Page 76 [76]
62 ha
About the year 1800, a company was formed and a
furnace built forthe manufacture of iron at Furnace
Falls, (Lyndhurst). This was probably the first iron
furnace set up in the Province. It was an old¬
fashioned “ Blast Furnace,” in connection with which
there was a “forge” for the manufacture of bar
The ore was of inferior quality and had to be
drawn a considerable distance, consequently the en¬
terprise was not a financial success, being abandoned
after two years trial.
made to cast hollow ware for the use of the settlers,
including pots and kettles, but proved a complete
failure.
Soon after a grist mill was built in the Township
of Bastard, at a place called Beverly, (Delta), which
proved of incalculable benefit to the early settlers
and put an end to the use of “stump mills.”
iron.
At one time an attempt was
At that time there were about seven families
between what is now Lyndhurst and Seeley’s Bay ;
then unbroken woods for 18 miles to Kingston Mills.
Mr. Sliter’s opportunities for obtaining an edu¬
He did
not attend school until after he was fifteen years of
age, and then only ove month, to learn to write.
cation were of the most meagre character.
No regular school was held. Those anxious to learn
met at the settler’s cabins in the evening, selected
the best qualified as teacher and proceeded to
business. Mr. Sliter says: “We all learned some¬
thing, “where there’s a will there’s a way.”
“In 1803, I went to Gananoque with my father.
At that time there were three houses in the village.
In 1809, more settlers arrived and the county roads
were somewhat improved.”
We give the following in the words of Mr. Sliter :
" The implements used in those days would astonish
our present farmers. The bull-plough, heavy grub
hoe, flail and hand fan, were in constant use. The
absence of schools and religious services of any kind
led to a non-observence of the Sabbath day, which
. Was increased by the iron furnaces, having of
neceessity to be kept going on Sunday, as well as any
other day. In fact, the fire was only extinguished
four times during the year.
Lumbering was carried on extensively, the outlet
being the Gananoque River ; the principal business
men engaged were the McDonald’s of Gananoque.
Trapping in the spring and fall was quite remune¬
rative ; large numbers of fishers, muskrat, otter
and pine martin were secured. The deer were very
plentiful, and not only furnished food but also
clothing for the new settlers. Dresses made from
deer skin were quite common and presented a neat
appearance, when dyed blue from the bark of the
soft maple.
I well remember making my harness from bark,
A eT a gee ee eee all bee ‘
. dts eb ye Se sa
peeled from a hickory tree. The first wheeled con¬
veyance in the Township was made by taking a
narrow cut, off the end of a large log, thus forming
the wheels. Manufactured articles could not be ob¬
were as follows : Cotton, 4oc. per yard ; prints, from
60 to 7oc. ; nails, 25c. per Ib.
For a long time money was very scarce, but with
the war of 1812, came a large expenditure of English
coin. Prices immediately advanced ; oxen brought
$150; cows, $40; flour, $20 per bbl. : pork, $40 per
bbl. ; salt was at one time very scarce and sold as
high as $50 per bbl. I have seen it retailed at 50c.
per quart,
In September, 1812, I joined a rifle company
and entered upon duty at Gananoque. While in
charge of the Block House, at that place, I learned
the multiplication table. As no slates were to be
had, my companion and myself obtained some
chalk, and by using the top of the stove asa slate,
succeeded in mastering the simple-rules of arith¬
metic,
In 1813, my father hired as a substitute in the
Flank Company of Fitzgibbon at Prescott, for six
months, receiving for his pay $100 and the govern¬
ment allowance. He was placed in the Engineering
Department, and complaining of the number of
canteens too near the works, was ordered by the
commander to clear the ground for a certain dis¬
tance. For many years after the vacant Space was
known in Prescott as “Sliter’s Plot.” On his return
he built a bridge at Lyndhurst. He next rented a
saw mill, which had been erected at Marble Rock,
and engaged in speculations in which he lost his
property.”
CHURCHES.
Trinity CHURCH, LANSDOWNE, ANGLICAN,
This church was built by subscription, in 1848:
has real estate attached to the extent of three acres.
Average congregation, 100. Officiating clergyman,
the Rev. Mr. Osborne.
SAINT JoHN’s CHURCH, LEEDS, ANGLICAN,
Built by subscription, in 1849 and 1850, chiefly
through the exertion of the late Edward Green,
Esq. Subsequently, Mrs. Green (relict of Mr. Green)
bequeathed to the church fifty acres of valuable
land, which has since been sold, realizing a hand¬
some sum. Average attendance, 120.
THE ENGLISH CHURCH, SEELEY’s Bay.
This church was built by subscription, the Rev.
A. H. Coleman being the principal promoter of the
undertaking. Opened for Divine service, Sunday,
April 27th, 1878. The edifice is substantial and