HISTORY OF BOWMANVILLE
Part 9
By Mr. J. B. Fairbairn, P. M.
Mr. James McClellan, sr., must have been a citizen of the burg somewhere in the twenties. I remember when he was in Mr. Brownman's employ. He was for many years head distiller, and one of the most quiet, honest, conscientious men that could be found. He was a staunch Presbyterian from the north of Ireland and had been well instructed in that faith. He became convinced, after careful consideration, that the liquor traffic was bound to bring untold evil on the community. On reaching that conclusion he could no longer continue making the distilled poison. He was earnestly solicited by his employer to continue, but no monetary consideration could induce him to do violence to his sense of duty. He left, and bought a farm on the second concession (now owned by H. B. Foster) and for some time he tilled the soil.
The Port Darlington Harbor Co., of which Senator Simpson was President, wanted a wharfinger and made it worth his while to move there. After useful service in that capacity, he was appointed surveyor of H. M. Customs , which office he filled for a long time. By his firm, intelligent and honest discharge of its duties he earned the lasting respect of the business men of Bowmanville. He was retired on an allowance and lived to a ripe old age. I may give expression to the same wish on behalf of his son and grandson as I did to McMurtry's , that they too may continue residents of our good town and perpetuate in future generations the name and family virtues. There were four sons - John, the eldest is the senior member of the firm of McClellan & Co. coal and wood dealers, who do a very large business here in their line. James lives in Whitby, Joseph H. in Peterboro and William in St. Thomas, J. Alexander McClellan, the grandson, son of John McClellan, is the popular Manager of the Ontario Bank of Bowmanville.
There was a man out west who said he had undertaken to serve God and the devil and found it a "hefty" job. I am not in so tight a place as that, but metaphorically, next door to it. To attempt to give even a meagre outline of the men and women who helped to lay the foundation of our delightful and embryo city, is no small task. I can only do it as best I may and will try to do so up to 1840.
The camera of memory sees a concentration of business in the hollow. Mr. Dunham D. Williams, father of Mr. Mark Willaims, had a fulling mill, the building farthest down the stream. He came from the vicinity of Napanee. Possessing the spirit of enterprise, he tried to and did meet a much felt want. It took any amount of determination to accomplish such an undertaking. There were no banking facilities and but little money in the country. Exchange of commodities was the principal way in which trading was carried on, however, he managed to get the mill going. It was running in full blast in '40. Mr. Williams was a good neighbor and a good-living man. He married into the Burke family. The manufacture of home made clothing was a necessity of the times. Silks satins, and other fine and expensive goods were largely an unknown quantity. Every farmer's wife laid in a stock of yarn, and woollen blankets socks and stockings, and coarse woollen wear were made in the home. The spinning, waving and knitting involved gave ample employement to the household in the long winter evenings. It would be a great mistake, however, to suppose that their lives were spent devoid of ordinary pleasures. In many a log house before the blazing fire on the capacious hearth there was as much fun and amusement as would be found in the mansions of modern times. I am convinced of one thing, the people had better health then than now. The introduction of stoves, while a greater convenience did away with the best of all modes of ventilating - an open chimney.
When a lad at school I occasionally went with some of the boys to spend the night in the country, and I then saw something of what I am writing about. To show how old-fashioned things were, I will mention one item. In putting up the bundles of wool and yarn, (Mr. Williams) used the needles of the thorn, and he gave us youngsters so much a pund, to gather them. There were plenty of bushes in the woods from which to pick. I was not a good hand at it and did not retire a millionaire. I wonder if any of my fellow-workers in this novel branch of industry are living and can remember it?
When we had our Centennial celebration, the public meeting was addressed by the Govenor of Ontario, Sir George Kirkpatrick. In the course of his remarks he referrred facetiously to the kind of books that were in use in the schools in the early part of the century, quoting a couplet from Moore, the Irish poet, "The only books were woman's books". He was followed by the Hon. Edward Blake, M. P., who, when on the same topic told, his Honor he should have completed the quotation, - "And all she taught was folly." He said, among other things, that the present editions were more daintly gotten up, more elegantly bound and more attractive to the students, or something to that effect. The reference was brimful of humour and created great amusement. I am inclined to think though that the girls who went to our place of instruction when dressed in a natty calico, a muslin or a homemade woollen dress, were as neatly and attractively bound, and looked as charming as any of the later editions. Many of them with the bloom of health on their cheeks, their bright eyes full of mirthful glee, were just as bewitching and useful as any modern fashionable dame, no matter how attired.
Mr. Williams did his share in helping to fit out both male and female in good solid apparel. Mr. Mark D. Williams is worthily representing in busness life the energy of the pater.
Next on the stream was a tannery carried on by Garner Gifford. People had to have foot wear then as now, and Indian moccasin did not answer as a substitute for leather in all weathers. For years he did a thriving trade. I think he came from Cobourg. I cannot say much about him from recollection, but I know at one time he was well to do. He was fond of a good team of horses, and he built a double brick house on Scugog St., which is still standing. It is not much to look at now, but it cost what was then a mint of money. He was of American extraction; quite a number of men were employed about the tannery. The water was obtained by damming the creek. We used to cross the dam to go to the distillery. There were a number of boys in the household but they are all beyond my ken. When I first saw Cameron Munson, whose golden wedding was recently celebrated with so much eclat, he was engaged in a wrestling match in front of the tannery. Through al the intervening years he has been grappling with many weighty problems, on the whole coming out as he did then, on top. He would be a bad man even now to tackle in a clinch. Quite a trade was done in those ancient times in tanner's oil. Our boots were constantly wet in the winter time, after running in the now all day. They were literally soaking. To get your boots off was a serious undertaking. Many a tug I had at it. After a night's dry before the fire they were as hard as granite, there was no getting them on without the greatest difficulty, hence the demand for oil. How the young hopeful eye grew to maturity with anything like robust health is a query. What a blessing was conferred on the inhabitants of this northern clime by the discovery and introduction of rubber goods! May the tree from which the crude material is obtained never die out! Garner Casey Gifford was one who, like many of the early settlers, with little education, managed to carry on successfully quite a large enterprise. His proximity to the distillery was rather unfortunate, and his sociability led to too much intercourse with boon companions for his own good. As the unfolding process went on, in time those small industries disappeared this one with the res. The Gifford dwelling house was immediately opposite on the west. He kept his front garden quite tastefully. The walks were made of tanner's bark, and looked nice and clean. But I must say good-bye to him. He was a good-hearted soul.
Next - Bowmanville and Darlington History Part 10
Search the Ontario (Upper Canada) Genealogy Website - Make sure to use all known variations of a family name in your search!
Historical Tales From the Archives - A Selection of Stories, Recollections, Reminiscences and Travel Experiences in Times Gone By 
New Site 2021
20th Century Ontario Genealogy Newspaper Notices Index New March 2020
Upper Canada Ontario Surrogate Court Estate Files and Will Database New March 2019
Ontario Canada Historical Map Site New December 2018
Ontario Place Locator - 19th Century Ontario Town and Village Locations and Inhabitants
Upper Canada (Ontario) Pioneer Settler Land Locations, Census Records and Property Descriptions
Historical Visits to Ontario Villages and Towns Take a trip back in time to the late 19th century and explore the towns and villages where your ancestors lived, loved, laboured, laughed and played.
Ontario Images of the Past Thousands of Images of City, Town, Village and Country Life
Ontario Land Registry Records Research Thousands of your ancestors and where they lived in Ontario
Upper Canada (Ontario) Newspaper Notices Database
Ontario Genealogy Newspaper Notices Database
Ontario (Upper Canada) History and Pioneer Family Research
Queen's Own Rifles - Old Photos of Members
Upper Canada District Maps (Circa 1800)
Upper Canada (Ontario) History Books On-Line Index
Ontario County Directories Victoria, Haliburton, Hastings, Peterborough, Durham, Northumberland, Muskoka, and Old Ontario County
Central Upper Canada (Ontario) Marriage Database 22650 Marriage Records Indexed
Central Upper Canada Baptism Database 25000 Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Marriages indexed
Upper Canada (Central Ontario) Burial Database 4500 Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Church of Scotland Burials indexed
Eastern Upper Canada Marriage Database Anglican, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Marriages indexed
Eastern Upper Canada Baptism Database Anglican, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Baptisms indexed
Eastern Upper Canada Burial Database
Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Marriage Database
Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Baptism Database
Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Burial Database
Upper Canada Land Petitions 51000 Records Indexed
Upper Canada Land Leases and Miscellaneous Petitions 10000 Records Indexed
Upper Canada (Ontario) Sundries Database
Upper Canada (Ontario) Toronto Insane Asylum Database
Upper Canada (Ontario) Kingston Insane Asylum Database
Upper Canada (Ontario) London Insane Asylum Database
Upper Canada (Ontario) Malden Insane Asylum Database
Upper Canada (Ontario) Hamilton Insane Asylum Database
Ontario Genealogy Historical Newspaper Collection Historical Newspaper Files from various regions of Ontario
Newspaper Genealogical and Historical Records - Thousands of entries
Ontario (Upper Canada) Map Collection Great site for locating your ancestors in Ontario
Ontario Genealogy Postcard Site - Great old-time landscape views
Upper Canada and Ontario CRIMINAL Database
Ontario Genealogy Database Index Site 500000 Genealogy Records Indexed
Need HELP With Your Family Research?
Northumberland County Genealogy and History
Victoria County Genealogy and History
Durham County Genealogy and History
Haliburton County Genealogy and History
Peterborough County History and Genealogy
Newcastle District (Upper Canada) History and Genealogy
Ontario County History and Genealogy
Upper Canada History and Genealogy
Echoes of the Past - Ontario Genealogy Home
Search the Ontario (Upper Canada) Genealogy Website - Make sure to use all known variations of a family name in your search!
Contact Ontario Genealogy 