| Wellington County GenWeb |
| return |
Pioneer - BARNET, Alexander
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
|
BARNET, Alexander,
(d.), the subject of this sketch, who was
one of the pioneers of Fergus, was b. March 14, 1824, in
Kilspindie, Scot. He left the Carse of Gowrie, Perthshire,
and sailed Dec. 26, 1837, from Liverpool with James Webster,
bound for the then wilds of Fergus, Canada, where they arrived
Feb. 10, 1838. Their passage from Liverpool to New York was in
the sailing vessel Pennsylvania, and they were forty days in
making the passage, which was then considered a very short voyage.
Mr. Barnet was accompanied by James Webster, the two Harveys and
Capt. Dalton. They travelled by rail from New York to Albany,
and aside from about 20 miles of rail before reaching Rochester,
they travelled in sleighs. As the Niagara River was frozen, they
crossed it on the ice near Black Rock. From there to Hamilton,
which was then a small hamlet containing but one street, and a
few houses, they continued their journey by sleighs, and so on
to Fergus in the same manner, making the trip from New York to
the latter place in two weeks. Fergus at this time contained
but one store, one church and log school house, and a few
scattered houses of the same character. The country was
covered with heavy timber, and but few clearings had been made.
Young Barnet entered the employ of the late James Webster in which employment he continued until April, 1850, at which time he m. Ann, dau. of time late James Davidson, one of the earliest pioneers. They immediately moved to lot 16, con. 3, West Garafraxa, then a wilderness, and hewed a home for themselves. Mr. Barnet cleared this farm and the property is now one of the finest in the township. Here he lived until 1883, when he retired to Fergus and lived there until his death in 1904. His only son, William, succeeded to the farm and still resides there. He was survived by his wife, four daughters and one son. As will be seen, Mr. Barnet started in Canada as a poor boy, and by his own energy and force of character, assisted by a wortlmy help mate, he became a man of property and influence in the community, raising and educating his family. His descendants now compose the best of citizenship in the localities where they have set. Mr. Barnet was a Presbyterian, and always took an active interest in church matters. In politics he was a staunch Liberal. He was a man of strict integrity and bore the respect and confidence of the whole community of which he was for so many years a leading and respected member. Mr. Barnet's daughters are: Mrs. John Ewen of Nichol, Mrs. James M. Nairn of Winterbourne, Mrs. T. N. Wansbrough of Fergus, and Mrs. W. A. Richardson of Norwood. William owns and resides on the homestead, lot 16, con. 3, and is one of the most respected men in the township, and his farm of 197 acres is one of the finest. He is a Presbyterian and a Liberal. In 1885 he m. Margaret, dau. of Mr. John Templin, one of the most prominent business men of Fergus. There are two children: Wilfrid A., attending the O. A. C. at Guelph, and Ivan T., at home. From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
Contact Wellington County GenWeb Host. My email address is wellingtoncogenwebATgmail.com Repalce AT with @ before you send your message. If you're ready, click here to send email
URL: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~onwellin/index.htm
All rights reserved Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2004-present These pages may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without my written consent