Farmer and City Directories

City directories (also known as farmer's directories) can be useful in ascertaining where (i.e. lot/concession number) your ancestors lived. From this information you can then consult the land records for more information. A good article to read for background information is: Shaw, Gareth (1982). "Nineteenth century directories as sources in Canadian social history" Archivaria, number 14, summer, p.107-121. The National Library and Archives of Canada also has a webpage that provides a brief history of Canadian directories.

A number of farmers' and business directories have been filmed by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. There is also a searchable database for this series. The following microfiche from this series pertain to Dufferin County.

• No. A01416 - The Union Publishing Co's farmer's and business directory for the counties of Dufferin, Simcoe and district of Muskoka (for 1886/87)
• No. A00661 - The Union Publishing Co's (of Ingersoll) farmers' and business directory for the counties of Dufferin,Ontario, Peel and York and Darlington Township. (for 1898 and 1900)
• No. A01184 - The Union Publishing Co's (of Ingersoll) farmers' and business directory for the counties of Bruce, Dufferin, Grey and Huron for...(1893)
• No. A01414, A01415, and A00743 - The Union Publishing Co's farmers' and business directory for the counties of Dufferin, Halton, Peel and York (1887-1892 and 1896)

©1998-2005 Amy Menary
Last updated: February 8, 2005