HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-06-30, Page 85s
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riot
a;
the
obert Gibbons arrived in
erich at the age of 21, with
ly a few dollars left," it Is
recorded, "but a sound
constitution,'; twit toil -
hardened hands and a
disposition to use them to
advantage," He became a
butcher, cattle drover, and
daj
it:
89
hey
he
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a
st
la
ie
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to
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..
farmed where Victoria School
now stands, He served under
Dr. Dunlop in the 1837
Rebellion, and invested in
real estate. Probably hisrise
to fame and fortune dated,
from his marriage to Jane
Wilson, daughter of that
Joseph Wilson who owned a
,block on the Square. Or it
may have started with his
membership in the first town
council;' 1850, leading to his
unprecedented tenure as
reeve of Goderich and
warden of Huron for 13 years.
As if that were not enough,
Warden Gibbons was con-
currently member for South
Huron and then West uroaa„.Y.,
resigning the seat on4when
about to be appointed sleriff.
It would appear thatRobert
got everything he wanted in
the way of public office. This
is the story of the one that got
away.
In 1866, upon the '•sudden
death in Ottawa of John Galt,
Registrar of Deeds for Huron,
that office became vacant. In
June of that year, county
council being in session, the
Signal reported that "a
petition to the government for
appointment of Mr. Gibbons -
as registrar was signed by all
the reeves now in session.”
Soon afterward, it was
announced that the registrar
appointment had fallen to
James Dickson, of McKillop,
member for Huron -Bruce in
the two Parliaments
The streets are for the
people.
Exercise your rights!
Take a walk.
77.
A quartet of pioneers, "their name& linked for half a
fury with the progress of western Huron;' Froin left;
ides Girvin, William Young. Robert Gibbons, John
s. Bottom: Here. in a Belden's Atlas sketch are
the house and farm buildings of Sheriff Robert
lions on Britannia Road, where Victoria Public
hoot is situated. The sheriff had 11 acres and there is no
'cation that he farmed elsewhere. He died in 1898; and
daughter, Mrs. Robert Reynolds, sold the board of
cation the school site in 1910.
11 tlk :, M.h'k:r..L,,'.
preceding • Confederation.
Dickson was a Reformer, but
had joined other prominent
members of his party.. in the
coalition which enabled Joh
A. Macdonald to bring about
Confederation. Macdonald
was in England; enga8ed in
the Confederation
negotiations, when Dickson
Was appointed by the
Attorney -General West, but it
has always been assumed
that the post was a reward for
service rendered. Mr.
Dickson held the office of
registrar for 29 years,
Back in 1858, Reeve James
Dickson of McKillop was
..nominated for 'warden, but
withdrew and nominated
Robert Gibbons, reeve of
Goderich, thereby launching
him on that famous 13 -year
tenure.
Eight years later, Gibbons
was ready to quit the war-
denship and made it known
that he would like to be
registrar of deeds. All his
colleagues signed a petition
for his appointment, which
was in the gift of the pre -
Confederation government
headed by John A. Mac-
donald.
Dickson by this time had
ended his. parliamentary
career --probably could not
have been re-elected after co-
operating with the Tory
premier --and was in need ora
salaried post.
Gibbons had to wait until
1873 for the post of sheriff, his
office a stone's throw from
that of his rival.
"An , honest, upright and
thoroughly reliable man in all
the dations of private life,
and a highly efficient of-
ficer." So states Dr.
Cochrane's biographical
work, Men of Canada.
•
Congratulations
to
Our Town
on its
"1 5Oth" Birthday
From the staff of .
B.M. ROSS &
Associates Ltd.
ii North St. 524-2641
RR 2 Goderich
Hwy. 8 East of Goderich