HISTORY OF BOWMANVILLE
Part 40
By Mr. J. B. Fairbairn, P. M.
Richard Allin, senior, came to Darlington in 1843. He was a typical Devonshire emigrant, strong of limb and robust mentally, having been reared as so of his fellow country men were in the hard school of comparative poverty. He was a strict economist and made everything te_ for the acquirement of that independence which a one can come from the possession of money. He bought two hundred acres of lot1, Con. 3. It was at the time an unbroken wood lot only a small acreage having been cleared, but his boys and he went at the hard contract that lay before them cheered by the hope of soon having cleared fields to cultivate and the old gentleman lived to see his hopes realized an many a harvest he reaped from them. Mrs. Allin was a Miss Brimacombe. They united their fates in England. She was one of the kind of true women who did so much for their families in the early days. She was tall, indeed stately, having great powers of endurance and was influential in the neighbo
rhood as well as in her own family. They had six sons and they all followed their father’s occupation excepting Charles who carried on undertaking and cabinet making in Newcastle. Three of them are still living. John resides in East Whitby. He has given up the cares of husbandry as his pockets are well fixed. Samuel is on the old Burk farm near the lake shore. Samuel Allin is one of our most propserous and progressive farmers and breeders. By patient industry good management and upright dealing with is fellow men, he has gotten a wide and good reputation. By great attention to it he has become a leading breeder of Short Horn or Durham cattle. He owns seven hundred acres, composed of the finest lands in the county. Unpretentious thoughtful and kindly he is much respected by his fellow citizens. Mrs. Allin was a daughter of the late Mr. Elford a family who were deservedly held in high estimation for their many excellent qualities. They were among the very fi
rst who came into that neighbourhood. They made an impression not easily eradicated from it. The old lady was noted for her unfailing sympathy and kindness to all who needed help, a good nurse in sickness, her services were in constant demand and were never grudgingly given. The family came out of their pioneer struggles with the wilderness with flying colours. William moved to the western port of the township owning there two hundred acres. He died soe years ago at Hampton highly respected. John inherited the home property working it with skill. Unfortunately he took cold and was carried off with Pneumonia. Mrs. Elfordhas managed the place since her husband ‘s death with admirable judgement and has given her family good opportunities to push their way in the struggle that they must face in the future. One of the daughters married the late Matthew Joness, Esq.. She was a woman who would be noted as superior in any society in which she might be placed.
Returning to Samuel Allin, seven sons and one daughter have grown up under the parental roof, five of whom are sticking to their father’s calling. The other two, Drs. Edgar W. and Norman Allin are medical doctors both at present in England. I am sure when the old gentleman looks over his smiling fields comprising so many broad acres of rich fertile land, the comfortable steadings that are on the different sections of it, no doubt he thinks there are worse callings to follow in life than that of farming. I hope he may long be spared to enjoy it all.
Mr. Thos. Allin, the father of Miss E. A. Allin, M.A., who so efficiently fills the position of teacher of modern languages in the High School here, is also a well to do farmer residing near Greenbank, county of Ontario.
The only living daughter of the original family (Rd Allin, Sr.,) married Mr. Richard Foster who has retired with an ample fortune and is living on the old Senator Simpson homestead on the Kingston Road East. I have not space to go at greater length into the fortunes of the others of this branch of the Allin connection.
John Bragg also came for Devon and took up his abode on the lot adjoining lot 2, con. 3, Darlington. It was mainly covered with the native timber and he had the same experience to undergo in getting it in a fit state for cultivation. Like the vast majority who came from Devon county, he was made of the right material and year by year he gained on the forest and was able to crop a larger acreage until he had the largest part of it in a tillable condition. As I recollect him, he was a close, hard grained Englishman having good common sense and got on well in worldly matters. Of the four sons born to them, the eldest, Thomas, was for some time on a farm east of Orono. He afterwards rented the farm belonging to Mr. W. F. Allen J. P., on the lake shore in Clarke. He had inherited the thrift and energy of his father adding dollar to dollar during his tenancy of that prolific farm. He finally left it having bought the magnificent farm formerly belonging to the Shaw’s
and which is now owned by his son, Mr. W. S. Bragg. Thomas Bragg married the eldest daughter of Richard Allin referred to. This proved a fortunate conjunction of stars. The result of this alliance was six sons. This united with their success in life cannot be paralelled in the township. They are all well-to do farmers having any amount of vitality and business ability; wise citizens, making the best of both worlds. Should the next generations be as prolific they will have, like the bees to go out from the original hive and gather honey from other flowers. One good thing ahead of our young farmers is that plenty of good land can be found both in new Ontario and the Northwest. The names are Samuel, the eldest, Richard A. Thomas C, Jabez, Frank L. (whose recent death was so much felt in this neighborhood) and W. S. already referred to. John married into the Frank family, they belong among the first settlers. He followed the others and after remainin
g a number of years in Darlington, he removed to the township of Walpole, becoming the owner of two hundred and forty acres. Dying in 1883 he left a fine estate behind him. William moved to near St. Mary’s. Richard whose first wife was a sister of Mr. Richard Osborne of the town line of Clarke, after years of a pushing well-spent life on the farm retired and moved into Bowmanville in 1884. His son, W. J. Bragg resides on and owns the homestead. This gentle man has taken his share of the duties and responsibilities of work outside of his own immediate occupation. He represents the interest of his township in the Counties Council and has also gone rather extensively into the apple trade. He stands high in the estimation of those who have to do with him in public and business matters. The youngest son, Mr. Thos. G. Bragg, B.A., graduated from Bowmanville High School and the University of Toronto with the highest honors. He is at present Superintendent of Schools in the
Yukon.
Referring to his recent appointment, the Yukon World says: Mr. Bragg came here to be principal of the Dawson schools in 1903, and in that position has won the warm commendation of parents and all those interested in education. He is now thoroughly acquainted with conditions in the Territory, and therefore a better selection could not possible have been made. Prior to his coming to Dawson he had had six years experience as Mathematical master of Bowmanville High School, and brought high commendations from the Board of Education.
He was born in West Durham, Ont., educated at the Public and High Schools of Bowmanville and matriculated in 1892 into Toronto University with first class honors in classics, modern languages, history and geography, winning three scholarships.
At the University he won first class honors in classics in each of the four years, and was head in the department of modern languages the two first years winning the George Brown scholarship and the Governor General’s medal for proficiency in the two honor departments.
Another neighbor also connected with the Bragg’s was Richard Smale. He was a Cornish man, leaving England at an earlier date than the others named, coming out in a sailing vessel taking nine weeks to make the voyage. He landed in Quebec and found his way westward disembarking at Cobourg. This took two weeks more time, rather a hard experience, nearly three months on the way. He remained in that neighborhood four years. He then removed to Providence, Darlington, taking up lot 8, con.8.. this too was as it came from the hand of nature and they, like all the others who cleared the forest, had years of incessant toil to bring about the great change which took place, resulting in the smiling fields, into which it was converted. Truly and literally the bread was brought out of the earth by sweat of their brows. Mr. Smale did a great deal to help on the cause of religion during his residence out there. Identified with the Methodist body, both he and his wife proclaime
d the truth as they understood it, preaching often in various parts of Darlington, and this was a time when those inspired by the Master and having the necessary gifts were not as plentiful as they may be today. It can be inferred from this that he had a superior mind and his education beyond that enjoyed by most people at that time. He died at 61 years of age in 1867. Of two of his sons I can write with personal knowledge. One left the farm, taught school for a time, making this a stepping stone to walk onward to the medical profession. After he attained his M. D. he went west and for years had an extensive business. I believe he stood high as a practitioner and made money at it, but the hard life incident to it, made it dearly earned. He died in 1905 leaving a good name behind him. Thomas the one with which I am immediately concerned remained on the premises his father left and he I know well. For many years, he took first place in the municipal affairs of the township. Over and again ta
king his place (which was a prominent one) at the County’s Council, Cobourg. He was fairly entitled to the wardes-ship, both from his intimate knowledge of municipal law and procedure as well as the unremitting attention he gave the duties of the position; but sectional jealousy prevented his election. I had something to do with him in connection with the High School, there being questions of finance to settle between the Board and Counties’ Council. I invariably found him not only just but generous. I would say here that differing in this from many of the farmers, he has taken deep interest in higher education, giving his family every advantage that he could, and this must have on their future history a beneficent influence. I am pleased to know that one son remains with his father, so there is hope that the name and strain will be a future inheritance of that part of the township. Mr. Thos. Smale has been a great reader and has a well stored mind. Coming in contact with him a great deal in my
official position, I have learned his worth and number him among my special friends.
Another connection in this neighborhood are the Wights. They originated in one of the border counties, could claim to be either Scotch or English as it suited the whim of the passing moment. There were two brothers and they must have been among the very earliest who made Darlington their objective point. John was bred to banking in the old land, was a good scholar and good penman. His particular hobby was arithmetic. It was hard to puzzle him in figures, no matter how hard the question might e. I do not recall much about their father, but recall that the family were Presbyterians and worshipped in the first church we had. The old gentleman would at times lead the singing for the congregation. The son John took up farming and lived on the place they bought, up to the time of his death. He accumulated means and put up a brick house. The one at present owned by a daughter, Mrs. Amassa Fuller. Of the sons, William became a farmer, went west, bought
lands and has retired with a full purse. Peter, I believe also followed suit, I do not know where he located. The other son William Wight, senior, lived adjoining south of the old homestead. He remained unmarried till late in life, but when he did undertake matrimony he got an excellent wife, she was a Miss Sanguin, and the result of the marriage was five vigorous sons and I think, three daughters. The boys have stuck to the land and are among our best West Durham citizens. Alexander has in late years given a good deal of his time and attention for the well-being of his native township and is at present one of the Township Councilors. Joseph is also one of our best and most wide awake Darlington farmers; a credit to his parentage, indeed they are all of them. William A. lives at Tryone. I do not know whether farming or not. Richard went to St. Mary’s where he has done well at agriculture.
So much of success depends in this as in every other pursuit, on the female side of the question, that I feel impelled to mention the daughters of this home. Excellent among women, they have excelled. Mrs. John D. Hoar, the late Mrs. Richard A. Bragg and Mrs. Thos. R. Hoar of Bethesda are well worthy of being mentioned in any record that may be written showing the progress and advancement of the Darlington families.
Next - Bowmanville and Darlington History Part 41
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