•!- LAW srAH<>Nl.H.. ANN MIIKKT. / ^ ^ ^' z i?^ Of «^ » >' A SKETCH or TIIK BUXTON MISSION & ELGIN SETTLEMENT, KALEKJH, CJAN^VDA AVJilST. 1'he Bnxtdii, or, us if is sometimes ciillcd, the Elgin Settlement, in sitnated in the to\vn^hi|) of Uiileigh, county Kent, ("imiidu West, iihoiit eight miles soiith-eiist of ('hiithiun, which is :i station on the Great Western Railway. It lies l>et\veen tlie livt'i'l'linmes .ind Lake Erie, and at present ctjvers uhont eiglileen sijuare miles of country, embracing,! iiopidatioii of over 1,2(M) persons. It was formed '>y the Itev. William King, in the year 184'J, witha view to the social and moral improvement of the colored population of Canada. 'I'lu' circumstiiuccs whi.'li led in its foruKition were these: Mr. Kmg, a native of l>i ndondeiry, Ireland, had come ovi'r when a youth to the I'nited States, and hiid tix.'d his I'esidenee in I.niusiiina. where during some years he occupied an inllueiitial position in con- i.ection with the Ijouisiana College at Jackson. Here he a.ssoiMatod and mingled tVrely with the first taiuilies in the Statt, and lierunie familiarly acipiainted with their ])eculiar institutions Holding strongly to the princl[)le that personal freedom is the iidierent and inalienable right of every man, and not hesitating on suitable occa- sions to acknowledge this view, he nevertheless avoided such rasii words and acts as would have caused him at once to forfeit the con- fidence of those amongst whom he dwelt ; a;id meantime he used his favorable stand point to midce himself familiar with the strongest arguments thai could be brougiit forv.ard in favor of Slavery, with the hnvs of the couuMy respecting it. with its political and social \viirkiu,i.MUi(l with rhv oliariutir ami capabilities of the colorerl man, in order that no knuwledgo of the strength of the system should be wanting to liim when the antiei])ated time should arrive for action. Believing Slavery tu be a great moral and social evil, at variance with the laws of (Jud, and opposed to the pure precepts of the (Jos- pel, he pent i\td that it was fast huiTying to destruction the people bv wlioui it was maintained. He was further convinced that li, was impossible, while living in the midst of it, to brmg up his family free from its contaminating inlluences : lie therefore determined, whatever sacrifices it should cost him, to free himself from itstram- mels, and to separate himself entirely from it. In consequence however of legal ditHculties, this resolution coidd not be carried into innnediate execution. He therefore, witli a view to its furtheranc(3, purchased a phmtation, on whicli he ])laced his slaves, giving them tlic ]iro(.eeds of tlieir own laiior, until the time should (•i)me that would enable ium to .set them five ; thus developing in them the spirit of self-reliance, and training them for the exercise of the du- ties of the state offreedou) in which he purj)osed to place them. The legal dilhculties which had hitherto stood in his way having been overcome, he sold his ])lantation, and in .\pril, 1848, removed the slaves, tiftcen in uund)er, to Canada, and Micre gave them tlicir freedom; these settliu'.:- aroiuni him liecanie the nucleus of the Elgin Settlement. nf most unpretending appear- ance, but buildings which were fur a while used as a church and solwtol house have since been incorporated in tiie dwelling house; and a gallery in front shaded by luxuriant grape vines, a belfry rising high above the house, the erection of a handsome barn and outbiuldings at the rear, together with the long avenue of siiade trees leading up from the road, and the tasteful white fences with which the premi8e;j are enclosed, have contributed to give to the whole, when seen against the brilliant blue sky and embosomed in the rich gi-een loliage of a <-'unadian suuuner, a i)ictures(pie and charming aspect. More recently a church, ischool-house and post-office have been put up on the piemises, immediately fronting the main road ; these are likewise of log, yet they have about them a degree of rustic beauty, thoxigh they are designed shortly to be succeeded by more prerna- ment structures. In a very short time a I'umber of the fifty acre lots were disposed of to actual settlers at two dollars and a half ])er acre, to be paid in ten equal annual instalments with interest ; the whole being paiil up, the settler to receive a title to the land in fee simple. These terms imve been fuliilled, and the settlers have received their deeds. It Wiis also reipiired that each settler, on entering his lot, should immediately put up a house, not inferior to a prescrii)cd model, ^vhich was of log, twenty-four feet long, by eighteen feet wide, and twelve high, to be set back thirty-tiu-ee feet from the road, and en- closed in front with a picket fence. Any who wished were at liberty to make their houses as nuicli larger and i)etter as they cliose, and in many cases did so. Some came in with nothing but their strong right arm to help them ; others liad acquired a little j^i'operty, and commenced at a much greater advantage ; the former had, in a literal sense, "to take their bread out of a stump," and hard enougii their work proved. The land Wiis heavily timbered with elm, hick- ory, oak, maple and ash, which nuist be hewn down, consumed, and the la'ushwuod cleared mit liefore an ear of corn could 1)0 raised. ir- ...1 a n 'U Tliu liiiul heiii^ lovcl uiul the soil clayey, it was nocrssary to (»i)OU nuuieri)ii« ditclius in order to carry uit' the water to tlie creeks, wliich, when properly kept open, sui)ply sutiicieut drainage. The parallel roads or conces^'ions which intei*sect the settlement at intervals of 200 acres, existed only on the charts, avid the tower- iiif,' giants of the forest, who had so long held undisturbed possession, would not yield an inch exccjit to the fatal stroke of the axe. 'I'he ditticultics were indeed great, each man however understood, on coming in, that all he was to receive was the opportunity to make a home and aequire independence — "work or sink" was the motto — and results abundantly testify that almost all adopted the former alternative. Meanwhile, in furtherance of the moral interests of the settlers, a mission was formed, sui)ported by the " Canada Presbyterian Free Church," and Mr. King, being a minister in that body, was appointed to the charge. Schools were opened in which, in addition to the ordinary branches taught in the connnon schools, opportunities were atloided for acipiiring a knowledge of the classics, and higher branches of literature, to such as might aspire to the professional or scientific walks of life. Three other school-houses have since been erected in the nio.'e remote parts of tlie settleujient, which are con- ducted on the connnon school system of the country, so that there arc now four schools, with an attendance of three hundred scholai's. Two hundred of these attend the KSabbath schools. Seven hundred have already jjassed through the mission school, and received a good common education, whilst others have been trained as teachers ami ai'c now occupying important posts both in Canada and the States. Ctne of the former pupils is teaching in the City of Washington, another in Chatham, Canat and pearlash. The only exj)ense inciUTcd is the purchase of the large kettle tor boiling. By tlii.s means also the work of clearing the land has been greatly stinudated, and vast quantities of wood, w liich nuist otherwise have lieen utterly wasted, have been converted into an article of high commercial value, and become a valuable source of wealth ^) the community. Indoors, many are engaged in prei)arin'4 and spinning flax and wool fur garments, and theu is no doubt that this most desirable liranch of industry will shortly be practised to a much greater ex- tent. The hindrance hitherto hiis been the impossibility ui' rai.sing 9 ah'ep on dniiip or newly- cleared jiuids. This obativcle is becoming k'Hi- every yesir, and we have good hopes of seeing in a few years the f veiy-day garl) of the connuiinity entirely of their own manufacture. The land on the older clearings is already lit for raising flax and tobacco. Scviral of the settlers are well accinainted with the culti- vation of these jdants, and the UKjde of preparing them for use or for the ni.irki.t, and are proposin'4 to devote a considerable portion of their time and land to these jmrjjoscs. From its eommeucement till the present time, the history uf the Bu.xton si.'ttlement has been one of gradual advancement in all things wliich constitute the prosperity of an agricultural people; yet, like all similar movements, it has liad its tluctiiations. The zeal and enthusiasm with wliicii many at first entered upon their arduous i)ut hopeful task, gave way lor a tim-.' ln'f'on' the eoniiiiu- ance ot severe lalior, unaceonrjanicd l)y present rc(piital, tlicso persons leaving their farms and going el.scrt'iiere to .seek employment; of coun-.e, their ov.n l.aids were nej:le('ted, or nearly so, and it is obvious tiiat such neglect would be injurious in an unopened r imtry not only to the interests of the individual, but also to those of his neighbours. Two or tiu-ee years' desidtory labour, which, though for the present more remunerative, did uot advance their ]>ernianeut interests, servi'd to sliow uiost ol'tiiem their erroi-, and tliey returned to liuxton witli rviiewed deteriuination to persevere in tlu' woik, which, though bai'reu aud tnilisonie at lirst, was a sure road to inile- pondeuee and plenty. (n IS")?, the KIgin .settlement was honoured witli a visit from Lord AlthorjK', now Ivirl Spencer, in company with several other gentlemen. Besides calling on some of the .settlers, and witnessing the cimditiou of tla-ir hou.ses and fanus, lie iuid the opportimity of seeing them gathered together on the t)Ccasioii, when a lianquet — of which several himdreds partook — was provided iu an arbor erected for t!ie jturpose iu a grove on Mr. King's farm. The settlers and their distinguished guests were mutually delighted with the novel scene. >>i»-""e that time similnr festivals have been held on the ID lirst of AiiL;ii.st to colebrato Wewt India Einiinciiiiitiou. Tlicso occa- sions, oil wliicli the (liiinor is fiirnishcil l)y tli(> comumnity fiom thfir oit'v prothice, would satisfy the eii(|iiinHg stnuiiivr tl:at tlicn; was no sciircit}- among tlioni of tho necessaries, and even of tlie inxnrios of the faliK". Turkeys, fowls, ducks, roast j)igs, geese, ven- ison, licef, niiitt(.ii, and land), load the hoard. Wgetahles of all kinds, licitiitocs, [i-.usniiis, |)e;is, French h >anH, asparagus, , where they n.'>w live snpportim: themselves hv tln'ir iiwn industry. In \\\><>,\ of tiiese dwellings the family altar has heen set up, wliriicc the Voice of praise and prayer a.scends from griit( fnl hearts to the I'athi'i' of all mercies. It is satisfactory also tnhealtio tM stati' th.ii. i.iiih as rc-ards licallh ami m.i|-als, the settlement will n hour ftivoumlilo ct>iiii)..i'isuu with aiiv coiDiiimiitv of the same size. Nothing thiit iutoxitates is niKclo or sold in the sttiknicut, and drunkenness is a crime almost unknown among the settlers. Most of their houses have been put up ou t'le jires^rihed model, hut many are of frame which have a nuu li laater appeai'auee, and are capable of a much higher degiee of fiuit^h, l;esidcs which there arc several brick houses, the bricks for Ashiih were niiide at the brick-yanl in Huxt(.n. The log and frame houses are whitewashed ; some ai'e shaded with gallercs and en (ping plants, and surrounded with' neat fences enclosing tasteful gardens. In the year 1862, there were thrte hunihc d acrts m wu in wheat. ; six hundred in Indian corn ; two hundred in oa\.i ; two hundred and fifty, meadow; about four hundred weiv devoted to potatoes, peas, turnips, buckwheat, Sec. ; fourteen to toliaccn, ar.l sixteen to flax. Tiicre were owned by tlie settlers, -.nc hundred yoke of oxen (used in farming), one hundred and thiity horses, two hundred and fifty milch cows, eighty sheep, and hogs without numlier, and eveiy succeeding year hius been adding to the wealth of the settlei-s. Indoors, their homes consist of a large room with a j)lank tluoi' ; at one end is a huge chinmey, where, duiing the long cold winters, the blazing lugs diU'iise cheeii'ul light and heat. In most cases a small riicm is partitioned oft" for a sleejiing apartment ; the whole is ceiled with boards, and the si)ace between these and tin.' shingled roof is aKo divided into two compartments as sleeping lofts. In the moanest of these dwellings tlu'i'e is at least one decent liedstead, a talile, a few t.iairp, iVc. In most, these conveniences are much mon numerous, and some of the better houses are buili (.•oiufortably and neatly funiished, and adorned with uay prints; and happily there is no fear of distraining for rent cr !iny such calamitv. The natural taste of the c<. loured race for nnis .' has been developeil and cultiva*^ed by the fovniation of singing classes, conducted by ojie of themselves, on Ilullah's vnca! .system, in which they have made very creditabk' progress. Twi^ niusiial bands liavi been funurd, our in conuectifU with the nulitaiy (in.iiHix ; the itlur, a brass baud. 12 for festivji! occasiuiis, in now under tiainiiig by agotitleman of much experience, who speaks highly of their progi'eps. AVrit-ng in Fobriiarv, 186t), Mr. King says : "This settlement is a standing jjrotest against the charges brought against the Negro, of idleness and incapacity to manage his own business. Just at tills critical period in the reconstruction of the slave states, and the settlement of other questions connected with the freedom of the si ive, it is well that we have at le:ist one community ' xi'^'w E s i\ ,j:1fc2@^a a '»^'-. '^^: Ma. /•^ //// A^/////. /f-wr//////'// ifv/^ uuv/p(>fal4(/- />// .4// 0/ /'(ir/idiiunf U^ '^' . 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