwin, Bella and Jessie. They are being liberally educated, the youngest, aged thirteen, having already passed the examination admitting her to a higher institution of learning. Dr. Neff is a genial, kindly disposition, taking his recreation with the gun or rod and other health-giving and invigorating amusements.

ELIHU NEFF, farmer, Humberstone P.O., was born in the township of Humberstone, May 18th, 1846. He is a son of Abram P. And Eva (Sherk) Neff, and grandson of Peter Neff, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Canada in 1790, locating in Humberstone Township. The father of our subject had a family of seven children - five sons and two daughters - all of whom married except one who died in his twentieth year. Mr. Neff now resides on the old homestead which has been in possession of the family for nearly a century, and was originally purchased for $2 per acre. He was in 1882 elected township councillor, and for the last five years, including 1887, has held the position of deputy-reeve of Humberstone Township, and for three of the above years was returned by acclamation, serving his township in the county council with marked ability. Mr. Neff was married January 12th, 1868, to Margaret, a daughter of Nicholas Weaver of Humberstone Township. They have four children, named Omar, born 21st July 1871 ; Alice, Aug. 21st, 1873 ; Charles, March 31st, 1875 and Frederick, July 24th, 1877. The great-grandfather of our subject came from Prussia and settled in Pennsylvania. The grandfather Peter came to Canada and settled at what is now the village of Humberstone. The village was known for some time as Petersburgh, taking its name from Peter Neff. Mr. Neff is an adherent of the Mennonite church an a Conservative in politics.

JONATHAN NEFF, of the firm of Neff & Son, foundrymen and machinists, Humberstone, was born in the township of Humberstone near the village of Stonebridge, on the 27th of August, 1836. His father was Abram P. Neff and his mother's maiden name was Eve Sherk. Our subject had a taste for mechanical work from his childhood, and had an excellent opportunity to cultivate his talent in that direction in the shop of his father, who had a small establishment on his farm, in which he manufactured and repaired farming implements, both in wood and iron. At the age of seventeen, Jonathan built an engine, which was used to run the machinery in his father's shop, and completed a second engine about the time that he was twenty-one. In 1858 he started his present business. The factory is in a large, well-equipped brick building, and the firm manufacture plows, cultivators, harrows, and various other kinds of farm implements, and do all kinds of casting. Mr. Neff was married about the year 1860 to Mary Kilmer, a native of Humberstone, of German descent on her father's side, and of Pennsylvanian descent on her mother's side. They have five of family, two sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Norman, is the junior member of the firm, and the other son, Benton, is engaged in the business as an assistant. Mr. Neff is a member of the Canadian Home Circle.

JOHN A. RAMSDEN, Esq., farmer, was born in the township of Crowland on the twenty-sixth day of April, 1846. He is a son of John and Mary Matilda (Smith) Ramsden, the former born in Crowland Township, July 24th, 1811, and the latter a native of the town of Clyde, New York State. His grandfather, Joseph, was a native of Highfield, Yorkshire, England; and his grandmother, Anna Steinhoff, born in Stamford Township, was one of a family of sixteen children who grew up to manhood and womanhood. Joseph on coming to the country bought and settled on lots 16 and 17, 1st range and broken front, township of Crowland, containing 300 acres. Here Mr. Ramsden, senior, brought up his family, consisting of five children, the father of our subject being the eldest. Our subject received his primary education at the schools of Crowland and Humberstone, afterwards attending the Welland grammar school for a period of four years. Graduating from that institution he for a time attended Belleville College, and has since given his attention to farming. He moved to his present residence, lots 2 and 3, 1st concession, Humberstone, in 1857. Mr. Ramsden's education has fitted him for taking a leading role in the affairs of his county. In 1872-3 he was elected to the township council of Humberstone, and in 1875 was elected deputy reeve and took his seat at the county council, holding that position by the popular voice up to the year 1882, except the years 1877 and 1878. In 1883 he was elected reeve and has ever since filled the position with marked ability. At the Conservative convention held at Port Robinson, October 25th, 1886, Mr. Ramsden was offered the nomination as the candidate to contest the riding for the House of Assembly. He is one of the rising men of the county and bids fair in the future to fill the most honorable position in the gift of the people. He married, October 13, 1869, Mary Malinda, a daughter of William and Malinda (Miller) Baxter, of Bertie Township, a descendant of a U.E. Loyalist, and one of the first pioneers of the county. They have a family of two children, named Leslie Baxter, born January 6th, 1876, and Florence Ethel, born July 26th, 1886.

MATTHEW RICHARDSON, of the firm of M. Richardson & Son, manufacturers of apiarian supplies, was born on the 28th of July, 1826, at Frampton, West End, near Boston, Lincolnshire, England. He learned the trade of miller and baker , and married in 1847 the second daughter of James Appleyard, of Halton, near Spilsby, Lincolnshire. He started into the baking and confectionery business in Crowland in the same shire. He lived there three years, fighting against keen competition and the credit system. >From Crowland he removed to Boston, and was there employed on the Great Northern Railway. He learned the machinist trade, and then went on a locomotive until he became tired of so hard a life and so small pay as that work commanded in those days. He resigned his situation with the Great Northern company, after being a little more than five years employed by them. With his family he left England for America on the 5th of January 1856, on board the "Isaac Wright" Black Ball Line, a sailing vessel, bound for New York. The trip across the ocean lasted five weeks. There were altogether 241 passengers on board. Mr. Richardson brought his family to St. Catharines, where they lived for four years, during which time he was employed in the flouring mill of T. R. Merritt. In 1860 he removed to Port Colborne, where he took charge of the elevator engine. He worked in the elevator until 1867, when he severed his connection with the company and began business on his own account as a lumber dealer, running a saw mill, planing mill, and door, sash, and blind factory in connection with his lumber yard. He continued in that line until 1877, when he went into his present business of manufacturing apiarian supplies. The firm manufacture everything pertaining to the keeping of bees and the production of honey. Their business extends thoughout the whole of Canada. Mr. Richardson is eminently a man of enterprise. This characteristic is illustrated in the active interest he has taken in the natural gas project. In 1885, he in company with nine other gentlemen, began the sinking of a well to test the possibility of finding natural gas or any other valuable commodity in the bowels of the earth underneath Port Colborne. A bonus of $500 was granted to the company by the village council. On the 14th day of July, 1885, the drill was started. At a depth of 119 feet gas was scented, at 230 feet a small vein was struck, and at 252 feet there was enough gas to give a flame four feet high. At 452 feet was a vein of salt brine, and at 764 feet a vein of very superior gas, which continues at this writing (May, 1887) as strong as on the day it was discovered, October 9th, 1885. The well is now 1227 feet deep, but the progress of drilling is temporarily arrested by an accident which cased some broken tools to be left at the bottom of the well. Mr. Richardson has such faith in the enterprise that he has purchased the shares of three of the stockholders, who wished to abandon the work, and he believes that good paying gas will be struck before the well reaches a depth of fifteen hundred feet. Mr. Robinson has been the father of a family of eight children, two daughters and six sons ; of these five sons and one daughter still survive. They are all married, except the youngest son.

A. K. SCHOLFIELD, clerk of the sixth division court of Welland County, was born June 4th, 1824. He is a son of the late John Scholfield, who was born on the 15th of February, 1797 at Todmorden, Lancashire, England, and who came to Canada in 1818 and settled in Pelham. John Scholfield married Margaret, a daughter of Jacob Kilman, one of the early settlers of the county. John Scholfield's name is closely associated with the early history of Pelham, in which township he was for many years one of the most enterprising citizens. He raised a family of nine, all of whom survive save one, the late D.T. Scholfield, M.D. Our present subject at an early age went in the employ of D. D'Everardo, Esq. In 1849 he went ot California across the plains, enduring all the hardships incident to that kind of travel in those days. He remained in California two years, and upon his return married Ellen J., te eldest daughter of the late Robert Hobson, the first sherriff of Welland County. In 1854 he was appointed a clerk in H.M. customs at Clifton, and was afterwards removed to Port Colborne. In 1856 he left the customs to accept the position of deputy-sherriff. He filled that office until 1861. He then moved to Port Colborne, where he remained until 1864, when he again engaged with Mr. D'Everardo at Fonthill. In 1873 he removed to the township of Moulton. In 1879 he was appointed by Judge Macdonald to the position of clerk of the division court at Port Colborne, and has lived there ever since, combining the business of conveyancing with the performance of his duty as clerk of the division court. Mr. Scholfield's active life has left its mark in the shape of improvements. His most extensive enterprise was carried on in Moulton, where he made vast improvements in what was once a desolate tract of camparatively useless land. He also fitted up the property that is now the residence of J.H. Price, Esq., of Welland and he built Maple Hall, the beautiful residence of the late Jonas Steele, Esq., of Fonthill. Mr. Scholfield has been thrice married. His second wife was Miss Fairchild. The present Mrs. Scholfield is a daughter of James Hodgson, first headmaster of Welland grammar school, and sister of Mr. J.E. Hodgson, one of the present high school inspectors. Mr. Scholfield is the father of three daughters : Mrs. W.C. Helliwell, of Oak River, Man.; Mrs. R.C. Macdonald, of Fonthill; and Miss Scholfield who is at home with her parents.

THOMAS R. SECORD, deputy superintendant of the southern division of the Welland Canal, dates his birth at the village of St. Davids, on the 25th day of June 1830. He is a son of Samuel R. and Elizabeth (Weaver) Secord; his father was born at St. Davids in 1805. His grandfather, Stephen, who was born in 1757 and died in 1808 was one of three brothers who left France on account of the persecutions they suffered as Huguenots. Our subject's French ancestors were all Huguenots, and on account of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV, they fought for their religion under the Prince of Conde. The heroic conduct of the Secord family in France defending their religious faith was perpetuated in their descendants on this side of the Atlantic b their military exploits during the war of 1812-14. David, our present subject's great uncle, fought as a major at the battle of Lundy's Lane, St. Davids, Chippawa, Queenston Heights, and Niagara. Mr. T. R. Secord's aunt, Elizabeth Secord, accompanied Mrs. Laura Secord, the heroine of the war of 1812, on her perilous journey through the woods to notify the British commander of the approach of the American troops. Mr. T. R. Secord was appointed to his present position in 1861. He was inspecting superintendant of the building of the Welland Railway, and was superintendant of the rebuilding of the Burlington Bay Canal. He has been connected with the militia, having acted as lieutenant in the 5th company, Lincoln battalion, under Col. McDonald. He married in 1855, Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Solomon and granddaughter of Solomon Hill. Her great grandfather was William Hill, who took part in the American revolutionary war and came to Canada as a U.E. Loyalist. Solomon Holl sat in the old Parliament of Canada in 1803. Mr. Secord has a family of four: Lachlin McCallum, born June 22nd, 1856 ; Gertrude Blake, born Dec. 15th, 1862 ; Samuel Woodruff, born Oct. 13th, 1864 ; Henry Cartwright, born Nov. 28th, 1868.

ABEN SIMPSON, proprietor of the Commercial Hotel at Port Colborne, was born in Ireland in the year 1825. His mother died when he was an infant, and his father brought him to Canada when a mere child, settling at Lachute, in the Province of Quebec. Our subject was brought up in that place, and at the age of twenty-four came to this province, having previously married Jane McQuat, a native of Quebec Province. Mr. Simpson settled at Marshville, where he farmed for eighteen years, the whole time being connected with the late Edward Lee, Esq., on that gentleman's farm. He removed from there to Humberstone, where he farmed for one year, and then became a resident of Port Colborne. About the year 1873 he began the hotel business in Port Colborne, and has pursued that avocation ever since, He has been proprietor of the commercial since 1881, keeping a good house and ably performing the duties of host to his numerous patrons. He is a member of Macnab Lodge, A.F. & A.M. He has been twice married. The present Mrs. Simpson was a Mrs. Sarah A. Cramer. By his first wife he had one son, Walter R., who married a daughter of Elisha Furry, Esq. Walter died at the age of twenty-five, leaving two children, the elder of whom, Robert Elisha, still survives and is the only descendant of our subject.

HENRY B. SNIDER was born in the township of Humberstone in 1833. His parents, George and Rosanna (Ringel) Snider, were both natives of Alsace - at the time a French province under Napoleon. They emigrated to this country in 1830. Our subject has resided in Humberstone Township continuously from the time of his birth. At the age of eighteen he went to learn the blacksmith trade of Philip Fahrback at Stonebridge. He finished learning the trade with Godfrey Rother, after which he worked in Bertie two years, and came to Stonebridge in 1867, where he began mercantile business, carrying on a blacksmith shop in connection with his store. About ten years ago he abandoned the blacksmith business, since which time he has devote his attention entirely to his store business. In 1877 he was appointed treasurer fo the township of Humberstone and holds that position of trust at the present time. He married, in 1858, Frances Elizabeth Olmsted, a native of New York State. Her father, Horace S. Olmsted, for many years kept the hotel known as the Traveller's Home, on the Fort Erie road, about four miles east of Stonebridge. Mr. Snider's children are Lemuel Rodolph, who is engaged in the marble trade at Stoneridge ; Georgiana Jane, the wife of N.J. Baxter, a carriage manufacturer of Hagersville, Ont., and Jessie Amelia, who is unmarried and living at home.

EDWIN SMITH, acting deputy-postmaster of Port Colborne, dealer in books, stationary, &c., was born at the mouth of the Chippawa river, county of Welland, March 30th, 1822. His father, Frederick, was a native of Steuben County, state of New York, who came to Canada in 1809, settling at Niagara Falls, where he engaged in various employments, among others running Samuel Street's flouring mills for a length of time. He also carried on lumbering, farming, &c. He married Rachael Skinner, a native of Canada, born at Niagara Falls, who was the mother of our subject. Mr. Smith married June 30th, 1847, Mary Ann, a daughter of John and Mary (Leese) Havens, natives of New Jersey, but of Welsh descent. He has a family of three children, named Frederick R., John Havens and Mary Abbie, living, and four deceased. Mr. Smith's has been a varied and active life. Hte following are some of the positions he has held or is still holding: He has for the past thirty years been a school trustee, and is now chairman of the board for Port Colborne; was assessor of the township of Humberstone for two years; has been member of the council and reeve of the township, and whilst occupying the position of county councillor assisted in locating the county seat at the town of Welland; He has assited in taking the Dominion census; was made commissioner for taking affidavits in 1877; a notary public in 1883, and is issuer of marriage licenses. He is a charter member of Merritt Lodge, No. 168, A.F. & A.M., located at Welland; a charter member of Macnab Lodge, No. 169, A.F. & A.M., at Port Colborne ; a charter member of King Hiram, R. A. M., No. 57, instituted at Port Colborne, Ont.

GEORGE SMITH, The family of the late George Smith, of Humberstone, rank among that township's oldest and best known. They are of Alsatian descent. George Smith, grandfather of the present generation of this family, came to Buffalo with some fifteen other families from Alsace. The others remained in the States, but Mr. Smith disliked a republican form of government and came to Welland County, settling near Sherkston, previous to the Mackenzie rebellion, 1837. His son George inherited the homestead, added to its domain, was a man of liberal and progressive ideas, and a most respected and influential citizen of the county. He was on the commission of the peace, and for several years served as a member of the municipal council of Humberstone. He died in the fall of 1884, leaving two daughters and four sons living. The latter are George, FrederickC., and John J. Smith, farmers and Philip Smith, in the harness business at Stonebridge. Of these John J. Smith, though young in years, has already been appointed a justice of the peace, and is a member of the board of license commissioners for the county of Welland for the year 1887. This branch of the Smith family are Lutheran in religious belief, and Reformers in politics.

PETER STORM, of Humberstone, one of the leading stock raisers in the county, was born in the township in which he resides, in 1849. His father, George Storm, of German descent, was born in Pennsylvania, and with his widowed mother came to Canada about 1808, the family locating in Vaughan Township. When about 18 years of age, George Storm moved to Humberstone, subsequently marrying Eve, daughter of George Zavitz. He was succeeded on the homestead by the subject of this sketch, his youngest son, Peter Storm, who was married to a daughter of Jacob Stoner, of Dunn, in 1873, five children resulting from the union, named Rosetta Alice, Leslie Benjamin, Elra Edmon, Elsie Isabel, and Ida May. Mrs. Storm subsequently died, and on November 10th 1886, Mr Storm married Mariam, daughter of Menno S. Beam, Esq., of Black Creek. Mr. Storm has been a successful stockraiser and agriculturalist, of late devoting much attention to improved stock in horses, Holstein cattle and Oxford Down sheep. He has recently purchased the imported Cleveland bay coach stallion of the class introduced in this section. Mr. Storm's standing and services as an agriculturalist and stockraiser have been recognized by his election as vice-president of the Netherby Union Agricultural Society, and he was for some years treasurer of the County of Welland Horsebreeder's Association.

CHRISTIAN W. SCHROEDER was born in the township of Humberstone on the 4th of July, 1842. His father, Henry Schroeder, was a native of Prussia. His mother's maiden name was Dora Klepper. Our subject was brought up in his native township and learned the trade of shoemaking. He began business on his own account in Stonebridge village, and still resides there, carrying on business as a shoemaker. He has married four times. His first wife was Catharine Ulrich, who died March 16th, 1869, leaving one daughter, Dora Schroeder. He next married Julia Held of Rainham Township, Haldimand County, who died October 30th, 1882, leaving one daughter, Margaret, who was born April 21st, 1873. He next married Margaret Pfaender, the widow of the late Simon Smith. She died April 30, 1885. Mr. Schroeder was again married May 31st, 1887, to Miss Lydia Miller, of Crowland. He is a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church and is a Reformer in politics. In all his troubles he has always worked his way through without assistance except the help of the Lord in whom he ever places his trust.

GEORGE WHITEMAN, Stonebridge, was born in Alsace in 1813. He is the eldest son of John and Margaret (Krop) Whiteman. In 1832 he decided to emigrate to America, and walked 450 miles to Havre de Grace to board a ship for that purpose. After a trip lasting fourty-two days he arrived in this country, and spent one year in Humberstone, form whence he went to Waterloo, where he remained until 1838, when he went to New York to meet his father and mother, who came to this country at that date. They travelled from New York to Buffalo by canal boat, and came to Humberstone, where they bought the Jacob Neff farm. Thereon the parents resided until the time of their death. Our subject was married in 1841 to Elizabeth Smith. They had a family of four - one son and three daughters. The son John Whiteman, resides in Humberstone, on the old homestead. The daughters are Mrs. Johnson Schooley, Bertie ; Mrs. John Lampman, Humberstone ; Mrs John Haines, Victoria. Mrs. Whiteman died August 2nd, 1861, and Mr. Whiteman was married again in August 1864, to Lucy Michener, who was born in Humberstone, January 22nd, 1834 - a daughter of William Michener. There are no children by this marriage. Our subject sold his farm in 1883, and removed to the village of Stonebridge, where he is living a retired life. Mr. Whiteman is one whose life is an illustration of what may be accomplished in this country by industry and perseverance. The result of his activelige has been the accumulation of a large property, and this has all been accomplished on his own unaided exertions. He has started his son in life with one of the best farms in the township, worth about $11,000. He paid $4,000 for a farm which he gave to one of his daughters, and $5,900 for a farm for another daughter. A nice residence was given to another daughter, and Mr. Whiteman, besides other property still retains $14,000, the income from which permits him to live comfortably in his declining years.

GEORGE J. WEAVER, organ manufacturer, Humberstone, was born at Port Stanley, on the 12th September 1842. His father was Samuel Weaver. The parents were both native Canadians. The family removed to Humberstone when our subject was a child, and he has been a resident of the township ever since. When a young man he went to learn the printing trade of A. Dinsmore at Fonthill, but abandoned the work before completing his time. Most of his life he has been in business in Humberstone, where he has run a factory for the manufacture of shingles and the bending of wood. He started his organ factory in September, 1885. The instrument manufactured is known as the Weaver organ. Great pains are taken to turn out organs not only elegant in finish, but of rich tone. Mr. Weaver was married on the 15th of October, 1872, to Mary Jane Pope, daughter of William Pope, a native of England. They have a family of five children living. They attend the Methodist Church.