Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - ROBERTS, Hugh

Wellington County GenWeb

return

Pioneer - ROBERTS, Hugh

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

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

ROBERTS, Hugh (d.), was b. at Aber. Caernarvonshire, North Wales, Oct. 1st, 1817, and d. in Pilkington, Oct 1st, 1897. He came to Canada in 1842, then went to New York and was on Staten Island for two years, and in New York City for one year. He then returned to Canada and purchased lot 5 and part of lot 4, con. A, west of the Grand River---the very lot that General Pilkington had reserved for himself, had he lived to come to Canada; that being the reason West Pilkington was not surveyed when the east side was.

Mr. Roberts was a man of great activity and force of character. He had the contract for clearing the Elora and Saugeen road from Bosworth to Tevitodale, and built the first bridges across the Canestoga River, one at Bosworth, and the other at Rothsay. He was an honorable man, whose word was as good as his bond. He was very successful in life, leaving a fine property. He took an active part in municipal affairs for many years, and held the office of Deputy Reeve and Reeve for 13 years. He was a member of the old district Council embracing the counties of Wellington, Waterloo and Bruce. He ran against Col. Clarke for the Provincial Legislature, but was defeated. The late Hugh Roberts was a staunch supporter of the Church of England, and for many years was the lay delegate at the meetings of the Synod. In politics, he was a Conservative and for a number of years was the President of the Center Wellington Conservative Association. He m. Mary Grant of Aberdeenshire, Scot., who taught the first school in Elora, about the year 1845. Issue: Griffith, Mrs. John Watt, Nichol Tp.; and Dr. Hugh G., of Guelph. His second wife was Eliza Whitelaw, widow of George Whitelaw, and daughter of Augustus Fisk, of Guelph Tp. Issue: John, of North Dakota; Catharine, of Buffalo, U.S.; Mrs. Thomas Jones, Elora and Llewellyn, of Pilkington.

Griffith, the eldest son was b. on the homestead where he has always lived and which he how owns. He carries on mixed farming and makes a specialty of Oxforddown sheep. He is a Presbyterian and a Conservative, and has never sought office. He m. Agnes McIntosh, "Paisley Block," Guelph Tp. They have one son Hugh.

Hugh Grant attended the Pilkington Public School, and the Elora High School, after which he taught school for eight years. In 1885 he graduated with honors in medicine from Trinity University and commenced the practice of his profession in New Germany, Waterloo Co. After practicing there for over seventeen years he moved to Guelph City, where he now practices. He is a Presbyterian and a Conservative. He m. first Catharine Fromm, of New Germany. Issue: Mary. He later m. Elizabeth Turnbull, of Galt. Issue: Grace and Jessie.

John, m. Margaret McFadgen, and is a successful farmer in North Dakota.

Llewellyn owns 100 acres, lot 4, con. A, Pilkington. He is a Conservative, and a member of the Church of England. He m. Alice Holzworth. Issue: George, Hugh, Charles, Llewellyn, Mary, Lloyd, John Lorne and Harry..

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