Page 210 [210]
wie, 4
t
ait ena ES VÁS E
ain
built a log canoe and with his little family departed
one night down the Missouri River, for St. Louis, a
distance of three hundred and fifty miles, which
place he reached in safety. From that point he pro¬
ceeded to his old home at Portland, having been
absent one year, during which time he had travelled
several thousand miles. It is but justice to the
Mormon emigrants to state that at that time
polygamy had not been adopted as a part of the
creed of the Latter Day Saints.
The following account is given as to the peculiar
name which the Township received. Some time
after the settlement commenced a notice was
received from the Government that it was neces¬
sary to give the municipality a name. Elder
Stevens, Sr., was appointed a delegate to proceed
to Toronto and suggest a name, the understanding
being that it would be Stevenstown. When the
Elder arrived at the Crown Lands Office, the clerks
were busily engaged in naming townships, following,
interested parties. Coming to Bastard, there was a
pause and a slight discussion. Elder Stevens was
appealed to, and from modesty hesitated in giving
Stevenstown, saying “that he did not know what to
call it :" when one of the clerks remarked that, “as
‘+ has no father, it must be a bastard township.”
The result was that it was set down on the map as
Bastard.
We do not vouch for the truth of the story, but
have related it as received from an old settler.
Among the active business men of the northern
portion of the Township is 5. S. Scovil, a gentleman
who for a great number of years has represented the
municipality in the Counties’ Council.
CHAPTER XXXII.
NEWBORO’.
WHEN the construction of the Rideau Canal com¬
menced, it was found necessary to cut a canal
through a narrow neck of land known as the
Isthmus, which separated the waters of the Rideau
from Mud Lake. The work was a rock cutting of
considerable magnitude, and its execution brought
together a large number of laborers, and eventually
gave rise to the present village. The Isthmus is the
height of land on the Rideau Canal, the water from
that point descending to Kingston in one direction,
and to Ottawa in the other.
In 1876, the viilage had grown to such a size that
it was incorporated, Wesley Preston becoming the
first Reeve.
The following is a summary of the assessment for
the the year 1877 :—
Number of persons assessed, 114.
Number of acres assessed, 802.
Number of acres cleared, 650.
Value of real property, $59,030,
Value of taxable income, $400.
Value of personal property, $5,350.
Amount of real and personal property, $64,530.
Taxes imposed by Municipality, $367.
Taxes imposed by Counties, $108.
The first house was built by David Stevens. Mr.
Denny, father of the late James Denny, of Bastard,
kept the first store. Colonel Kilborn erected the
mills owned by the late John Chaffey; about two
years after, Benjamin Tett built the mills now
owned by his sons.
R. H. PRESTON, M.D., M. P P.
The subject of this sketch is the second son of the
late Anthony Preston, who emigrated from the
County of Mayo, Ireland, to Canada in 1823, settling
in New Boyne, Township of Bastard. His mother
was Margery, daughter of the late John Layng,
of Bastard. Dr. Preston was born .in 1840,
and obtained his educational training at the
Public Schools, the High School at Smiths Falls,
and the University of Michigan. In 1860, he
commenced the study of his profession, gradu¬
ating in 1864, receiving the degree of M. D.
from the University of Queen’s College, Kingston.
In the same year he settled in Newboro, where he
has since resided. In 1867, he was appointed an
Associate Coroner of the United Counties of Leeds
and Grenville. In 1868, he married a daughter of
the late Benjamin Tett. At the last general election
for the Legislative Assembly, he was selected as a
candidate by the Liberal Conservative party for
South Leeds, and elected. As a member of the
House he has given the Opposition a cordial
support.
J. A. SHAVER.
Daniel Shaver was born in Matilda, in March,
1807. In 1829, he married Margaret, daughter of
Peter Dilabough, and in a few years removed to the
Township of Winchester, from thence to Finch, and
finally returned to Matilda. He died in 1874, leaving
a family of six sons and four daughters. aa ső
J. A. Shaver, second son of Daniel Shaver, was
born May 28th, 1833, in Matilda. He married,
May 29th, 1855, Mary, daughter of the late Edward
Morin, of South Gower. In 1855, Mr. Shaver
removed to Newboro’, where he commenced the
carriage business, with a very limited capital. His