Oldal 210 [210]
OCR
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 proceeded 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 necessary 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 commenced, 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, graduating 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
