Bowmanville and Darlington History

HISTORY OF BOWMANVILLE

Part 47

By Mr. J. B. Fairbairn, P. M.

Although the Colvilles are not directly Bowmanvillians, still they have been so long and so closely identified with the trade of the place, I must refer to them no matter how shortly. First and foremost they were all without exception clever, intellectual people and had received in the Old Country a good sound training in English and some of them in the classics. Fine scholars, Robert Colville came to this country first in 18_8 and taught school at Shaw’s school house for one year. The other two brothers James and Alexander Colville followed him in 1886. For some years they farmed on a place belonging to one of the Wilsons, on the lake shore. After a time they bought lands in Clarke; Robert and Alexander on the fourth concession and James on the seventh. They had an aptitude for tilling the soil, prudent and energetic everything prospered. They acquired money with great rapidity and all died reputed to be among the most wealthy men in Clarke. They did not live as so many do, almost entirely to themselves. Notwithstanding that they were modest and cautious in their movements, all took more or less part in matters of a public nature. Strong Conservatives, they held a good position in the council of their party. Robert Colville on his party’s invitation once became a candidate for the Ontario Legislature but sustained defeat at the polls. They were just the right kind of men to aid in developing and building up this new country. Genial and most kindly, they made hosts of friends. Jas. married Miss Janet Smith. There were four sons and one daughter. Two of the former are medical men in active practice-James in Tupperville, Ontario, and Neil in Orono. The other two, William and Colin are farming on the original place. Miss Mary S. resides on the homestead with her mother.

Robert Colville married Miss Annie Mann, a sister of Mrs. Thos. Bingham, Bowmanville. They had no son but a bevy of eight fine-looking, clever daughters, four of whom are married and are shedding upon their various homes the sunlight of affection and care while the other four are living together in Orono. Alexander Colville united his fate with Miss Kate McNeil. They, too, were among the original Scottish pioneers. She is a sister of Mrs. Duncan McConnachie of Bowmanville.

Here is another family who have been and are closely related to Bowmanville. I regret that space wll not allow me to give them an extended notice much as I would desire to do.

Mr. Alexander Colville left two sons and three daughters. Of the former, Alexander resides with his mother and Miss Mary in this town, and William on the homestead in Clarke. The other two, one is the wife to Mr. Geo. Pollard, Clarke, and the other Mr. Thos. W. Underwood, now living in Markham.

I feel that I cannot avoid recalling another lot who were among the very early Scottish emigrants, hailing also from the highlands. Neil Smith took _____ north on the Darlington side of the boundary line and there the family was raised an I am glad to say three of the boys have continued o reside in the old neighborhood. Some two years ago, Miss Smith and Mr. James Smith retired, and are spending their time in Bowmanville living on Liberty street where Mr. Thomas Burden lived for so many years. The other two daughters are Mrs. J. F. MacDonald just east of the town and Mrs. Neil McDonald, Bowmanville. Hugh Smith, a brother of Neil’s, took up land near George A. Stephens’ mill and of all his children there is left only Mrs. William McDonald, Liberty Street. She is a good sample of the original stock.

I am a firm believer in the transmission from one generation to another of the qualities both of mind and body. Some are inclined to scoff at this proposition but my experience leads to a decided conviction that no greater gift can be bestowed upon any people than that of an unblemished ancestry and nothing should be more highly prized by those who are fortunate enough to have inherited a good strain of blood. It is a law of nature that like begets like. Those I have been discussing, the Smiths and others, had a good record behind them, coming from those who feared God and honored the King. Their lives in Darlington will again go down the stream with the same untarnished history. This was the kind of emigration that has told so powerfully on the well being of Darlington. They were and are sober, industrious, honest and progressive citizens.

Next - Bowmanville and Darlington History Part 48

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