Stranica 134 [134]
OCR
Haskins was killed, while assisting in raising Merrick’s Mills. A child, the son of Jacob and Mary Vandusen, wandered into the woods, on the farm occupied by J. Louckes, and was never seen after, the only trace being the discovery of his little sunbonnet. A child, three years of age, the daughter night. The next morning, all Wolford turned out to search. The little wanderer was found by Asa arms of her mother. The first regular ordained minister to visit the Township was Jesse McIntyre, a Baptist. He preached occasionally, but never succeeded in organizing a congregation. Then came the Rev. William Brown, of the Methodist Church. The class which he organized consisted of some five or six persons, Mrs. Solomon Edmonds forming one of the number. The Wolford Chapel was commenced in 1820, Cox’ Chapel being built some time after by Mr. Cox, but deeded to the Methodists. Among the first itinerant ministers were Coates, Losee,and Dr. Bangs. They were followed by the venerable Case, Whitehead, Jeffers, and, in 1822, by the respected Healey. After the introduction of “fire water" among the When they resolved upon having a “spree,” they to one of the band, who would secret them; then would follow a general carouse. Generally speaking, the Indians were very kind to the whites; and, for several years, Colonel. Burritt, the first white child born on the Rideau, had only dusky little A GHOST STORY. At an early date there lived in the vicinity of Kilmarnock,.on the north side of the Rideau River, a man by the name of Croutch, who claimed to have the gift. of foresight. Many old and respected settlers believed implicitly that he received warnings in the settlement. According to the testimony of his wife, who bore the reputation of being a christian woman, Croutch would frequently retire to bed, where in vain would he seek slumber; restless and uneasy, he would toss from side to side, at times groaning and muttering names of thedeparted. Do what he would to shake off the mysterious spell, in the end he was compelled to submit. Rising, he would quickly dress himself, take his canoe and rites and ceremonies would be performed. Croutch having watched the ghostly mourners fade away would then return home, retire to rest and sink into a profound slumber. It was always withthe greatest her husband the name of the party, whose death had been heralded. It is related of the late Samuel Rose that upon one occasion he was in the company of Croutch, in crossing a common both saw a light Croutch exclaimed, Did you hear that cry? ‘No, replied Mr. Rose. Oh, said the fatalist, it was the cry of a child, the name of which he gave. Ina few days the child breathed its last. Upon another Mcintyre. Colonel Hurd, of Burritt’s Rapids, informs us that he knew Croutch and that far and wide he was. regarded with terror by the children, who had learned from their parents his supposed power of communing with the spirits of the departed. In 1806, Joseph Haskins, one of the wealthiest farmers in the Upper Settlement, erected a small mill on the farm now owned by Mr. Omstead, near the railway station. A few years after, a saw-mill They were the second grist and saw mills on the Rideau. ¢200 for constructing a bridge at Kilmarnock. The people came forward and subscribed in a liberal manner to the undertaking, which was completed by Ezekiel Rose and Charles Vandusen. Unfortunately, it was swept away the next spring. It is related, that, in the year 1804, the fever and attacked, was the Rev. William Brown. . On one service. The people assembled, when the minister was attacked with the ague. Feeling that he was not adequate for the performance of the duties which devolved upon him, he said that he would read a chapter and pray, and then dismiss the congregation. The service commenced, and before forgot all about the fever and ague, proceeding to preach one of the best sermons which he ever delivered. Strange to say, he was troubled no more during that season with the ague. The first blacksmith shop in the Upper Settlement was kept by a man named Samuel Dow, a monument to whose memory is now standing in the Wolford churchyard, and upon which it is stated that he was the first person buried there. The first tannery was at Easton’s Corners, Joseph Easton being the owner, The bark used in the tannery was ground by a backwoodsman’s inven
