This selection of articles is from the LCGS Lanark Log newsletter, or have been submitted by website users.
Many additional historical articles may be found in
The 1905 Perth Old Boys’ and Girls’ Reunion section.
ALMONTE
The Rosamond Woollen Company of Almonte
By Alex Hughes, from the LCGS newsletter, October, 1996.
BATHURST TOWNSHIP
Licenses issued in Lanark County — 1848
THE FIRST QUARTERLY RETURN OF LICENSES, ISSUED IN THE BATHURST DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR 1848.
The Story of the Village of Harper
By Clyde Bell, in a paper presented to the members of the Harper Women’s Institute, on November 21st, 1963. Lanark County surnames noted: ADAMS, BARNES, BELL, BOWES, BROWN, BUELL, BUTLER, CAMPBELL, CARROLL, CHURCHILL, CUNNINGHAM, DAROU, DEACON, ENNIS, FERGUSON, FISHER, FOLEY, GALLAGHER, GLASCOTT, HARPER, HUGHES, JACKSON, KERR, LAFFERTY, LAKE, LEIGHTON, MARGARET, McNEE, MEIGHEN, MENZIES, PEPPER, SHIPERAL, WARREN, WILSON, WRATHALL.
THE BAILEYS: BATHURST TOWNSHIP
From the LCGS newsletter, July & September, 1997.
Transcribed and submitted by Margaret Bradford. Originally published in the Perth Courier, April 15th 1864, and published in the LCGS newsletter, March through October, 1999. Was Mrs. Campbell murdered or was she killed by a ram? Surnames mentioned: ALCORN, BATESON, BLAIR, BRAIDEN, BUFFAM, CAMPBELL, CODE, CORRY, DEACON, FRASER, GEMMELL, GILLESPIE, KILSO, McCALLUM, McDONALD, McLELLAN, MELVILLE, MILLER, MORRIS, MORRISON, MULLEN, MUNRO, NICHOL, ROBERTSON, ROGERS, SHANKS, SHAW, SKIFFINGTON, WATT.
DARLING TOWNSHIP
The French Settlement in Darling Township
By Peter Andersen, from the Lanark Era and the LCGS newsletter. Surnames noted: CALDWELL, CARDINAL, LALONDE, MACLAREN, MAJORE, MILLOTTE, RANGER, WATIER.
LANARK COUNTY, GENERAL
The Early Legal History of the Bathurst District & County of Lanark
By an unknown author. Written about 1900 for the Perth Historical and Antiquarian Society. Surnames mentioned: ADAMS, ADAMSON, ARMSTRONG, ARMOUR, BAILEY, BAIN, BAIRD, BELL, BERFORD, BEYON, BOULTON, BROOKE, BUELL, CAMERON, CLARKE, CODE, DEACON, DENNISON, DICKSON, ELLIOTT, FARRELL, FRASER, GRANT, GREIG, HALL, HENDERSON, HOGG, HUBBELL, ISBY/EASBY, JAMIESON, KELLOCK, LAURIE, LEES, Le LIEVRE, LOVE, LYON, MALLOCH, MATHESON, McKAY, McLAREN, McMARTIN, McMILLAN, McNAIRN, MOFFAT, MORRIS, NORTHGRAVES, O’BRIEN, POWELL, RADENHURST, READE, RICE, ROBINSON, RYAN, SACHE, SHAW, SINCLAIR, STANLEY, TAYLOR, THOM, THOMPSON, WALKER, WILSON, YOUNG.
The Establishment of the Bathurst District
From the Perth Courier, Dec. 16, 1904. An address given by Charles MacNab, county clerk, before a meeting of public school teachers. Surnames include: BAKER, COWLEY, MAY, McKAY, PINHEY, SMIRLE.
By J.G. Harvey, K.C., 1936. The text of a speech to the Lanark Old Boy’s Association in Winnipeg. He names many of the original settlers on the Scotch Line, etc. but about two thirds of the way through he abandons Lanark County for the charms of the Consumers’ Co-operative movement in England. Surnames mentioned: ALLAN, BALDERSON, BARRY, BECKWITH, BELL, BRIGHT, BRYCE, CAMPBELL, CUDDIE, DRUMMOND, FERGUSON, FRASER, GOULD, HAY, HOLDERNESS, MALLOCH, McCAFFERY, McDONALD, McDOUGALL, McGARRY, McLAREN, McLEOD, McNEE, MILLER, RITCHIE, SCOTT, SIMPSON, SPALDING, THOM, WOLSELEY.
By H.R. Morgan. Reprinted from Papers and Records, Vol. XXIX, Ontario Historical Society, 1933, and illustrated with some postcard photos of the Tay. Surnames mentioned: ARNOLD, BERFORD, BY, CAMERON, CUMMING, FERGUSON, FRASER, GLASS, GRAHAM, JACKSON, LESLIE, MARSHALL, MATHESON, MOREHOUSE, MORRIS, MOUNTAIN, POWELL, READE, RICHARDS, ROBINSON, SNEDDEN, TAYLOR, WEATHERHEAD, WYLIE.
By Michael Dawber, from the February, 1999 LCGS newsletter. Where is the line between “North” and “South”? What does it mean?
By Carol Bennett McCuaig, from the LCGS newsletter, May, 1996. Surnames: BELL, MALLOCH, ROSAMOND.
This document was transcribed by Elaine Kirkham. Some of the data has been re-arranged and consolidated, but nothing has been omitted. In some cases the manuscript is confusing, especially as to the relationship of the children in the Chalmers family.
By Emily P. Weaver. This is Chapter 26 of her book “The Story of the Counties of Ontario“, published in 1913. Surnames: ARMSTRONG, McTAGGART, PATTERSON.
By Dr. J. A. Ruddick, in a document dated 1943. Dr. Ruddick was responsible for co-ordinating the making of the Mammoth Cheese and transporting it from Perth to the Columbian Exposition in Chicago and then to England.
COMMUNITY HISTORIES FROM THE WESTERN PROVINCES
Community histories published by communities in the Western provinces are a great resource for genealogists searching for ancestors who left Lanark County for greener pastures.
By an unknown author. Written about 1900, probably for the Perth Historical and Antiquarian Society. Surnames mentioned: AGASSIZ, ASPDEN, BAKER, BROWN, COWAN, DAVIS, DICKSON, GLENN, HART, HUNT, KELVIN, KENYON, KING, LOGAN, MacMILLAN, MARSHALL, MATHESON, McLAREN, McMARTIN, McPHERSON, MEIGHEN, MILLER, MITCHELL, MURCHISON, OLIVER, POOLE, RABB, ROBISON, SCHULTZE, WILSON.
Old Photos at the Archives of Ontario
By Ken Godfrey, from the LCGS newsletter, May, 1996. Lanark County surnames mentioned: GEDDES, FARMER, KENYON, MILLER, WATT. Also, Carleton Place, Christie Lake, Dalhousie Lake, Mississippi River, Otty Lake, Perth, Tay River.
Upper Canada Military Settlements of 1815-1816
By F.H. Dobbin, and published in The Perth Courier, Nov 23, Nov 30 and Dec 7, 1923. Transcribed by Ann MacPhail. The story of Irish Emigration to Canada. Surnames include: CUNNINGHAM, KEANE, ROBINSON.
LANARK COUNTY CEMETERIES AND BURYING GROUNDS
This list is a combination of a printed list of the Lanark County Genealogical Society’s cemetery listings and of the cemetery location information on a map in the LCGS library in Smiths Falls
THE TOWN OF PERTH
As recalled by “Mr. Cromwell”. Written about 1900, probably for the Perth Historical and Antiquarian Society. Surnames mentioned: ACKLAND, BAKER, BOULTON, CROMWELL, HUGHES, LEES, LE LIEVRE, LYON, PORTER, RADENHURST, ROBERTSON, THOM, WILSON.
A History of Newspaper Publishing in Perth
By an unknown author. Written before 1898, probably for the Perth Historical and Antiquarian Society. Surnames mentioned: BERFORD, CAIRNS, CAMERON, DRENNAN, EASBY, ELLIOTT, FERRIER, GEMMELL, GRANT, KERR, LOW, MAIR, MATHESON, McALLISTER, MITCHELL, NEILSON, POOLE, POWELL, RICE, SHAW, SPALDING, STANLEY, STEWART, THOMPSON, TULLY, WALKER.
The History of the Perth Baptist Church
Published in the Perth Courier, Dec. 15, 1905. Mentions many families who went west. Surnames include: ADAMS, ALLAN, ALLEN, ASHTON, BELL, BENJAMAN, BROWN, BUELL, CALDWELL, CAMPBELL, CASTLE, CHERRIE, CLOSS, CONDIE, COOPER, CORRY, COX, CRAM, CUTHBERTSON, DAVIDSON, DAVIES, DENNISON, DENOVAN, DICKSON, DORAN, DOUGLAS, DREW, DUNNET, EARSKINE, EWART, FARMER, FERGUSON, FIFE, FLEMMING, FLINTOFF, FORTH, FRASER, GARVEN, GEMMELL, GILLING, GOULD, GRAY, GREY, GRIGG, HAGGART, HAMILTON, HAWKINS, HENDERSON, HOGG, HOLLIDAY, IRELAND, IRONS, JACKSON, KELLOCK, KENNEDY, KERR, KORRY, LAING, LAURIE, LECKIE, LESLIE, LILLIE, LOCK, LYON, MACKIE, MALCOLM, MALLOCH, MATHESON, MILLER, MOIR, MONTGOMERY, MOODIE, McADAM, McALPINE, McCALLUM, McCARTHY, McCULLOCH, McDERMID, McDIARMID, McDONNELL, McDOUGALL, McEATHREN, McEWEN, McFARLANE, McGRATH, McGREGOR, McKINLEY, McLAREN, McLEAN, McMILLAN, MacNAB, McPHERSON, McTAVISH, MITCHELL, MUIR, MUTTEN, NOTT, PORTERFIELD, RADENHURST, RICHIE, RITCHIE, ROBINSON, ROCK, ROBERTSON, SHARPE, ROSS, RULL, RYAN, SCOTT, SINCLAIR, SMITH, TAIT, THOMPSON, THORNE, WAITES, WATSON, WILSON, WORDIE.
Banking in the early days of the Town of Perth — a paper presented to the Perth Historical Society in 1898. Transcribed by Robert T. Bond. Surnames noted: ALLAN, BANCROFT, BELL, BOTHWELL, CAMPBELL, DESPARD, DETTRICK, DRUMMOND, FRASER, FREEMAN, GRAY, HALL, JAMES, KIRKLAND, LESLIE, MAIR, MATHESON, MEIGHEN, MORGAN, MORRIS, MUNROE, McARTHUR, McFARLANE, McINTYRE, McLAREN, NESS, POWER, RICHARDSON, ROBERTSON, SHAW, SPALDING, STEWART, THOMPSON, WELLS, WILSON.
The W. & J. Bell Fractional Currency
A manuscript dated 1932 by Archibald M. Campbell who mostly quotes an earlier article by Dr. T.W. Beeman. This is a short history of the private currency issued by the Bell store in Perth, as a response to the government’s suspension of currency payments because of the rebellion of 1838.
The Centennial of the Perth Settlement
From the Perth Courier, Dec. 22, 1916. This very long and spectacularly long-winded article is mostly a reprint of an article from the Daily Citizen, Ottawa, 1877. There are some minor discrepancies between the 1916 article and the original. There is a lot of good, basic information here about the Town of Perth and its early days. Surnames noted: ADAMS, ALLAN, ANDERSON, ARNOLDI, BEDFORD, BELL, BERFORD, BLAIR, BOULTON, BROOKE, BURNS, BURTON, CAIRNS, CAMERON, CAMPBELL, CHISHOLM, CONSITT, DAVERN, DELISLE, DENNISON, DOUGLAS, DRUMMOND, DYNE, ELLIOTT, FERGUSON, FLINTOFF, FORGIE, FORTH, FOWLER, FRASER, FRESHMAN, GEMMEL, GLASS, GOULD, GRAHAM, GRANT, GREGG, GREY, HAGGART, HALEY, HALL, HALLIDAY, HARRIS, HART, HENDERSON, HICKS, HOLMES, HOWDEN, JAMIESON, JORDAN, KELLOCK, KENNEDY, KIPPEN, LAMOTTIE, LINDSAY, LYON, MALLOCH, MANION, MARSHALL, MASON, MATHESON, MATHESON, MATHEWS, McKAY, McLAREN, McMASTER, McMILLAN, MEIGHEN, MICHELL, MONTGOMERY, MOODIE, MORRIS, MORTIMER, O’CONNOR, PERRY, PLAYFAIR, PORTER, POWELL, RADENHURST, RAINE, RICE, RITCHIE, ROBERTSON, ROGERS, RUGG, RYAN, SCOTT, SENKLER, SHAW, SPALDING, STEPHENSON, STEWART, THOM, THOMPSON, THORNTON, TULLY, WALKER, WATSON, WHITE, WILSON, WOLSLEY.
Early Days of Methodism in Perth
By Rev. Thomas Brown. This is a transcription of a pamphlet published in 1921 for the centenial of Asbury Methodist Church. Surnames include all ministers from 1821 – 1921 and most church officials. Too many surnames to list here.
Early Days of the Perth Settlement
By Mary A. B. Campbell. A history of the early days of the Town of Perth. Manuscript dated February 17th, 1898. Transcribed by Charles Dobie. Surnames noted: ADAMS, BELL, BUCHANAN, DAVERNE, DeLISLE, DORAN, FLINTOFF, FRASER, FYFE, GEMMILL, HAGGART, HALLIDAY, HARRIS, HOLMES, HUGHES, JESSOP, KAY, LUARD, MARSHALL, MATHESON, McDONALD, McEVAR, McKENZIE, McNEE, MONTGOMERY, MORRIS, de La MOTHE, NICHOL, O’HEAR(E), PEALE, PORTER, READE, ROGERS, SINCLAIR, STEWART, TETT, THOM, THOMPSON, WILSON.
Early St.John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church Baptisms – Please note this is not a complete list
Early St.John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church Marriages – Please note this is not a complete list
Captain Anthony Leslie and the Historic Leslie Property
Undated typescript by Archibald Campbell, at one time curator of the Perth Museum. Surnames mentioned: BELL, CARR, JERGENS, LESLIE, McDONAGH, McLAREN, MORRIS, STEWART.
Origin And Development Of The Perth Museum
1936 typescript by Archibald Campbell, at one time curator of the Perth Museum. Surnames mentioned: AMI, BAIN, BELL, BELL-SMITH, CAMPBELL, DANISON, DAWES, DAWSON, DOUGLAS, HART, HALL, HARVEY, HOPE, LEGGETT, LOGAN, MAIR, MALLOCH, McCREA, McINTYRE, McKINNON, MACPHERSON, MEIGHEN, MIERS, MINER, PARK, PEACOCK, SEGSWORTH, STEWART, WADDELL, WILSON.
1859, The Year the Railroad Came to Town
By Michael Taylor, former editor of the Perth Courier, and published in that newspaper in 1987. Surnames mentioned: ALLAN, BUFFAM, GRANT, MADIGAN, McLAREN, WATTSON.
LANARK VILLAGE
By Chris. M. Forbes. Published in the Perth Courier, Dec. 15, 1905 through Feb. 9, 1906. This is a quite lengthy history full of thunderous and bombastic prose which is quite often hilarious. It is amazing how much the English language has changed in the last 100 years. Far from being the sleepy little village of today, Lanark’s history is founded solidly on a foundation of alcohol, religion and timber. Surnames mentioned: AFFLECK, BAIRD, BEATTY, BELTON, BLACKWOOD, BOTHWELL, BOWER, BOYLE, BUFFAM, CALDWELL, CRAIG, DAROU, DINWOODIE, DOBBIE, DRYSDALE, ESDALE, FERGUSON, FIELD, FOLEY, FRASER, FROST, GEMMILL, GORDON, HALL, HORN, JAMES, KERR, LAMONT, LEECH, LINDSAY, MAIR, MANAHAN, MARSHALL, MASON, McALLISTER, McEWEN, McGREGOR, McILQUHAM, McINTOSH, McLAREN, M(a)cLEAN, McNAMARA, MELROSE, MILLOTTE, MOOREHOUSE, MORAN, MOSTYN, MUIR, MUNRO, MURDOCK, MURPHY, PEPPER, POLLOCK, ROBERTSON, RYAN, SPALDING, STANLEY, STEAD, STEWART, SUTHERLAND, THOMSON, TIMMSON, TURNER, WALKER, WATCHORN, WILSON, WRIGHT, YOUNG.
SMITH’S FALLS
Published in the Perth Courier, May 6, 1904 and credited to the Rideau Record (Smith’s Falls). The trouble over this Smith’s Falls building (dubbed “Fort Hemlock”), resulted in the reading of the riot act. Surnames include: CARROLL, GOULD, WALL.
ONTARIO, GENERAL
Amalgamation of Ontario Communities
A table of “before and after” names created for the LCGS website by Michael Dawber. Most Ontario communities have just completed or are now in the process of amalgamating, a situation which will surely complicate future genealogical research.
The Early History of Marlborough Township (Carleton County)
Published in the Perth Courier, Jan. 26, 1906, and reprinted from the Almonte Gazette. A very terse history, mostly of Burritt’s Rapids. Surnames include: ADAMS, BISHOP, BURRITT, DANIEL, FRENCH, HURD, LANE, MALLORY, McCARTNEY, PATTON, SEATON, SMADES, SOULES, STEPHENS, WARD.
By Mark McGarry. Most who have tried to read the 1842 census on microfilm have been defeated by the 123 columns of headings which are usually mis-aligned and are almost impossible to match with the hand-written entries which may be several film frames away. Mark has created a Wordperfect 6.1 template which is available for download in either “.zip” or “.exe” format. A census page is presented here as an example.
Fort Stewart Families (Hastings County)
Submitted by Marilyn Snedden. Originally published in the Almonte Gazette, 1897, and published in the LCGS newsletter, June, 1999. Surnames mentioned: ALLISON, BELTON, BOOTH, BOWES, CAMPBELL, DICK, DODDS, GRAHAM, HARVEY, LANG, MACKIE, MATHER, McARTHUR, McMUNN, RANKIN, STEWART, WILSON.
The complete text and charts of the book by Rev. William Bell, transcribed by his g-g-g-grandson, Rupert Speyer. This series of 25 letters by Rev. William Bell plus three letters by his son, Andrew Bell, was published in Edinburgh in 1824. By selecting the link above, you will be shown a menu describing each letter.
A Short History of McArthur’s Mills (Hastings County)
By Mrs. F. Slater, transcribed by Elaine Kirkham. First printed in The Equity, Shawville, Quebec. Surnames mentioned: AIDS, BARKER, DILLABOUGH, GRANT, HARVIE, KAIN, McARTHUR, PRITCHARD, THWAITES, TUFTS, WHITE DUCK.
The McArthur Love Story (Hastings County)
Transcribed by Elaine Kirkham, first published 1972 by The Equity, Shawville, Quebec. Surnames mentioned: CUTHBERTSON, DODS, HARPER, LARIVIERE, MANN, McARTHUR, MacKENCHNIE, McMORIN(E), NAISMITH, NUGENT, WALKER.
MIGRATION FROM ONTARIO TO MANITOBA
Contributed by Eileen Bashak –
Transcribed by Eileen Bashak, from various Ottawa newspapers of 1879. Too many surnames to list here.
- An Affecting Scene at the Railway Station From The Ottawa Citizen, March 25, 1879. Describes the departure of the first train of emigrants to Manitoba.
- The First Trains For the North-West From The Ottawa Daily Free Press, March 24, 1879. Lists many of the families departing.
- The Manitoba Train From The Ottawa Daily Free Press, March 25, 1879. Describes the departure of the first train of emigrants to Manitoba and lists many more names.
- Second Manitoba Party From The Ottawa Daily Free Press, April 9, 1879. Describes the departure of the second train of emigrants and lists many names. Also a short item from the April 7 edition of same paper.
- Off To Manitoba From The Ottawa Daily Free Press, May 17, 1879. An account of the fourth train-load of migrants from Ontario to Manitoba. Many names are listed.
MISCELLANEOUS
Originally published in the Almonte Gazette, 11 March, 1898.
“SHE HAD A PART IN MAKING ALBERTA”
From the Edmonton Journal, 12 December 1925. Compiled by Agnes Hutchings and Nell Hutchings Green in Long Beach, CA., and submitted by Marilyn Snedden. This was published in the LCGS newsletter, Sept., Oct. and November, 1998.
INDIAN HILL CEMETERY, PAKENHAM
Names of Persons believed to be buried in the Indian Hill Cemetery in Packenham in graves the location of which is not known.
WELCOME SPEECH TO THREE SOLDIERS – Speech by James Hands, Mayor of Perth (circa 1917?)
Sailing Across the Atlantic Sixty Years Ago
Address by William Currie Dobie, from The Thunder Bay Historical Society Fifth Annual Report; Papers of 1914. This is a LINK to another website, so please bookmark this page and/or use the BACK button on your browser to return here.
By Irene Spence, and published in the February and March, 1999, LCGS newsletter.
Both ROOTS-L Resources and Cyndi’s List should be consulted for a complete discussion of these and other terms. Also, check out this new site by a doctor. It is still very much under development — Archaic Medical Terms for Genealogists.
Many additional historical articles may be found in The 1905 Perth Old Boys’ and Girls’ Reunion section.