HISTORY OF BOWMANVILLE
Part 26
By Mr. J. B. Fairbairn, P. M.
Two men among the pioneers came from England about 1835 and settled in this (the then) little but rising hamlet. Coming to this land of promise, looking out to better their circumstances, bot of them knew that man was made to toil, having learned this hard gnarled fact in the school of experience, working by the day to obtain an honest livlihood. They were James and Richard Tilley. One son in each family had the desire and resolute will to raise themselves into the front rank in some part of the country’s work, leaving the world better for their having lived in it. By severe study and perseverance they reached their high aims and for years have been doing good service in the great Educational interests of Ontario. Mr. John J. Tilley is Provincial Inspector of Model Schools, residing in Toronto, holding an honored position among the first educationalists in that city. Mr. W. E. Tilley, M. A. Ph. D has been for many years Inspector of Public Schools for Durha
m County. His excellent efforts to aid and help the growing youths in our rural population with encouraging advice and counsel has made him recognized as a most useful employee of the counties’ Council with whom the appointment rests. He has three sons who have all taken prominent positions in their varied callings. – Dr. Albert S. Tilley, who has had the good taste and good sense to make this, his native burgh, his permanent home, where a large and growing practice bears testimony to his professional skill. Mr. William Norman Tilley, of the law firm, Thompson, Tilley & Johnston, Toronto, is a rising man. A fellow-practicioner at the Bar in that city has often told me that among the young barristers in practice, Mr. Tilley was sure to take a prominent place and this gentleman’s opinion is valuable on any question when he expresses it and the view he held is borne out by the increasing importance of his position in the noted firm of which he is a member. There are great possibilit
ies for him in the future. The last of the three, Herbert R. Tilley, is manager for the Confederation Life Insurance Company in Kingston, Jamaica, W. I.
Prospitious gales blew the Heals across the Atlantic good and early. They were also from the west of England. They made their debut here in 1832 and some one of the name has trod our streets and paid taxes here ever since, from the latter of which there is no earthly escape. Taxes here are taxes. I do not grumble about what the Irishman calls cess but the excess is what bothers me. We cannot have all the municipal luxuries without paying the piper and if they were only kept within proper bounds one would not care. I am not far astray in stating that if you take into consideration the high valuation placed on real estate, at twenty seven mills on the dollar, there is no place in Canada of equal size with a higher assessment. Have we had full value for all the large sums spent? This is a moot question. Well, I hope so, at any rate I am not going to write about municipal doings. The old gentleman, James Heal, senior, was in my boyhood one of the first men in the village
. There was no doubt as to his having had those two prime qualities of push and frugality. He was at one period, apart from what was owned by the late C. Bowman, the largest holder of town lots and was among the first who put up decent houses for renting purposes. They were of course frame structures. The remains of one which is a fair sample of the rest, is still standing as it was originally put up, on Church street near the Town Hall. Age has played havoc with it. Don’t judge by present appearance just remember when it came first into existence, it was a most desirable first class dwelling and many good tenants have lived under its roof. There were also some of them on King street, however Church street seemed his favorite locality and was dotted over with them. The family dwelling which is still a comfortable and respectable looking house, is now in the occupancy of Dr. Potter. As time revolved and brick came to be used, he put up among others. The Grand Central; at that time the w
ord Grand fairly applied to it. The old people descended from a much better grade than the usual emegre. I mean they were better educated and had been accustomed to better society than they found in their new forest home, for literally such it was. The late Colonel Cubitt used often to speak of it, as reaching over that portion of the village now intersected by Beech Avenue, a bear was shot there after he came to Darlington. Mrs. Heal’s bearing was such, she having that something about her not easily described, which bespoke the lady. I had a good deal to do with the senior Heal. He wanted all that wa coming to him, at the same time he did not ask a cent beyond it, strictly just and honest in his dealing. I took a lease from him of the premises now used by Mr. Fred J. Manning and was there for five years, moving in, in 1853. The rental was three hundred dollars per annum. This shows, judging from the revenue arising from it as an investment, that house property was more valuable
than it is to day. I think the present occupant must by this time have acquired a special affection for this particular spot, for during the time I was a tenant of Mr. Heal’s, his father and mother abode in a house adjoining it to the south and splendid neighbors they were; and I will wager a dime that whoever are fortunate enough to live near them, will receive the same considerate kindness at their hands as I did at the time. There were three sons in the household, Samuel, James, and John. They were widely different in their looks , character and disposition. In one thing they most cordially agreed, that was in their political faith, all being uncompromising Conservatives. It was at one of the elections for the local house when Mr. Reid of Clarke came off victorious that James actually wept for joy. Samuel is still living in one of the oldest if not the oldest resident of this favored place and at the age of 85 is taking daily his part I the duties of his position.
Few men have passed a long life time in the same place without running against some one who became antagonistic. I never heard his name unfavorably mentioned and never knew him mixed up with anything mean or unseemly. It can be said with all credibility, he is one of our citizens to whom can be applied the all embracing and comprehensive words, without guile. He has not passed through this vale of tears without his own share of trial. The first Mrs. Heal was a sister of the late George Haines, Esq.. After being many years a widower he married a daughter of the late Dr. Rose, of Newcastle, but fate again left him without that best companionship of all and recent years he has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Murdoff. Two of his sons are filling up the passing time being usefully engaged, Chas, followed in his father’s occupation, that of a builder and contractor, Fred is in the employ of F. A. Haddy. John differed as much from his brother Samuel as day is from night. He was a tailor by trade and had his shop and dwelling on the lot where the Big 20 now stands, and over which extensive business done there, Mr. Wesley Allin presides as the guardian spirit. If Wes would only bring another angel into service, as nice as the one he has, Miss Bella, they would be a trio hard to match for any kind of business. It stood quite a distance off the street a single plank walk leading to the door. At the gate stood a post on the top of which was a sign bearing the quaint legend on it. Tailor from London. We young fry looked upon that place as almost fabulous and anyone coming from such a wonderland could make garments fit for royalty. I think he had sporting tendencies. I know he had a fighting canine. If you doubt this ask Malcolm McTavish, I always fall back on him when I get stuck in stories of the older time. I do not know if Malcolm was innocent or not, for like most of us he was no saint; someway he aroused th
e ire of the enemy and ran with all his might to get out of danger but he failed to reach a place of safety and neither you nor I gentle reader, if there be such, ever saw a more dreadful wound from such a cause. It was a long time before the Master was able to play foot ball or any similar game. His brother, Captain Hugh McTavish, was here on a visit. The stalwart got his Highland blood aroused and the doggoned dog paid the penalty. I am rambling somewhat. He eventually caught the British Columbia fever and went to that then remote part of the Dominion. Mr. Thos. Hoar, the wandering pilgrim, keeps a close track of the Bowmanville crowd who have scattered over creation, tells me that he had acquired a competency during his life. Let me here mention a little thing but worth while relating. He was once, during the day time while out in his yard attacked by a huge rat and badly bitten. Now for James, the celebrity of them all. As a young man he was chock full of mischief, a ready h
ead centre when any kind of deviltry was to be carried out. He was a ringleader in the charivarng which so largely prevailed at that lawless period. It was largely through an escapade of his that this wretched custom was broken up.
Next - Bowmanville and Darlington History Part 27
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