Clinton News-Record, 1985-6-26, Page 29Township GovOrnment
Council's responsibilities increase over years
Councils play an important role in a com-
munity. Throughout the years they have
made decisions that they felt were in the
best interest of the municipality. Sometimes
the public approves, other times they
disapprove.
The years have brought more settlers to
the Tuckermsith area. With the settlers
come new ideas and new enterprises, caus-
ing the introduction of new laws and by-
laws, and consequently causing government
to become more sophisticated, increasing
council's responsibility to its tax payers.
In the early 1830s, the Tuckersmith area
was called the District of Huron. Their
representative on the Upper Canada
Legislature was Captain Robert Dunlop of
Goderich. Captain Dunlop defeated Colonel
Anthony Van Egmond for the position in the
1835 vote.
Captain Dunolop was re-elected for a se-
cond term, this time defeating E.C. Taylor
of Colborne Township. In February of 1841,
the Captain died and Thomas Jones finished
the term.
Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop, brother of
Captain Robert Dunlop, defeated Captain
James McGill Strachan in the third election.
However, there was some controversy after
the poles were closed.
The count showed Captain Strachan had
159 votes to Dr. Dunlop's 149. Returning of-
ficer Hyndman protested the count because
he felt titles that were to be issued to settlers
• were deliberately withheld so they could not
vote. (At this time, only those with clear ti-
tle to, or equity in land, were eligible to vote
in provincial elections. )
Officer Hyndman also felt that settlers,
who were not yet entitled'to the deed of their
lands, received their titles by Canada Com-
pany if they felt they would vote for Captain
Strachan.
Sufficient evidence was produced to back
Officer Hyndman's suspicions showing Dr.
Dunlop had the majority of legal votes and
was declared the winner.
January 5, 1835 saw township elections
held in Egmondville. Holding office for one
year were: John Colquhoun, township
clerk; Peter Vanderburg, Richard Lowe,
assessors; Dr. William Chalk, collector;
Henry Ransfgrd, Jonathan Wade, overseers
of highways; William Fowler, poun-
dkeeper; Samuel Carnochan, John Hannah,
town wardens. Commissioners of 1836 were
Adam Black, Samuel Carnochan, William
Chalk.
The Council of the United Counties of
Huron, Perth and Bruce made the major .
decisions, but township councils were allow-
ed to pass bylaws regarding animals runn-
ing loose, and set the charge for impounded
animals. They could appoint pathmaster
and designate the location which they would
be incharge of. They also named fence
viewers who also had the responsibility of
collecting taxes charged against them by
county council. Township council chose
their own assessors and had theurisdiction
over taverns, collecting license fees and ap-
pointing inspectors to keep the tavern stan-
dards up to par.
Provincial legislation in 1838 authorized
It's "Doggone"
Grreet!...
TUCKERSM ITH
HAVE A HAPPY
150th!
SEAFORTH
VETERINARY
CLINIC
the separation of the Huron Tract from the
District of London, creating a separate
district as soon as a court house and jail
were built in Goderich.
The new parliament was located at
Kingston and appointed Dr. Dunlop as the
first warden of the District of Huron. Coun-
cillors were elected by their own townships
and the Dr. Chalk represented Tuckersmith
and Hullett Townships as the first councillor
in 1842. The following year he was elected
district councillor.
Voting
Tuckermsith Township was divided into
three polling subdivisions in 1869. In 1873 the
divisions were increased to five.
Until 1875, municipal elections were not
done by secret ballot. They simply put a
stroke in the poll book column under the per-
son of their choice. But 1875 brought the
secret ballot and the use of a cross within
the lines opposite the name of the chosen
candidate.
The only women allowed to vote were
spinsters or widows who owned property.
There was one exception to the rule; in April
of 1884, the women of Seaforth were allowed
to vote on a by-law pertaining to Van Eg-
mond's mill. However, on April 12, 1917,
women won the right to hold office in April
1919, the upcoming election.
In 1877, 27 names were added to the
voters' list when it was announced farmers'
sons could vote for members of legislative
assembly and municipal council.
Municipal Office
Tuckersmith Township Council has met in
a variety of places throughout the years.
During its very early days, meetings were
held in various taverns, then they met in the
Commercial or Queens Hotel in Seaforth.
Their next location was Seaforth Town Hall.
In the late 1950s they moved to the township
shed in Egmondville.
Huron Centennial School was built in 1967,
and council found this a suitable place to
hold meetings until they decided to lease the
present building in Vanastra, giving them a
municipal office. It was at this time that the
position of clerk became a full time job. A
part time secretary was hired the following
year. 1978 was also the year Tuckersmith
purchased the building.
Population
There were 61 Tuckersmith residents in
1835 and by 1881 the population had grown to
3,550. However, statistics show that 10 years
later the population decreased to 2,867. One
explanation given was that the younger peo-
ple were moving to the cities in search of
jobs as local competitors were finding it in-
creasingly difficult to compete with the city
businesses.
By 1941, the population dropped to 1,836
but after the war shot up and in 1977
Tuckersmith's population stood at 3,329. By
1982 it dropped to 2,971. "
(This information was compiled from the
Tuckersmith Memories History Book, 1985)
a►.
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Tuckersmith!
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TIRE
126 Main St. So Seaforth 527.1350