Loading...
The Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-05-17, Page 21cul She 114 lence. dead tt to fed +as, ithb), andel iv the t. Clark ived and ter. Aber it id the as serve n Rkhttd m Richir� Way in k Condos Iness it hi n Englear 18 Veen 1, and camtm rd a heli heY pure, e• his ai(r, he is sun;v 'r. Mrs,l of Toronto, of London , by five gra;,, ate family the George is Funeral day with ? )II of St, n Church o' nt Was play ruing by !Nr. Towe at ,t p Church u Mr. Brod •AURA VERB' R. LICENSE t 6 P.M E STO1 AtO ) N 126 YEAR - 20 THURSDAY, MAY 1.7 1973 THIRD SECTION by W.E. Elliott se at the southwest corner of West and Wellington streets, Goderich, was built 8*for Archibald Dickson, postmaster. He died In 1888. The residence has..been by C.A. Seager, later Dudley Holmes, and Is now the home of Gordon McManus. • illiant Proudfoot, a n missionary from ,travelled the Huron found the makings of tion in Goderich, in rhey area and on on Road. In due oronto Presbytery hese charges with a Rev. Alexander who preached to congregations on abbaths. udfoot wrote,,,in his he almost fancied Scotland. ntry around here, after a visit to Galt peopled principally en from Roxburgh North of England. I saw was just as in Scotland. Many ire the Scotch plaid; ith the Scottish ac- he Roxhurghers with v. Mr. Proudfoot :elf so much at home ibald Dickson and ames, and Robert on -Robert, who had ugust, 1833, in Con - and III of McKillop. embers of these me out in the next 1 E1 N VANASIP RA 1e TV 1,97 ,97 ickson, whose. adven- related in part in a 'Instalment of this was born in Scotland 816. His father, Ar - as the youngest son Dickson, farmer, of near Dryburgh on rchibald's wife was 'utherford Turnbull, liter of James Turn - leading farmer of. Their son James at- edburgh Grammar lowed by a term at University. His !qualifications were ized and utilized in 'f his adoption. Scotts and Dicksons the bank of the iver, south branch, a hamlet grew up at oad they called it In later years it Chas been called Itox- e are a few houses, at Roxboro now, of the Huron who drive along 8, one concession Ver heard of Rox- ESSESI PRIN6 LE BED $.111 $7q Ohl • LADIES KEPS BlaCk, light id $1,9 Idrea'S $1100 { RIto 41 MAT f15 ,, $311 1Lf5& Sd tlu MND 791 SCOTT LAND d Dickson obtained Canada Company in Concession III, number 30, 31 and Scott settled on Lots in Concession II, oad. He was still On when he' died 58 , and it remains in Scott, junior, is 'have been the first n to cross the at the point where of both families the fotlowing year. Dicksonhad two es James, and five Robert Scott had besides Robert, and re, but one of the ph, remained in as an epidemic of Britain and Europe • Mise Belle Camp - &forth, in her in. nd valuable book, test to Thriving ,writes that 'three young children of the migrating - party contracted the disease. Archibald, 18 -months son of Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Dickson, died aboard the ocean vessel. Helen, youngest child .of Mr. and Mrs. John Govenlock *and granddaughter of Robert Scott, died at Grosse Isle, and the two children were buried there. The youngest child of the John Hendersons, another grandchild of Robert Scott, died in Montreal and was buried there. From Hamilton, it took three days' travel by wagon to reach what is now Roxboro. Here Margaret Govenlock, Robert Scott's second daughter, became the fourth cholera vic- tim. She was the mother of three sons and three daughters. On October 6, 1834, about two months after arrival of these families, Mrs. Archibald Dickson wrote to James Turn- bull, Bedrule manse, Jedburgh. Her letter, obviously that of an educated person, affords in- teresting information about their journey and also the progress made on their .land by the two men and• their young. sons - who had arrived late in the previous year. It is remarkable for a complete ab- sence of comment upon the har- dships or handicaps experien- ced in household matters, of which there must have been Many. Mrs. Dickson did men- tion high prices for food. "Our land looks much better than I expected," Mrs. Dickson wrote, "and seems to produce - abundantly, every kind of crop put into. it, and. our _prospects are certainly very cheering, much better than had we stayed in Scotland. • - - "We have not as much crop this year • as will keep the family. We expect, however, to. have every common article of food within our property. Many things are nearly double the price I could have purchased them for in Montreal, but carrying cost is too much. "A great many settlers have come in to this neighborhood ,this year, both from. Britain and other places in this coun- try, and all express themselves as well satisfied with the Tract. "We have no stated minister, and excepting now and then a minister of- the, Methodist sect we spend our Sabbaths at. home. There is to be a meeting to see what can be done. There is no teacher within reach for the children to go to, but we will try to manage within our- selves. "We left,Montreal Aug. 4 for Lachine in a Durham boat by the St. Lawrence instead of the Rideau. At Brockville we_boar- ded a steamer for Hamilton, then by Wagon three days. We had no covering by night except - the shelter of an open shed, so afraid were the people of cholera that they would not permit us in their homes, in many places. "We have two oxen and three cows, two of which have calves, and all feed in the woods without a blade of grass, and lookuite fat. "Wheat and barley harvest -is over, but oats are still standing. E.R.T. Dickson." Archibald became a justice of the peace in 1843, and along with William Chalk, J.P., of Harpurhey, authorized the first municipal meeting in McKillop. At that meeting, John Govenlock was appointed town- ship clerk. Archibald was one of those attending the first meeting of Huron 'district council, Feb. 8, 1842. DUEL AVOIDED It was at a district council meeting, with social overtones, that John Stewart, lawyer and schoolmaster, chose to sing An- nie Laurie, so unacceptably to Dickson that the latter advised him to stick to English songs. An argument developed and Dr. Dunlop, a confirmed joker, fanned the flames to a point where a duel was proposed. Next morning, Archie announ- ced that he did not especially want to fight,' "but if fecht I must, fecht I will." The in- cident ended in laughter. Archibald in 1851 deeded Lot 30 in Con. III, McKillop, to his son Robert. It consisted of 92 acres, eight having been alienated to Thomas Scott for a mill site., It belongs now to Peter McCowan. In 1861, Lot 31 was acquired by James, who by that time was a member of the Legislative Assembly. This lot consisted of 93 acres, as result of the grlrnt of a road ,allowance. Lot 32 belonged to John Dickson, but he later moved to 31, James being fully occupied with. politics, business . and his Tuckersmith farm. In 1871, John sold to Robert McMillan. Archibald Dickson died in 1862, his wife in 1865, and these pioneers are buried in Harpurhey ,Cemetery. James kept his father's armchair, and in his will bequeathed it to his eldest son, but Archie died first, and by codicils to the will the bequests were changed That chair may still be treasured by somebody. GODERICH DESCENDANTS session and Samuel Rance was seated in his place. Whitehead later became M.P. for North Huron, and M.C. Cameron, who as reeve of Goderich was a county councillor in 1859, was elected M.P. for South Hurc n. Gibbons became Liberal mem- ber for South Huron in the Legislature. The land which Archibald Dickson took up for his son James in Tuckersmith com- prised Lot 15 in Con. II and 15 in Con. III Through the latter runs the Bayfield River, •its original channel moved south- ward here when the concession road, cutting across the lower part of Lot 15, Con. II was re- sited. TWO JANE CARNOCHANS James Dickson started a general sore at nearby Egmon- dville in 1851, removing to Seaforth in 1863. His four sons and two daughters were born at Castramont. His wife was Jane Carnochan, daughter of Samuel Carnochan, who married twice; Jane belonged to the first family. Dickson also married again, after the death of his wife in 1881. His second wife was also Jane Carnochan. She died Sept. 28, 1895. Only a brief death notice appeared in the Goderich Signal, and her family connection has not been verified. The two Jane Carnochans were cousins. The Dickson children belonged to the first fanny. The Castramont house, of 14 rooms, is said to have been built of-prick.made in a nearby ,yard. The date is uncertain, but in opinion of Mr. Arthur Wallace, noted Hamilton ar- chitect, it would be 1850 "or 1860 at the latest." His own house, at Waterdown, is almost identical, and dates, from. 1850. 'dire 12 -pane windows and in- teresting front door with sidelights are representative of this period. On a west window can be seen the initials of John T Dickson, cut with a diamond. There are three fireplaces. Original pine floors remain, upstairs. Interior walls Are two bricks thick.' The handsome stair from the, front hall is said to have been relocated three times before the first lady of the house could make up her mind. The older furniture includes a massive sideboard brought from Scot land.- t'astramont for ime years )produced p- ,ze-winning •;ivestock and cAceptional crops, and was generally regarded as a sort of "model farm." After James Dickson removed to Goderich. Castramont was oc- cupied by John T., but not con- tinuously. for the Huron Ex- positor states 'that after being deputy registrar he "returned to the farm." The Belden Atlas description of Robert Dickson, brother of James, as "farmer and stock breeder" on Lot 15 may point to the principal operator of the farm at this period. Upon relinquishing a parliamentary career and becoming Registrar of Huron, James Dickson bought, on May 10, 1'870, the cottage on Lot 133 in Goderich, now 126 St. David's street, from Horace Horton, mayor at the time and manager of the Huron & Bruce Loan Company. It was a short distance from the Presbyterian church and the stores. The property is owned now by J.C. Thompson. James' second son, Samuel, was born at Castramont on March 31, 1841. At 24 years of age he was appointed post- . master of Seaforth, succeeding his elder brother Archibald. In 1867 he married Nancy Ann Hannah, of Brockville, member of a pioneer Tuckersmith family. Mr. Dickson died Dec. 9, 1916, of pleuro -pneumonia. He was long ,remembered for his acts beyond the call of duty, in delivering long -looked- for letters that arrived late Satur- day night. "They were given a quick This cottage on St. David's street became the residence of James Dickson after he was appointed Registrar of Deeds for Huron In 1866. Sunday morning delivery," the Huron Expositor said. - Samuel Dickson was sur- vived by his wife; one son, S.A. Dickson, barrister, Edmonton, and three daughters: Mrs. S.O. Jones and Mrs. W.M. Corbett, Fort Saskatchewan; Mrs. (Rev.) E.A. Corbett, Montreal and Mrs. A.D. Sutherland, Seaforth. James Dickson's two daughters were Margaret (Mrs. J.E. Tom) and Mrs. Johnston. Dickson made cash bequests to three Johnston granddaughters, Isabelle, Elison_ and Grace, but their father's name Fias not been learned at this writing. James Dickson's eldest son, Archibald, was postmaster of Goderich from 1865, probably residing in rented quarters before purchasing in 1870 Lots 10 and 11 at the southwest cor- ner of West and Wellington streets and erecting, in 1873 or thereabouts a large house, illustrated in the Belden Atlas and readily identifiable there by its numerous„ gables. The sketch shows a picket fence, a carriage drawn by a prancing team, and on the lake in the distance a sailing ship and a steamer. After Dickson's death the property belonged to Mrs. C.A. Seager, then Dudley Holmes, barrister, and now to Gordon McManus. Archibald had three sons and five daughters. James, the son who came to Huron with him in 1833, was the eldest. Agnes subsequently was married to Robert 'Scott; they had five sons and three daughters. The daughter Helen did not marry. Margaret became the wife 'of Robert Chisholm, a schoolmaster. 'Their daughter Elizabeth was married to Pat Courtney, and a daughter of this couple, Mrs. William Sallows, resides in Goderich. Elizabeth Dickson was married to Archibald Somer- ville. Isabella Mary Dickson became Mrs. James Scott. Sam Scott, Roxboro, is a grandson, and Mrs. G. Love, Goderich, a granddaughter. John T. Dickson, of Gladswood, married Mary Sloan, a sister of Dr. Sloan of Blyth. Robert Dickson, the other son, was a farmer and stock breeder. It is generally believed that James Dickson influenced --or perhaps determined --the route of the Grey Turnpike from Egmondville tilong Seaforth's main street to Wroxeter. The settlements of Harpurhey and Roxboro, one north -south road to the west, had hoped for selection of that route, and the adverse decision doomed them commercially. In 1858, Dickson was proposed for warden, but he himself nominated Reeve Robert Gibbons of Goderich. Gibbons =was one of those voting for Dickson. Reeve John Govenlock of McKillop voted for Gibbons, who wont 28 to 12. Joseph Whitehead, reeve of Clinton, resigned at the June The Georgian, a passenger steamer, sailed the Great Lakes In the early 1900's. She was taken off the lakes In the 40's. This Is just one of about 200 pictures of Great Lakes ships which Ron has collected over the years. A summer visitor at 170 Wilson Street, Goderich, for the past 4* years, Ron Graham of London, has become a keen student of marine affairo in connection with Goderich. He has been coming up to Goderich to spend summers since the age of five. His father ,John Angus often took him down to the harbour to watch ships coming and going. Ron, like his father grew tip working - with the railroad and oddly About 22 years ago,' I)r. W.' N. Watters, an authority of Great Lakes ships, gave Ron his first 'two pictures of freighters and Ron has been collecting them ever :,ince. Being a member of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. since 1954 has certainly aided him in his collection. He ntow has in his possession, about 200 pictures of various LEFT YOUNG FAMILY Archie Dickson died Dec. 19, 1888, of pleurisy, aged 49, leaving eight 'children, his obituary stated, the youngest about three. His wife, Elizabeth Scott, died more than two years' earlier, in. 1886., aged 42. She was not one of the Roxboro Scotts; her family were in McKillop, but lived east and north of Seaforth. Miss Jean Scott recalls that the last of the family in the area left funds to Seaforth High School for bur- saries. Of Archie's children, "Jimmy" is best remembered in Goderich. According to the Signal -Star he was at one time deputy registrar of deeds. He married Helen Miller, who at one time was on the post office staff, and they lived at 207 Lighthouse St. After his wife died, in 1938, James sold the place to D.J. Curry,- and it is now the home of Arthur Curry, his son. When "Jimmy" died on Aug. 26,.1956, in Chicago, he was $6. A couple of years earlier he had removed to Seaforth, but had spent his summers in Chicago for many years. He was sur- vived by one brother, Dr. A. Dickson, La Crescenta, Calif., and three sisters: Mrs. Elizabeth Kay and Miss Ella .(Isabella?) of Stratford, and Grace, of La Crescenta. Making up the eight are the names of three on the Maitland Cemetery memorial: Robert Scott Dickson, who died in 1900 aged 25; Jennie C., who died in 1889, and Grace Scott Dickson, who died in 1914, aged 29. Samuel Elizabeth Nichol eldest child of Postmaster,, Dickson, was married to Adam McKay of Stratford. Mrs. to William Prudhnm, of Owen Sound, is a daughter.- From her it is lear- ned, that Archie Dickson's two younger sons, Archibald John and Albert Rutherford, died in California and were buried in Glendale. Archie's wife is buried in Maitland Cemetery, also the wife of Archibald John Dickson, Madeleine Gillant, who died in, 1924. Great Lakes -boats, many of which visited Goderich har- hour, and many of which have Since disappeared from the Lakes and gone to their .final resting place in the scrap tnetal yards. Since 1955, Ron has kept a picture and the name of every ship and the date on which it steamed into Goderich Har - hour. He regrets never sailing but was "too accustomed to railroad life to ever change jobs." Successor to Archie Dickson as postmaster of Goderich was William Campbell, a resident of the,town from its early years. His appointment, in 1890, was made by Hon. John Haggart, Postmaster -General in the Macdonald (Conservative) gbvernment. What seemed to many at the time a harsh ap- plication of the party patronage system was the ousting of Cam- pbell in. 1897, after the Laurier government took over. John Galt began in that year a tenure as postmaster which lasted nearly 40 years: He was a son-in-law of M.C. Cameron, long-time Liberal M.P. for Sou,th and later West Huron. William Campbell for the rest of his tong. life was a dedicated member of the Conservative party. Perhaps he had been un- wisely ' active while in office. There -were two Conservative administrations in the course of Mr. Galt's tenure. It is recalled that two daughters of Mr. Cam- pbell were members of the post office staff. • . After Registrar Dickson had been in Goderich for 17 years, he disposed of Castramont to John T. Dickson, the con- sideration being ' "a promise and natural affection. f' The deed bears date of April 23, 1884, and the son was described therein as '"of Goderich," presumably in- dicating that he was deputy registrar. The transaction did not include Lot 15 in Con- cession .III, which, Registrar Dickson retained until his death on July 28, 1895, when it was bequeathed to John T. Lucinda (Hannah) Dickson, wife of John T., became ows.ner of Castramont in 1896, and when she died in 1913 it passed to • William L. Forrest, of Goderich. His sister, Miss Alberta Forrest, got it in 1918, and when she passed away in 1966 her sister, Mrs. John McCowan, became owner. OWNED SALT WELL Registrar Dickson's will, made June 12, 1888, left to Ar- chie the original homestead, Gladswood, in McKillop, also "my right to the premises known as the Huron Salt Well property in Goderich.." Archie died December 19 of the same year, and a codicii, to the will provided that certain bequests to Archie should go instead to his children. Another codicil named inspector J. Elgin Tom as -an executor in place of his wife, Margaret, James Dickson's sister. The will, disposing of an estate 'of $27,500, was "granted administration" by John T. Dickson, deputy registrar. It provided $4,000 and a dwelling for James' widow, but she lived only two months after her husband. Provision was also made for the son Robert; he died at Whitby, Dec. 23, 1922, aged 75. - Gladswood went to James Dickson's brother, John Turn- bull Dickson, (not to be con- fused with James' son of the same name) on April 1, 1889. This brother died Jan. 15, 1898,_,_ and his heirs sold to strSKn McMillan. The Dicksons and Scotts, who arrived in the early years of Huron settlement, were the finest type' of settler that could be desired. They made their mark at first in agricultu.e, later in many diverse fields, and their descendants are scat- 'tered across Canada and abroad, some in vocations Unknown to their forbears, ; r