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l'o5 J3 ^ BRIEF SKETCH
-OK TlIK
i
ICouNTY OF Essex,!
IN THK-
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iIProvince of Ontario^ Canada^S
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£_,$ //".V C7,/.I/./77'', SrJ'i'A'riON, A'ESO('A'CES, SO/A, PRODUCTIONS, p
[i ./.\V> .ini'ANTAGES AS A PLACE OF SETTLEMENT,
1% -ALSO y
L8 .7 siioirr iiisi'ORY or the ponma'piox Axn CRowrii il
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ITOWN OF ESSEXI
11
l-S. with niOCRAPHlCAL SKETCHES OP SOME OP THE PPBLIC ^
L| MEN, DESCRIPTIONS OP PC'I/.D/NCS. &-C. jij
11^. . -,■.".''' i*^i J
r.rjt' Is ■//<:/ iinlcr I lie aii'/iorify of the Municipal Council of Essex l>y J- E- Johnson, 'i^
&.8 . Editor and Proprietor of the Essex Lideral.
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'^illl lllii. iilllii.,iillliiniillhiii>illliiuiillliiHiillliiMiillliiMiilH4hiiilll Ill llhiiiiillliiiiiillliiMiillli ill ill lllii..iillliiiuillliiiiillllih.iillliiiiiilll ilTlriiiiilllii
B lioS
WESLEY YOUNG, President.
/ F. GAGHAN, Secretary.
J. H. AYIAVOJ^TH, Vice- President,
D. IV. AY/AIVA"///, Manai,ra\
II IP iipipi »M ■■
'ri\e Oratorio
^jfedge ana ^^ire ^©nee
'TO'llTDSOIl, OUTAHIO.
^©•>
0^0-.^iTIZHX5 "Cr^JTlSEia TIXE Xj-A.-W"S 0I=" OOiTI'.A.iaiO.
CAPITAL STOCK, $250000.
-ANO-
«r Properly Constructed Hedges are the Cheapest, the Best, and the A/o.^t Eudun'ny;. "^S^
i»«»iitiiii:-!rM "(M*i"i-. W'V
Cut No 5 — Represents the various conditions of the Hedge as trained l)y our process.
First--On the left, the Hedge as grown to proper size.
Second —Side Iriiumed, earth removed from around the rf ots and ready to plash-
Tliiril I'lashed ; the "anes hent in the root, inclined in jirojier jiosition, and secured hy
foar heavy wires stapled to the canes.
Fourth — Summer pruned in a pyramidal form, and complete.
tfsf'Hedge Fences never blow down or decay. Properly trained hedges are valuahle,
(jthers are worthless. Plant Hedges around your orchards, they keep out mischievous; lioys
and men. Read the testimonials of your own people.
SUTHERLAND
Jg,c^J (Qstatc /<^
OCLIX
3'
\j<j
LOANS JK s p k: C I A L. 'I^ V .
MONEY TO LOAN ON DEnKNTlHIES. FAIIM AND TOWN
IMIOPERTY AT j^, (i, AND i;^ I'Eil OENT-
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K «
5^1
W I
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l» .»
1\ ALL I'AKTS OF KSSl'.X AND KLNT CorxnilS, CIIIIAI'.
Want'CD to Purchase-Mortgages & Debentures
Ifymi Ikivi- any in tliis lino wriU; nic, and sny )'>u hi-sl wiilf anyli;>w.
G. SUTHERLAND, Essex Centre, Ontario.
9 • 4
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• • • •• •< ,»• .••
A BRIE:f^ SKFZT^Cn
-OK TIIK-
County of Essex.
IN THK-
PROVINCE OFONTARIO.CANADA,
-ALSO-
./ SlJOh'l J/f.S'/OA'Y ()/■ 77/A /-DA'A/.l //O.X .I.\7j CROWIIl
— oi- riiR
TOWN OF ESSEX
WiJJI HlOiiRArHICAI. SKEILHES OJ- SOA/Zi OF 77f/<: /'CH/JC
.\//iN, JUiSCA^/PTIONS O/-- A7 7/./>AV(;.V, CrC.
-DKSCKIHI.NC
JfS C/./A/.17K, SJJ'r.l7'/0N, NliSOi
ADVANIACES AS A J'J,
/'A'0/)rC7/OAS, AND
7'/.I<:A7KN7\
53039
INTRODUCTION
m ^ l*^h^<^
fT is imr inUntinn in this hiii'f s1<i't(li t)f tlic Town i)f I-'ssi'x (fnruu'rly known as Essex
Ci'nlic,) and of ICsscx County, to luinj^ licforc pictluhlc piiriliasfis, and si'ttlcrs from
" I, oiluT parts of Ontario, the ^jreat an<l unlimited worth of our vxtt-nsivf and many advant-
a}^!'-;. \\\' do not Mck to a<lvanL'(_' the interest of our own town and county, l)y doprociatin^
tin- ini| ruvi'nicnts of iliosc aroiimi us. We shall therefore endeavor to i;ive a fair and truthf\d
statement o( tlie ; riat 1 enelits wiiich we enjoy. And in all caixlor, we can say, that in the
estimation of all, the pe<)ple of Kssex Coimly and of Kssex Town, enjoy more of those earthly
blessings than their nei^hlxirs who live farlluT north, and in a less lialniy and healthy elimate.
Situated as we are, almost surrounded by water, licsides enjoyin}; (^rt'at shipjiin^ ami lisli-
in^ facilities, we reap the full benefit of a climate similar to those places, which like San
I'Vancisco, are situated upon the sea coast. Our sjjrin^^s open early, allowiuj^ the farmer to
l)e(^in his worlc of ]>lowing, sonietinies in February, and frequently, he can plow at any time
<iurin}( the winter months. (^ur sunnners are cool, the air beinff lij^hl and always on the
move ; the weather, which is showery, is coi\ducive to the ^jrowth of those many and delicious
trojiical fruits, tjrov.ii in no other place of the same latitude. When, around us on every
hand, the cro|)s are suffering; from excessive rain, or scorching drouth, in Fssex, the jjarden of
Canada, everylhinf; is fragrant, and in a state of healthy and matjniticeiU growth. Our
autunnis anil winters are proportionately mild ow in^ to the inlhience of the surrounding lakes,
which keep the frost at bay long enough to alTord amjjle time for the removal of all crops.
Kssex is in the centre of this magnificent County, and reaps her share of the afore-
nieivtioned benefits. She is the commercial metropolis of Kssex County, and as such is con-
nected will) all other parts of the County, either by high, well-gravelled roads, or b\ railroads,
which seem all to converge at I'^ssex. The C. S. division of the M. C. K. R. runs through
Kssex and on to Wimls )r ; the princi|)al station being at the Tow n of Kssex, from w liiih place a
gre.U amount of merchandise is cfmveyed to other parts of the Count)-. The M. C.
authorities acknowledged the importance of Kssex as a shipjjing point in the liuilding of a line
large, rock-iflce, stone slation ; the only stone s'atio.i on the line in Canada, and the finest
with the exception of St. Thomas station, vvhicli is somewhat lajger. It is also connected
with all parts of the Count)' by a net-work of local railroads which have sjirung up during the
last tW(.i or tiiree years, owing to the great anmunt of ship.ping done in tht' County.
wiiAi riiK K.Mi.v i;j.ni!i; savs <w i;ssi-..\ coi-n-i s-.
" F'ssex is exceeilins.ly fertile, a fine fruit count)', has a |)f))iulation of 60,000, and enjoys
a milder climate than ;>ny other county in the Province. It would support a i>opidation vastly
larger than that which it now contains, and it is not improbable that the growth of a large
town in its centre would inspire renewed activity and enterprise throughout its whole extent."
ICSSICX 'l\)W^ AND COLIN^rV.
A UklKK SKKT( II OK '111 I", (.AKDKN COUNTY OF TIIK DOMINION WITH
A DIvSCRIITION OK KSSKX, TIIK COMMKUCI \l. (llNrki:.
iii'vcr \v;iiHH'(l. .\(i axi' nad Icvfili'd mo (;iaiiis oi iiii.' crowded j^ndvi-s, wiinsc wiiiU'iR-d and
vvitJK'iL'd Umli^, hlastcil by li^jliUiin^, coiUiaslud stiiii)^;cly wilii llit.- veidaiu-y ol tlic yi>iiii(^i-r
ginwllis (if branches, and the profusion of wild flowers and lanj^led vines, which wasted their
vilalitx upon the (gloomy siiadi'S. 'i'rei-s niif^iil c\er)wliere he seen hreakint^ from liieir roots
in tile uiarsh) soil, and llireateninj; to fall with llie llrst ruile ^;usi, \\liili' tlie };roun<ls were
strewn and ))ile(i witli lh<' ruins of former forests. The liorrors of corruption frowned on tiie
tt-iiilli>^^ ri'rlililf III I itii-li ll l\--i 1 1 wl n'lliii*!'* \'i >irf*l M I ill > l!(i> Mini liivltll VV'|iri> niinirlcil It li li >i iHcl I' tn.
fruitless fertility o( un(uiti\ated nature; \e^elal)le life and <leath were min^jled hideously to-
i;ether, tlie incorrupt, ^^rowinj^ up in, and re<-eiviiij^ its vitality from llie corruiit. That we
I ll^ OilVlll, I'V-.l., >'••' ..IIM ■,|.IIV_> <.>.IN.>IV.< IIV-H, t.|.l,.I IH^ I1II» .. I ■■"iviV ..■ II. ■-. III.-
fameil Missouri bottoms. Its delightful situation loo, contributes not ord)' to iis general
climate and liealth) atmospiiere, but ad<ls iuuuensel)' to its ciunniercial adxantatjes. In its
<lesi^n ami lonnalinn, il seems In Ikuo l)cen especially favored by JJanu; Naluie, compris-
intj as it does, a peninsula, wliose iiorlhern, westcin and soulliem boundaries are washed
respectivi'l)- liy ihe waters of Lake St. Clair, the Detroit I<i\er and Lake l-'.rie, while itslourlh
side bulls Ihe Count)' of Kent, lo the eastward, where tiie waters ol iju' t\\o lal;es before men-
tioned form their nearest approach. The whole may lie dcscriiu'd as a comparatively
regular paralleloj^rani, whose sides run with the cardinal points and are of an averaj^e length of
about thirty miles, and a breadth of about Iwenlv, tiie Ioniser sides rumiiiii^ east and west.
The original plan of sur\'(y would seem lo lia\e been liased upon a line runninL^ directly
east and weil tlniHi|.di ihe ceiilre of the peninsula, makins^ liieridiy two tiers of to\Miship.> run-
iiiiij.; Iroiii llie centre, or line, lo Lake Si. Clair on llie one side, and to Lake Lrie on the oilier ;
a plan which has been somewhat iiKtdilied, however, since the earl)- days of ils settlement.
The prevailint^ characierisiic of tiiis tract of territory is ils veiy cNceplioiial uniformitv of
surface, making; |)racticable, and holding out inducements for the buildin|^ of those maf^nilicent
railvsays by which llie count)- is intersected. 'I'here is perhaps iiol a difference of lifly feet in
the level ot any two points in the county, if we except the inmiedinte vicinity of the "Kidije,"
which is (|uite slrongl)' marked ihrouLjIioul llie Townships of Costield and .Mersea, forming a
parapet on wliii-li iIr- old "National Road," known as Taliiot street, is located. It forms a
figure somewhat resembling the arc of a circle, with the convex toward the Krie shore, enter-
ing the count)- at W'healley, run-icinj^ through Leamington, Ruthven and CtJtlam, anil ending
t /■:ssE.\ /'onw anp coca'/v.
ill Essex. AiiiDiijf the nolewnitliy iiiLViitivfs to the era <if (U'vtli.jiiiu-nt which has charactor-
izcd Kssex Ciniiily of late years, is llie operation of the Draiiiafje Act, which has conlrilmtid
ill a ).r;eat degree to tlie general ailvaiicemenl, and above all, lo the reclaiming of low or marshy
lands, which, with the whole count)-, al an age from a geological stand))()int, no( yet remote,
were entirely dehigeil. Another cause has been the |)lacing on the market of valuable Indian
Reserves, which had previously lain waste, but now are among the most fertile portions of
thecounly. While the greatest cause of ad\ ancenient the combined result of the afore mention-
ed causes, is the steadily increasing influx of an intelligent and svell-to-do class of settlers from
the more Kastern Counties of the Province. The increase in pojmlation has been almost
phenomenal. In 1S51 the census |)laced itu' popidalion at 16,000: to-day there are residing
ii ihis county al least 60,000 people, all of whom are enabled to enjoy the fruitfulness of the
soil, and to revel in their cultivated fields aiul gardens, planted with the choicest plants and
seeds, from every j>orlion of the Temperale /one. During the past few years a mnnber who
were misled by the daz/ling reports ot l.ind agents and s])eculato;s from the Western States,
left good homes here and removed to l).\Koia, but after a few years cx))erience in that blizzard
cursed, and frosty land, after expending their resources and wasting years of precious time,
again came back to I'lssex, determined lo rebuild tlieir ruined forlunes and remain citizens of
this fair land. There is no count)' in < )nlario that (lossesses such claims as l'",ssex, and m»
county '.ill reward the honest son ol toil with better relmiis for his labor than this. Hesides
the productions of the soil a few of which have been enuncialeil, we have extensive natural
re.-.ources. In the Township of .\nilerdon, near what is known as the .Maiden Tovvnline, we
find the celebrated .Vnderdon i|uarries, which containabuililingstoneofvery superior (|uality and
from which a lirst-clas-^ white lime is miniifactured and shipped to all |)arts of liie i)omiiii<m.
IKON.
Bog iron is found in the 'I'ownship ofdostield, back of the Village of Ruthven. It seems
to run in veins rather than being <leposited in "pockets," as is the case with bog ore generally.
An o|>ening was made some forty years ago, but the furnace has been "blown out" for many
years.
What the Detroit News of March II uSSg, says about the iron in Kssex County. "I""er-
reous bog deposits near Olinda, South Kssex, yielded an iron of very superior <|uality, wheii
they were utilized from .|o to 70 \ears ago. The metallic sui)ply from that source is still
thought to be practically inexhauslilile, but for some reason or other the work of taking it out
was entirely abandoned at that place. In consequence (jf the natural gas boom it is proposed
t<i resuscitati' the works."
NAI't'KAI. CAS.
( )ne of the grandest producli<ins of nature, and one that will pr<ive of inestimable value, is
the discovery of natural gas in the Soullurii pari ol the County, on ihe line of the Lake Erie
Kssex and Detroit River Railroad, 1 etween ihe villages of Kingsville and Ruthven. The
well is said by ex|)erts to be second to no fither gas well on the continent. 'I'he pressure is 450
lbs tr) the S(|uare inch and volume i>f gas e(|ual to 10,000,000 cubic leel per day. The well is
valued by Messrs. il. Walker \- S<iiis who are the principal owners, at $1,0:0,000, and
comjianys have been formed, not onl)' in the county, but i)y parties fri>m all the oil and gas
lands in the I'liited Slates, who are leasing all the lands they can, for ihe purpose of experi-
nienl, and the chances are undoul)ledly good. Jiefore three months have passed doyens of
wells will be jiut down, and l-'.ssex County will become not only known for lertility of soil and
healthlulness r)f climate, but also as the richest Cf)unty in natural products. Hon. Charles
Drury .\I. I'l'., .Minister of .Agriculture, who visited us at our last .Agricultural Exhibition
said ; "Me had been eiigagedlhe past two sveeks in visiting various fairs throughout the province;
that he did not feel il a duly to speak at any great lengili, as the I.ieuteiianI Ciu\ernor had so
ably ex|)r(.'ssed his o))inions he must be excused therefore, but would congratulate the I'rcsitlent
and Directors on liie grand display made, as showing the capabilities ol the Cmint\- of I'lssex.
lie had probably a better knowledge of the country than man)' other Members of the (Jovern-
iiient, as he had driven through it, and had always maintained that Kssex and Kent were the
gardens of Canada, that ihcy ha<l the best soil and the largest bodies of good land of any
counties in Ontario, since they had taken advantage of the municipal drainage act, and had
cured the slight defect of a flat surface; and il any pe(j])le should be contented and happy the
people in these two counties should"". The lion., the Lieutenant (iovernorof Ontario on the
same occasion said "he believed it was one of the best counties in Ontario. Lord .Sydenham
al one time went throui^h l'"ssex and on his return to Kingston saiil: — "If the peoph.' in Kssex
ES.'^EX TOIVN AN/> COL'NTV. 7
niilv live- in liaiinony and (niltivalr llu- land, tliey w<.ul.l W- l.n.ud of tlieir possoMoiis, as it
o.ul.l n..l U- l.oaU'1. lor kitilitv of soil." Tlu- people of Kssc-v sl.oui.l W- happy and wouM
Ik- if Ih.'v .lid nol allow tlicni;clvc's lol.c lod away l-y tl>e (ooIinIi noti.m that the I nitfd Slates
was a i)LttiM- .-oantry, and want closer relationship. Assertions that they are more prosperous
in the I'nitrd State; than in Canada, were in his juclL,'nient false.
issiA icnvN.
The fovei^oini,' maji n| the county, allhouj,'ii not n stricUy correct one, is
correct to show the relative jMisition of the town to < iher parts of the county
still
Its
^ulliciently
incorrect-
...... consists in the fact, that only a few of the rr.ilroads and hij^rhways are shown. Knouc^h
iioweyer, to sliow the iieculinr advnntajre whicli Kssex lias over other towns of the county, and
to which she owes her plienonienal advanceineiU. Kssex was coniinenced upon the coiiii;le-
tion of the Canada Southern Railway, and may he said to have made its delnit by the oiienin^r
ofas'eneral store by Mr. Thomas Rush on the first day of Kebruary 1873, loUowed on the
tirst (lav of \!ay, in the sime year by the establishment of the Ivssex Centie I'dstotiice, with
Mr. Rusii as Tost .Master. By efficient work and disi)atch in handlinij: the lai<,re amount of
mul for all parts of the county, and a naturrd courtesy and obli^iin,' man-
ner, Mr. Rush has been enable.l to hold the positi.m of I'ost Master to the pieseiil dale. At
that limi> the building which is now the Royal Hotel was IwinL; titled up for its presi'iU purp<ise.
Shortly after, the .\meiican Hotel was moved into the N'illaiie, it lunin.ii been erected a year or
two before by Mr. Ciordon W'itde. one and a half miles from the \'il]n!.re. ami used for the
accommoihition of tiavcliers on the sta!.,'e route.
It wis (Uirinif the sunnner of 1S7? thai Mr. lohn Milne first became connecled \\illi tl-e
interests of the pja':.,-. His fust e'.iterprise was in partnership with a Mr. I'eckham. in a con-
tra t for culliiiir lind.er and fuel for the C. S. R. This undertnUinsj beint; concluded, Mr.
Milne delciiniiied to last in his lot with the people of the rising villa^'e. About one year
liter, a inrty from i$uffalo erected a saw mill on Mr. jaines Irwin's jirorerty, but not beinp;
\ery succe.s'nl, sold out to .Mr. Irwin, who was afterwards ioine<l by Mr. Milne. In 1S77
the Messrs. A!<-x. and Wm. Laini; entered into partnership with Mr. Milne, (Mr. Irwin shortly
after n.-tirim',), and tlie company was then known as .Milne Lainsj; \- Co. In the year 18S0
th'v Slid out to th" newly-''<irmed i;ss<-x Centie .Manufactuvinu Co.. of which .Mr. Nlilne and
iheMessrs. Laini; were still the lea.linu; spirits. This comj'any was very successful in de\eIop-
inn the timber resources of the county and in altractinj^ to the vilhiL^e new manul'aclories. It
is'^but simple justice to .Mr. Milne to say that the different lines of business he has set in
motion, have proved of the 5j;reatest value to the yillap;e.
In llie year 1874 Mr. Ceo. Wilson commenced operations herein the buildint: of the
wareliouse near t!ie station, now occupied by Mr. A. ]. Creen. lie also built several stores
and cottages, and in 1S76 entered into a i^eneral store enterprise, which resulted in the draw-
8 ESSEX TOWN AND COUNTY.
in^ of a (Treat volume of Inisiness to Kssex Centre. In 1874 Mr. J. H. Helfry eslal)Iishc(I the
first harness shop. About this time Y.. J. I'owell iV Co. he^an business here ; their operations
were both sound and extensive.
Such do we find was Kssex Centre in iSSi. The population was ai)out 360 ; in 1882 it
iiad increased to 571. To-day it numbers 2,500 plucky, energetic citizens, all of whom,—
with few exceptions, — are willing to do anything calculateil to advance the interest, or increase
the prosperity of the jjlace. We, like all other places, have a few dismal croakers, but ha|)i)ily
sucii persons never stay long in one plart-. It has been said by tiiose whose sole interest and
occupation seems to be to avoid the truth, llial Kssex is an unhealthy place. That is ] osi-
tivcly untrue, as the statements made b\ our doctor dearl)' proved, and which were published
in the Lilirml^ (hiring the reported unhcaltliy period Inst sunuuer. The sanitar)' condition of
Essex, is far lietliT than that of the general \\\\\ of towns, which fact can wu doubt, be ascribed
to the efficient and fearless work of our Hoard t)f Health, to the members of which we in a
great measure owe our freerlom from diseases ])rev/alent in places round about us. Our jiublic
institutions and factories do not have to shut down, in order to keep diseases from sprea<ling.
l)Ut are enabled to go on with their work evi-ry working ihiy in liie year. There is not a more
healthy place of the si/.e in uesltrn ( Mitario than Ivssex. ( )ur death rate last year was lower
than that of any other incorporated lown or village in i'",ssex County --])opidatif)n considered.
Notwithstanding that a great amoiml of money has been exjiended by the council, in the im-
lirovement o'" streets, and the erection ol public buildings, the rate of taxtation is not by any
nreans high. The rale for •this year has not yet been struck, but it will doubtless be less than
than that of half the towns of ()ntario. The incr)rporalion of I\ssex as a village dates back lo
1883, the act of incorporation taking elfecl in jamiary 18S4. The (irst council of the village
was composed of Dr. [ames Mrien as Reeve, and Tlionias Rush, l-'ranl; Halfour, Francis Del-
more and \V. I. (olmslon. Mr. ( ). C. Harrie was fnsl village clerk, and fames Oliver \illage
treasurer. The following year the same council was re-elected, and Mr. O. C. Harrie retained
as clerk, while .Mr. W. II. Russell was apjxiinted treasurer. In 1886 Dr. Hrien was again
elected reeve. The council of 1SS6 was constituted of Messrs. W. Johnston, James Naylor,
Thomas Rush and J. K. .Stone. .Mr. Chas. Na\lor was appointed clerk and Mr. O. C.
Barrie became treasurer, in 1887, Mr. James S. Kaird was elected reeve, and \V. J. Johns-
ton, J. K. Stone, .V. K. Jones and J. J. Roi)inson were elected councillors, and tliesaine clerk
and treasurer were retained. In iSSS, the council was composed of lames S. Laird as Reeve,
John K. !"'tone, Deputy-Reeve, and Messrs. \V. J. Johnston, (i. J. Thomas, and .\. K. Jones.
The i)resent council consists of Reeve Laird, Deputy Reeve Stone, and councillors John Mc-
Dougall, |ohn Richardson, and James Austin. Tlie election of Mayor, will not, we under-
stand, take place until next January, when, no doubt there will I e some livel)' sciauibling loi
tlie position, as we have a number o! eligiiile citizens.
SICAR CANIi.
We woulil not be doing justice to Kssex County, if we omitted to mention a valuaJjle
and \ery uselul production, which is almost if not altogether peculiar to this county,- -namely
Chinese sorgluun, more generally known now as northern sugar cane. -There is certainly no
pari of the Dominion of Canada, where this jilant matures as well, or grows lo as great |)er(i'C-
tion as in the county of lissex. lleie the stalks grow large anti tall, o!ten attaining a height
from twelve to fifteen feel, and filled with juice as rich in sacharine niatter as the famous
sugar Cane ol the tropics. This statement will be the nu)ie readily understood and believed,
when we say it is not at all an uncommon thing, for as numy as three hundred gallons oi heavy
syru|3 to be made from the cane grown upon one acre of ground. The value and usefulness of
this crop are fully ai)iireciate(l by our farmiiig connnunity, nearly all of whom [iroduce a sujijily
sufficient lor their own use, which the\' gel manufactured at some one of tlie numerous mills
for that purpose, which are to i)e met with all over the count)-.
The i)henomenal productiveness of this cane has in times past attracted the notice of cap-
italists, and men of enterprise, in various parts of ( )ntario, and drawn their attention to the
|)ossil)ilities of developing a \ery valuable industry in the manufacture of a pure antl health-
riving syru]) — or even sugar, which was thought might be made from it. Acting upon this view
of the matter, Mr. .V. 11. Wright of I'arkdale, Toronto, formerly of Cuba, a gentleman of
capital and large experience in the manufacture of s)rui)s and sugar, erected some live years
ago a first-class factory. It wasetpiipped with large vacuum pan, air jiump, deftecators, tanks,
two powerful engines, heavy crushing mill, cooling tower, and all other necessar)- apjiliances
on a scale and in a coiulition that would have done credit to any sugar plantaticjn. Hut un-
fotunalely for the result of all this enterprise and jiluck .Mr, Wright had not more than nicely
ESSEX TOWN AND COUNTY g
linishcd his work and had run it for one season only, when a most uniirecedented ami unlook-
ed for dt'iirossion in the suijar market caused i)y over production took jilace, bring-
in}^ the price of tverylhiii^ in that line down to the lowest el)l) ; causing the closing of sugar
factories, and the breaking down of liruis all over the world. Little wonder was it then under
these circumstances that .Mr. Wright thought it wise to suspern oi)erations for a time, and he-
took himself again to the tropics to await a more ausiiicious tmie to renew his exjierimenf.
The factory is situated about a mile from the town of Kssex, where it stands with all its costly
and well ordered ajipliaiices, a monument to the energy, skill, and enterprise of the gentle-
man who built il. • .
TOllACCO. • .
The CDunty of Essex has been noted many years for jiroducing the ])est tobacco for cigar
wrappers on the continent. For this j)m|)ose the leaf is fully e(|ual if not supeiior to that of
tlie celebrated .Sumntin wrajiper. .Mtiiough the tobacco grown is not so fme as the Virginia
leaf, it is hdl\ eipial to the growth in other states, niul is largely used in the manufacture of
smoking tobaccos and cheap cigars, in fact many of tlie so called Havana cigars are made
from Canada leaf, and a manufacturer of this article can find no better oi;ening than in Kssex
county. Tile farmers have not for some years gone into the business of growing it very ex-
tensively, as for a long time, the price was too losv for profit, but since a duty has been placed
on .\merican t')i);icros, the farmers of Essex county again lind it one of the most jirolitable crops
and good as gold. There is no difficulty in disposing of all that can be grown here at good
prices, and Essex county tobacco will be better known before many years. In order to form
some idea of the large (piantity urown, Messrs. S. W'igle & Son of Leamington, shipped in one '
year 732 hogs-heads, ecpial to at least Soo,ooo lbs, which was all giown within a short distance
(jf that town.
liKOOM COKN.
Another industry that is fast assuming gigantic jirojiortions, is the growth of broom corn.
It was thought years ago that no country could produce it so well as some of the western
States, and i)arties who were engaged in the manufacture of brooms purchased all their stock
in those places, but, for the past fifteen years there has been very little imixirted, and Essex
county not only manufactures tiiousands of dozens of brooms, but annually shi))s large (|uanti-
ties of the unmamifactured article to other jilaces. The manufacturers iiest known are Messrs.
R. Eruner (.K: Sons, J. Hruner, II. Slater & Son, and C. Stewart.
I'ET.EF. ISLAM).
I'elee Island is situated aliout 15 miles south of Essex county. It comprises about I1,CXX)
acres, nearly all of wiiich is under a good state of cultivation. The Island has been noted
many vears for its wine, which is extensively manufiictured there ; wine vaults capable of hold-
ing millions of gallims are well filled with this beverage, and large (juantities of money are
aimuallv paid, not onlv to the wine makers, hut to the grape growers there. The attention
of tlie citi/ens is also given to the growth of jieaches, in fact everything that lan be grown in
this latitude ripens admirably, even cotton can be riiiened. and the finest tobaccos have been
grown on the Island.
Ucad what the Em])ire, the leading Liberal Conservative iia]xT in (^anada has to say
aiiout Essex, under dale of .Marcli i6tli, 18.S9.
COMMKNDAlll.I': i:\l|-.KI'lUSI-,.
An effort is being made in Essex to bring be''ore the world the resources and capabilities
ol that fertile county, with a view to attracting immigration and capital. A pamphlet on
the county, we understand, is shortly to be issued for circulation in Britain, Canada and the
I'nited States. The effort is commendable. To many peojile, whose knowledge of Essex is
limited to the impressions formed in a railway ride over the marshy praries and lagoons,
liordering on Lake St, Clair, the county does not present much attraction to a settler. Tur-
tles, snakes and (|uiniiie are liki'ly to be the suggestions conveyed by this railway trip. Hut
the truth is that thecountv beyond this marshy northern border is exceeding rich in soil as well
as singularlv favored in climate. It enjoys altogether exceptional advantages. The soil but
needs "tickling with the ])lough to laugh into a crop." Wheat, maize and sorghum produce
abundantiv ; the growth of both the African and Chinese sugar cane is as luxuriant as any-
where in .\merica, while Indian corn, in which the acreage eciuals that of wheat, bears per-
haps as abundantly as in any locality in the world. Crops of 125 bushels per acre are even
lo
ESSEX TOWN .IN/) COUNTY,
recorded. In fruit, ton, Essex hoKls forth rare promise. It is the home of the peach and the
vine The vineyards of Essex show iar^fcr returns in grapes and wine than those of Cnliforiiia,
and twice as ^reat as those of l'"ra\ice. \\\ indication of the exceptional character i>f the
climate is afforded in the p;rowlh of cotton for twenty years or more on I'elee Island, the most
southerly townshij) of the county, and this, without the special manurinjf recjuired in much of
North Califi>rnia to hasten the ri))enin^ of the fibre before the advent of autumn frosts. The
|Hisition of the Essex peninsula, between the shallow warminjr pan of Lake .St. ("lair and the
shallow wesiern end of Lako Erie, al the bottom of which temperatures above 80 Eahr, have
been recoriled, partially explains the Ion;; cxeuiptiou the county enjoys from fall frosts, when
IJnileil Slates territory southward lo Kentuiky, and e\i'n to Northern (ieori^ia, has experienced
in withered vetjetation the first nip of wiiUcr. W'liile the summer-; areas lon^as they are
hundre<ls of miles lo the soutli they ha\e the advantage of beini^ cooler, the Jul>' heat of h'.ssex
bein^ no greater than that of northern Italy and southern france. Essex has much more to
connnen<l it as a profital)le field liir fruit }j;rowini^ than any i)arl of I'lorida or California, and
needs oniy to he known to attract capital and enterprise to the develo|)ment of its special
resources. Instead oT sustainin<f a population of only 50,000 it could well maintain in comfort
a population live or six times as threat. I'hc N'iatjara district and other |iarlsof < )nlario mif^ht
ssl'II imit.'ite h",sse\ in makinti; known in ihe rij.dit (juarters their almost unrivalled cni)aliilities
as fruit {^rowinij di-.trict.i. With proper ami cautious entt/rprise in deveiopinj^ the home
market and seeking; openini^, in lirit lin, the expansion of their fiiiit t^rowiiif; industry mi5,dil
be very j^reat.
\v \iKk \v<M<i;s.
Althouf^h the town has not a complete system of water svorks, yet the council have taken
the matter in hand, and a nundier of deep wells aie beini; put down. The wells will be
|>uinped liy a lari^e c-n!;ine, and the svater used for domestic purposes, as well as tire protection.
A company has alreaily l)een forme<l with a j^ond capital stoi'k to bor<' for i^is aitd oil, and lie
chances for one, or both of these natual products, are |;ood.
OUK PUBLIC MEN.
IJRIEF HIOtiRAPIIICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OK
/ENS OF ESSEX TOWN.
TilE I'RO.MINENT cni-
JAMES BRIE,\, M.lJ. , M, f,
Dr. Hi;iKN"sfatherand mother enn^rated from Enniskil-
lei). In/land, in 1.^46, and sellled in the 'l'iiwushi|) of
1 Inward, Eli^in c'uuity. James Hrieii made his first ap-
pearance on this sphere in that township on February 4,
1S4S. He was e<lucated in London, Ont., and at the
Roval College of Physicians and Surgeons in Kinfrston.
The doctor first canu' to Essex CiMitre about lourteeu
years a^o, and commenced to practise liere, < )n May 7,
iS.So, he was married to Miss Addie F.ujdette, the only
dautjhti'r of the Rev. (.". liurdette, lormerl) pastor of the
.Methodist church here. Dr. Mrien was elected Reeve of
Essex Centre on its iiu'orporalinn in I.S'H3, and tilled that
jiosilion for three years, doinj^ naich, dmiiit; his term (jf
(.ffi'.'e. lo prouu)te the interests uf the villat;e. As Reeve
of Essex Centre and a luendn'r of the County Council, Di.
Rrien always put public interesis above personal cdiisider-
ali(ms. He is a man of j^real pul)lic spirit and i^eiUTosit)-,
and ha>; been lavish in the expeniliture of his time and
means to further the inteiests of his constituenc)'. lie
has always taken an active part in the luoiuotioi. ofat^ii-
cultural interests, and has been for iiiany years a direclor
of various ai^ricultural societies in l^ssex. W'heii the Lib-
eral Convention niet in November, 1885, to select a can-
didate to contest the Soutli Ridins,' of Essex, he was un-
animously selected for that posiiidii. The general elec-
tion was not brouglit (jn until February, 1887, and, al-
ESSEX JVIVN Ax\'/) COrNTY. n
llioimh he had a hard i»iai> K. fiKhl against, in (he person of Lewis WiRle, who had l.euii sur-
named Wellington from his iint)rolscn series of victories, yet the doctor succeeded ni l>ein(,'
elected l>v a majority of 3V He has attained a spkndi.l reputation as a physician, and has
nne of the lar^eNt i)ractices in Ksscn, and also a very iar^e nund.er of personal Iriends, while
his political enemies admit he is a hardworker ami a consistent l.ilieral.
[AMKsS. I,airI>, ReevenfKssex Centre, was horn in "42,
in the township of Harwich, where ihe village of MK'n-
heim now st.uids. He sUidieii civil ennineeriiijj and sur-
veyinjj, and in 1867 came to Maidstone ("loss, where he
remained for live years, and ihen removed to Windsor,
wliere he slop|iefl one year. In 1S72, lie settled in Kssex
Centre, wiien this villa;^e comprised a coujile of hotels and
a store, Mr. I.aird lias lu'cii identified with the protjress
(if Ksse.N C"entre ever since, and is to-day one of Ikt most
public-spirited citizens. In 1SS5, Mr. Laird wasappohit-
0(1 hy the county council trustee for Ksse\ Centre Hif^li
School, and held that )>r)sition uj) to January last, when
he sul)mitte<l a hy-law for the approval of the county
council to appoint .Mr. A. H. Clarke, barrister, in his
stead. In l-SSi, Mr. Laird was appointed county en;^i-
ncer for i-",ssex, and onL resij^ned wlien he was elected
reeve of Kssex Centre, an<l .Mr. A. |. ilalford, I'. L. S.,
a former partner of .Mr. Laird, was aiijiointed his succes-
sor as county engineer. .At thi- municipal election of
ivSS;, Mr. Laird was presented with a larj^ely sip;ned
re;|uisition from his fellow townsmen urt^ini^ him to accept
the noniin.it ion for reeve of l',sse\ Centre. Alter imich
solicitation Mr. Laird consented to become a candidate,
and at the polls was elected by a majority over his
worthy opponent, Mr. Cillies, and for the past two years
his been returnecl bv a-clam.nion to that office which he JA.MKs s. l.AliiD, I". 1,. s.,
so ably tills. Mr. Laird i.-. a t;enial, bii,'-hearted fellow, always j^ood natured, and as a conse-
(luence has few enemies. His heart ami purse are e\er open, and no one' ever sought his aid
and turned away empl)' iiamled. l''rom his long conneilion with the drainage works of the
county, -Mr. Lainl is one of the best known members of the county louncil, and is also one ol
the most popular and successful members of that body. It will always be said of Mr. fames
S. L'urd that lie was a gooil and useful -'ciliz-en."
JoiiN K. S]()\K wa> liorn in the Township of Orford,
Kent County, thirty six years ago, and moved to Kssex
Centre in 1SS2. In company with his brother, Mr. I.
.\. St-one. he opened a grocery store in the<)ld "Ciiatham
I'.ianch " st'ire, on the corner of Talbot street and (ior-
di n avenue, now occujiied by C.eo. L. Smith \ Co.
Alter about tiiree years, Messrs. Stone I!ros. sold out
tlu-ir Inisiness to a Mr. .\l)boll. .Mr. j. V.. Slonc then en
gaged in buying grain and selling agricultural implements,
whicli business he still follows. In iSS() .Mr. Stom; was
(.le.ted to a seat in the village council, and in iS-^'S was
elected the lirst I )eputy- Reeve of Kssex ('.•litre. He was
again re-elected to fill that portion at the la>t municipal
election. He has made a good officer, more iiu lined to
be over careful than reckless, and takes a i)ride in look-
ing a''ter what he conceives to be the be-.! intere-.ls of his
constituents.
ImiN McDofcAl.l. was born in Klnisdale, Xova
Scotia, in 1S51, and renained there until about ninteeii
years of age. He went from tliere to Hoston, Mass.,
where he learned the Iraile of blacksmithing, and after-
wards worked in Pittsburg, I'enn. Krom there he
travelled through the Western Stales, but as John was
JOHN K. SI (INK.
12
£SS£.\ TO^VN AND COUNTY.
JOHN MAtlHH (iAI.I,,
ents iH(3VL'»l to Onnstown, Chntfautjuay County, <^)iit'. ,
and there hi- irmained until ihiitcen years of ap;t', wlien lie
returned to 'lilhury Kast. Here he Hved eiyiil years, and
then went to Iowa. Three years ago Mr. l\ichar<lson
came to Ivssex Centre, and in partnership wit! - brother,
\V. II. Kichardson, laimched out into the impu lont busi-
ness, and the.y are still carrying on the same business.
Mr, Richardson was inthiced by a number of his friends to
run for councillor at the last uuuiicipal election, and, not-
withstanding that he
has oidy been a resi-
dent of Ksscx Centre
for three years, lie was
elected l>y a fair major-
ity. He makes a good
councillor. To do
right is his motto, and
the electors placed the
right man in the right
place. The financial, mora
town are carefull)' guanled
not of a roving nature, he soon tired of that business,
and about this time he had heard considerable of Kssex
County, the most fertile county in .he Doniinion, and
headed for Canada. Kor a short time he ran a black-
smith shop at Kuthven, and subse<|iiently came to Ksse\
Centre. This was I weUe years ago, and Mr. .Mcl)ougall
o|>ened up a shop on ihe site where Hate iV Co.'s pres-
ent shops are located. ll<' had just begun to work up
a paying business, i.nd to have tilings nice and comfort-
able anumd him, when in lS;;2, everything he owned
was destroyed by lire, .le was not discouraged, how-
ever, and set to work ai I built on the site where his
preseni >hop is located. By his tem(ierate habits,
honest dealing and straightforward manner, he has not
only btiill up a good business, but also enjoys the con-
fidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. Mr. .\Ic-
Dougall makes a good councillor, one who is ever read\'
to sacrihce time and money, to look after the welfare
and interests of the pec)ple of the village, who place<l
him at the head of the polls at last municipal election.
Mk. j. \V. 1<]< II-
.\Kl>si>Nhrst saw the
light of<lay in 1856,
in Tilbury Kast
Township. When
(|uite y<Hmg his ])ar-
J. S. AUSTIN.
,(. W . UlCIIAKhSON.
and social interests of the
b)- him. Mr. Richardson
also takes a lively interest in church aflairs, and is a
staunch nu-mber of the rresliyterian ihurch. He is this
)ear, and was last year, a member of the Managing Hoard
of that church, and it is hardly necessary to say that he
commands the respect and conhdence of his fellow towns-
men.
j. S. At's'l'IN, a member of this year's council board,
was born in the townshij) of Darlington, West Durham,
in 1S52. He spent his boyhood days there, but on reach-
ing manhood, he, like many others, took Horace Creely's
advice and came west as far as the county of Essex, and
we must add here, that Mr. .\ustin never regretted it.
This was in 1872, and for eleven years he was a resident of
Cesto, a village five miles to the south of us. He subse-
£S.SE.y TOWN AND COUNTY.
•3
(luently U»>V a liii> to the Norlli-wesa in its liooni tlays, Itut Mr. Austin fmiml no place
that he adniireii s<> murli as Kssex ("ounly, ami rt'tur.iLMi shortly afterward, and starte<l out
in the j^nuery ami provision Imsiness, in partnership with his brother, in Ksscx Centre. They
continued tins business for over a year, when they sold «nit to Mr. J. J. Kohinson.
who still continues the business in the same stand. The Messrs. Austin then entered tind)er
business, at which it is hardly necessary to say they have been Vv-ry successful. Mr. J. .S.
Austin is a i.hrewd business nuin, a lit and qualified person to occup) a seat at our council
board. lie has the interests of the town ever btloie hiia, and the electors will have ^ood
reasons at the end of the year to feel jjroud of the cor.4dence they plnce<i in him at the last
municipal flection.
Mr. a. 1''.. L<i\Ki.Ai K, the subject of this brief
sketch was born and raised in the township of ( lostield.
Ivssex County, and to the early settler his name is a
familiar one. He Hrsl became a resident of Kssex
Centre in 1876, and shortly afterwards took a trip to
British Columbia ; but returned, alter a few months so-
journ in llial sunny climate. ( )n liis return he was made
manaj^er of ( ieo. Wilson's j^eneral store, one of the
founders of Kssex Centre, an«l at that time there were
l)Ul two stores here, i'or four years he retained this
position, lie then followed the limd)erin^ business for
a brief time, and then securetl a situation with Herube
\ lit/patrick. In iSSO he purchased the C/irotiir/r
priir )tilice, and after runnin};; it siu'cessfully for some
nioi iis sold it to .Messrs. J. Stafford and ( ieorj^e Lainjj.
^ -;-n»T-- 'wiMMW /^k-v^^ ■^'' Lovelace was for two years in .\llan Bros, ^jeneral
•^^ j B^, ^SKr / K^'^ ^''"■«?' and subsequently with K. j. Wilkinson. In
('^J^^^tt^.-^^^-yJl^ / KKflh^ 1888, when Mr. ("has. Naylor retired from the Clerk-
ship of the village, Mr. Lovelace was the unanimous
choice of the council to hll me vacancy. Mr. Lovelace
is a competent and trustworthy otlicer of the town, and
by his genial and obliging ways has gained a warm
» I i^s.LiA.i.. place in the hearts uf his fellow citizens.
John Mil. \k is one of the best known business men
ol this province, and i< recogiii/.cd as a man of ex-
traordinary business ability, lie was boin in Aberdeen-
shire, Scotland, in the year 1S3S. When about tour
years of age he was brought to Canada by his father
who was a shoemaker by tratle. Several of his early
years were sjjenl in the then village of Wooilstock. He
struck out to make his own living wlicn twelve )ears o(
age, and was several years an erranci boy and clerk in
Toronto. He thirsttrd after an education and spent all
lii.-. spare time reading anil studying, and when 18 years
old passed examination as sclioo] teacher, ami was ap-
pointed to a school near Markham Village. He taught
in Markham, Slouffville, and adjoining schools for ten
years with great acceptai>ility. but liis health tailing he
was advised to take some out-door occupation for a time,
ami accordingly he went to the oil fields of Pemisylvania,
* where he made nK)ney, but through a wreck on the
( >hio river lost il all. From there he engagetl in con-
tracting on the building of the (A S. R., ami improveil
his position tinancially.
lie located in Kssex Centre in 1S73, when there were
only two log houses in it, and took an active part in
building up the ))lace. He built saw mills, stave svorks,
mailiine shop, plow works, planing mills, and handle
W( -. employing from too to 125 men, and is univers-
all\ acknowledged to i)e the father of the town. In i875 he was instrumental in getting a
Division Court estai)lished in Kssex Centre, and has been clerk of the court ever since. His
JOHN MII.NK.
14
A'V.VA.V /OilX .LV/> cor.v/'v.
coniicclioii with the Ksscx (\ntre C/iivi;iilc is iiotcil elsewhere. Mr. Mihu- hns Iie«-n severnl
times presseil to accept iioiiuii.atiiin fur the L<k'.\I lutd Doniinioi) rarlianu-nts, hy the Liliernl
party, luit has always pleaded pressure ol Imsiiiess; iieser lailiiij^ however to take an active
part in helping,' to elect the candidate of Ids parly.
Mr. Milne at present carries on a lar^e hankin;^ and 'i-il estate Imsines' at Kssex.
He still contin^le^ to take an active interest in niunici| al niatiers. and to help, and
further every scheme for the benelil of the town .vitti which his own history is so closely ImjimkI
up.
< )f a relirinj:; disposition, inheritiiiL; ilu caution proverbial of the men of llie Sliiie in which
he was Ijorn, and |)o^sessin^ llie in<loniilalile will, cliaractiTislic ol Scotchmen (jcnerall), Mr.
.Milne, althoiij^h virtually a Canadian, hns not failed to e\liil>il tlio>.e iidierited traits ol char-
acter throuf^hout his career ; and allyinj; them to strict morality, honesty of intention and
purpose, he has achieved success of which lu- may weM lie pnnid.
Mr. Milne is also a prominent li^ure in the .\. O. l'. \\ . lli' has lieen Chairman ol the
Finance Committee for ten years, and during,' that lime hassiji;ned warrants lor Weneliciaries for
over one million dollars. His financial report at the meetinjj of the ( irand I.odj,a' in Toronto,
in February last, was t'ntluisiastically received and a voii- of tliaid;s was ^;iven with a presenta-
tion of $lCHi. Ill- n-tired from the Imance Connnillce of that ( )rder durin^j the same session,
an<l was unanimously .■lecteil (ir:ind I'oreman, and in |S<K^ will be eligible lor (Irand Master.
.\Ik. I',. Dt'NsiAN, who has lonfj been connected with
the profjress of this part of the coimty of l-'ssex, came to
I-lssex Centre about iXSo, movini; here hum (iesto,
where lie had for years conducled a saw mill and lumber-
inj4 business. .Mr. Dunslan was for Uuu" years Reeve o|
North Colchester and served the |)eople of that niunici-
l)ality faithfully, .\fter the incorporation of Kssex Centre
as a villai,'e, Nlr. Hunstan transferred his entire interests
to the* baby village, and has since been one of our most
generous, and p\di|i<- si>irited i iti/ens. Hv his tact and
industiv, Mr. Dunslan has risen from tlu' position ol a
comjiaratively destitute pioneer to one of allluence and
cond'ort. He has one of the tinesl residences in this
vill.'ij^e and is enjoyini; a souiewlial rcliie<l lilc. Like
every ac
live nian
V. d w i ii
Dunslan
hashis'en
enemies ;
but they
are iu.»t to
be (ound
amongst
his scores
of e m -
p I o V' e e s ,
who uni-
K. lUNsi AN. V e rs ally
speak of him as a kind-hearted and p,ener-
ous employer, a true friend of thi' cause of taior.
'I'hat man is well recounnended when it is
written of him that, thoujjh he em))loyed hun-
dreds of men he never lost the esteem of one.
Mr. Dunstan conducts an extensive i)rivate bank-
ing and loan business, besides ownint,' larj^e saw
and stave mills. The Dunstan Hlock, one of tiie
finest buildinjjs in the town, is a monument of V..
Dunstan's enterprise and public spirit.
Mr. Jamks Oi.ivkr came to Kssex Centre in
1874, from the county of Lennox where he was jamks oi.ivkk.
AV.S/i.V /■(>!! .V .I.V/i co/:v7):
«5
l))rnin 1840. O 1 bis nrriviil lu-n.- Mr. Otivor intL-rcd llu- ciniiln) nC Messrs. Milne \ Irwin,
in till' caiucity ol'i'il^or, in tin" suvv mi!) of llinl lirni. In Jul) , nl llial year, Mr Oliver had
till- niisCortiiiH- li> lusc his Iclt hand, l>y hn' inj; it i-iit otVwith a saw. iU'inj^ incapacilali'd from
(•(iniinuin(^ his labors in tlu- mill, Mr. (b xr f^'ircd the olticf of .Mr. (ieo. Mallhcws, jjcnt-ral
nuTihanl. which position 1k' n-tainud for two ye. rs, when he tjavc up that situation to enter
till' c.Kici- of |olm Milne, Ks(|. Here he remamed for two years, and at the end of that time,
he i)|KMicd a loan and iiisiiram-e business, which he has most s\ici"essfully <-on<hicted ever since,
lie is also one of the ihi<-f promoters of the (Central (las.iiid ( )il Company, of 'vsse.\ Town,
and has dune nnich lo further the interests of the town in whi'-b he lives. No man has been
more successful in Ivssex, than [ami's ( )liver, and no man more ileserv.'s success, linn
orable anil strictly ui)rij;ht in all bis dealinj;s, his business has increased c(mstantly. All who
liave ever had <lealiMi;s with him, unite in jjronouncin^; James Oliver .1 ^ood fellow, and a
thorough (gentleman, lie counts his friends by the Imndieds ; his eitemies may be nund)ered
on his thumbs. In 1S87, Mr. Oliver erected a maj^iiilicent brick residence on Talbot street.
It is oni' of the most beautiful and convenient private resideiK s that adorn the streets of this
enler|>risint; lown. It is the hearty wish of his fellow townsmen thai Mr. ( )liver may lonjj
If spared to enjoy the fruits of his lioncst loll and indusliy.
It i-an be truliifully sai<l that the subject of this
sketch ^,'rew up with the jiiace, making his first war
whooj) on the 19th day of Jime, 1855, on the old Jones
homestead, in what is now the west end of the town of
Ivssex. Alter biiildin^j up a ^jood reputation as an en-
llmsiasiic fanner, ('apt. b""-'^ "'"'d out his stock, rented
his (arm and entered commercial life. In 18X4 lu- was
judtje at the Provincial Ivxhiliition at < Mtawa, and aj^ain
at the same society's show at London in 1885, and also
at the Provincial .Show at (iuelph, in 1886. He has
served several years on the I'ublic .School Hoard with
success, and his acli\e efforts in connection with the
pulilic school showed that he woidd bi' the riji;hl man
as a trustee on the 1 1 i^h School Hoard. His exertions,
in connection with his lellow trustees, to oiitain for
I'^s.sex Town a very front rank in educational mailers
are now well known to every one who has paid any at-
_ tention to the struj^^le for a first-class hi^h school in
J^y l^^^^^^'^" ^,y^ 1^^^^^ lliislown. 'i'he worthy Captain further won the esteem
^ • nfiiis fellow citizens, iiy the munitii-eiu ;'ift of three an<l
a (|uaiter acres of the choicest lard on Talbot street for
the liij^h school site, and by layinj; out streets all
round the site he has made the jjift still more valuable.
In January, 18S7, Ca])l. [ones was elected to the
council iioard of the village of I\ssex ('entre, ami held
the iKtsition for t\\o\ears in succession.
AI.llKKi
()m:s.
It is scarcely necessary to mcnlion his connecticm with the establishment of the Count)-
I''air at IvsseNC'entre. It is well understood that he is entitled to mucli credit for the success
of that movement, an opinion wiiicii is evidenced by the fact of his continued a|ipointnH'nt. as
general su|)erintendent of the exhibition. When the2isl Ivssex Hattalion of Militia wasnr^^an-
i/ed, a company was formed in Ivssex Centre, and .A. K. Jones was chosen captain. To more
thorouii;iily ht himself for the position, lie placed himself under the drill and instructions of the
Military ('ollejre in Toronto, presided over by Col. Otter. Our captain returned from this
collejre with a well earned certificate of ])i()ticiency, whicli won from the ^overnmeiil a per-
manent commission as captain. Tlie cajitain is also engatjed in the real estate and loan busi-
ness, ami is noted for his sterling intey;rit\- and honesty.
Jami:s \ayi.(ir, of Naylor & Son, the |>roprietors of the mammoth saw mills, came to
Mssex County in 1873, having ]irevi<nisly been engaf^ed in farming, in the township of Mari-
posa, county of Victoria. He was a member of the county council of \icioria for the years
1870, "71 and "72, being deputy reeve of Mariposa for 1870 and '71, and reeve of that township
in 1872. He tirst came to Essex ("entre in 1873, purchasing a farm near the village, which he
worketl until 1882, and on which he has erected a handsome brick residence. In 1882, the
saw mills of fames N'avlor iK: Son were first started. Mr. Xa\lor has always taken an active
l6
/i\v.v/;,\ roii'/v AND coi'jvry.
lAMKS SAVIOR.
inlcrt'si ill the |>r<<s|K:rity of the villn(;c. In 1886, he wn*
elected nienilier<>r the villni^ecnimeil, n |N)sili(in which he
filled III the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Me
was n({ain nominated for the foli(>^^in^ year, liiit would
not run. lie also disa|>|)oinU'd many of his friends who
wished iiini lo run for reeve, lie is a inenilier of ihe
Ili(;h .School Hoar<l, and in 1SS7 was chairman of (hat
liixly, and in this capacity has l>eun most untiring; and
lierseverin^, in his efforts to advance the eilucational inter-
ests of lur town. Kncrgetic, enterprising;, and the soul of
inte^^rity, there is no one in Kssex more universally
usteemed hy his fellow citizens, than James Naylor.
J. !•'. Johnson, e<litor ami jiroprietor of the Kssex.
l.ihiial, was i)orn in Wentsvorth c<»un'y in 1843; educated
there. Tauj^ht school twelve years in Lincoln, Went
wurlii, and Kssex counties. Kn^aged in the mercantile
liusiiiess for three years, afterwards became mana^^er of S.
W'ifjle ilv .Sons extensive husines-i in I,eamin^;ton, eleven
years. Purchased the Leaiiiinj^ton /'c.r/ newspaper, in
iScSj, and after ))ulilishini; it one year, sold, and hou^jlil
tlic Kssex /,//v7v;/, which he is conductin;; as an indepcn-
ilent political paper. The columns are open for the dis-
cussion of any suliject of local or j^eneral lienetit. The
circulation is lar^^e, and lieini; in t!ie centre of the county,
belter adverlisinjj results can Ij^'i^iveii, tli.in williany ol!\er
every |>art of the county
paper. Local new.s letters from
are ])ul)lished weekly, and the cohnnns are always (ille>l
with tile latest local and foreign news. .Send for a sample
copy.
(It'.DUCK Shi iii'.Ki.AN!) was born in I'i'-tou, Nova Scotia,
in 1S61, and remained tiiere until tliirteen years of ajje,
and enjiaLjed as cabin l>oy in the merchant marine service,
v.hich occupation he
folio wed for t w o
jears. lie then en-
tered intoparlnership
with his two brothers,
.Messrs. A. I'". Suther-
land, now Inspector
of the Hamilton Pro-
vident Loan .Society,
aiidlX I''. Sutherland
ajje'U tor the same
so.'iety, then doinj;
business in Dundas
co.inty, as (leneral
Loan and Insurance
Af^ents. lie remain-
ed in this business for
nearly two years, and subse'iuently went to sea, sailin<j
principally between the West Indies, Canadian and Kn^-
lisli ports. In the year 1S7.S, he was eniployed in the
service of the Hay of (^uinto Railway and Nava^ation
Co., of Deseronto, anil remxined in their employ as hre-
luan for three years. He loft the service of that company
and secured a position on the C. P. K., at Wmnipej^,
and remained there till after the close of the Kiel rebel-
lion in 1885. Mr. Sutherldand next connected himself
with the American Dredge Co., of New York, to work
on the Panama Canal, but owinEj to having contracted the Chat;ris fever he was obliged to
abandon work on the canal, and seek a climate more healthy. He came In ("anada, but
J. r:. JOHNSON.
CEORt'.E SUTlIERl.ANl).
A.V.SAA JOH'N ANl> COUNTY,
17
lift slinrlly ivftcrwards for Mexico, whero ho olitainod n position ns cnKinccr on the Mexican
CciUial K. K. This iMisition he liciil till 1X.S7. From there he ennie to Kssex Centre, anil
is now the local anent for the ll:\n>illon I'roviilent Loan Society.
Mk. Mll.l.ARl) came to Pssex ( entre in SeptenilK-r,
187a. There were at that time two hotels, American
and Uoyal — in Kssex Centre, and the former, then a frame
structure, was kept l)y Mr. Millard, under whose mannne-
Mu-nt it remained for three years, lie afterwards enjjaijed
in surveying; with our present reeve, Mr. James S. l.aird,
It '^ and followed the occupation lor four years. He is KaililV
hr ..^ I _^ Wi of the Ki^hth Division Court of I'.ssex, and has
' '*"*' *■ ^ held the position since March, 1882, when he was appoint-
ed to succeed Mr. Oeorge Matthews. Mr. Millard is a
f^oodollicer, an ohlieinj; and ^jenial gentleman, and makes
many frientis, and (ew enemies, in t'te discharge of his
orticial duties. He is an old and resiH-'Cted resident of
the Town.
Mr. \V. J. Johnston is a native of the township of
Cioderich, Ont., wiiere he was horn 45 years ajjo. In
1873, Mr. Johnston came to Mssex Centre and jjurchast'd
a block of land, and connneiiced farming;, which business
he still follows, allhou|;h he is now senior partner in the
firm of Johnston Hros., builders and contractors. In 1884,
Mr. Johnston was elected councillor in the tirst council of
I'',ssex Centre, and in spile of strong; opposition has been re-
elected to that position ever since, but at the last muni-
cipal election when he retired from office. He is a valu-
able public officer. Conservative in politics, l)ut very lib-
and is in all matters a fair-minded and generous
MII.I.AKI).
p.d)lic matters.
era I in
opponent.
Mr. (1koR(;k |. Thomas came to Kssex (\>ntre from
Sarnia in 1876, as i)ook-keei)er for the lateCeorfje Wil-
son, and on that gentleman's decease, succeeded to the
land l)usiness formerly carried on by him. Mr. Thomas
does a large real estate and conveyancing business, and
is manager of the local office of the Bell Telephone Co.
He was appointed Treasurer f)f the High School Hoard
on the organization of that body, and has since continued
to hold that office, and is entitled to great credit for the
active'part taken iiy him in securing the erectifm of a
tirt class high school building here.
Amongst liie men whose public spirit and enterjirisehas
made Hssex Centre what it is to-day. stands Mr. W. H.
Ri'ssKl.l.. Mr. Russell was l)orn in Charing (Tross,
Kent Oiunty, and came to Kssex County in 1875.
After residing in Kuthven for two years he came to
Kssex Centre, and t.iuglit the public school here during
1877 and '78. No man has held more pui)lic offices in
connection with the village, or devoted more f)f his lime
to its interests than has Mr. Russell, lie was a mem-
ber of the public school board from 1880 to 1886 inclu-
sive, and has been one of the high si^hool trustees since
the establishment of the school. Mr. Russell was ap-
pointed Secretary of the Colchester North Agricultural
S<jciety at the time of itsorganization in November, 187 1,
and has held that position ever since. In 1886, he was \\- J- Johnston.
appointed Secretary of the Kssex Union Fair, and to his untiring exertions was largely due the
great success of that exhibition. He has at various limes filled the [Xjsition of assessor and
other pui)lic offices. Three years ago Mr. Russell was appointed Sanitary Inspector of
the village, Init retired from that position in January, 18S9. He filled that office in a most
|8
ASS/iX 7'OII'X .4An> COIW'TW
ceiliinlilo iimniuT. Mr. KiismII is dIhm n tirnt lifUleitniU in ihc Nnlimiccr Cn. , N<i. j, V.^
Kusilirrs.
TiloNi \s ki'sii, our I'liiirtcixiH and nltli^in^ iioslniiistcr, lirst cinir l<> I'!kv\ ('oinily frniiil
< »>likii^«h, WiHi'dnsin, alMiut llic linio of llu- Anu'rican war, Al'lir li\ in^{ a short liinr in Saii<l
wicli, lu* liiiu^ht a farm in the ti>whslii|i <if MaiiNiuni', t^w llic Miililli- Kuail. I ti- afli-rwatiUl
villi ilial, ami uikmiciI a sliof shii|i and general store nl Maidstimi' Cross, Mr. Kiish i',uui' lo|
l'",sst'\ ("iMilri- in the winli-r of 1X72 ami o|H'ni'd out a ^ciu-ral store near llir Maidsloiu" town
lini', in l-Vliruary I.S7J, lie was apiKiini-d |iostntasti-r ol I'.sscx Ci-ntrtin May, 1.S7J, and lias]
hold that |>iisilion i«vor sintc. Ills Htorc was moved to the |ii»sition it now o<vu|)ies on the
west side of 'I'allwit street jnst south of the track, in |S7(;, .Vlioui (hat time Mr, Rush ^ave
ii|> his general husiness, his duties as postmaster rei|uirini; his wliuli- attention, Mr. Kush ha*'
alvva\s taken an ,1 'live interest in nnmiei|>al all'airs and is jusilv rc-^.uded as oiu- of lh»' solid
pioneers to whoni I'issex Cenlie owi's its presi'iit position.
Mk. tiKo. I, 'I'llo.MAS came to Kssex Centre from Sarnia in 1S7O, ns liook-kee|>er for the
late (ieor^e Wilson, and on that ^^I'ntleman's deeease, sui'ceided lo the land tuisiness former!)'
earrieil on liy him. Mr. 'i'homas does .1 l,iri,'e real estate ami (•on\e)an(inn linsiness, and is
manaijer oflhi' Imal ofliie of the Hell I'eleiilione Co, Me was a|ipoinled 'I'reasurer ol the
lli^h School lloanl on the organization ofthat body, and has sin<'e continued to hold ihal
office, and is entilU'd to j^reat credit lor the active part taken hs him in securinj.; the erec-
tion of llrst-i'las', hitrl) '-chool iiiiddincs heie,
Mk. LI'IUIIon is the senior partner in the lirm
of I.eiidiloii iV ( >ue!lette, .Vmherstlair^^, lie is a
son of the l.ile lienr\ F.eij^iiion, and was horn in
the County of I'ssex, on llu 2gth of .May. .\.l).,
lS^7, Shortly after his liirth his iiarents removed
tc» Miciiij^an, wlu-re he received liis education in
the connnon schools. lie returned to <\inada in
|S()I, and after farming; for a few years, enyaneil
ill llie mercantile Inisiness in Wyandotte, Mii'h,,
where he was vi'ry siiccesshil, i)Ut, lailin^; health
compelled him toa^jaiii en(.jat;e in fanning, and, hi'
is widely Iciiown as o'te of our mn^i successful
la riiiers,
usinjjthe
s a in e
yz^. V mi^^mL \Lmk ^/A m e n t
and care-
f u i n e s .
in t h n ^
liusines .
I !iat SI
in u r h
d istinj;
u i s h e
V. 11. i,i',ii;ii ION. him in m^/ii""! "\\\\ v\V\Wiv^ 1,
his former occupation. In 1SS3 he sold out, an.l 8^WWfei!«Ci)l% ^^\l$mf y^yj,
did a larj^e business in loaning' money, hut, in iSSJl a
went into partnership with Mr. I*. ( )uelK'tte, in th • //.
ri'al estate liusiness, and jiy ener(^)- and strict alii'iitioii
the)' have i>eeii more than oidinarily siuci-ssful ; so
much so, that they intend opening' nut a^'encies in
Windsor, I'.ssex and Kin^sville. Durin^j .Mr,
Leij^htoii's busy life, he engaged durinj,' a part ol
the shipping; season, in the p,rain Inisiness, and
personally superintended the shippinj^', taking,' the
part also of a sailor, lie is descemled from a tjood
old I'. K. Loyalist family. His father helonj^ed to a
troop in the rebellion of I.S37, and, was the first
man that boartled the schooner .\nn, at I'llliolt's point near .\mhcrsll)urjj;.
I', < )i'K.I.I,KT'l'K was horn of l''rench )nrents. in the 'I'ownship of .\nderdon, on the banks
Ol'KI.I.KI'IK.
■■■««*apNN»«*^««>wi
BEAL B8IATE BOBfiHT AND SOtB Wf
PAATIEH 0«SIW>UH OF PURCHASING OR SRI-UNIl WCWO* il|
TO COilllUNlCATK WITH THE UNOE88IO»K0r
^kexM jSS^aifm# all e^Qv tkm
AM)
Iff YOV WISH fVR A diOUSB AND LOT m THE i'A/t-fiAatSt^ SUM^^M^
mSOA'T OF AMHBMSTBUK<J, OK J-'AHMim;, Oil OR GAS tM^»S
m Tim CO&NTY, APPLY TO
^ciC(hton q^ ^uellot^^.
' r
aX
T'w/onney BlocU,
HSi"-^
-$m^hrmw^^Sm^S^^.
ix-^du n
.AMD.Oi
mmftt^fim.
'^■stfAtat^^^M^^ noitb
'"''JJ^jI^ **w *a<i y«ry
Tbi-eo l|«r«» of J)dr«hajrd.
fmog. TW» !• p»» Tif the
tiCofiiHi)' or X^Mx. Anv
,,, , Ltkg a nl^<('-|iiQm« Aifi-il)9 bAftQtl-
^j^rfTflriltMttldjbot iul« Ills op-
rB««, 79 i«ir«B ttnA» onlti'VAttoii I^II
rAlHnri rrtvo fedovi. Fl<)'«i']nc welK
hQUfiA>mi1 oattWilitfriKS f*r66te3 At
.■.»,<50»* of *«,{K;o rhree nitts* frrtm Mo-
•//GhtWJO^. rtn a R.. Bf . and I<. B. J0 & D. B,
- R«.. I*ft(M!, $7.n00,
ItK I'Vt'^l. b'daailfu) looaUon ^ob tho T>e»roit
*Jv^y, jUBv, thipli^ft tot Bk ^wxtar) and
v^iVAt^ resjiilenc.) JoU vary ?lcb. Gooa
„^frft4na liott«4 &n<l hfu-n Two iAt|«a froia
tf-' MtftOMburs^, ond^ ni Ue froBfi U ft |( station .
T'kreUis wiKhteg a home on m^ Date-oit
Tiv«r should couM and see tliia. Prioe
d.noo .^.
, aare«^fl5pndflr cttltivattoa. Soil Rrav^r
Mad bl»ok loaui. 10 noirafl ({oo<1 timber.
6bo^ well. 14 aoivn of wheat thrown Id
ir|>tti*ohi*8eci now. 5 nille* troi^ Amhent-
Ijnrjk
Si J 00 Mrea. 50 ftows ctenred. Soil, olsy
loam Aji ki^rtg qH timber Drained by
the MoL^nn tup drain and a braneb ot fb«
Cl'iuard river. Praoie honse, log stfvb^a.
H)^<nUe»froin '^•oOroi/or «tation nn'\ also
from E. fc « ft D B IVv price, i|4,fino.
^8 Uren, 4fl under cultivation. Roil v^y
rich UfMfk h> >m Prrtntjr o;6 Detroit fMyrr
3Ji!^%il<>iiftrotn Amberatbtirg. Price. M.POO
mti ttor^B. ftJl nnd'T ciiltivatlnn Soil elftv
-in^w. Oood f<»n<;es and a aptpndid wbIJ
' Gftod Jo/i bouse , SttnnfeM four niil^afrora
A'lfcherstimrg Prioa Kl.lOO
IflH? J'ftri"'' Onrtd f1 wf llini? bouiic, faoinR-the
■|;n!i2be<itorNo''t»i tomtllne, ((bout one mile
'f 'rtm MoG-riwot' vilUae TbiB fav*n being
irttiiinnflRyreiob of the M C Ev and the
^rrrt JS B * p 8 Jtv . would he a HOnd tfiWRfc-
'-^ Jwe* t. Wta b« unl "« cheap. Price, #».00O.
►O «ore«, iSAqxK* under oultiv»«ion, <!inod
rcfti^se ^nd cktf biiildlutta. t^nl* | of a njiile
)i,yi Mcat<H»nr vtUtM".' 'th is -fartP MU he
~«irt4f9t for one weiak itblyr'«(i<v la
tor <ukle at a 4H,erifio<ft tloh^t -inlBtf
><>or^nity of' setUnfl a~ g«!i«i1 fatm
Wtapfrty at «tj*^ ttn(nt.aoiA In the
Ek« ftiSntt^ 1«B4' if m^a- «ithln the
M
<8.
M, 9#4M|«ir,bnehei>«H«H rlW
ootlohid^«)ito«oahtlr. Bjt^
of A ftttalt am(*dti« Ihl* Vai
«t »h* pr«tMe«t borne* In t^
ifl» Motiifle reekittn a- 'fa:60i« In d&l
altawtionto vMtilblBiM^w tmt uOMfi
Wtb Qt:irtiiidi«»JSi»»st*hfAnl*»^^
iiwo miles trotta- AnbevRtbanrA,..
froio <3 8Bdflr)a«*fliln1ii.U4ig>i
Texas liftadlBif. Prlo«. |6,00dt- / .; ij^ ,
W. 1 lO aoree ore the t>0trnlt KiVer, rf'^lrtiril*
trom Atpherst burst, «5.Mprea undiiKAti'" '"
. tloo.. itt)*l verv cjeh lOam. ^^tiSA
alt aroiiod Th«r8 i»« ftrst'dl^'
dy*lUM «nd -• othnlUUnftfl V^hpV
of 100 bearir crtrei^A eompri«fug^i«l'
ftiod^of apples, oeiirs HndpAutbetf:
4 A acres Sttvi natpn olAar^cL 1^ .-wmw
timbM, splondMI 'WpD, ttmaan fb>j|v•^
tsondttion. flpi) olay l<|!ai|p ^I*l0a|&,tw. «
SO »oreBr40 ««rft^. und^r otfltiTft^PtaTjwVtt-
rleh block loam, fehot^g ar6 in .»«*"-'-'■•=
order tfaevWhoU beingi- ditmbU im.
fields Good fraoae hoose.tgMija.tT'.'t
he9 b«m#t 8bedi«'Sltntti«d otU^ ^ijm
frotn Atnberetbinfg, <m'^fi{»«wall
' tween. Anderdon and Ulalaea.- tWia'
tWAiOEN TOWNSHfl*.
50 aeres on Knap)>'s Islxnd, 30 »«
oaltiv.it(on Soil very rlob,
oak on plaofl. Feuoati go' d QonteU.
and storehonse Tbrfe tniUs tx0ta '■£%ei'.''
berotbnrg.. Price, ta^jnO. -m"*-
01 oetes. All undjM oolt}vatio»., ■*""
loam end very easily droi^
oreliard RplendiJ farm aUthAH:^; „
looatt0h. V«rv ho; d house aiiff baJ'tt/ ■
miles from Amberstbnv^. r^«e,' *5^JE
7& nor<»8, part of -CaldKrell rI^imiK !^
knowp ae ibn Rnaume fafm,, «>» th« -teltV
sttor^. Thi» l"t is oirered.fclfr>Ml- vincff*^^
lo^lv cheap, llcwse and bHraoitthenlAo*):
Price. S1.«00. ' j -
50 'foi'ea, 35 ttndor oaltivo^iun, SoiV Mmf$
\aabi 4 iiOres timbt^r Gbod fitt^MA /»i;mjh
Hood welL PTon'se, fttaiila, |;;r<titekrv''iMi^:pii«
T>en. rivn mllea from AWliarirtbtnifr,'
Price, »3.8(i0. ■'^.^ri'T^^
ffO acfes, 40 acres iK/jider «ulftr)<
fftinae houses nnd two stAi'lM'
ftflCOtj-ees. Weir^ftt«red.
35.
S2.
i«i
TfltUlllr IflfElf^
ar. so Hares'* nJiTftefr^m.Co*,^
TanA ^ald write ttt once >
ESSEX TOWN AND COUNTY. 19
ofvhe Detroit River, A. 1)., 1853. He was eductited in Aniherstlmrt;, ami at the colle{jes
in Sandwici) and Montreal. Hemarriedthedaughterof T. V>. White l'".s(|., ex -Reeve of Anderdon,
and the Warden of the county. Mr. White is well known in connection with the stone
<|uarries in Anderdon, also as having lieen a candidate for parliamentary honors, in the
Conservative interest. .Mr. Ouellette is a member of one of our oldest French families, his
ancestors coming lo this country with La Motte Cadillac, the founder of Detroit, whose name
is still perpetrated in the ("adillac House, Cadillac .Scjuare, and Cadillac y\vc. , while his
statue has a prominent place on the City Hail, Detroit, and Ouellette j^venue, familiarly
known as t!ie silk stocking street, because of its aristocratic residences, is one of the oldest
streets in Windsor. 'Hie name is a very familiar one in Essex. Mr. Ouellette speaks I'"ng-
lish and l''rench witii equal iUiency. .'\fter leaving college he first entered the grain l)usiness.
He repre.;enis several insurance companies, and. has been very successful with one of the largest
farmt-'rs companies, so nuich so, tliat he stands tenth on the list, among one hundre<l agents.
Heing thorouglily conversant with the wants oft he county, Mr. Ouellette engaged in the real estate
and loan business, with Mr. Leighton, and they have succeeded in forming one of the largest
real estite a':i(!ncies inWestern Ontario. Parties from the Eastern Provinces will find it t(- their
advantage to deal with this lirm. Mr. Ouellette has always taken a very prominent part in
musical cilture, and l>as for the past eleven years been a director of the K. V. church choir,
which has achieved an enviable notoriety, as ttie i)est choir west of Hamilton. Being closely
identified w'lh the tarming interests, he understands the wants of farmers and will be pleased
to give an\ mfovniatjnn in connection with his i>usiness.
TOWN' OF ESSEX BUSINESS DH^ECTORV.
Dry GpOih, Milli»cr\\ Carpels, Cents h'urnisliiiji:;s, Ete. — .\llan Bros., I), j. Whitney,
Dielx'l i"v Bricker, Wigle Bros., R. J. Wilkinson, and (Jeo. E. Smith & Co.
huniiliire and Uiidcitaker. — J. A. Hicks.
y/rt/////;' J////.-- Laing Bros. , Johnston Bros.
Turin'/ Kir Manufacturers. — Lewless & Misener.
Ap-ieultural Iiiiplcnwnts. — W. Church, Richardson c*v Brn. , and .\. E. Jones. |te. '
Tohacconisls. — Williams Bros. ^'
Druzi^/sts.—(j. A. Sherrin & Co., J. Thome, and C. A. Wisnier. i
Hankuare. — W. II. Richardsf)n, (iardner Bros., and Sutherland & McMurray.
Groceries.— V). M. Brisbin, .S. Wilkinson, J. J. Robinson, \'. \'ance, (i. (1. Steele, and
R. Sutherland.
Green Grocery and Confectionery. — J. A. Stone.
I.ii'ery. — A. j. Reycraft, and (1. Arner.
Teed and Boardiw:: Stable. — John McDougall.
Societies. — I. O. Odd Fellows, Encanijiment Odd Fellows, Indejiendent Order of Fores-
ters, Ancient Order United Workmen, A. F. iV .\. Masons, Oood Tem|)lars, Womens Chris-
tian Temperance Union, Band of Hojie, Royal Templars, Eyceum, \. P. A., Social Union,
and Mechanics Institute.
Le:^a!. — Clarke iv Wismer, antl J. L. Peters.
LanI an i Loan .-tvn.'s. — E. Dunstan, Coo. Sutlierland, A. 1'^ Jones, J. (Jliver.J. Milne,
Jos. Dring, A. I''. Lovelace, and (u'(). J. Tliomas.
A'WVi/.— W. I. Slater, and Dr. Martin.
Medical. — J. Fergusson, Brien, Dewar lV McKenzie, and E. "rouse.
:,' Veterinary. — A. J. Reycraft, and W. D. Campbell,
]' ■' Hoots and Shoes. —Q. Eaton, W. Powell. Jas. Douglas, and L. M. Burnham.
/'iiotOi;;iaf/ier.—]. N. Wigle.
Insurance. — M. Fulnier, J. Iv Johnson, J. Oliver, Z. Cillies, A. E.Jones, C. II. Fuller
Je^velers. — H. J. Dixon, and E. L. Park.
MerclianI Tailors. — J. Dewar, (]eo. Barnes, Wigle Brcs., Allan Bros., (\. (Jrinaldi iV Co
Restaurant^ — M. Joubert, and D. C. Ilorton.
Blacksmiths.—]. .McDougall, John Bate* Co., R. Wallace, nnd I'. Dehnore.
Dress Makim:;. — Misses Stokes <fe Thornton, .Misses Whit'.', and Miss Thornton.
Foundry and Machine Shop. — Essex Centre MTg Co.
Gunsmith and Repairiui^ .Shop. — Corbet it Co.
.Sumeyors.—]. S. Laird, and \. J. Halford. •
Auctioneer. — R. E. Millard.
Bakers and Grocers. — J. M. Hicks, and II. X. Lane. -
Harness. — jas. Mav, and [. H. Lawson. ' ,• ' "^ V '
2Q
ESSEX TOWN AND COUNTY.
ttaihers. — Cieorge Coll, A. ("lilljoc, and (ieorge N'oiing.
Drays. ^]. Hrown, W. Wij^ie, J. Hutchinson, and Welsh A' Kobeits.
/.aiiiiitry. —A.. |. Walker.
tinl( hers. —h. M. McCreery, H. Nutter, and Jas. Ilopgood.
//(Vf/.f. — Royal, tlrand Central, American House, Canada Southern, and Farmers Home.
l.iinibef and Stave Mills.— v.. Dunstan, James Naylor * Son., E. C. Lewis, and T. II.
DeCew.
Breeders of Choke Stock. — H. (1. Arnold.
Carria,i;e ami Wai:;on Worlds. — J. Hate it' Co., F. Delmore, f. R. Ley.
Bankin" Houses. — Imperial, Struther's Milne's and I)unsl:vn"s. .
Handle Works.— {:,. M. Willson.
iiutter Dis/i luuloiy. — Chas. Hannan.
Hu'ler l^oivl Factory. — James Emerson.
Cooper. — Wm. Sisson.
Creamery.- — Sinclair A' Clarke.
Sasli and Door Factories. — Laing Bros., and Johnston Hros.
IVar'in:^ IVorks. — Robinson iV Jones.
/o/> Print inj;. —Tlie Liberal CXfice.
\inst Mill. -V.. Dyson A' Son.
Cliarcoal Kilns. — T. II. DeCew.
A FEW OF THE RESIDEXCES, CHURCHES,
iUiSIXESS HL(3CKS.
SCHOOLS, HOTELS, AND
The lirsl settlers in any place have not usually the inclination, or thenieans, to put up
handsome buildings, either as places of l)usiness, c)r as private resid(Mices. But when the sta-
bility of a town is once assured, and in»i)rovement in fortune follows successful business enter-
prises, the iiuildings which formerly seemed amply sufficient in the eyes of their owners, com-
mence to seem small, an<l out of harmony with the spirit of growth and expansion, everywliere
j)redominant. Such was the case with Essex (xMitre. Tiie (irst t)uildings were necessarily
frame, and of a more or less lemjiorary character, but, of late years, as the town has continued
to grow and prosper, the enterprise of our local business men and captalists, has found vent in
the erection of handsome brick l)\isiness blocks and residences. Essex Tiow boasts of
many large and handsome brick residences, some of which wf)uld be no disgrace to the mo^t
aristocratic avenues of Toronto or Detroit. Perhaps the finest and best appointed of these is
Mr. John Milne's residence, situated on the south end ofTalbot .Streetnear the fair grounds.
This handsome residence was erected in 1882, at a total C(jst of about $18,000. It is built of
red l)rick, occu])ies splendid and well laid out grounds, and commands the admiratiiMi of all
visitors to our rising town.
f I
I)K. HRIEN S KESinENCl';. DR. DRVVAR S RKSIDRNCE.
Dr. Brien's house is situated on the northern part of Talbot street, and is surrounded by
handsome lawns and walks. It is a fine structure of red brick antl was erected about nine
years ago.
Dr. Dewar's house, which was built in 18S7, is one of the handsomest in the villa^j'j. It
is situated (jn the west side ofTalbot street near Mr. Milne's.
ESSEX TOWN AND COUNTY.
2\
MK. lOIIN MM.XES IU'',SI DKNCK.
■■\<J^
7^//\. ■ -^
KESIDENCK OK J. K. JOIINSON, l.KAM I NCTON.
uKsiDKNir: oi' I. s. i.aikd.
aa
£SS/C.\- roilW AND COUNTY,
This l)eaiitiful residence was erected in 1887 at a cost of $4,000. It is a frame two-
storey Imildiiij;, with veratxlah running alon^ one side and end tifty-four feet ionfj. It has
ail the modern improvements in heatinjj, lij^htinj;, cVc. The residence, with the grounds,
thirly-hve acres, are within one-fjuarter of a mile of the Leaminplon terminus of the M. C. R.
and also of liie I^aUe Hrie, Essex and D. R. R. Land in the vicinity of Leaminjjton is rap-
idly increa.iinj^ in price, and this property is a very valuable one. It is in clos( proximity to
the j^as helt of South Essex.
The residence of J. S. I^aird is situated on Talhot street, al)ove the railway. It was one
uf the first hrick residences erected in the Centre, and is in every respect worthy of its genial
owner.
MR. \V. H. RICllAKOSON S RESIDKNTK
is one that Essex may well feel proud of. It is situated on Alice street, and was erected in
1888. It is a fine structure of red brick, of modern architecture, and surrounded by a handsome
lawn and walk.
In the s])rin^ of 1874, as Essex Centre began to gmw, the Methodist church people who
had previously worshipped alM)ut a mile west of the village, in an old frame church, thought
it was time to have church privileges nearer. Tiie first sermon was ]ireached here al)out that
time l)y Harrison Thornton in a wagon sho|i, which stood about vvliere Richardson's brick
block now stands. The audience numbered about twenty, and sat around on the wooden
benches. Afterwards, when the store building on the west side of the track was erected by
(ieorge Wilson, the u)3per part was made into a hall, and here the Methodist Episcopals
established regular services in connection with the Cottam Circuit. Rev. A. E. Adams then
officiated. Mr. Adams was succeeded by the Rev. Messrs. Laycock, Fletcher, Rurdette and
Eansher, in the order named. The first Sabbath .School was organized by Mrs. James Oliver
and Floren':e Milne (then a small girl,) going amongst the villagers and gathering in the
children, tiie attendance on the first Sabbath numbering fifteen, (leo. Matthews, who then,
kept a small store, acted as superintendent. Next year the Methodist Episcopal frame church,
inw used as the Baptist church, was built. In 1876, the Canada Methodists, untler Rev. Wm.
Henderson, formed a society, which the succeeding year built the brick church on (iord )n
avenue. Ihe two congregation^^ increased rajiidly until the union of all the Methodist denom-
inations in 18S3, when that c' eh was enlarged to accomodate both congregations. The
church is a han<lsome and subst.mtial structure of red brick. It is the largest church in the-
town, and has a seating capacity of 600. Rev. Mr. Henderson labored in this church for
some time, with the Rev. J. E. Russ as assistant. He was succeeded by the Rev. Wm. Cod-
win, who in turn was followed by the Rev. Chas. Smith. Rev. Chas. Smith was pastor until
E6..EX /VIVA' AND COUNTY.
23
*Htt PRESS c«_"^"*'"
THE METHODIST CHURCH. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH,
the union, when VV. Fansher, of the M. E. Church, assumed the pastorale of lioth congrepa"
tioiis. Tiic Kcv. \V. f. Ford, who succeeded Rev. Mr. Fansher, was settled here in 1885,
and under Ills jTuidance the church continued to increase in mend>ershii) and prosperity. The
present i)a.t()r, Rev. J. R. (lundy, entered u|)on his duties nearly a )ear a^o ; and the year
lias been one of marked pros]ierity. Tlic present memhershiii of tiie church is about 350.
R. r. Chuucu. — One of the most progressive congregations in Essex, is that
of the Roman ('ntholic church. Ui> till August, i<S85, the .adherents of the Roman Catholic
faith in I'.ssex Centre worsjiipped in the magnificent parisli cimrcli at Maidstone Cross, Essex
Centre being at that lime a part of llie parish of Maidstone. In the fall of 1S85 holy mass was
first celebrated in Ivssex Centre in tlie parlor of Mr. j. C. Peck's residence, by Rev. Father
O'Connor, the jires^nt parish priest of Maidstone and of Essex. To keej) pace with the
increase in the mendiership of the jiarish, and in order to furnish a more suitable jilaceofwor-
shij), it was wisely resolved to erect a handsome church two years ago, of which the above is
a good picture. The building is of red brick, the main ])art being 33x50 feet, the vestibule
12x8, and the sanctuary, 12x33. The height of the walls is 22 feet. Tlie lower which sur-
mounts the ante-room is a fine one about 75 feet high. The cluirch is a creditable addition to
the jiublic buildings of l-^ssex. Rev. Father ()'("onnoi of Maidstone, is also jwrish
l^riest of Essex. A man of the noblest character, ever ready with heart and hand to
assist the poor antl comfort the atllicted, he is beloved by the pcoi)le of his own faith and
esteemed and respected by those of other creeds.
I'lU'-.siiYTi-.RiAN Church,.— Regular service in connecticm with th« Pres-
byterian church was begun in April l88i, in the Canada Methodist Church. For four years
the services were held during the summer months only, the supply being the present pastor
then a student in Knox College, Toronto. A communion roll was formed in August 1882,
with iS members, and in 1883, Me.ssrs. John Dewar and Alex. Laing were elected the first
24 liSSJiA /•(:llN AN/> COIWTY.
ciders. In llic fall ot 1884 a church costing; ahout $2,300 was Iniilt and i)|icnc'tl with a (lcl<l
of alunit $800. In the s|>rin^' of 1885, Uil- congrcKation nunilierinij ihen 52 nienil)C'rs, was
erected into a vacant charge, and the present i)astor, Kev. VV. M. I'leniinj^, having; compleled
his collej^e course, was called, and accepting;, was ordained and inducted on the 51)1 of May,
the congre!;_alion heinjj aided to pay his stipend by a ^jrant of $.500 from the Au^jmentation
I'lnid o| the church. Since tiiat time the progress of the con^re(^alion has lieen rapid and
iiiailliy. It has now four elders, Messrs. John Dewar, Alex. Laiiip;, W. )l. Uichardson, and
Dr. 1'. A. Dewar, and 135 meiid)ers on the roll. The finances are manaj;ed in t;ood business
fashion, by a board of nine, Mr. II. W. .Allan beint; (Jhairn\an ; Mr. K. A. Wisiner, .Secre-
tary, and Mf. (leo. Lainj^, Treasurer. At this date the dei)t of t!ie church has all l)een ))aid
off, the coiiL^re^'ation is self sustaining, provides its minister with a Iree house, and pays him a
stipend of $900 ])cr annum.
Till'". ('iit'Kcii r)V Knci.an'd.'- The congicgalion oMhe Chrr.ii of Knj^Iand in this |)lace,
held their first service in the Temi>erance Ilall on Talbot .Stri'i't, in the early part of l.Vf'o.
The Ke\'. Arthur (J. Smith, at present missionary to the Oneida Iiidinns Muncey Kesene,
came, at tiiat time a theolof^ical student, to take chnrije of l!ie jiarish of Leanun^ton and
North l\i<l};e. I''indin}^ several mend ers of the church in the then small villaj^e of Ks^ex
Centre, h'.' immediately coiumenceil to gather the people to{;etl;er on the .Salibath in tlie abovi-
mentioned hall. Heiiif; an indelatif^ai-!': worker he met with ^real succss, and a cln;rrh
building was sjwedily in course of eie'tion. A lot was purchased from Dr. I'rien, on thir
corner of .'Mice street and I'.rien aveiuic. .uid the corner-stone ol t!,i' new edifice laid 1 y
Hishoi) llcUumth in 1SS2. The churcii is a neat red lirick buihiini.;, j^othic style, and has a
seatinq; capacity of aiiout 200. It was built from plans drawn 1))- .\ii-. Alex. Lainfj, who was
both architect and builder. The church lias ever since continued to }M'ow, the membership
now nmubering considerably over 100.
TlIK Hap'I 1ST CllUI{Cll.--This churcii was orj^anized about five jears aj^o, and was for-
mally reco!;;nize<l as a conijregation on Novemlier 19th, 1884. It started with eij^ht members,
but the mendiership has j^rown rapidly, a-nd now numbers about 40. The church owes its
success in a larj^e measure to the efforts of two students, who have supplied its judpit for the
(greater part of the time since its orj^ani/ation. These youn^j nien were Mr. J. K. Mills, who
came here about three years ago, and Idled the position of jiastor for six months, and Mr. Jno.
Ihown, who succeeded him. The church until recently was dependent on local supply, but
they now have pastors sent them by the Home Mission Hoard, under whose charge the con-
gregation is. Ui) till August, 1887, the congregation \N()rshii)|)ed in the Tem|)erance Hall,
above Mr. Hrisbin's store. At that tine they bought the old M. K. Chapel situated north of
the track, and have since held service there. The structure is a neat frame building, well
adaptetl to the present reepiirements of the baptist jieople, and has 1 ecu tastily and conifort-
al)ly furnished throughout, under the pastorate of the Kev. D. D. .Abott, who came hero one
year ago last February.
TiiK Hicii SciiO(Ti.. — This, which four years ago was luit an exi'.eriment, is now one of the
established institutions of the town. It was opened in Septen 1 ( r i!:'85, with an attendance
of II, now tiie number on the register is 75, and the avcraj.'e attendance 66. The first
board consisted of James Naylcr as Chairman ; I. S. Laird, Secretary ; (Jeorge J. Thomas,
Treasurer ; A. K. Jones, John Milne, and W. H. Russ(;II, who all held office till last January
when Mr. Laird retired and was succeeded by Mr. A. H. Clark. To their untiring energy
and enthusiasm the success of the school is maiidy due, an<l those who know the difficulties
they have had to contend with, will give them no stinted praise. The school work was com-
menced in the frame church, now oex'upied by the baptists, liut, arrangements were speedily
made to put up a building adecjuate to the future re<|uirenients of the town. The original
intention wis to build at a cost of about $5,000, l)ut, at the desire of the High .School Inspec-
tor, the I'oard a|i))ointed Messrs. Thomas and Russell as a comvliittee to visit a number of high
schools and rep<at ; an<l these gentlemen after visiting Chatham, Dutton, Kidgetown,
I'etrolia, Sarnia, an<i Port Huron, returned, fully convinced that nothing suilaile to such a
prosperous Town as Isssex, could be built for less than $8,000. The jjlans for the present
iiandsonie building were jire] are<l by Mr. Alex. Laing, and the contract carried out by Mr. U.
Welsh. It is of red brick, 64x67 feet, two storeys in hi-ight with three class rooms in each
storey, has a first-class basement and large attic, and will accomodate if necessary oyer 200
pupils. It was put up to comply completely, with all the de]iartmental rccjuirenients, as to
light, heating and ventilation, and is graded first-class almost in every particular. At present
only three rooms are (jccupied, the upper stoie) being uniinishetl. So far the cost has been
/iSSI-lX Ton A ANH COUNTY.
as
mlidul $ti,50o, ami when c<)mj)lclf<l will prol)al)ly Ik: alKnU $lo,ooo. '1 he j»r(iun(ls, over three
mrcs, were i^iveii liy ("apt. A. 10. Jones. As Ihc building; has Ijoen open less than six months
the ^jroiiniis are yet soinewhnl roiijjh, Imt arranjjeinents have l)een nia<le to
^ra<le them properly and jilant them with evei|;reen, majile, elm, ash aiirl
hasswoixl trees. Much ol the early siicces.s ol the schrx)! was due to the
ahility, tact and energy of the (irsl Head -master, .Mr. A. Weir, J{. A., who
resigne<i Oct. 18S7, to study law. lie was succeeded l>y Mr. L. A. Ken-
nedy, W. A., who lelt in lSii8, to take the lie.idmji.sier.shipof J'armersville,
H. .S, The jiresent Ile.idnmsler, Mr. C. L. ( lassweller, \\. A., entered
nil his chities in C)(toi)er ihJS. 'J he first assistant was Miss Haiti, H. A.,
now teaching; in Jlr.intlord, C I., who
WHS followed liy .Mr. llunl, Mr. |. Mar-
shall, 15. A., and .Mr. K. (iourl.ny", U. A.
.Mr. R. H. McKay the present tirst
as.sistant has been here since October
last. In January ihJ'ig, owinjj to in-
creased atten<lance and more
advance<l work, the loard found it
necessary to appoint a thini teacher, and
tiieir choice lell on Miss C". Hardy, of
.St. Catharines, wlio cojiimenccd woik in
Feliruary. Mr. .Sealh, Hij;h .School
Inspector, alter his last visit jjave a very
favorable olhcial report, saying that in
Mr. Crassweller llie board ha<l secure<l
an excellent hea<bnaster and that he had
formed ii very favorable opinion of the
work of .Mr. .McKay, the only a.ssist-
ant at that tinie. Classes are now study-
ing for first, second, ami third class
teachers' certilicates, lor matriculation to
Toronto, and (Queen's Universities, and
for entrance to the school of |)ractical
science. One of the important features
oftheschoolis the Literary .Society, which
meets every second Friday alternoon,
and has already done much to train its
liic.ii scunoi,. memlxjrs — public speaking, reailing,
etc. There is also an active Foot Ball Club in connection with the school.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOI,.
The first public school in Essex Centre
was opened in the year 1S75, in the little
frame building on Laird avenue owned by
Richard Wolle and occupied as a dwelling
house, which was then situated on TallK)t
street where (ieo. E. Smith t^ Co.'s store now
is. The first teacher was Miss Kelty (now
Mrs. A. J. (ireen) and the schiM)l opened with
10 pupils. Part of the present Uiilding was
erected in 1875 al a C(.st of $2,500. In 1.S.S3
the building was found altogether ina(k'i|uale
to accrimoilate the large attendance and the
front was pulled down and the building jjut
into its present shape al a cf)sl of $6,200.
.Since then an additional expen<tilure of $1,700
has lieen made in the way of seating, heating
and plastering. It is now a handsome and
commodious brick structure, weW adapted for
the wants of the town. Mr. C. II. Fuller is
headmaster, and is assisted by four lady
teachers.
26
/. / .S/:A roiVN AM) COl n jv.
I'KCK AND UICIIAUDSONS' I!I.r);ll.
Mcsrs. r)„,bd \ I nrkcr ns a 5r,.„..,al slure, W. II. Rid.a.cUnn as l.ar.lwnrc sK.rc an.l W.
Duncan is a l».nk and st.ili.MUTV st.nu.
I'irK niTN'siAN in.nf'K.
THK GARDNER l!I,OCK,
()iK- of the liiK'sl brick blocks in the town, is the Dunstan Rlock, erected and owned by
Mr. Iv Dunstan, and occiij]icd by Wit^lc Hros.
Another handsome building is the Gardner Block, ixiilt by Gardner Bros., and owned !)y
Messrs. Williams Bros., containing; two stores, one ofthem l)eing occupied by Gardner Bros, as a
hanlware store, and the other by (ieo. E. Smith & C). as general store.
A'.V.SA.V 7(>U\V AX/> COUNTV.
«7
I IIK I.IIIKKAI. Ol I K K. I UK AMKKKAN llOtJSK.
TiiK Kssicx l.iiti.KAi.. 'Ilic rir-il i)aper pulilishLHl in Kssex ('fiilre was The Chronicle, the
first numl)er <if which was issued in May, 1S79, hy Kobt. Fair, of Leamington. It was pnl)-
lishcd as a four-page sheet with "patent outside." The Chronicle wns sold to John .Milne in
the fall of 1879, who continued to run it for a number of years, K. A. Hughes, j. K. Copus
and John Curran being at various times editors. Mr. Milne also started the Canadian Wr)rk-
man, the official organ of the .\. (). U. W., which was printed in Kssex Centre for some time.
On June i8lh, 1880, Mr. Milne changed the size and shape of The Chronicle to an eight
page 5 column jiaper. Mr. Curran bought the paper from Mr. Milne in July 1882, and con-
tinued to run it as proprietor until 1884, when he sold out to Mr. A. K. Lovelace. Mean-
while The .\(lvance had been started in 1882, by Mr. John Stafford. This paper was carried
on by him until 1885. At the beginning of that year Messrs. Ceorge Laing and John Stafford
•)ought The Chronicle from Mr. Lovelace and amalgamated the two i)apers.
RSSKX CENTRK Vf ANUFACTURINC. COM PAW.
changing the name to The Argus The paper was run under this style and firm until Decem-
ber of that year, when it was purchased by a joint stock company, of which Dr. Hrien was the
chief shareholder. The name of the paper was then changed to The Lliti'.RAl.. The first
manager was I Harley Brock, who was succeeded by J. C. llands, and finally the manage-
ment of the paper passed, in August, 1886, to Mr. J. M. Kennedy, from whom we purchased
aK /t.s.sA.\ /on A.iJv/> cofwn:
in |S8X. Wf have ciilnrj^iMl it sinre to a six tnlmnn, cij;!)! pnjje |in|)c'r, andfinvc Inr^t'Iy increnned
its circiilatinii. It iinw lurins tho Iti'st ailvirtisiiin; iiu-diuni in tlif cnunly. The I.ihk.kai. j<>li
otVice is <iiu' n\ th<' Ik-sI i'(|iii|)|)i'<l tdwn ultiivs in Ontario. A larjjt- innnluT of hands are con-
Klnntly cniiiloycd, the stall havinjj hccn more than doul)it'd l)y the pres-
ent proprietor, in order to perlornt the jjreally increaseii nnioinit of work with which the ofFice
has been favored. Not oidy is the Ijhi-.k.m. job ofhce doin^j all the work of this section, Imt
a nmnlier ot linns in the Knstern part of the Province jjet their jol) work done here.
The i.iiii'.KAi. ofUcc is sitiialeil on 'I'allMit strict in the north end of the K, (.'. Manufacliirinjj
Co.'s luidilin;^. An iininense ninotint of job work is turned out every
inniiih, tlirti- jircsses bein^j kejit in almost constant use. New type has lately been added to
the assortment, and the facilities for turniin; out lirst-clas.s work are now unsurpassed by any
county office in Ontario.
The alwive cut is very exact, and will i)e more appreciated and better understood by tin-
majority than any word description. These ma(;niticent i)ui]ilin^s are situated on 'lalbot
street, and consist of an immeiist- three storey brick iiuildin^;, 240x40 feel, jS feet hi^h ; an
enj;inc room, 40x20 feet, two storeys hij^h ; a franu' moulilin^ rooi.i, 40x100 feet ; and two
larjje sloreiiouses, 60x30 and 40x70 feet resjiectively. The institution formerly comprised s'nw
mill, planinj^ mill, handli' works, machine shop, foundry, an<i plow works. Tlie company
have now disposed of llu- three former (lepnrtuu-nls, the saw mill iicinjr carried on by .Mr.
T. II. Di'Ccw, the planinp; mill by Messrs. Lain(^ Mros., and the hanijle works by Mr. (leori,'!'
M. W'illsoii, Tile two latter businesses are, however, still carried on in the compatu's builil-
ings. The company now manufacture |)riu'ij)ally en^^ines, boilers, and ^;eneral foundry work.
I'ower is furnisiied to the machine shops b\ an immense stationary i'n|;ine of 60 horse |M)we5
which was liuilt by tile company, and furnishes power for seventy wood working machines,
utili/.inj; 500 feet of runninj.; shaftiny, and furnishiiifj ))ower to the planing mill, the handle
factory, till- oval dish company, the cabinet factory and the I.IHI'.KAI. ollice. The comi)aiiy
have now in course of construction an enjjine and boiler of the same power aiul si/.e as their
own. Their engine and boiler shops are under the direction of .Mr. T. j. I larrir^ton, who, il
is needless to say, is a thorough and skilled mechanic. They manufacture portabi" erjgines of
14-horse jiower, with return Hue boiler, which, for power, economy and fuel, cani.ot be ex-
celled, and traction eiifjines of the same i)ower, whi(h differ from those usually made in hav-
ing traction power on all four wheels. Tliey also manufacture a spoke machine which
is most hi^jhly spoken of by those who have used it.
A SHOUT SKETCH OF THE TOWNS AND NU.LAGES IN ESSEX COUNTV
WrNDSoK,
The lar^a-st town in Essex Countv, is situated on the Detroit River, opposite tlie citv of
I)etrf)it. A line of mai;niticent ferry boats which cross every ten minutes, makes the passafjc
a delii^htful one. The town has a population of about 10,000. Il occupies a very important
position witii retjard to the customs, and a lartje staff of oflicers are stationed here to prevent
smu^j^linjf. The postoftlce is the seccmd lanj;est distriiaitin;,' ollice in tlie Province. Windsor
is connected by railway with all the principal towns in Ontario. The f "i. T. K. and M. (". K.
bothcross the riverhere,and the C. 1'. R. have already commenced business by cutlinc down the
river front and bcfjinninp; the erection of a station. To the cast of Windsor lies Walkerville,
a creation of Messrs. Hiram Walker <<' Son, the largest distillers in the Dominion. This town
is rajiidly ^rowint^ into a very prominent position, beiiifj the terminus of the Lake Erie Essex
& Detroit River Railway. It is beautifully situated, and is connected with Windsor by an
electric railway, bein},' the first electric railway ever ojierated in Canada. Il will before lonu:
become a part of Windsor, and with Sandwich, the county town, to the west and south will
make up a city of no mean proportions. .Sandwich has not thrown much of late years, in fact,
none since the removal of the court offices to Windsor. The mineral sjirin^s near Sandwich are
n very poinilar resort during the summer months. The road running from Sandwich to Am-
herstburg along t.he Detroit river is <me of the most beautiful drives in Ontario. The river
which is alinut three quarters of a mile wide, is usually dotted with boats going up or down,
from large palatial lake steamers to small row boats, and the many changes in form and color
make the scene one of pleasure. The distance from Sandwich to Amherstburg is about 20
miles. A company has been formed for the purpose of building a railway between the two
points, and, when completed, it svill be of great advantage to all the settlers along the route.
^.s.v^.v roit'N Af^n county. 39
IVtwci'n ihcHc lw<» places i»« thcKrviichHi'ttlfmcnt of Petite Oite fnmed nil over Cnnailn oh the
liomr of early ra«liHheH. From Windsor to (iaM|K', Petite Cote radinheH are well known.
AMIIKKsriltlKC
is noted ah l>ein|; the earliest Hettlenieni in this part of Canada. It wrk originally known as
Fort Maiden, and was settled liy the hardy French |)i-()ple, whose (U-stendants still form the
lar(;est part of the population, which nunihers alxKii three thousand. There are many Iteauti-
fill residences in and around the town, au<l iar^e nuinl>ers of people from Detroit visit it dtirin){
the warm weather. Heinjj situated at the mouth of the river, the air tem|)ered 1iy the c(k)|
waters of Lake I'lrie makes life very pleasant during the summer season. 'Ihe M. C. K.
when lirst liuilt used this point for crossinjj the river, and occasionally do so yet, liut after
l)uiiilin(^ what is known as the cut oft' at F.sscx the town lost consideralile trade, hut
is still in adourishin^ con<lition. Many ijoodhusii\ess men reside there and the town ismakini;
steady progress, ("ontinuinj; alon^j the the Lake shore the next place reached is
II ARROW
on the Lake F.rie Kssex & Detroit Kiver Railway. It is a town of l,ooo inhabitants, and is
situated in one of the most i)ioductive townships in the county. South Colchester. It is^row-
inj; rapidl)' since the introduction of ihe R. K., and prtunises lo heconu- a place of much im-
portance. It will ill- a ^ood ship|)injj pomt, and new stores an<l dwellint;s are W\\\^ liuill hy
liusiness men from other towns in the county, who are opening; branch houKes there.
KiN<;svii.i.K.
This town deserves more than jjassinjj notice as l)einj; the lirst place in the county tit
possess a j{as well. The well was projected by Dr. .S. A. Kinj;, and a conijiany formeil con-
sisting; of Messrs. N. A. ("osle, Hiram Walker iV .Son, Dr. Kin^;, and otiier prominent numey-
ed men in the county, who were fortunate in procuring; j;as at tlie (irst trial. The L. K. E.
iV I). K. K. runs ihroufjh the town which has a population of about 2,000. It has a most
beautiful situation on Lake Lrie, and svilh its advantages n<»w, nnist become a place of (^reat
importance. Mr. Walker has become the purchaser of the laixi lyinj; Itetween the town and
the lake and is fitting; it up as a pleasure (ground and park. I le has erecteil f)n it a larj»e
hotel J36 feet lonj; with a depth of 130 feet. The hij^h land near the shore is l)einjj cut down
and a beach is beinj; formed. A harbor was liuilt here some years ajjo, at a cost of about
$60,000, which is of fi[reat advantajje to the shipping interests of the town. Real estate is
rapidly channinj; hands at ijood prices,
Rl'TllVKN,
also situated near Lake Krie, is on the line of the railway, and the jjas well first discovered
is almost on a direct line between il and Kinjfsville, but nearer the former place. 'l"liere is,
no doubt, that j^as underlies the whole of this western i>cninsula, and a well is now beinj;
bored near this town. Ruthven has a po|nilation of about 800, and is situated in one of the
l)est parts of the county, and is a very smart business place. It is also on the line of what is
knowji as the Talbot road and beinjj; on a jjravel ridjje is always the happy possessor of ^jood
roads. It is also on the priiui|)al road between Kinj^sville and Leamington.
i,I'',amin(;ton
is situated at the junction Talbot road and Krie street, and lias n population of about 2,500.
It is the present terminus of the L. K. K. tt I). R. R., and also of the Leaniinjiton liranch of
the M. ('. R., and has a very lary;e radius of trade. Her citizens all Work together harmon-
ou.sly in advancinj; the interests (»fthe town, and there is every reasoit to believe that if natural
gas or oil is discovered there, that Leamin}^ton will become a larj^e town, as it has an excel-
lent hari)or, and good railway facilities. A iiandsome jtark was laid out in 1888 on the
banks ( 1 Lake Krie, and the M. C. R. have decided to make this place the jirinuMpal excur-
sion point this season, so that many thousand visitors will have the privilej^e of seeing; one of
the most beautiful parts of Kssex. The Leamington R. R. runs to the lake and continues
alonj; the waters edjje until it rcaclies the park wliich is just at the extrenu> ed^je of tlu' cor-
poration limits. The price orvilla;j;e lots and farm prpoerty is rajiidly advancinj,'.
WItKATI.KV.
This village is situated on the line between the counties of Kssex and Kent, and i^ makini;
steady progress. Since the introduction of the drainage system it ha-, become a very healthy
town, and is i)eing filled up liy many of the older farmers wiio have decided to spend the re-
maintler of their lives in the vjllage, while their sons conjinue the farm work. It was con-
templated some years ago, an(t i^ ';»fjeit .ipoktyi'<^f yt!t^l)t Vafit^flistji til^^ it would be a good in-
vestment to cut a canal from L-nXe; S(^ ^J'^','' \r>.*Like. *Ei5^, \v\, wjiicji^case this place must of
necessity be greatly benefited. Point PefelMies bet weeiPWftelttiry ^nfl Leamington, and is
6 •
i «
* • " »• •••••»
A".V.VA.\ /'Oirx.tNP COCN/y.
known over n ^roai imrl ..f Canndn an exhil.iiinK ilu- n).>sl .lelij.4.trul ».-o.ncrv whrn <lrivinc i..
the oMrfMit- .-ml ,>( ihv Point, which is iho inoM soulhern i«irt .,f ihi- .nain hin.l in Canada.
I he h^ht houHc, known ah ihe "DunHuy" i» ott the |>oint nlKMil thrt-c niilcn.
iir,vriiK.s\v(X)i».
ThU vilbKe Ih on ihe line of ihe Lran.inKlon K. R., ami ix one of the moHl imix.rtnnt
stations. I hi- fnrnuTN mar it have ih.- richest an.l slron^:t•«l lan.l in this part of Khs.-n, aixl
arm- .|.ianiiiu.. ol wh.at ami |x.rk in shipiR-.lat Ihisnlation. .Mtho.ij-h this part of iht- Township
'm'""- m'" n'"^'' T"''"''' y*"' "'•■ '"""'■'■" '"'■ "" '" '» """*' l'r«'H|K.-rouH con.lition an.! are .loin r
well. 1 hf village has n |x»pulati()n of aUuit 400.
KI,M\VfK)|).
This is 1 nrw pinro, ami is the .lin-ct result of the luiil.linj; of the railway. It i% KJIuatcii
nlHuil half w.iy U-tween Leamington an.l ComlK-T, ami, although it .h.es m.t yet ix.sHess many
inhalMtants, It is InjcommK so im|H.rtant as a shipping; |M.int for lumher. lies, \c.. that the M.
I.. K. inteml piittmj,' in extra sidiiijrs, ami Imildinjr n station.
rilMllKK.
Coniher is the terminus at the north end of the I.eaminnti.n K. R. and is also on the line
t.f the M. ( . R. It IS Leinn very rapidly Imilt up the present season and since the .liscovery
ol coal oil, a lM.om in real estate has heen ll.c result. It has a population of aUnit i.o.)0 ami
will soon seek incor|M)i'ation as a village.
on
Rl'SCOM,
the M. r. R. is al>out live miles west of Omilier, aixl is important as a ship
pini; |Hiint for luinUer. It has been luiill up since the introduction ol the M. C. R., and will
make n gcMxl town.
wnoKsi.Ki..
This villaKe is also on the M. C. R., alKuit halfway between Ruscom and Kssex, ilnd is
divided into South and North Woo.lslee, which are alxnit one mile apart, one part on what is
called the Middle Road, while the other is Imilt near the .M. C". R. station. The two towns
have a {population of alM)ut 6cx}.
SIONKV I'OINT.
^ This place is situated on the (1. T. R. ami <m the banks of Lake St. ("lair. It is
about six miles north of (Vmiber, and is an excellent shii)ppinK point for all kinds of pio<luce.
It is settled principally by .lescemlents of the old French families, who occupy nearly all the
lands in the northern part of the county, west to VVimlsor. Counting west the next place is
IIKI.I.K RIVKR,
which was incorporated as a villatje some years ajjo, but, has not made as raiud pro.'ress ns
some other places in the county. It is on the C. T. R., an.l will before many years, without
doubt, be onnected l>y railway with the s..uthern jjarts .)f the county. It has a l'o.mI situation
and is a healthy pla.x'. It has a population of ab.>ut 5CX5,
MAIKSTONK CROSS,
is situated ..n the main travellcl road between Kssex an.l \Vin.ls..r, bein^ ab<»nt r.)ur
miles from the former, with which it is connecte.l \>\ railw.iy. It has a p..pulati..norabout 50c
ami IS making steady progress. It is situale.l in a' mafiniticent farnjinir country, ami iiiust
succeed.
i;ksio.
This live villajje is about live miles west of Kssex, ami within about two miles of the V.
C. R. station at McCJregor, and ab.iut the same distance from the L. K. K. iS: I). R. R. Al-
though this part of the township (Noitli CoMiester) has only lately been settled, yet very rapid
projrress has been made in clearint; t'lf land, and Gesto will be a rii,'ht smart business town.
MCGRKCIOR.
This village is situated on the M. C. R., and is also the crossing place of the L. K. K. iV
D. R. R., and is one of the best shippinjr jioints in Kssex. It jMissesses many advantatjes an.l
will be(:omf n jilace of much imjiortance after the lands are cleared up in its vicinity. Large
ijuantities of lumber and Hour are ship|)ed at this jxunt.
COTTAM.
Cottam is on the Tall)ot street, between Ruthven and Es^px, and has the most desirable
situation of any of the 'il>fa,n.!t.,wn, bi>^rinp:..ra;lVv fuc*l]t;;i(;s;' ,.The ix.pulation is about 600,
The roads are alawys h./.mI in ihs'rjicinity-o.j ."iccoiHil; p( jh^- vast supplies of gravel, and a
drive from Kssex to Cottam lor beaWyof tarin scenery and delightful roads cann.)t be surpassed.
)'••;• % I •• • ; < I 1 • . • •
I ?•"•• •! ' , ■.!• »•>!,»'
■ ««*•*« <•••<• » » ••• •••
JOHN MILNE'S
TOvriT or sssEX-
'^GLTtn ^^t %oWn ^TO^oTtio3 for ^aZo
ON TERMS T(f Sl'IT rUIUllASKKS.
MONEY LOANED ON REAL ESTATE
AT TIIK VKKV LOWKST RATKs.
0onQTal ^anlfing business
IN CONNIPTION. ^
Hn-i^x Couiily, tlje future ©erden of Ctirjeda. tbje ur-eoteHt Fi'uil,
GfBir) and ^bock i'tii»*ir)^ Courity in the 'Donninioi].
Fai-tiiei'>s. leave youi- icy, sqow-bound coutjtie« of Sasbei-i] ©ntorio
and Lonje wl.icpe you will be deligl^ted witlj theclimote. aqd find a people
pfo»perou»9 and Ijappy.
JOHN MILNE.
\'
CLITIGS
Money to Loan at the very Lowest Rates.
lush and ^ul^ivat^d
FOR S ^*L K .
CLTins
ConYeyancep ^ Gommissionep.
>'i. >
Coxa.i3a,\xziioa-bioaas Frozxip'bly iLziST^trered.
[-laving Iivt;d in tlje County c^ Ljenr)ox ir) tije eagftenn part, of ihis
^^i-oviijce, I can nafcly say thab Essex (2<5ur)ty l]a«,fcl;)e firjest clinjote in
©ntario, arjddur-iqg five years that 1 farmed ig Lsennox I hod fcwoalrrjost
tolal failunes ig crop . Vhjis yeap makes ngy ^5feh) year in <joSSiex agd I
can truthjfully say that the farmers ig thjis County hjave got suffered
oMt; failure in fifteeg years.
OFF'IOHS
fun&tan ^lo^l^
j^>s0.2&