Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - KEAN, Peter

Wellington County GenWeb

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Pioneer - KEAN, Peter

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906

KEAN, Peter , b. Isle Arran, Scot., 1821. He was raised and educated there, and after finishing school, learned the carpenter's trade at Greenock, later working in Glasgow. In 1853 he emigrated to Canada, set. in Hamilton, finding ready employment on the structural work of the G. W. Ry., which was then building. In 1855 he came up to Harriston and remained about two months, assisting in building the pioneer store of Alexander Dow, after which time hie returned to Hamilton. In 1857 he m. Margaret McDougall, and with his bride returned to Harriston.

James Kean, his brother, had taken up 400 acres of land at the sale of 1854 (200 for himself and 200 for Peter). During the winters of 1854-5 they both did settlement duty on this land, living in a small log shanty, which they partially built, and later erecting a commodious log house, which still stands, a monument to pioneer activity. The money earned by Peter Kean in putting up the first buildings on the G. W. Ry., enabled them to pay for their land, besides supplying them with the "sinews of war" until they could get a clearing made and raise the "staff of life." A very common quality of tea sold at this time for $1.25 per lb., while coarse brown sugar was worth a "York shilling" per lb. There were no roads on con. 6 at this time, and during their first winter no other settlers on the concession. In the spring of 1856 David Smith set. just below them on lot 31, con. 7, and other settlers came in rapidly. Peter Kean and his brother cleared their farm, and the family are among the most prosperous and respected in Minto. Peter Kean is a man of good education and extensive reading. He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church and in politics a strong Conservative. Of his family: William, the oldest son, runs the homestead farm; Donald has a ranch in British Columbia; Alexander, set. in Detroit; Mrs. Walter Jewell set. Detroit; Mrs. Warren W. Champ, set St. Catharines; Marion lives in Detroit; Mrs. William Fleming, set. Minto, and Alice resides at home.

From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906