HISTORY OF BOWMANVILLE
Part 8
By Mr. J. B. Fairbairn, P. M.
Another turn of the kaleidoscope, and John Smart comes into view. He moved to the farm at Port Darlington upon which he lived for so long, at a very early date. John Osborne is its present happy possessor and he has made a fortune by his skillful management. It was soon after Mr. Smart's arrival from Scotland, that he commenced operations on this, one of the richest farms in the township.
It must have been partly cleared at the time, as the Wilsons, from whom he bough, were in the country years before. They owned several hundreds of acres in that neighborhood, and it is not unlikely that this portion of the property lying so near the lake, was the part on which some of them were living. As time progressed and the natural quality of the soil deteriorated, the land required enriching to keep up its productiveness. He adopted all the better systems then in vogue, to accomplish this end. He was an architect by profession, having studied in Scotland. It shows the versatility of his make-up, that he could adapt himself so readily to changed circumstances and become as he did, a successful cultivator of the soil. He was the first man to introduce tile draining, and thousands of yards were put in the fields that needed it most. The tiles were made on the farm. As so often happens, what one man sows another reaps. The present proprietor is getting in an abundant harvest, the result of the intelligent labors of his predecessor. He had a very uneven temper. When the optimistic fit took him, he saw everything with a golden tint: there was no cloud in his sky; then the wheels had to hum! He spent a very large amount of money in all kinds of operations - ditching, fencing and draining. There was quite an army of men employed a great portion of the time. When the grim monster overtook him, he was much missed as many a family depended on him for their daily bread. He had also a farm in Clarke, of which he took the direct management, carrying out the same kind of improvements there. For the part he took in helping on the development of the section in which he had cast his lot, he deserves remembrance. He greatly aided in the construction of the first Presbyterian Church. He drew the plans and gave a good deal of his personal attention to it while it was being erected. My father went down to see him shortly after he came and took me with him. We went by a track through the bush, on the western side of the creek. There was a man living on the side of the marsh, in a log hut. We borrowed a punt from him to row across. It was a beautiful day in early summer and, although only eight years old, I was quite enchanted. - The placid little sheet of water completely hemmed in by a wall of living green; trees of every description native to the soil, small and great, growing on the banks so near the water that every stem, branch and leaf was reflected as in a mirror. It was indeed one of nature's sylvan pictures, beyond the power of pen or pencil to describe! All the other circumstances of the visit have passed from my mind. Why we took the western side of the creek, I do not know. It may have been the shortest route.
At a point called The Indian Landing, somewhere not far south of the railway track, one of the most distressing accidents that ever occurred in this section of the country took place. Some 13 persons were drowned by the upsetting of the frail kind of boat they were using. The bodies were all found. My knowledge of it is only from tradition. It is a pity that particulars of the awful accident cannot be obtained, but I do not suppose hat any one living now could give the information. It happened on a Sunday, one can easily imagine what terrible excitement must have been caused in the sparsely settled district by such and awful calamity.
In those times, as soon after the rebellion, quite a patriotic spirit prevailed among the inhabitants, and training day, the 6th of June, became a prominent yearly event, Our friend, Mr. Smart, held a Captaincy in the Militia force and was always on hand to take part in the performance of the day. "Like the laird of Cockpen he was both buskit and braw" The uniform of the officers was a blue coat with brass buttons, white trousers, large shoulder epaulettes, sword and belt, and a cap with the letter B R. in front. When the captain was fully equipped and ready for the fray, he presented quite a military appearance. They suffered very much from the fever and ague. There was a small outlet to the marsh, and it was only after the sand bar was removed, giving the water free access to the lake, that they overcame the malaria. Mr. Smart's death was one of the unaccountable things. The accident occurred at the railway crossing, a place that he had passed hundreds of times in safety. His grand daughter, a daughter of Mr. George, was there on a visit. She was a lovely girl, just budding into womanhood and with little thought of the dreadful fate so soon to overtake her, she left the house with him for Clarke. They were smashed into by a train and both were killed. Two of his sons, John and David became residents of Port Hope, and George eventually resided in Lindsay. I am told and if it is true I do no think anything of a similar kind has ever occurred that no less than four of his children were killed in rail way accidents.
It was a far cry in 1800 from the rugged highlands of Scotland to the wilds of Canada, but somehow the late Alexander Fletcher bridged the gulf and dropped down on his part and not only on it but on portions of the lots 9 and 10 as well upon which the east and south parts of the town was built. How he obtained so much land I do not know. It was not confined to this township for he had large holdings in other parts of the province.
The probability is that it was granted by the crown for some sort of service rendered. However, he may have acquired it by purchase, - land was a very cheap article in those days. He was one of the very few residents along the Kingston road at the time of the American war of 1812. I have been told that during that unwise and uncalled for strife he managed to run up a lot of log buildings and munitions of war were stored there in transit to York, having been brought this far in batteaux. Why they were kept here is not so easily understood, unless for safety, with the intention of sending them on to head quarters when wanted. He was a Justice of the Peace and married many of those who sought to enter the state of matrimony. As no clergyman could be had, it was the dernier ressort. He erected the first brick dwelling in Darlington on an eligible site. He had an eye for the picturesque. Any one visiting he present dwelling of our long and widely known barrister, R. R. Loscombe, Esq., will agree with me not only in the opinion that it was a most desirable location but that he succeeded in putting up a structure that will last for a long time to come. The bricks are much smaller than those manufactured at present and were made on the spot. It took the proceeds arising from a thousand acres to pay the cost. The land sold was part of the town of Peterboro, or very near it. His sons, Drummond and Archibald, grew to manhood here. The former published a newspaper. After leaving the Methodist ministry he was for some time missionary to the Indians on their reserve at Scugog Lake. He died in Bowmanville. Archibald was very easy going indeed, and soon got rid of his share of the property and went west. I never knew the brother who secured his portion lying on the south side of King Street. The father was highly connected in the old country being related to some of the leading families. The historic names of Gordon and Drummond were either among the patronymies of his forebears or belonged to them by marriage. His wife was a woman of Dutch descent whom he met in this country. By the way, another son John inherited the part of the property lying east on the Kingston road. Of all the wide domain acquired by the original Fletcher not a particle belongs to any of the name today, saving a small portion which my old school-fellow, Gordon has acquired by hard labor and careful living in the south ward. Sic transit gloria mundi.
John McMurtry and McClellan are the two names that for the last 80 years have been as familiar as household words. Members of both families are still in active business life. The grandfather of Mr. John McMurtry followed the western star and arrived here in 1824 or 25. His occupation was that of a miller. The care of the mill fell into his hands. How long he filled the bill I do not know. He had quite a number of sons and daughters, Mr. William showed a preference for indoor life, and in his early manhood commenced a small business in a frame building on the site of the present Bennett house. Quiet unassuming self-reliant and persevering, he was bound to succeed. My personal recollection of him goes a good way back. In the forties he built a store and dwelling immediately west of us where Mr. Willams' blacksmith shop now stands. The business increased year by year and he remained there until the disastrous fire of 1845 cleaned it out. He then moved across the street and got larger premises, continuing in the active management of it till within a short time of his death. I am glad to say his eldest son, John, and grandsons are still at it, rolling out the goods and heaping up the surplus. May the next hundred years still see some of the same stock and same blood at the same old stand. I can say with all truthfulness of Mr. McMurtry, Sr. that he was a consistent worker in many a good cause. Whatever stand he took on any question he would always be found steadfast and reliable. He had no ambition for public life and although he was once induced to take a seat at the council board he did not seek re-election. He was also for a long time a director of the Ontario Bank. Mrs. McMurtry is still living, one of the very oldest of the pioneers. It seems the destiny of the young people born in these smaller towns to leave them. Few become permanent citizens. Of the other sons, Samuel Arthur is in Montreal where he fills and important position in the business world. William James of Toronto is Secretary-Treasurer of the great Insurance organization connected with the Foresters. When the Riel rebellion broke out in the north west and the government called for volunteers, he was among the gallant young fellows who offered their services to the country. He went with his brigade under Wolseley to Winnipeg, braving the hardships of that severe campaign in which they had over a thousand miles of forest and broken water stretches to pass. Before severing his connection with the active force he held the commission of major in it, which rank he still retains. Judging from appearances he looks physically able to renew the experience should the necessity again arise. He holds his own well in the fight with time. Herbert the youngest is in business in Oshawa.
Next - Bowmanville and Darlington History Part 9
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