Lanark County Genealogical Society -- Articles

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

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 Watt Murder Trial Added November 5, 1999

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 Added Oct. 17, 1999

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.

A History of the Perth Area

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.

The First Tay Canal Added October 2, 1999

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.

Lanark North and South

By Michael Dawber, from the February, 1999 LCGS newsletter. Where is the line between "North" and "South"? What does it mean?

A Love Story

By Carol Bennett McCuaig, from the LCGS newsletter, May, 1996. Surnames: BELL, MALLOCH, ROSAMOND.

The Story of Lanark County

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.

The Mammoth Cheese

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.

Mining in Lanark County Added October 19, 1999

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

The Duel of 1833 Added October 24, 1999

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 Added October 23, 1999

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

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 Added December 20, 1999

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 Added November 6, 1999

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.

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.

The Town of Perth and True Briton's, A Beginning

This is a LINK to an article about the founding of the "True Briton's" Freemason's Lodge in Perth, 1818. As this is on another website, please bookmark this page or use your browser's "BACK" button to return here.

LANARK VILLAGE

A History of 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

History of Fort Hemlock

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 Updated February 25, 2000

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.

1842 Census Headings

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) Added November 5, 1999

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.

MIGRATION FROM ONTARIO TO MANITOBA

Added September 24, 1999

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.

Documents

Articles (and one book)