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Pioneer - LESLIE, James
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
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LESLIE, James
(d.), was a son of John Leslie, who was born and settled in the county of
Tyrone, Ire., where the subject of this sketch was born in 1800. James Leslie
and his brother George came first to New York State, and there met the British
Consul, who persuaded them to come to Canada. They procured from him location
tickets for 300 acres of land, came to Canada and spent some time in Montreal,
and in about 1819 came on to Glen Williams, where his father, brother John and
sister Margaret joined them. Each of the brothers took up 100 acres of land.
George set. in Chinguacousy and James and John in Glen Williams. The farms
taken by George and John are still owned by their sons, but James came to Erin
in 1833 and took up land before the township was surveyed. He then returned to
his farm in the Glen that his children might get to school, and after about ten
years sold his farm in the Glen and returned to Erin, where he spent the
remainder of his life. Mr. Leslie drew two loads of lumber from Glen William to
Guelph, when he could get stable for only one yoke of oxen and the other yoke
had to lie out in the snow chained to a stump on Wyndham Street. His wife, who
was quiet and busy, had planted apple seed while in the Glen, and raised trees
for herself, that she brought with her to her new home and planted among the
stumps. Thus they had the first orchard in this part of the country.
The late James Leslie, Jr., m. Lydia Williams, 1828, dau. of Benjamin Williams, who built the first sawmill, grist and carding mill in Esquesing. He set. in Erin in 1833, on lots 5 and 6, con. 1, 200 acres, for which he received Crown deeds soon after. This land is now owned by his sons, George and Joel W. To this he added adjoining farms, and at his death he owned 750 acres, and had previously given his sons, John and Benjamin 100 acres and 50 acres respectively. He was a very successful farmer and with the help of his sons, accumulated a large property. He was a moving spirit in the erection of the Siloam Methodist Church, of which he was a member and to which he was a generous giver. He was a man of strong personality. He sympathized with Mackenzie in the trouble of 1837-8. The Leslies have from their advent to Canada, composed the best citizenship in the localities where they have set. Issue: John, Mrs. Isaac Snyder, Mary (d.), Benajah, George, Mrs. David Sibbald, Mrs. Robert Johnston, Joel W., and Mrs. Ira Stewart. He d. in 1873, age 73, while his wife passed away in 1875, age 65. John b. 1830., d. 1892, m. Mary J. Brown in 1854, set. in Eramosa. Issue: James B., George I., William G., and Mrs. Henry Patterson. The late John Leslie started farm life in Erin, and in 1863 came to Eramosa, and purchased 100 acres, lot 29, con. 5, on which there was a small clearing. He cleared the balance of the farm and later purchased 285 acres adjoining, and later still, purchased an additional 100 acres. These farms he gave to his sons, and also handsomely provided for his daughter. Mr. Leslie was a leading citizen in Eramosa, chief promoter of Bethel Methodist Church and its establishment in the neighborhood. His good wife was a worthy helpmate, not only in religion and home matters, but nursed the sick and was the good Samaritan of the section. She d. in 1904, age 67 years. Of his issue: James m. Elizabeth Awrey, and owns the old David Awrey homestead, Erin (162 acres), Issue: Annie M., John (d.), Elmer (d.), William , Gordon, Ella and Beatrice. George I. m. Matilda Awrey, and owns the old homestead, "Fairview Farm," in Eramosa (285 acres). He is a breeder of fine stock, and is a Methodist. Issue: Leroy I., Leonard A. and Nettie M. William G. m. Martha J. Awrey, and owns 150 acres, Eramosa. Issue: Mary J., Margaret A., Herbert N., John S., Gideon D., Emerson J., Fannie M. and Cecil J. George, son of the late James Leslie, was b. 1830. He m. Amanda Stafford. Issue: Amy, James, Ira, Henry, Joel., Bertha and Harvey. He is s breeder of thoroughbred Shorthorns, standard roadsters and Percheron horses, and owns 200 acres of land in Erin Tp., with fine improvements. Joel W., b. 1848, m. Mary C. Kennedy; second wife Mary M. Swackhammer. Issue: Mrs. Edward Pearen, who live on the homestead with her father. From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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