Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - LAING, William

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Pioneer - LAING, William

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

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

LAING, William , who d. at 66 was a native of Roxburghshire, Scot. He came to Canada in 1848, and set. on lot 14, con. 10, Puslinch, 100 acres. He was a well educated man, and had been a roadmaster in Scot. He was a Presbyterian and a Liberal. He m. Euphemia Grierson in Scot. Issue: Adam, (d.), set. Norfolk Co.; Mrs. John Easton, William (d.), set. Nebraska; John, Robert, Andrew, Mrs. Dan. Easton, Walker, set. Man.; Mrs. Jno. Moffat, Charles, set. Nebraska; Mrs. James Johnson, set. Minto Tp., all b. in Scotland.

John b. in Roxburghshire, Scot., in 1824, d. 1901. He came to Canada in 1840, and worked for his cousin Adam Laing, of Nassagaweya Tp. A short time after this he bought the squatter's claim on lot 19, front, con. 9, Puslinch Tp., and after working in the U. S. for two years, returned and set. on his farm, which he cleared and lived on until his death. In 1880, he bought lot 20, front con. 9. He was a very handy man with stock, particularly cattle, and, besides his farming, engaged in butchering. He used to take his wheat to Wellington Square to get it ground. He was a very strict temperance man; an Elder in the Methodist church, and a Reformer politically. About 1844 he assisted his brother Adam, who taught school at Corwhin, to come to Canada. He m. first Mary Easton, second Harriet Lamb. Issue: James, who own 20 acres, pt. lot 29, front con. 9; George, who is a grocer in Toronto; Josiah, d. at 7 of sunstroke; Charles, Mrs. Thompson, Martha, Mrs. Donald Campbell, Corwhin; Mrs. Robert Trousdale, Corwhin; Esther, with Mrs. Trousdale; John, d. infancy.

Charles always stayed on the home farm, which he operates. He keeps good stock, and makes a specialty of dairying. He is a Methodist, and a Liberal; never would hold municipal office. His sister Martha keeps house for him.

Andrew was seventeen years old when he came to Canada with his parents. For the first two years he was a sailor, between Buffalo and Chicago, then he set. down on lot 14, con. X., rear, and finished clearing it, experiencing many hardships. He was very industrious, and ran a threshing outfit for some years. He was one of the earliest butchers, taking meat to Guelph, and was a noted stockman, being known throughout the townships as Dr. Laing, on account of his ability to doctor stock. He was a great Liberal, voting right to the last in Nov. 1904. Mr. Laing was a very strong Christian, belonging originally to the Methodist church, but latterly to any and every church. He occasionally engaged in evangelistic work, and was a great friend to the Salvation Army. He was a peacemaker, and was a man to whom all parties went when they were in trouble. He was constable for some years until his death, and School Trustee at Arkell for some time. In 1871 he bought part lots 8, 9 and 10, rear con. 9, and lived there until his death, March 14, 1905, at 73 years of age. He m. Ellen Graham. Issue: William J., Peter, Mrs. Wm. Hume, Aberfoyle; Euphemia H., Mrs. Wm. Bell, Arkell; Prince Walter, who lives on con. 11 Puslinch; James and Rose.

William J. owns 100 acres, lot 14, rear con. 10, the original homestead, which he operated until Oct., 1905, when he rented it and moved to Guelph, on College Heights. He is a Methodist, and a Liberal; not an office man at all. He m. Elizabeth Carter. Issue: Edith m., at home.

Peter was b. and raised on lot 14, rear, con. 10, Puslinch. He helped his father butcher and run the farm until he was thirty-five years of age. He has always been buying and selling stock as well as farming and threshing. He ran the homestead for five years, and later bought the Bell farm, part lots, 7, 8 and 9, con. 10, where he has since lived. He is a Steward of the Methodist church and Supt. of the Sunday School; in politics a Liberal, and has been School Trustee. He owns 100 acres, the old Lamb estate in Nassagaweya tp. He m. Annie Bell. Issue: Leonard, who assists his father; Charlotte, Adeline, Edna (d. infancy), Stewart, Eva P. and Della.

James, Euphemia and Rose live on the home farm, part lots 7, 8 and 9, con. 9. Walter farmed in Nassagaweya Tp. until 1904, when he went to Manitoba. Charles set. Nebraska.

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