More of Lanark County Routes set for 2025

By Rose Mary Sarsfield

LCGS Honors Pioneering Farmers with Publication Success

At the Lanark County Genealogical Society (LCGS), we’re proud to celebrate the farming community and the pioneers who worked hard to clear the land, build homes, and plant crops. Our publications, Lanark County Routes East, Lanark County Routes West, Lanark County Routes Sequel East, and Lanark County Routes Sequel West, were a remarkable success upon their release.

Temporary Pause on Writing to Research for the Next Volumes
We are currently taking a brief hiatus from writing to focus on researching for our upcoming volumes. But we need your help! If you know of any farm property in Lanark County that has yet to be documented, please reach out to us. Although many farms have already been recorded, there are still many others that have not. Even those that are no longer active have a rich history that is valuable to the families associated with it.

Our project took shape after delving into the local Tweedsmuir History books and partnering with various farmers in the County to share their stories. We highlight the early settlers and what is known about their families, as well as the current owners, and explore the changes in farm life from the time of oxen and horses to the era of large machinery and robots.

Our goal is to highlight the tales of every property and the people who have called them home, regardless of their success. If you’re interested in having your farm’s history recorded for future generations, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Farms in Lanark County have a diverse and fascinating history. In the early days of settlement, families depended heavily on the land for sustenance and income. However, not everyone had access to good land, and many properties changed hands multiple times if they were not profitable. Nonetheless, some farms thrived with the right individuals involved and continue to be a source of livelihood for their owners today.

Sample Farms in L.C Routes East

The Robertson farm on Upper Perth Road in Ramsay is one whose original settlers’ descendants farmed until 1962 when it was sold to another local farmer. Like many of the small older farms, it was no longer able to sustain a family with the income that was needed.

The John Kidd farm on Kidd Road in Beckwith is a farm that is still in the possession of descendants of the original owner, who arrived in Beckwith in 1818. This is one of many farms where the descendants’ names are recorded for future generations.

Corad Farms in Pakenham Township is an example of several 100-acre parcels being combined into a large modern operation. The Hunt family have over 500 head of Limousin cattle and grow corn, soybeans and hay on their 1000 acres of land.

Sample Farms in L.C Routes West

The John Love farm in North Sherbrooke is an example of a farm where the pioneer was barely able to make a living because the land was so rocky and poor. This man was eventually forced to move to Dalhousie where he had slightly better land. His buildings from North Sherbrooke did survive and are now part of the display at Wheeler’s Pancake House and Museum.

Another difficult area to farm was Darling Township. However, the John Rintoul farm on Concession 6 was able to sustain Rintoul family members for 143 years. When it was sold in 1995 the new owners extensively updated the buildings, including rebuilding the stone foundation under the barn, and made it into a working farm again.

Drover’s Way farm in North Elmsley was a property that changed hands many times over the years. The Loten family, who bought the land in 2001, have turned it into a major sheep farm with about 600 ewes. They also have horses and operated a riding school.

For more information, or to enquire about having your farm listed in the sequel, please call 257–9482 or email communications@lanarkgenealogy.com .