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Pioneer - DOUGLAS, Moses
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
|
DOUGLAS, Moses
(d.), was b. in Scotland, and was one of the pioneer settlers
in Beauharnois Co., Province of Quebec, where he d. His three sons, all b. in
Beauharnois Co. William in 1834, Adam, in 1836, and George, in 1838. They
came to Ontario, in 1855, settling near Stratford, and in the fall of 1857,
came to Minto. They had means, and purchased 300 acres of land, buying out
the rights of the Newcombs and Vivians, in lots 110, con. C.; 110 D., and
112 D., paying $3,000 in cash for the same. There had been only an acre or
two in each place cleared, and temporary shanties put up. The Elora and
Saugeen road had been cut and logged, but was in a very crude state, and only
passable for ox teams, attached to "jumpers." William Burns, who had m. Miss
Douglas, a sister of the Douglas boys, came with them, and opened a store in
1857, on lot 111, con. C. He ran this pioneer store a few years, when he
sold out, and became a Presbyterian minister. The Douglas trio were young
men of more than average ability, energetic, and ambitious to get on in the
world. They had chosen their land well, and went to work with intelligent
and characteristic energy to clear it, and today, there is no finer on the
gravel road. It is now owned by William Douglas, some years later purchased
his brothers' interest. The Douglas' experienced all the vicissitudes of
pioneer life, and from that took a leading part in the infant settlement.
They were consistent members of the Presbyterian church, and active in having
one established at Cotswold, contributing liberally, not only to the church,
but to every worthy object. They attended well to their business affairs,
and reaped the reward that comes from such attention, becoming prosperous and
occupying a high place in the estimation of the people. George Douglas, lived
on his farm in Minto, until his death in 1880. He m. a dau. of Alex. Scott.
and left a widow and five children, in the early eighties. Adam moved to
Grey, Huron Co. where he d. in 1896. He m. Elizabeth Wood. dau of George Wood
of Downie. Issue: George W. who m. Harriet Barbar, and set. in Wallace, and
Moses J., unm. lives on the old homestead with his father.
From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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