HISTORY OF BOWMANVILLE
Part 44
By Mr. J. B. Fairbairn, P. M.
When a good housewife decides upon baking a pan of buns she is especially careful not only to see that the ingredients entered into its composition are free from adulteration, but also good and wholesome and before they are taken out of the oven that they are properly baked and fit for use. When John Cawker stepped off the boat at Darlington harbor he carried in the family basket twelve well gotten up Devonshire dumplings in the shape of five sons and seven daughters. If he had no other possessions he would have been a proud man. His wife and they were a rich addition to the earning power of the township and as they were gradually assimilated and absorbed into and became a part of the working population they must have given great additional strength to the Ontario body politic. Fifty years has brought about in respect to the natural increase in birth of Canadians a markedly unfortunate change. It is a matter for the most serious consideration of all on this continent who desire
that the English speaking people should maintain a position of dominence. I am sure that if a census was correctly taken "covering the last fifteen years", it would be shown that an average of two children to a household would be the outside number, indeed, in numerous cases none. Some five years ago, I spent a month in one of the loveliest portions of western New York driving day by day through a country rich in every variety of natural scenery, agricultural resources, beautiful little lakes lying interspersed through nearly every county in the district. Village after village dotting over it in all directions. One would be inclined to say if there is a paradise on earth, it is this and yet the patriotism that should lead to pride of blood in descent from generation to generation has largely died out. Honeyjoe Falls which is one of the most attractive and picturesque among the many places of interest in the county, was my centre during my stay. My only living brother William has been a
denizen of that spot since near the close of the American war. We drove miles and miles in all directions. In passing farms that had been brought up to a high pitch of cultivation, many of them embellished with first class residences, surrounded with ornamental trees and well kept lawns showing the industry, care and well developed knowledge owned such. I would ask him, and he knew every foot of the ground, who were the fortunate people and the reply would be in the large majority of cases, "Oh, that was a man from the Eastern States who came here in the early part of the century. They have become extinct, no children to inherit." It had been bought up by some verile, vigorous German or by some other foreigner and so it was a constant repetition of the same story. It cannot be very long before the strain that came out with the Mayflower and which circulated widely and did so much to give intellectual strength all over the United States will have ceased to flow. I did not see a native born wom
an. I mean coming from the first New England stock. That would fell the idea of Shakespeare as he saw them in his time.
"For when would you my lord, or you, or you,
Have found the ground of study’s excellence
Without the beauty of a woman’s face?
From women’s eyes this doctrine I devise
They are the ground, the books, the academics,
From whence doth spring the true Promethian fire."
I fear if the ones I saw were the best specimens of those to the manor born, the fire that they might kindle would be a very feeble flame. You can put it down in words that burn, that you cannot violate any natural law of God that should govern our lives without reaping the penalty and this they have done to the utmost extent. Ill health and premature decay has been the lot of a large majority of the feminine portion of the inhabitants of this fair region. The virus of this deadly race disease has spread over into Canada, if not stayed the same dire results will follow. The ultimate abyss is one into which one would scarcely dire to look. Our girls should be brought up to know that wifehood and motherhood are the two ideal states as ordained by the Almighty Creator and in which the highest, truest happiness can only be found. Is the reign of selfish indulgence and frivolous pleasures going to continue its baleful destructive power over such vast numbers of our fine Canadian women. L
et us hope not, even it is a despairing hope.
The Cawker’s were a good specimen of the burly English race which has made that country what she is. They spent the first day in their arrival at Mitchell’s tavern at the wharf. Mr. Roger Cole Sr., Bethesda, was an uncle and he soon arranged to take them out. Mr. Cawker must have been very impressed with the unbounded resources bestowed upon this country by "Ceres most bounteous lady,". Thy rich leas of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats and peas are unsurpassed. Truly a land flowing with milk and honey. He had been bred in the old-country to the trade of a butcher and soon afterwards moved into town and commenced operations in the same line. The first house they occupied has been the resting place of many celebrated individuals, that is the house at present owned by L. A. Tole. They arrived here in 1852. It was a very critical time for all persons then engaged in any kind of commercial pursuit. The extraordinary ideas that possessed nine tenth
s of the inhabitants as to the future of the town and country and which led so many into the most extravagant schemes for increasing their wealth by the purchase of land and lots, caught him also in its net. Among other foolish things tat he did was to buy town plots from James Mann upon which large payments were made. The investment proved a total loss as he had to abandon them and they went back to the original owner. This was a period in our history, too when everyone had unlimited credit and when the crisis came matters assuming a normal condition, he with many others lost hundreds of dollars in bad debts. I am not sure what year it was but time with the never failing scythe cut him down when indeed he could be badly spared. Then it was that the great business talent of Mrs. Cawker was brought out into active exercise. She was a remarkable woman. I have so often thought as my mind has been running over the past that the real heroines who have borne the burden and heat of the day have
dropped out of this sphere without the true merits being kept in remembrance. With the courage and faith of a martyr she put her shoulder to the wheel and determined to get the carriage out of the mire. Aided by her growing family she stuck right to it and had the satisfaction at last of unloading the vehicle of ounce of indebtedness and also had the gratification of seeing her sturdy lads spreading into the world as sober, steady citizens.
John, Samuel, and Emanuel left for other parts of the province. Charles and Roger cast in their lot with the dwellers in Bowmanville. They all followed their father’s trade whch they thoroughly understood.
Roger, who passed away a few years ago had by prudent forethought and the energetic pursuit of the business laid up a goodly store of earthly possessions and left his family in easy circumstance. Mrs. Cawker was a daughter of the late Daniel Gilbert, Senior. He will be recalled by some of my older readers as a skillful mechanic both quiet and upright, did his duty both to his family and the state. His two sons, Daniel and Harry, were long connected with the Dominion Organ & Piano Company. They migrated into larger centres and are doing well.
Charles M. Cawker, who is widely known in West Durham is careful, scrupulously honest in his dealings, prompt in his transactions with a never failing spirit of kindness and good humor that follows as night does the day. His popularity is widespread and reaches the mass. He is not limited in his sympathies. His efforts to help every good undertaking entered into on the part of his fellows that is calculated to do them good for both worlds finds in him a loyal supporter. He is one of the pillars of the Methodist church and as a High School Trustee is always at the post of service, never shirking any responsibility. With a clear, well-balanced mind his aid in the working out the details of our school system is invaluable. Neither he nor I have any sympathy with those who like the honor of holding office but are not willing to sacrifice the time necessary in meeting its requirements.
Of the seven daughters who accompanied them from the old land, two only remained – permanently identified with Bowmanville, Mrs. Chas. Young, she was a true help mate in every department of domestic life. She heroically helped her husband on the highway to prosperity, but as they reached the higher pinnacle towards which they aimed, she got the summons of promotion to the better land. Mrs. Stephen Wright is still usefully employed in her household, a mother in Israel. Ada married Mr. E. Dunstan who fifty years ago was a dweller in this land of light and liberty. He was extensively engaged in some mercantile pursuit in Essex Centre. He is now living in Winona, Mississippi, running a large saw mill. His son-in-law, a. Eudy, is Chancery Clerk, an office worth $2500. Per annum. Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Cawker and Addie spent part of last winter in that more genial climate enjoying the hospitality of their relatives there. C. M. has not la
bored in vain. He has gathered in a fair show of material things which he has stored up for future use. Long may he live to enjoy it.
Next - Bowmanville and Darlington History Part 45
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