IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // O ''/ ^ 1.0 I.I IIM IIIII25 IIIIIM IIM :ll|4 m M 1.8 1-25 1.4 1.6 ■« 6" ► ^. V] % e^ ^^f ^, rf> o >m / / m ^'' Photographic Sciences Corporation # 1^ :\ \ ^ 4> ^\<^ 6^ 23 WEST MAIN STREE7 WEBSTER, NY. 14S80 (716) 872-4503 4^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 1980 Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques e* bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. 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My grandfather was a worker in iron, as were my forefathers from the time that they came to Massachusetts from Wales, about 1650. I have in my possession an old L'nited States Gazetteer /title page with date missing), which says "that in the vicinity of Taunton 800 tons of iron were manufactured, of which 450 tons are made into spades and shovels, that Mr. .Samuel Leonard rolled the first shovel ever done in America, and that this invention reduced the price one half" I have every reason to suppose this was my grand- parent. In 1870 I visited Taunton, and was shown the locality of the Leonard Forge, which had been in operation for over two hundred years. The motive power was an overshot water wheel, the shaft of which extended out with cams attached that drove the trip hammers. At this time the forge was employed in making ship anchors. I was also shown the site of the old Leonard House, and subse- .quently, at the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia in 4 18/6, I saw some of the nails used in its construction, wliich were no doubt made b>' ni)- ancestors. As near as I can recollect the stor)-, m}- father ran awa)- from home before he had completed his apprenticeship, and yoincj^ throui^h Vermont made his wa)- west to the vicinit)* of Lakes George and Champlain, where he no doubt cnc(ai;ed in manu- facturint;- iron, as that localit)' was then and is now famous for its iron production. SCHOOLliOV DANS AND YOUTH. M)' mother, Polly Stone, was born March 25th, 1793, and I know but little more than that she met ni)- father in that localit)-, and they were married October 31st, 181 1, and shortl)- aftcrAsards came to live in the vicinit)' of Sj-ra- cuse, N. v., where he purchased a farm. M)- eldest brother Lewis, m)-self and Lj-man were born on this farm, Septem- ber 2nd, 1813, September loth, 1814, and March i6th, 1816. respectiveh'. But farmint:^ did not suit mj- father's \ie\\s, and we renioved to a place called 1 aburL,^ north of Syra- cuse, and he was eni^ai^ed in an iron furnace at that place. M)- sisters, Sarah Ann and M;^ria, were bor/. here. Our next mo\e was to Constantia, X. Y., where father purchased a furnace from a New York firm, and carried on a larc^e business ; but ^ettin^ ijito a dispute with the owners un- fortunatel}' went to law. His case was partiall)' successful, but it was so expensive that he failed soon afterwards, and went back to his farm near S}'racuse. When in Constantia, my brother Delos was born. W'c remained on the farm about five )-cars. What little schooling I t;"ot was when we lived here, and that durini; the winter. M)- brother Lewis and I had a little colt which we hitched to a home-made sleii;!!, and drove to and from school. Amoni^ m)- early recollections of Syracuse was the openin*;- of the ICrie canal, as it was a holida}- the entire length from Albany to Buffalo. The citizens had cannons placed at intervals, and announced the meeting of the waters of Lake Kric v.ith 5 those of the Hudson River b)' the booniinLj of the bi<^ ^uiis from point to point. This was a wonderful feat. The Cr'.nal was a small affair then to what it is now, as the State enlarged it fn^m time to time when its usefulness became apparent. The boats at that time carried abcnit fort}- tons, and were only about nine feet w ide, and i)roportionatcly long. I once took a trip with my uncle Draper in liis canal boat to Albany, assisting him in its management and doing my share of the driving and steering. KKMOVAL TO CANADA. In 1S29, my father and brother Lewis went to Long Point, Norfolk County, Canada, to take charge of Messrs. Joseph & Benjamin Van Norman's furnace at Normandale. They remained away a year, returning in 1^30 to Syracuse for our family. I remember it well, for mother cried for nearly a whole week as she could not reconcile herself to leave her comfortable surroindings and neighbors U) go to the unknown land of Canada. Once settled, however, she became better pleased, as we formed in that place acquaint- ances who remained staunch friends e\er afterwards. While in Normandale, my sister Adelia was born. It was also in this place that my good mother's sterling qualities were put to the test. In 1831 or 1832, my three brothers and myself took t)'phoid fever. For nearly two months our house was a hospital, and ha'd it not been for her careful nursing and attention we never would ha\c survived. There were five other cases in the village at the same time, but they did not recover. I ho[De we repaid our dear mother with our love and devotion afterwards. It made a life-long impression on me. We four brothers ha\e now nearly passed the allotted time given to mankind, and have all been useful members of society, thanks to her early training and love. It was in my uncle's canal boat that our family travelled from Syracuse to Buffalo. On our arri\al, father hunted up a Capt. Hortoii, who a^n'cecl to take us to Xor- mandale in his h'ttle sloop (I have forj^otten her name)- Into this tiny craft wc were packed with one or two other passcnL,^ers. We ran close to the shore, in and out, all the wa)'. The trip took sc\en days and nights on Lake ICric's troublesoine waters, parti)' due to our captain, who was a jrreat lover of camp meetinj^s. When off Kbon)- Point, about fifteen miles west of Ikiffalo, he went ashore to one of these meetings and remained a couple of daj-s, M)' father became so exasperated with the enthusiast that he went after him, and b)- the threat that he would sail without him <;ot him aboard, and we made a fresh start. The idea of leavini;' us so exposed on the lake with onl\- a rope cable to our anchor was both careless and inhuman. There was not much relii^ion in that conduct. After tack- ins^ to and fro, and bafflint^ with wind and waves for the balance of the seven daj's we arrived safe and sound at the mouth of Potter's Creek, i^lad once more to put foot on its sandy little shore. I'RIMITIVK IRON FOUXDIXC. W'c lived on the cast bluff in a frame hou.se on a lot owned for manj- )-ears b)- Mr. Tolmie, but the building has long since disappeared. The Normandalc Furnace, as it was called, was established b)- an Englishman named Capron some }'ears before. He did not make the business pay, and .sold out to the Messrs. \'anXorman. The furnace consisted of a brick stack or chimnc}' about thirty feet high and five feet bosh, built on the side of a hill. Motive power was obtained from the fine stream of water running through the village, which kept in motion an overshot wheel about fourteen feet in diameter, that in turn drove a double piston bellows by means of cranks. Only one tuyere was emplojed to admit the blast. The charcoal was made back in the bush, and the iron ore teamed in from a swamp about .se\en miles west. My father had charge of the works, and directed the inixiiiL; of ore and charcoal in the top house. The material was dumped int(^ the furnace b}- barrows and the iron, when melted, ran down into a hearth about two feet wide and fi\e feet loni^. Into this receptacle wc dipped our ladles and carried off the product direct to the flasks. When in full blast we took off two heats in twent\-four hours, consisting; of plows,sto\es, kettles, sleiijh shoes, and all kinds of castitii^s required in a new countr)-. One of the .stoves made at these works is at present in use in the Art School-room, Mechanics' Institute in this cit)-. At this time Xormandale was a thriving place, the furnace recjuirini; about four hundred men directl}- and indirectl)- Ljettint; out and teamintj; ore, burning charcoal, workinir about the furnace, and attcndini; to the mercantile part of the estab- lishment. Xormandale has receded since those daj's and contains about eij^ht)- inhabitants now. The site of the furnace can )-et be located, but in place of smoke, and glare, and heat, and the throb of the bellows, all is quiet save the noise of the e\cr-running stream. A \egetable garden takes the place of the toj) house and the side hill is covered by a goodl)' sized orchard. The ore we used was bog ore, which was gathered from the neighboring swamps and brought to the furnace w ith teams. This suppl}- lasted a good while, but pla)'ed out finall)', and the furnace, then in charge of Mr. Romaine VanXorman, was abandoned about 1853, after having supplied for j-ears the whole of Western Canada with castings. I understand there is j-et plent\- of this ore in the same locality, but it docs not pa)' to work it at the present price of pig iron. FIRST .START IN liUSINESS. My brother Lyman and mj-self learnt the trade of moulding in Xormandale, and Louis was a clerk in the Messrs. VanXorman store. In 1834 I was on the look-out for a place to start business and took a trip to Hamilton,. 8 which I th()ii{^ht fjuorably of, but .ibancloiicd tlic itlca for the rca.s(jii that there was a fouiuhy at Ancaster, aiul there was too much water adjacent. If that beautiful bay and lake had only been farm lands the locality wcnild ha\e answered nicely. I finally selectetl St. Thomas for my fouiulry, and ffjrmed a partnership with my father and Mr. I'hilip (". Van- Hrocklyn ; our cajiital was $150, or twelve pountls ten shillint^s, Halifax currency, each. The papers were dateci May 7th, l i8 an upright cylinder, eight inch diameter, twenty-four inch stroke. I sold it to Messrs. Paul and Rickart, of St. Thomas (the late Anson Paul), for their mill south of the town. This gave me a start in the engine business, and I made four afterwards from this pattern, as nearly as I can remember: one for a mill near Lambeth, one for Mr. E. W. Hyman's tannery, one for Mr. Simeon Morrill's tannery, one for Mr. Mountjoy's veneer mill, all in London. SUCCESS ACHIEVED BY DETERMINED EFFORT. Our tools were few and crude for the work of making engines, but our ambition was great and undaunted. We bored them out on the lathe, with the wooden ways, by means of a self-acting boring bar which we made. The pistons, cylinder heads, shafts, and other parts were made by hand turning as described. Our slide valves, valve faces and steam chest joints, all had to be chipped and filed true by hand, which was no easy job, and required the greatest skill and patience. It took a long time to turn one out, but the engines worked well. I have one of these upright engines in my store room, which was in active service up to 1888. I also made patterns for horizontal engines of 8x18 inch and 11x22 inch cylinders and made quite a number. The cylinders, guides and pillow blocks were bolted to flat cast iron frames, which were again bolted to heavy oak framework below. The slide valve was on top of the cylinder and driven by a rock shaft. I made the first with round iron guides, but they were not a success. Up to 1848 I had purchased my boilers in Buffalo, which was the most convenient place, but in that year Mr. Oswald Baynes made a set of patterns for a Punch and Rolls. The former was worked by a combination of compound levers, the first being a long wooden one, which h?.d to ba lifted up and down about five feet to punch one hole. It is now in St. Thomas. My Rolls were about three feet 19 wide and stood on a wooden frame, bcin<^ worked by long wooden handles. I got my first foreman from Buffalo, and afterwards, for many years, John Nesbit had charge of the boiler shop. Our first boilers were made with one flue, and as they kept on increasing in diameter we added more, so that we finally made boilers sixty inches diameter with five flues. Our boiler plates were 2,2]/i and 3 feet wide and about 6 feet long, and the heads generally of two pieces cut from above the plates. These boilers carried from 40 to 60 pounds of steam. The boiler that drove my machine shop and foundry was made in Syracuse, and brought over to London by a man named Avey, who had a patent rotary engine which he erected near the Market Square. This boiler I purchased for my engine. It consisted of three cylinders, two of them alongside and one above, connected by large pipes. The boiler was not satisfactory, and as soon as I started making boilers I produced one with two flues, which answered all my requirements up to 1865. I commenced making threshing machines about 1846. These were very crude affairs, being composed of a wooden frame with a cylinder twenty-four inches wide hung in it, and driven by a belt from a jack wheel. It was not long before I followed the American plan of a carrier to elevate the straw and separate the grain, together with a shaker and fan below to blow the chaff from the wheat. I con- tinued to make separators and horse powers for local wants up to 1870. AS HUILDER AND CONTRACTOR. I had no more than got nicely started in constructing separators, when, in 1852, I had a good run of work from the contractors of the G. W. R., who were putting the line through to Detroit River. I made for them a great many dumping cars, road scrapers, and subsequently not a few frogs and switches for the Company itself. I was also asso- u 141 11 20 ciatcd with Mr. Rolf in buildin^tf the present G. T. R. eiif^inc house, taking the contract for che whole building complete, making a very good profit out of it. In 1853 I entered into a contract with the G. W. R. Company to make two hundred box cars for the road, which was a great undertaking for me. I had not the room necessary on Ridout street, and was forced to lease the present block on York street between Colbornc and Water- loo from the Agricultural Societies of Middlesex and Elgin for twent)'-one years (I bought the property before the lea.se expired), and built a large brick building, 54x156, two .stories high, in which to manufacture cars. My reason for doing so was that I thought it could sell out to good ad- vantage when I was through with it for a Union Passenger Station as the Grand Trunk Railway was about entering London, and there was a prospect of a road to Port Stanley. With the contract in hand, and this prospect before me I set to work in good earnest, and purchased the best tools I could — lathes, drills, pres.ses, and a first-class set of wood working machinery from the eastern states. I engaged a Mr. Ryno, of Buffalo, who had experience in that kind of work to over.see the whole of that department. He managed it well for me, and continued with me until all my contracts were complete. The cars were made the same width as tho.se at present in use, but much shorter and lighter. I think they were about 16,000 pounds capacity. The roof was covered with cotton duck the full width of the car (painted of course), which I had especially made for me in Connecticut. The trucks were made mostl}' of wood and the Company furnished me with the wheels and axles. The wheels were called "the Washburn," and it was quite a trick to make them, so I did not under- take to supply them, but furnished the cars for $490 each, without either wheels or axles. I commenced delivery in Februar)', 1855, and completed the contract in September, 1 856. My cars had a ^ood reputation, as they stood the wear and tear of the road better than those of other makers. The Company paid me up very promptly until near the last delivery, when they commenced makinj^ excuses, which put me about considerably, financially. They were treatin;; other contractors in the same way, and I be^an to feel uneasy. About this time my friend Mr. J. M. Williams, of Hamilton, who also had a larj^e contract with them, put his case in the hands of Mr. Eccles, of Toronto, for ■collection, and they went to court. The Company fou^jht Mr. Williams at every step, but Eccles was a match for them, and put the inspectors and witnesses throuLjh such a course of catechizing that Mr. Williams won the case. Now, thought I, is my time, so I arranged with Eccles, and, armed with receipts and papers, went to Hamilton almost in desperation, as I knew that Mr. Brydges, the manager, was going to England in a few days, and if I did not get a settlement then it would be months before I could. With difficulty I obtained a personal interview. He tried to put me off with all kinds of excuses, but I was not to be dis- suaded from my purpose, and told him plainly that if he did not pay me with cash or bonds I would issue a writ and prevent him from leaving the country, which alarmed him, and he asked me to come back in an hour's time which I did, when he handed me the money and bonds. I went home with a light heart, and in the morning presented the documents to the bank, thereby relieving my bondsmen. Early in iiS56, I commenced making cars for the London and Port Stanley Railway and stocked that road Avith all it required, completing the contract in April, 1857. I furnished the wheels and axles in this case, making the former in my foundry on Ridout street. It was a difficult job to accomplish, but the wheels were first-class. They were all bored with flat drills in the old Buffalo lathe, which I had to elevate and attach a face plate to. I also con- 32 structcd the turn-tables and other work to complete the railway. During these busy times, I had over one hundred men in my emplo)-, and was taxed to my utmost to manage the whole business. My practical knowledge of foundry machinery and wood work was of great advantage, as every department was cconomicall)' man- aged, but after all it would have been better had I kept to my own business, which the country around me would sustain, for when there were no more cars to build I realized that my local trade had drifted to other shops, and I was at a standstill for something to make. I resolved in future to stick to my own line of business should I succeed in securing it again. I could have continued the car building business had I been disposed to allow certain men of influence to get contracts for me for a share in the profits, but I was not inclined that way, and my large works remained idle for years, because I would not do business in that way. At the end of 1857, a season of depression began, which lasted nearly two years, during which time I went through severe trials and met with losses through endorsing for friends ; and although I had made some money I was fated to lose it. I well recollect the narrow escape, when I gave the sheriff a receipt for my house and contents, but I weathered the storm of those hard times which ail old residents can remember. I was obliged to close my shops in 1859 as I could not find work enough to keep them going. In i860, I purchased the right to manufacture a reaping machine from Messrs. Clark & Shafer for the western part of Upper Canada, as it was called. In this machine the knife or cutter bar was driven by a roller which followed a serpentine groove on the inside of the rim of a large driving wheel. The simplicity was what pleased me, as I had a strong objection to selling any machinery to the farmers with any gear wheels. I spent 23 two years in trying' to make it a success, but the roller would wear out, no matter what it was made of, and tore tile knife bar to pieces. I could have sold these machines for $90 each, and have made a good marj^in, but was forced to abandon it, after spending a great deal of valuable time and money. In 1861, I patented a sawing machine for cross-cutting timber, and made a good many. The same machine I improved in 1864 by giving the saw a rocking motion, and applying a self-lifting attachment which greatly enhanced its convenience thereby obtaining a first- class reputation for it. After the breaking out of the civil war in the United States, trade began to pick up in Canada, as a demand for all kinds of farm produce was good, resulting in a call for improved agricultural machinery. This gave me back the ground I had lost by building rail\>ay cars. M)' great mistake was that after the failure of the Clark reaper I did not get hold of a good machine and start its manufacture. I could have had the western field entirely to myself, being the first to manufacture, and might have worked up a large business ; but I allowed the opportunity to slip by ; in fact, I got mixed up in politics. Balls» Ohio, was then the reaper of the day. As I had modern wood working tools at the car shops on York street, I put together and finished all my separators, horse-powers and sawing machines there, and had to send all castings and finished iron work across the city at great expense. This state of things forced me, in 1865, to move all my tools and foundry up to the car shops and abandon the old shops, in which I had worked for 27 years. I left in them a great many patterns and the engine, boiler, shafting, etc. On May 24th, 1885, they were burnt down, and with them many relics and appliances, which had stood b)' me in the day of small things. After this my business rapidl}' developed, and I was forced to build the present foundry in i868> which was extended to the edge of York street in 1890. 24 In 1869 I erected a three-run grist mill in the west end of the car shop building, and worked up a good gristing trade, which continued for about ten years, when I pulled it out to extend my machine shop. In connection with the grist mill, I went extensively into the manufacture of staves (the refuse of which I used as fuel for the boiler of the grist mill) for oil barrels and molasses shooks. In this venture, I was fairly successful, as there was a good local market for the former. I made in the next few years nearly 10,000 shooks for the West India trade and shipped them to New York. I sent one lot to Cuba. But a falling market made the venture a poor one, which, with other reverses at the same time, caused me to get out of the business. In 1874 I invented a combination of one or more stills for the continuous refining of petroleum, and devoted a good deal of time and money to its perfection. My plan was not to allow the heavy oil or tar to coke, but to draw it off gradually. The still was made similar to a steam boiler. The heat, however, only passed through the tubes, with a space below them for the tar to settle. As fast as the oil evaporated, it was kept to its proper level with a force pump, and the tar drawn off from below. We ran this still for days at a time with success, and if I had had the time and inclination I could have effected a saving in labor and expense in the refining business. great A NEW PAUTNERSMir FORMED. In January, 1875, I admitted my sons, Frank and Charles, into partnership ; but business was dull, and, as I had a lot of old machines on hand and my patterns somewhat out of date, our enterprise produced little or nothing for two years. We employed 26 hands, and in the first year we sold about $34,000 worth, which included six engines and twenty boilers, the balance being made up from general work. The next year we had a contract 25 constructing the engines, pumps and boilers for the Sarnia Water Works, which were completed and put in operation on the 1st of July, 1876. In 1877 I patented a short ported slide valve, which brought it and the piston head very close, reducing the amount of steam that was otherwise wasted to a minimum. The exhaust port lay horizontal under the cylinder, and the slide valve something like the letter E turned down with the arms up. This valve was such a success that I adopted it on nine different sizes, which v;e named the Leonard Engine. The other special features of this engine were that the frame cylinder and bearings were cast in one piece. This made a very strong, self-contained engine, which met with ready sale and gave general satis- faction. In 1879 a demand for threshing engines sprang up, and the Leonard Farm Engine was put on the market. Yearly since then a great many have been sold to all parts of the Dominion. It was while busy in getting out a large number of these engines (May 4th, 1881) that a disastrous fire took place, which destroyed the main building, machinery, and about fifty engines, more or less complete. We managed to get out a few engines, but virtually lost the season's work. The loss was a heavy one, as we had very little insurance, but we put our shoulders to the wheeb fitted up temporary shops, rented others, and commenced rebuilding within a week. By the end of August we had things in shape again, starting with new tools and machinery. The same year we opened up a trade for small engines in Montreal, which led the following year to the establishing of a permanent agency for the sale of our goods there. LATER SUCCESSES. In 1882 the firm purchased the right to manufacture the Ball Automatic Engine in Canada, and it has become a great favorite. The demand for this engine has steadily increased, especially for electrical purposes, and we have * '' U!' 26 been forced to add sizes with compound cylinders. In 1887 a permanent as^ency was established in St. John, N.R, for all lines of our engines and boilers. In 1889 the Leonard Tangye Engine was put on the market, principally for saw- mill purposes. In the same year an agreement was made with the Corporation of the City of London for a fixed assessment for ten years, and the purchase of thirty-two feet of the south side of York Street (or boulevard), between Waterloo and Colborne, for the extension of our works. This agreement was sanctioned by Act of the Ontario Legislature, in 1890, and the erection of buildings began on November 14th in the same year. The buildings are of brick with galvanized iron roofs, the boiler shop is 90 feet wide b)- 148 feet long, the engine house 24x36, and the addition to the foundry extends to the street line and is 32x50. The number of men employed at this date was 140, to whom was paid $50,000 annually in wages. AS A FIREMAN. Fire was always my dread enemy, and many a night I have prowled around after dark trying to detect and ward off that fearful monster. During a long manufacturing career, calling for large buildings, I believe I have been more for- tunate than the majority of my fellow foundrymen, attribut- able, I believe, to my unremitting care and precaution in this respect. When I first came to London it was protected by what was called the " Bucket Brigade." Each ratepayer was supposed to belong to it, and to keep on his premises one or more leather fire buckets. It was not long before something better was needed, and I was asked by the Town Council, together with Mr. Rowland and Mr. J. M. Cousins, to organize a Volunteer V'wc Brigade with proper engines and apparatus,. We got all the information necessary, and submitted a plan which was carried out. I was connected with f in as e." to its. :cd ith A X X iHiKi I •iHlirijW«f"i"'« \gm\ '^srms'- m 4 ii*&'ir'ti, 1. 2; the brigade for about three years, part of the time as chief, and went with the boys to Hamilton, in full uniform, when the Great Western Railway was opened for traffic. What a change has taken place since the putting in of our magnificent system of water works ! How simple and effective it is now ! We had nothing but tanks at the street corners in those days, depending on surface water for supply. At one time we had fiv-e engines and a hook and ladder company. The names of the engines, as near as I can remember, were the Phoenix, Defiance, Deluge„ Rescue and Rising Sun. What a noise and what a clatter they did make when the system of premiums was offered for the engine throwing the first water on the fire. SOME FINANCIAL EXPERIENCES. The first chartered bank to open its doors to London's business men was the old Upper Canada Bank, the winding up of which caused so much talk a few years back. The}- were very careful in discounting in those days — extremely so.. I will never forget the first $200 advance I got with which to make some purchases, for I had to answer very many questions and go through so much formality before I got the money. The manager, instead of doing the business in a commercial way, assumed such condescension on his part for accommodating me that I was disgusted, and felt, on leaving the bank doors, more like a criminal than an honest man. It was not a great while before the Bank of Montreal opened an agency on the corner of Ridout and Carling streets, greatly to the relief of our business men. Mr. Fraser, a very unassuming and courteous gentleman, was the manager. He soon worked up a good business for the bank, but was unfortunately killed in a runaway accident near Brough's Bridge. Mr. Fraser placed great confidence in me, and once, at his urgent request, I consented to take a box of specie from London to Toronto. 28 by stage, I found it a great bother, and quite a tax on my nerves, as I had to stay over night in Brantford or Hamilton. On getting to Toronto I dumped it down on the sidewalk, and told the teller to come out and look after it, as I was worried and disgusted with my charge. Remembering my catechising at the Upper Canada Bank, I was, as a matter of course, one of the first to open an account with the Bank •of Montreal, and have continued with but a short interval, ever since. While I was under a heavy contract with the G. W. Railway I was much indebted to one of its managers (Mr. Dunn) for his advise and courteous treatment. Some years after I took an active part in organizing the London Savings Bank, becoming one of its directors. In a few years we accumulated a very considerable surplus, as it was well .and economically managed. The law was then so one- :sided that the directors had to take all the risks personally, which was too much to assume. Besides, with all our care and experience in making good investments for the stock- holders, we were not allowed by law any fee for our time. The directors concluded to wind it up, which they did with a surplus of something like $10,000. This sum we loaned to the Bank of Montreal, with the understanding that as •soon as the City of London and County of Middlesex :should inaugurate a proper hospital scheme the funds •should be invested in grounds and buildings. This was -carried out some years ago, to the mutual benefit of all concerned. In 1864 I assisted in the formation of the Huron & Erie Savings and Loan Society. This company has been a most prosperous one, benefitting the depositors, ■shareholders and borrowers. It has proven especially beneficial to borrowers, enabling them to make improve- ments on their farms, spreading the payments over several years, and clearing off the indebtedness in small instalments. I remained on this board for twenty-seven years, and met there gentlemen who at all times and in every sense looked ny )n. Ik, as ly ;er ik al, irs le m rs :11 e- Y' re <- e. ;h d LS X Is LS 11 e y 'I i a si C c X y. r. X X. o r. J 29 Q c v. c n y. ',-1 o after the interests of the shareholders. I hope the Huron & Eric may long continue its prosperous career, and be pointed out by the citizens of London as an institution of which they are justly proud. (The last meeting Mr. Leonard attended was 4th November, 1889.) TIIK FAMILY HOMK. In 1852, in company with the Hon. John Car- ling, Dr. Anderson, Judge Wilson, John Diamond, \Vm. Barker and Henry Dalton, I formed a company for the purpose of purchasing and selling two hundred acres of land west of Richmond street and north of John street. \Vc divided it off into lots and finally sold it all out, I re- taining the lots on the river bank for a residence. It was a pretty dreary looking sand bank to build a homestead upon, and only showed up to advantage when Talbot street was graded or cut through to the creek. I commenced to build in the fall of 1853, and moved from my old cottage in August, 1854. Our first night in the place was heralded by a terrific thunder storm, which, from our elevated posi- tion, seemed to be fated to wreak vengeance on us in our new home. The wind blew the sand from the bluff on the river into every crevice, and I was forced to get street scrapings to cover the entire lot. In 1857 I had the bank sodded and several improvements effected, which made it a beautiful home. It derived its name " Locust Mount " from a fine row of matured locust trees which were given me b}- m}- old friend, Mr. John Harris. The locust borer killed the old trees many years ago. The house was ex- tended and altered in 1868, and the brick stable built. In this house my three daughters were born. My sons were born in the old cottage on F'ullarton street. When I first went to li\e at " Locust Mount " the city was sparsely built. I could almost make a bee line across lots to my car shops on east York street. 30 J Ki » i 1 i ; ! I i 1 CON TI N K N T A L TOU RS. In iH6o I was invited with scvcnty-fivc Canadians, the majority from London, to visit the Western States, prin- cipally Illinois, then bein^ ojjcned up by new railwa)s. We visited Chicaj^o, Cairo, St. Louis, Sprinj^ficld, Dubuque, Dixon, and several other places, amonj^st them Galena, 111., where we were driven about the city by a party of citizens, amongst them the then Captain Grant, who after- wards became their great General and President. To the majority of us the most interesting sight was a trip on the Father of Waters on a large steamboat, the Imperial. We visited a regular plantation in Missouri, some twenty miles back from the Mississippi, where we found a right royal welcome, and viewed slavery pure and simple. The sight Avas far from what we had been led to suppose from what we had heard in the north, for we found to all appearances peace, happiness and contentment. Our trip was a grand one, giving us an insight into the boundless resources of the great West. Those fields of corn were something never to be forgotten. We also witnessed several political pro- cessions and raising of liberty poles, and heard some speeches which were very novel to us. Illinois was stirred to its very centre just then as the two candidates for the Presidential chair, Lincoln and Douglass, were residents of "her domains. In 1864, after the session at Quebec, a large number of members of Parliament were invited to visit the Maritime Provinces, with a view of our better acquaintance, as the Confederation of British North America was a great deal talked about. We went to Portland, and thence by steamer up the Bay of Fundy to St. John, Fredericton, Windsor, Halifax, Pictou, Truro, Shediac, and many places of interest. I returned by steamer up the Gulf and River St. Lawrence to Quebec, ending a most interesting trip, abounding in 31 beautiful scenery, and fishermen's resources, so novel to an inlander. In 1886 I took a trip with my friend, the late Cyrus Woodman, of Boston, over the Canadian Pacific Railway to the Coast. We were over a month [join^ and returninj^, visiting Winnipeg and the principal points of interest on the line to Victoria. From there we took steamer for San Franciso, and spent a week with my friends in that locality. The climate and natural agricultural resources of California surprised me ; in fact the whole Pacific Coast seemed one garden, the future of which cannot be estimated. We returned via Portland, Oregon, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Chicago, very much pleased with what we had seen, especially our own railway, and what we learnt of our heritage in the great continent of North America. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS. I became a British subject January 2nd, 1850, with the late Mr. E. W. Hyman and several other Americans, when political feeling ran high. In those days the qualification for voting consisted in being able to prove a domicile, no matter how crude, and the result was, in these exciting times, many votes were manufactured by erecting a rough board shanty on a vacant lot, the owner or tenant swearing that he had lived there for twenty-four hours, even if he only lay on a straw mattress. These shanties would appear like Jonah's gourd in one night, and disappear as soon as the election was over. London was rep- resented in the Conservative interest in Parliament by the late Judge John Wilson, but he was so disgusted with their conduct as a party, in regard to the Rebellion Losses Bill, that he made a strong speech in Parliament refusing any longer to support them. This exasperated his political supporters, who asked him to resign, which he said he would if the " five kings " of London, Messrs. n I i : i • |: :i : 32 Lawrason, Dixon, Horton, Mathcus and Salter, would petition him to do so. This they did, and he came to London asking the people to return him again. We made a desperate fight to send him back to Parliament, and succeeded in electing him by a small majority. Mr. Wilson was a very able man, and my acquaintance with him, both as a friend and in a professional way, was of the closest kind. He was a very astute lawyer, and every case he undertook received his careful attention. He had a steam engine case in our courts for a Hamilton firm, wh were suing for payment. Mr. Wilson spent a good many hours in my shops examining engines and questioning mj'self and workmen until he completely mastered the details of his case. When court was called he was master of the situation, and won the suit, at the same time astonish- ing some clever engineers who were present, with his mechanical knowledge. LORD KLGIN'S famous VISIT. The stirring events occurring during the administration of Lord Elgin about this time, and the visit of that Governor-General to London, I well remember. The Reformers of London and vicinity were anxious to show him how much they appreciated his impartial judgment in Canadian affairs, and to do him honor erected several arches along Dundas Street, and decorated their buildings with flags and bunting. Before Lord Elgin and his party left Nilestown, on their way to the city, who should drive up but Squires Lawrason and Mathews, with others, asking an interview, in which they advised His Excellency not to come to London, as excitement was running high, and they feared his life would be in danger. He heard what they had to say, and replied that he was not afraid, and " if God spared his life he would see London that day." He then bowed them politely out of the room. At the One Horse 33 Tavern a large company of farmers and citizens met the Governor-General, and accompanied him into town, but no words can convey the chagrin and disgust on finding their beautiful arches cut down and l>'ing in heaps on the street. During their absence to bid him welcome in the suburbs the Conservatives had cut them all down, and the streets in town were lined with soldiers. The Reformers were mortified, and so embittered at this want of respect for Lord Elgin, and slight thrown on them, that had it not been for the soldiers a bloody riot would have taken place. Both Conservative and Reformer were wrought to the highest pitch of excitement, but the former were in the minority, as the country people were Reformers, and had it been otherwise Lord Elgin would have suffered many indignities and, perhaps, bodily harm. The result was that only a few hot-headed Tories got into trouble. I witnessed one of the scenes on the corner ot Dundas and Clarence Streets, where an Orangeman ranout from Higgins' Hotel andspatat Lord Elgin'scarriage. As quick as a wink he was tapped on the head with a hickory stick in the hands of a sturdy farmer, and fell as flat as a pancake. The garrison were in sympathy with Lord Elgin, and one of the officers' wives (I think the colonel commanding) went to an upper window in the Robinson Hall, Dundas Street, and waved a small flag as he passed, which was immediately answered by a pistol shot but it did not daunt the plucky woman, as she continued to wave her flag, amid the cheers of the crowd, until the proces- sion passed. Lord Elgin's pluck in passing through the streets under these circumstances made for him many addi- tional friends, who gathered in front of the Robinson Hall. I remember his speech well as he had great difficulty at first in being heard. With some witty remarks, however, he got the crowd in good humor, and told them he had obtained his instructions from England, and was going to see them carried out. This brought a noisy fellow to 34 Ir his feet, with some disrespectful remarks, but he was immediately tapped on the head and shut up, when His Excellency begged his friends not to hurt the poor fellow, but to get him to bed where he ought to be. He remained several days in London, and was called upon by many citizens, amongst them myself, on whom he made a very favorable impression. I could see he was a man of great determination, but courteous and genial in his ways and conversation, which no doubt added greatly to his success as ix diplomatist in the next few years. ENTRY INTO TUHLIC LIFE. Though I did not begin to take a very active part in politics until the Wilson election I was much interested in municipal affairs. In 1854 I was elected to the Town Council for St. Patrick's Ward, to fill the place of Mr. Jas. Oliver. When the city was incorporated in 1855 I was elected as alderman, together with the late Wm. McBride, for Ward No. 2. In those days the Council elected the Mayor from amongst themselves. In 1856 I was again elected for the same ward, and was put in nomination for Mayor against the late William Barker, but was defeated. The following year (1857) I got the unanimous vote of the council and was elected Mayor, but the smooth sailing of the first few months in the civic chair did not continue, and for the balance of the term I put in a very turbulent term of office. As Chief M? t I ! a living. I was standing in a doorway opposite him when, he said this, and shouted out loud so all could hear me that " that should be the issue between us, Law Points vs. Plow Points." This sally took with the crowd of farmers, who cheered and cheered again. It was a very foolish speech for him to make. After this meeting I was called the " Plow Point Candidate," and the title served me well. Soon after being nominated Mr. Archibald McKellar, then the member for Kent, and now Sheriff of Wentworth, offered his .services, which I gratefully accepted as he was well-known in West Elgin, and could carry nearly every Scotch audience with his Gaelic, which he used to great advantage. Mr. McKellar was a powerful campaign speaker, with his plain facts, hard hits, and witty criticisms. He was a hard man to speak against. It was midsummer when we started out together, and the schoolhouses were close and hot, making it hard to interest an audience on public questions. As the windows were generally open, the people would disport themselves on the adjacent fences and woodpiles for air, but when Mr. McKellar commenced an address in Gaelic they would come in like a flock of birds, filling every corner at the sound of their mother tongue. He scored a good point one night in West Pllgin. While he was speaking one of my friends came forward and whispered that my opponent had quietly taken a seat at the back of the room. At an opportune time in his address he commenced to sniff and look about as if for fire, saying, " Gentlemen, I think there is a Tory about. Will you be kind enough to look under the benches and desks and in the corners and see if there is not one concealed." The audience were in high glee, for some one shouted out that he was there. At this Mr. McKellar called out " is that you, Mr. B. ? I thought you could not be far away,, for I can tell a Tory a good way off. But why did you not come in and show yourself like a man?" He gave 39 him a great raking over, finally invited him to speak, which he did, but " Archie's story " had had its effect, as we carried the meeting on a division. MR. McKELLAR'S JOKK. Mr. McKellar was a great one to play a joke, and he played one upon me during one of our Quebec sessions, as follows : While writing a letter one Sunday in the Legislative Chamber, a messenger handed me an envelope containing a note and tract, issued by the Religious Tract Society » with the heading " What doest thou here, Elijah ? " The note went on to say, " So the ancient prophet was told when God found him where he ought not to have been, and may I be permitted o ask what doest thou here, my friend, on the evening of tie Lord's Day in such a mass of confusion, among such a crowd of Sabbath breakers and idlers? Were you not taught in your younger days to fear God, to hate ever}- wicked wa}', etc., etc. ? " I was at first taken back and inclined to think seriously of the reproof, but, happening to glance up at the gallery op- posite, I noticed Mr. McKellar and a few others holding their sides with laughter at my serious face. I knew in a moment who sent the note, so I called them down and had a good laugh. I have the tract >'et. STORIKS OF THE CAMIWIC.N. During the Malahide canvass, unfortunate!)-, the fight drifted into personalties, of which we both should take our share of the blame, for they are quite unnecssary and out of place in any political contest. As the civil war was going on in the United States, and the excitement of the Trent affair was not over, my opponent took advantage of my place of birth to traduce and persecute me for being American-born, accusing me of all kinds of motives con- trary to the welfare of my adopted country. I am now i i! 40 satisfied that these unreasonable charges had the opposite effect, especially along the lake shore, where a great many of the present owners' forefathers had come in from the United States and settled. In early days I can remember seeing hundreds of covered wagons, containing whole families and their household effects, travelling through the County of Elgin from the eastern States to Michigan and the far West. Many of these people, seeing our beautiful land, went no further, and settled along the Talbot Street, becoming true and loyal subjects of Her Majesty, espous- ing her cause and that of their adopted country. It is thus the world over we become moulded into loving our neighbors, our homes, and surroundings. The accusation against me was unjust, for every interest in this life, wife, children, and property, were anchored as much in Canada as my home as if I had been born under the British flag. I was billed at Port Stanley for a meeting months before it came off, but what did my opponent do but summon a meeting of his friends on the same day and place. Port Stanley was one of his strongholds, but I was bound to be even with him for this, and wrote to the chairman of my committee in London to collect forty or fifty of my friends and quietly \e?..ve the city on a special train that I would have ready for them. When the meeting was well under way in came my Lonaon friends, who made the meeting in my favor by a majority show of hands. 'My opponents were dreadfully taken back for they expected to out-vote me two to one, but were completely outgeneralled that time. While at a day meeting in lona. West Elgin, one of my ardent supporters put a wrong construction on my opponent's way of talking that I am sure helped to carry the meeting. He noticed that while my opponent was being introduced to the electors he held his handkerchief in his hands. This was too good a chance to lose, so 41 •calling aside a big Scotsman, he told him that my •opponent did not think much of farmers, as he always wiped his own hands after shaking hands with that class of the community. "Just look at him now," he said, " he draws his handkerchief through them every time." The Scotsman -was offended, saying, " I wadna hae believed it, he'll get nae mair votes frae this settlement," and away he went, calling his neighbors' attention to it. It was a fact that my opponent had a habit of drawing his handkerchief through his hands while talking, but the motive imputed was wide of the mark ; he was too much a gentleman to act with any such motive. Among the many stories told to injure my standing was one that I had made butcher knives for the rebels during the rebellion of 1837. It was circulated that I would be confronted with the proofs at the next meeting at a schoolhouse not far from Tilsonburg. A great many came long distances to see me tried, but no witnesses put in an appearance, so I was declared not guilty. This silly story made me many friends — more than the Conservatives liked. My old friend, Mr. Joseph VanNorman, was chairman of this meeting, and put in a good word for me for old acquaintance sake. ,s :f SCENES AND INCIDENTS OF THE CONTEST. The long nine months canvass had so worked up the constituency that as the time drew nigh the whole division was in the highest possible pitch of excitement. Early in the spring there had been a change of government. The Macdonald (John Sandfield) — Sicotte Reform Administra- tion assumed power at Quebec, which was a favorable turn in events for my candidature. When my opponent or I could get a chance to address electors, we took advantage of it, and sometimes appeared at the same place advocating our respective claims. The most exciting and disgraceful 42 hf .-1 '■■! li I :.t scene of the whole campaign was on the nomination day, loth September, 1862, at St. Thomas. The returning officer, the late John McKay, Registrar, had erected in the Court House square a covered shanty, elevated enough above the ground to speak from. From this place Mr. McKay received the nominations, and when this was over he was required by law to ask the friends of each candidate to take opposite sides and he who had the largest number present was declared elected, provided the majority present did not demand a poll. It was at this very important part of the proceedings — for each of us wanted to show the Returning Officer that he had the largest number of votes present — that my opponent and I got into an altercation. He tried, in his zeal, to get between the Returning Officer and mj'self and I endeavored to prevent him. I remember very little what happened for a few moments afterwards, but I was jerked by my coat tails from the front of the platform and landed in the rear on the ground with my hat gone, my coat torn, and my head and back bruised. My friends seeing me disappear from the front, knew I was not getting fair play, and rushed to my aid, resulting in a good many personal encounters. By the time I got to the front again, all was confusion, and the assembly was more like a mob than anything else and wholly beyond control. Who got the nomination proper I do not know.. The way I was treated on this occasion made for me many friends from the other side, who came up afterwards and announced their intention to support the Reform candidate. The week between nomination and election day was spent in appomting scrutineers, organizing committee men and arranging details which was no easy matter, as the new Malahide Division stretched seventy miles along the lake shore and forty miles back to the northerly limit of London Township. The polling occupied two days, the 17th and 1 8th September, and as no ballots were then used the Di 43 elector had to say openly before the Deputy Returning Officer who he voted for. The ballot was not introduced until some years afterwards. I spent the morning of the first day at the polling booth at Montgomery's Hotel, London Township, accompanied by the late Thomas Scatcherd, who did me good service during the canvass,. Early in the afternoon I came back to the city, where I found my friends working very hard for me, with the late E. W. H)'man as chairman. Their noble work for the Reform cause told at the end of the second day, when a previous Conservative majority of over 500 was pulled down to 70. Late on the evening of the first day returns came in very discouraging ; in fact, it showed me about 80 behind, owing principally to votes not being polled in the Elgins. I at once called a meeting of my London sup- porters, and asked for volunteers to accompany me to St. Thomas. A great many responded. My friends in Middlesex and London were doing their work thoroughly, and I was loathe to ask for help to go south, but we started for St. Thomas by special train about midnight, with the determination to turn the tide to victory if at all possible. Arriving in St. Thomas, I found my good friends there had also seen where the weakness of the first day's work la}', and had just retired to rest, after having made all arrange- ments for a vigorous push in the morning. I thanked them for their earnestness, but asked them to start on their canvass then and there, if they wanted to carry the riding for Reform. The noble work done in the northern part of the riding was a great stimulus, which, with my appeal to try and complete a great victory, put new life into their movements. The two ridings were immediately divided up into sections, and my friends started off with their teams, early as it was, east and west. I am satisfied that the impetus given by this movement was felt all along the lake shore, rolling in a handsome majority at the close of 44 the second day. I first turned my face west, and with the help of my friends in Finj^al soon yot conveyances started north and south to bring in voters. As fast as they were sent back they were despatched for other electors. The ball was kept rolling in this manner until evening. I had the great satisfaction of hearing that the west had given me a handsome majority of 68 in the same riding that had shown a minority of 13 at the previous election. I was much encouraged in the town of St. Thomas. The result of the committee work there was most satisfactory. Being open voting, we could tell the state of the polls every hour. As I advanced east, a wet blanket settled over my hopes, when I learned that Yarmouth, the great Liberal township was not toeing the mark in numbers of votes. I used all my powers to get them to understand the situation, and succeeded in inducing my friends to redouble their efforts. I then proceeded east as far as Aylmer, but found much the same apathy, which I tried my best to counteract and partially succeeded. A good many excuses were oftered for not turning out to vote. One was that the farmers were busy threshing. Another was the indifference shown by many, as the odds were largely against a Liberal being elected, and another was that neither candidates were local men. Things looked pretty blue about this time for my return, but what made me feel bluer still was to have my friends come up and say " that after all they did not think I would be defeated more than two hundred anyway." I was tired out, having been up all night discouraged by these prophecies and completely undone at the prospect of •defeat. I determined to try and catch the train at St. Thomas for home, and started with defeat staring me in the face after my nine months' of hard, hard work. I remember well how mortified I was on nscending a hill near which a threshing was going on to see the men stop their horses as we approached and gather along the fence. 45 ig in I kill I thought to m}-sclf, " Now I am in for some scathing remarks," and sure enough they met me with all kinds of insulting election cries. I did not answer them, and paid little attention to my assailants, but felt like turning and giving them a piece of my mind. It was just as well I did not, for the tide of victory for the Liberals had set in. We met on the top of the same hill some friends who gave me a cheer, amiouncing at the same time how old Yarmouth "•as doing her dut)-, and had rolled up a majorit}' of nearly 70 during the day in my favor. This was encouraging and rrnewed m}- hopes. As we advanced towards St. Thomas the news from the different sections grew more and more hopeful. On arrival home I was told I was no doubt elected. My personal feelings I cannot describe, as I had gone through so many vicissitudes in the last fort)--eight hours, but I was grateful not so much for being mj-sclf the successful candidate but for the triumph of Reform princi- ples, which I knew the countr}' were in sympathy with. I was also pleased that my fellow-citizens saw fit to endorse my position, that though American-born it was no detri- ment to my serving my adopted country in Parliament. In the evening I addressed my friends from the Tecumseh House, congratulating them on the handsome victory that had been won and hoping to be of .some ser- vice to them in return. A great many farmers came in to get the latest returns, and the streets were crowded. No wonder, as the fight had been a desperate one, and both the candidates lived in the city. I was more than ever pleased towards midnight to learn that our efforts on the last day exceeded our highest expectation. East Elgin giving me a majority of 218, West Elgin, 68 ; and last, but not least. East Middlesex actually giving me 14. The latter was quite unexpected, as it had formerly been carried by the Conservatives by something like 200. My own city .stood by me well, and in place of snowing me under with 46 n L It! II! •over 500 let me off by giving my opponent only 70 majority. These totals gavO me a clear majority of 230. This appears a very good majority, but when you consider there were 7,874 votes polled, the contest was a very close one, and is to this day looked upon by the older citizens as the hardest fought campaign this part of Canada ever saw. The closing scene of the contest was at St. Thomas on declaration day, where the official announcement was made. My opponent felt his defeat very much. We both made a few remarks, thanking our friends for their efforts on our behalf, and shook hands with each other burjMng the hatchet and all personalities then and there for ever. After the declaration my friends in St. Thomas and vicinity formed a procession and headed by a band paraded the town. ]kit what I was the most proud of that day was to be told that on top of the pole carrying the Union Jack in front was a plow point made by myself years before in my little foundry in " Hog Hollow." This was a fitting ending for a truly Plow Point Candidate's triumph. IN l-AKLIAMKNT. My first introduction to Parliament was in the begin- ning of 1863. Then the House met in the City of Quebec. In those days it took nearly two days to reach the capital from London. It was also dangerous work as the passengers and mails had to be carried across the river in canoes, with the river filled with running ice. \Vc held one summer session in Quebec, which was very pleasant, but in 1866 the capital of Canada was permanently fixed at Ottawa, where the new buildings had been erected, greatly to our comfort and convenience. I always remained a supporter of the Reform party through its many vicissitudes and trials, and I believe the country will yet jironounce a verdict in its favor that will bring about a season of prosperity that she will long enjoy. 47 TIIK LONDON AND I'OKT STANLEY LKASK. In 1 87 1 I opposed, to the best of my ability, the lease of the London and Port Stanley Railway to the Great Western Railway for several reasons. First, it would shut out competition in freight rates that could be j^ot from our lakes and canals by reachinj^ I'ort Stanley ; second, it would prevent us c;ettin<^ access to business centres on the Canada Southern Railway, east and west, which was then about completed (and to ^et communication with which, via the London & South Eastern, we paid the handsome sum of $75,000 a few years ago) ; third the Credit Valley Railway was then working its way west, and would no doubt have come to London if the Company could have reached the Canada Southern Railway by getting running powers over the London and I'ort Stanley Railway. The question of lease was much favored, in order to get a hand- some rental for the road and the establishment of the car works, which, together with a political [jhasc worked for all it was worth, carried the deal. I believe that that little road had been up to that time the making f Lontion, and will again do wonders for the city, by keeping in check the rates of other roads if put on the same footing as it was twenty years ago. RESCUK OK A SLAVK. The year after I was Mayor (1858) I came very near getting into a scrape by encouraging the keeping of a colored lad in Canada. A recognition of the injustice of iilavery was, I suppose, born in mc from the first, as it was in all Northerners. It was the only blot on the American people as a nation, and I disliked it the more I heard the stories of so many escaped slaves. Canada was then their only safe place of residence. I was at the Great Western Station one noon on the arrival of the train from the Suspension Bridge, when I noticed a dandy sort of a fellow pacing up and down the platform with a bright negro boy 48 111 at his heels, acting as his body servant, and sending the little innocent to buy his papers and cigars. He was rather communicative, and told in my hearing how much the boy was worth when he got him south. I had heard stories of this illegal traffic going on in the North but had never come face to face with it. I knew in a moment this creature had been east and had enticed this boy, perhaps from his home. In turning around I saw on the station Anderson Diddrick, the colored man who carried the Union Jack in front of our firemen when in procession. I told him I was afraid that boy was going into slavery and it was too bad to see him dragged off free British soil to work all his life for some one else, and perhaps be badly treated. The <--ain started, the man whistled to the boy,, and off they started for Detroit. This brought the tears to Diddrick's eyes. I asked him if he knew anyone in Chatham. "Yes, several." "Would they take the boy away from this man ? " " Yes, they would," but he had no money to telegraph. I gave him some, and he immediately wired the state of affairs, which was responded to in great shape. When the train stopped at Chatham, sure enough there were nearl)' a hundred colored men and women with clubs and staves who surrounded and boarded the train . and demanded the boy. He was handed over by his greatly surprised master without much ceremony and taken up town. Mr. Kidnapper was very glad to get off with a whole skin from this desperate company. The railway compan}' had these people all summoned for dis- turbing the peace, and quite a fuss was made about it. I was summoned to attend court in Chatham, but the papers miscarried. I believe, when the magistrate learnt the whole truth, he bound over some of the foremost, ?.iid the act of trespass was in a short time forgotten. I have been given to understand the boy lived for many j'ears after- wards near Chatham. 49 in CONCLUSION — A SON'S RKMINISCENCKS. It is not an easy matter to close these memoirs and do full justice to my revered parent, and the reader will excuse me if in the conclusion of them I overstep the mark in estimating my father's noble character. My earliest recol- lections are of the pleasantest kind. He it was who gave mc my first lesson in arithmetic, as I stood at his side in the old house on Fullarton street, when he was taking one of his late dinners. I got very little of his company in my childhood, as it was his busiest time, but as we children were able to put questions and take an interest in affairs- about the works his attention in us increased as we matured. Whatsoever puzzled our little brains he took a pleasure in making easilj- comprehended. We were never told " to get out of the way," or " little boys should not ask questions,"" but, on the contrar}-, were allowed to go where we liked in the establishment. I am sure this liberty often tried the patience of the workmen, as we were continually making all kinds of carts, sleds, boats, and even tried once to construct a steam engine (but it never steamed). As we became more companionable, he interested himself in explaining the workings and principals of mechanics, which have been so useful to us. As soon as we were able to perform duties about our home, they were allotted to us, and we were placed on the weekly pay roll for wages. This was a grand incentive to industry and effort on our part, as it gave a value to our services, how- ever small. Every bo}-, I am sure, feels a pride in being so recognized. The result was we were encouraged to save,, which, as our weekly stipend increased, led to quite a sum when we had reached our respective majorities. Of course, father was the banker all those )-ears, paying us such a liberal rate of interest on our small savings that I am ashamed to reveal it. We were never off the pay roll at the works from that time, having special duties allotted to us. ! at home or the works as an equivalent. As we grew to manhood, our dear father became more of a companion. We talked with and advised each other like brothers and partners. I remember getting a good scolding for attend- ing to some pressing duty before I made an entry one day in the cash book for money received. He said, " This will not do, Frank ; you had better take off your hat and lay it on the ground as a reminder to come back and finish your business rather than not make the cash entry first." I never forgot it. In giving credit to a prospective customer, his judgment was worthy of note. It consisted in scrutiniz- ing his hands. If they proved to be hard and callous, and his team of horses looked well cared for, he would be pretty sure to get all the credit he wanted. My father was self-possessed under all circumstances, whether it was at the death-bed of one of the family, witnessing the destruction of his property by fire, the sudden announcement of a financial failure, or in a political discussion. He was always cool, never disturbed, never excited, nor did he ever use an unkind word, even when vexed almost beyond endurance. My father might have enjoyed more of the world's ease if he had chosen, but it was not his way. He was more contented with a daily routine in business, his newspapers, and his few friends than anything else. Many citizens will remember his long walk from one side of the city to the other in the early morning. This exercise prolonged his life, as I am quite sure had he given up active attention to business ten years ago his life and usefulness would have been short- ened. When remonstrated with in this particular, and advised to take things with greater ease, he would say that his holidays were taken when attending Parliament. This was true in a sense, for he was very fond of his fellow members, and enjoyed a political argument with thcr 1 as much as anyone. The Senate and its connection 5> to public matters gave him just as much interest in public affairs as his retiring life wanted. The change from busi- ness was then to him a holiday. My father was very broad in his religious views, believing in every person having the fullest enjoyment of religious liberty. His idea was that it mattered little what a man believed in if it made him God- fearing, honorable in all his dealings, and a law-abiding citizen. My father had no fear of death, and often expressed to me the wish that when his time should come it would be a sudden carrying off. This wish was denied him for he endured a prolonged illness of twenty-two months with the greatest possible patience. During all that time he never murmured. When talking of his illness and the prospect of his getting better he would say " It is all right ; I have had my share of disappointments, but have been blessed with many, many comforts." At another time he told us that " Death was a beautiful order of nature," W^hat grand words these are ! How fearlessly he must have looked into the great unknown future to have uttered them ! They have been a great comfort to us all, and I hope that they will prove a talisman which may help us to lead such a life that wc may be enabled to say the same. Thus ended a life full of usefulness, full of example, and full of fatherly care such as may be well copied. F. K. L. :■:';* MoU IP! Emeline W, Leonard. J '' r- H ■1 ^:1: Advertiser Printing Company, . London, Ont. Autobiography. "" ■"' "■ '- ' "" '■—"'. -- ; "; '^«';;;;:;/;:';;:t„,;,:;; KARLV DAVS. J Mv r; ,'';'■• T ""= '"^■='>- ^^"'^•» °f 'he Sac, river. ^^ at Son''"" """"■■'"' """ """ "- '"'"berin. nar;';;;\ar"r::::,i;-;'-l,r.r\"- little co,.e,:e„c:t:'i„ 2^ 1^ ^ 7^:''"" "' tance a. the fire hac, to be n.^^J^^:: ^:^Z IIZ tr:erje:r;:7att""i °' ''"'■^"' '^''-- ^^^ -ar.e business; JT o 'fa^r^n'oZerh: f't^" -ed or better educational advanta^ ^ fia y d ,• d^ to move to wh.'it was then called Moores Ricl^e, Mont- \ille, about three miles awa}'. At this place he purchased a small farm, .and built a larj^e store for the sale of all kinds of merchandise. Over the store was a lar^e hall which was used for public meetings and singin^r school. I alwa)'s thou^dit it a ^reat treat to ^o and hear the violin and bass viol, and join in the sini^in^. My father bcin^ a Justice of the I'cacc, he held Court in the same room on Saturdays. I remember a very large willow tree grew at the back of the store, and we had a platform built in the branches, it was here that all outdoor meetings and fourth of July celebrations took place. At these times how mj- childish eyes enjoyed the waving of flags, the band play- ing, and the marching to and fro ! We lived across the road in a story and a half house with many rooms and a long woodshed leading back to the barns, resembling nearly all New England farm houses. Only a short dis- tance off was the schoolhouse where we went in all kind of weather. If the snow was too deep, we were carried there and back in the arms of the workman. We used the English reader, dear to me now as ever ; also, Murra)''s and Grcenlief's grammar, and, if I remember rightly, Cumining's geography. Our writing books were headed much in the same manner as they are to this da}', with some proverb, one of them " evil communications corrupt good manners, etc ." We used to have certain days for spelling (in those days by dividing the words into syllables) which I enjoyed very much, especially as I was proficient in that line of study. On my last visit to Mont- ville, all that remained of the old schoolhouse was a crumb- ling lot of bricks that once formed the chimney. I was very fond of my school, but one subject, " parsing," I disliked heartily, and I once made a headache the excuse to remain at home in order to avoid the disagreeable task, which was to take part in the afternoon exercises. Falling asleep, on. awakcninj^ I had such a severe headache that I was entirely cured of fibbing. One of the pleasant duties { remember having had to perforin was to ^o to the post office on Saturday' for papers and letters, which were not enclosed, as nowadays, in envelopes, but the paper was neatly folded for the address on one side, and sealed with wax on the other. Another novel duty, which I was often called tO' undertake, was to take part in marria but died at sea, ending a very chequered career. These years were very hard times for our family. We were denied the bread winner's support and the advice of the father, but we all did our best, and Pianagcd to keep to- gether. VICTIMS OF TIIK GKiAT FIRE. While in London we lived on King street, where, in 1845, we had the misfortune to be burned ojt of house and home, one Sunday morning while attending church, like a great many of our neighbors. We lost all our wearing apparel, except what we had on. Mr. Chas. B. Hewitt took us to his home, until we could get enough together to keep house in a very small way. Our friends were most kind in giving us help, which, with my mother's great energy and wonderful management, combined with cheer- fulness and hope, soon made our very humble home bright and happy. At this time there were very few brick houses in London and fewer sidewalks, so that the fire, when once started, had full play among the frame buildings that then composed the greater portion of our now beautiful city. I hope the citizens of London will never witness such a desolate scene as was presented to us on that Sun- day afternoon and evening. The town was not rebuilt very fast, and we found it hard to pay our rent, which induced us to move into the township of Westminster, where I found temporary employment as a school teacher ; and would likely have continued in that capacity, but I did not feel qualified, nor did 1 like the employment. Wc only remained a short time in the country, as we missed our many kind friends and neighbors, and wc again moved back to town. Among my earliest London friends were D. O. Marsh, E. W. Hyman, Sir John Carling, Simeon Morrill, Chas. B. Hewitt, M. Segar, Marcus Holmes, and many, many others, who have moved away or passed to the great bc}-ond. A MKMOKAHLK MKKTIXtJ. In the fall of 1838, I met Mr. Leonard at danc- ing school, which we attended in the Cit)- Hotel, then kept by Mr. Balkwell. This dancing school was well regulated and patronized by the best citizens, whose daughters were taken to and fro in a coach. When we could dance well enough, we met the gentlemen one evening a week. The plan was that we each had a number 10 which was called out by the dancing master, and we took •our places in couples according to the same. By some error, Mr. Leonard and I were partners for two dances in succession, which, with his asking me to dance the extra* caused me to be teased about him. We met quite often at little parties in the years that followed, as he started business in 1839 in London. « il MAKRIKI) AM) SHTTLKD DOWN. In 1S45, Mr. Leonard proposed marriage to me, and in June, i«S47, we were married by the late Row \Vm. JVoudfoot, D. D., in a little frame cottage on Hill street, where we then resided. Our wedding trip commenced by dri\ing to Port Stanley, and thence by the steamboat ^'Canada" to Detroit. We visited Cleveland, Ikiffalo, Syracuse, and Alban\-, returning at the end of three weeks by way of Ikiffalo to Port Stanley, by steamer " Samuel Ward." In those dax's. journeys were made as much as possible by water, as railways were few and far between. In May, 1S49, Mr. Leonard and I, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Morrill, started for New York, taking in the chief cities en route ; Mr. Leonard buj'ing his stock of coal and iron. After a few days in New York we parted with our friends. I remained with Miss Potter while Mr. Leonard went to Washington, Congress then being in session. He heard Henry Clay speak, and was introduced to him and Daniel Webster. On his return, wo left New York by steamer for Norwich, Conn., landing at midnight, took cars for Boston, Mass. When near Worcester, the next car to ours became detached, rolled over an embankment into a stream of water. About fifty persons were injured, some fatall}'. After some delay at Worcester we reached Boston on Sunday morning, and sta)-ed at ihe Adams House. We went from there to Portland and Buxton, my birth- place, and later to Searsmont, Augusta, Gardiner, visiting 1 1 relatives. We stayed a clay in Concord, X. II. Our return trip was b\' Lake Champlain, Montreal, Rochester, liuffalo, etc. AX KxciTiNc; e.\1'i:kii:n( r, ox lakh krik. This trip was destined to be lon^ remembered by me, for we were nearly wrecked. As our steamer, the " Dis- patch," was yettins^ close to Loni; Point Island, with a heav)' head wind, about eleven o'clock in the morning a part of her engine gave way and fell through the glass sky-lights, frightening everybody very badl}-. It was soon ascertained that the boat did not leak, so we anchored and put a flag of distress out and waited patiently the result. Mr. Edward Matthews of London was a passenger, and he, with ourselves, was greatly excited at first, but we tried to make the best of it. It turned out that our flag of distress could not be seen from land, and consequently we lay dis- abled rolling and pitching. At last two boats left us, and tried to land, but were both overturned. However, we were overjoyed as we counted the six occupants walking up the bank, one after another. They could get no assistance that day, and it was not until towards evening the second day, that we saw a sailing vessel bear down and then tack about. At last it came down upon us, and we were lifted into a small boat and rowed over to the schooner. About seven p.m. we were all transferred, but were doomed to pass the night in far more uncomfortable quarters, lying down where we could, as the schooner was damp. We reached Port Dover about daylight, and were taken in open boats ashore, glad enough to set foot on good solid earth once more. W'c walked up the bank joj'fuU}-, with wet and muddy feet ; and found the hotel keeper had seen our flag of distress from the shore. He was on the look-out for our steainer, as his wife was on board. We had breakfast^ which we all needed, and immediatel)' hired teams and wagons to take us to St. Thomas, and thence by stage to 12 London, thus ending an experience that we never forgot. We had been away about six weeks, and were much astonished, and not a little grieved, that our baby boy did not know us nor care to come to us. IN THE NEW HOME. We lived in a cottage on Fullarton street, next to the foundry, for seven years, after which we moved to our new house on Talbot street, the first day of August, 1854. We left the old home with considerable regret, as we ex- perienced much happiness and comfort while residing there. Our three sons were born there. Nothing of special interest happened during those seven years. The opening of the Great Western Railway, which was of vast importance and caused much excitement and rejoicing. In our new home our three daughters were born. Dear Locust Mount (old it may be called now, for I have lived there nearly forty years), how many happy hours I have passed within its walls, and experienced not a few sorrows ! Our first was the death by diphtheria of my eldest daughter, Alice, when six years old ; and again, when we were called upon to part with our second son, Edwin, at the age of twenty-two, on the 6th June, 1873. Notwithstanding these sorrows, and the departure of other relatives and friends of our own age, our lives were very happy together. In the spring of 1889, failing health began to make itself manifest in my husband, and he was compelled at Easter to leave his Parliamentary duties at Ottawa, and was not able to return. The follow- ing July, he was prostrated by nervousness, and for twenty- two months was confined to our home, not bcincr able either to walk out or drive. He bore this affliction very patiently to the end, expressing himself as being submissive to God's will and ready to depart. On the 14th May, 1 80 1, he passed quietly away, and was laid to rest along- side his parents and children in Mount Pleasant.