Canadian Methodist Historical Society
  County of Victoria History -
by Watson Kirkconnell, M.A.

SANDERSON, George Rivers D.D.

George Rivers Sanderson was born in 1816 in Ontario and was one of the first preachers to come into Omemee in Emily Tp., and had been a Methodist pioneer missionary or "saddlebags."

Prominent amongst these was the Rev. "Daddy" Sanderson, known irreverently throughout the township as "Little Peculiarities," because his invariable reproof to those whom he heard criticizing others was: "You know we all have our little peculiarities."

In 1826 a church, used chiefly by the Methodists, was built on the northwest corner of Lot 13, Concession 2.

A Methodist church was begun in the village in 1836, but took several years to finish.

The last Dominion Census, taken in 1911, shows that the racial strains and religious cleavages of early days still persist with great distinctness. The chief stocks represented in Emily, including Omemee, were as follows: Irish, 2,117; English, 353; Scotch, 114. The main denominational groupings were: Methodist, 979; Roman Catholics, 863; Anglicans, 493; Presbyterians, 242.

Dr. Sanderson's charges include:

1838 Newmarket, 1843-1844 Thorold, 1845 St. Catherines, 1849 Editor of the Christian Guardian, 1852-1853 Conference Secretary, 1854 Conference Book Steward, 1871 Belleville (Hastings Co.), 1874 St. Catharines


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