Elsworthy Cormany Smith

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-33158

Other Events:

• Name: Stephen Schmidt
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-33140
• Residence: 1866, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Brethren
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Agricultural Laborer
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Brethren
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter

Stephen married Francisca "Fannie" Latsch 7 Oct 1866, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Francisca (daughter of Ferdinand Latsch, Sr. and Anna Maria "Mary" Schenkel) was born 1 Jun 1844, , USA; died 1927, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Fanny Latsch
• Name: Francis Latsch
• Name: Francisca "Fannie" Smith
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-33141
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Bretheran
• Residence: 1866, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Brethren
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Brethren

Other Events:

• Interesting: pioneer, story
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-112488
• Residence: 1838, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; W. Methodist
• Residence: 1874, Hay Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Cushman Smith, born at the Conestogo on November 11th, 1800, was named after an Uncle of the same name at Lewiston, N. Y. Cushman Smith is the son of Captain Smith who married the girl that he had helped to care for when she was a baby. This was Mary Asia Wilbee, who was born on the Atlantic ocean on June 11th, 1821, when the Wilbee family were on their way to settle on the Pilkington estate. She remained at Captain Smith's until she was two years old, when, her father having married again, she went to the home he then had for her in the township of Pilkington. When she had grown to womanhood Mary Asia was for a time at the home of Alpheus Smith at Cox's Creek, and it was at his brother's home that Cushman Smith again met the girl who, it would seem, was destined to become his wife.

Cushman Smith was one of those pioneers who made a clearing on a farm built a house, began to have some comfort in his surroundings, then sold out to commence all over again the toilsome work on another bush farm. Half a dozen farms were mentioned that Cushman Smith lived on. The last one in this neighbourhood was that farm on the east side of the river road and just within the township of Pilkington. The remains of an orchard is all that marks the spot now.

Nowadays those who are looking for new farms to settle on go to New Ontario, or to the Great Canadian West, but when the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway had been built through to Lake Huron it was there, where the timber could be shipped by boat or railway that for men accustomed to bush life the prospects were brighter. Therefore, in the year 1874, although at the age of sixty-eight, Cushman Smith removed to a farm in the vicinity of Port Elgin, upon which some of his family still reside.

Long after he had left Pilkington, when old men who knew him were asked about him they would say, "no one hereabouts ever made better axe- handles than Cush. Smith; he could beat them all."

Cushman Smith died at the home of his son Henry, near Port Elgin, on September 28th, 1891, at the age of nearly eighty five years, while his wife died on March 23rd, 1899. In their family were: Edward, who taught school at West Montrose and died there on June 30th, 1878; Thomas also died at West Montrose, January 6th, 1872; Stephen died at Berlin on November 10th, 1905; Elizabeth went to Petoskey, Michigan; Henry and his sister, Amanda, are living on the farm near Port Elgin; Angus is at Leland, Idaho; Sarah lives on a farm near Southampton; Ira lives at Wolverine, Michigan; and Charlana died at Port Elgin, February 13th, 1891

The Early History of Elora, Ontario, and Vicinity by John R. Connon

Cushman married Mary Asia Wilbee 24 Dec 1838, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of Henry Wilbee and Sarah Sanders) was born 11 Jun 1821, Atlantic Ocean; died 23 Mar 1899, Hay Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Interesting: pioneer, story
• Name: Mary Ann Wilbee
• Name: Mary Asia Smith
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-112489
• Residence: 1838, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; W. Methodist

Notes:

"It was at Capt. Smith's, in 1821, that the Wilbee's, a family of English settlers going to the Pilkington Estate, found shelter. Some of them were sick with typhus fever and were here nursed back to health. During the voyage out, on a vessel called the "Asia," a baby girl had been born and she was called "Mary Asia." At Capt. Smith's the young mother died of the hardships of the voyage, leaving the baby girl to be nursed and cared for, for two years, by Capt. Smith's family. One of the sons was especially kind to the mitherless bairn. The others in the family teased him by saying she would be his wife some day, never thinking that it might be true, but again was truth strangers than fiction for Mary Asia Wilbee became Mrs. Cushman Smith.

The early history of Elora, Ontario and vicinity, John Robert Connon, 1906

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00110-6705.101
• Immigration: 1842, , Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; shoemaker
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Shoemaker
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Bretheran
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist

Notes:

LATSCH - March 3d, 1893, near Centerville, Waterloo Co., Ont., of the infirmities of old age, Bro. Ferdinand Latsch, aged 82 years, 5 months and 9 days. Buried on the 5th at Eby's meeting house, Berlin. Deceased was born in Germany, came to America in the year 1842, lived in Waterloo township 47 years; lived in matrimony with Maria Schenkel about 49 years. She preceded him about 5 years ago. They had a family of 10 children, of whom 9 survive him, also 45 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Bro. Lastch died with a glorious hope of immortality. Funeral sermon by D. Wismer, S. Bowman and N. Stauffer.


Herald of Truth , Vol. XXX, No. 7, April 1, 1893 - Page 117, 118, 199

Ferdinand — Anna Maria "Mary" Schenkel. Anna was born 25 Nov 1812, , Germany; died 20 Mar 1888, Centreville (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Maria "Mary" Latsch
• Name: Maria Schenkel
• Eby ID Number: 00110-6705.102
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Bretheran
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist

Other Events:

• Historic Building: 1596 Sawmill Rd., Woolwich Township, Ontario; squared timber log house, built by Captain Thomas Smith
• Interesting: life story, war, post, pioneer
• Military: War of 1812 -
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-48769

Notes:

Captain Thomas SMITH (Thomas, Jonathan) was born 14 Nov 1765/1767 in Surrey, Vermont. He died 15 Apr 1850 in Woolwich Township, Waterloo Co., Ontario and was buried in Old Methodist Cemetery, Woolwich Township, Waterloo co., Ontario.

Thomas was one of the pioneers of Woolwich Township, arriving there about 1806 or 1807, with his wife and children. he is described as well built, stout, five feet ten inches tall, an interesting character who had had many wonderful experiences, and who like to tell stories. He was the first squatter on the Crooks estates. He had entered Ontario in 1798 and settled in Jerseyville.

The Smith family log house was located on the east side of the Grand River opposite the mouth of the Conestogo which here flows into the Grand from the west. The house was a half mile east of the town of Conestogo, and it stood less than a hundred feet from the present (1995) Stroh brick farm home. The pioneers hand-hewn log house (with fireplace) was built 28 feet long, 26 feet wide, and two stories high. The ceilings were 6 to 7 feet high, the kitchen was 12 by 24 feet with a large fireplace; a winding stairway led to the four rooms above. During the long winter evenings the warm cheery fireplace was the centre of family social life and comfort....

It was here near Conestogo that the Smith's fourth child - Priscilla - was born on 3 January 1808. She is reported as having the distinction of being the first white child to be born in Woolwich Township however, the records are in disagreement for it is also reported that a son - Cushman - was born at Conestogo on 11 November 1806.

Thomas Smith fought in the War of 1812. His horse shot out from underneath him, he also shot and afterwards mustered out as a Captain. Thomas Smith's injury as Lundy's Lane brought him an annual disability pension of 22 pounds 2 shillings, 8 pence and 1 farthing about $65 per year.

The Smiths turned their home open to travellers staying in the area. The family lost their title to the land and house due to irregularities in the land records and after thirty years, took up a new homestead 1/2 mile north of Winterbourne and was named "The Holmwood Farm". In 1835 Thomas Smith inaugurated a stage coach service from Winterbourne through Kitchener to Cambridge (Preston) which he operated until his death in 1850

"Captain Thomas Smith (born 1767, died 1850) and descendants " by Raymond W. Kalbfleisch, Petoskey, Michigan, 1995. 174 pgs, illustrated, with index. Located at the Grace Schmidt Room, Kitchener Public Library, 929.2 Smith-K 1995

__________________________________

THE STAGE COACH

In grandsire's day trade flowed southward to Preston and Dundas. Over muddy corduroy roads or through pitch-holes he rode to the poll or to court. For such errands there was not a public conveyance available until 1835. A Vermonter, Captain Thomas Smith of Winterbourne, then began a service to Preston, via Waterloo and Berlin. Other men followed his lead. The arrival of the stage-coach hastened the construction of a better highway. In 1837 the Dundas road was macadamized up to Preston, or possibly to Berlin. It was said of the coachman, "his only point of interest on the road is to save time and see whether the coach keeps the hour."

DAILY COACH

In 1848 the Deutsches Canadier carried Mr. Smith's advertisement, which reads,

Will go down every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and will return the day after: viz., every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Leaves home, Woolwich Post-Office (Winterbourne) always at 12 o'clock noon, the village of Waterloo at 2, and Berlin at 21/2 o'clock; and again, on the return, leaves Preston at 7 o'clock in the morning, Berlin at 9, and Waterloo at 91/2. The prices for carrying passengers, down or up, from Waterloo to Preston, 2 shillings and sixpence, and from Berlin 2 shillings York, and vice versa. He will arrive in Preston in time for the night coach to Hamilton, where travellers will find ample accommodation early in the morning for all parts of the world, and likewise find a coach ready to convey them farther westward. Thomas Smith


In 1845, as the appended notice shows, Captain Smith had met with opposition,

Mail Coach. A daily mail coach leaves the hotel of the under-signed (Preston) at 3 o'clock, p.m., for Berlin and Waterloo. Travellers are taken up and left off at suitable places. At five o'clock in the morning it leaves the hotel of W. Rebscher, Waterloo, calls at the hotels along the route and reaches Preston in time for the south-going mails. The coach is covered and rests on springs for the comfort of the passengers. George Roos, proprietor.

^{At cockcrow Waterloo passengers seated themselves in the coach, while the whip stored the mail-pouch and carpet bags in the boot. With a blare of his horn he was then off for Berlin, where he picked up additional mail and passengers. His next stop was at Jost Stengel's tavern, between Centreville and Freeport. The stage crossed over the Grand River at Freeport on a toll-bridge. The coach was taxed sixpence and every passenger a half-penny. Then it wheeled directly to Preston.}

A History of Kitchener, W. V. (Ben) Uttley, Kitchener, Ontario 1937, pg 74-77

____________________

Captain Thomas Smith was born in the state of Vermont in the year 1767. He was among those who came to Canada a few years before the close of the eighteenth century. Capt. Smith married Mary Weaver, whose parents had come, along with many others, from the State of New Jersey, and lived in a small place called Jerseyville, near Ancaster. They first lived in the township of Beverly ; moved to the township of Waterloo, and as early as 1807, were in the township of Woolwich. The site of Capt. Smith's house was on the east side of the Grand River and opposite the mouth of the Conestogo, which here flows into the Grand from the west. Mr. George Stroh has lived on this farm fur many years, and Capt. Smith's old house stood within a hundred feet of Mr Stroh's residence. The old house was well built of hewn logs, 26x28 feet, and was two stories high. The ceilings were 6 feet 7 inches high. The kitchen was 12x24, with a large fire place and just inside of the front door, in the corner between it and the fire-place, was a winding stair which led to the four rooms above. It was here, on January the third, 1808, that their daughter Priscilla was born. She was their fourth child, but the eldest daughter, and the first white child born in the township of Woolwich.

Capt. Smith was a Lieutenant in the Canadian Forces during the war of 1812. At the battle of Lundy's Lane a musket ball struck his knee and the same shot killed the horse upon which he rode. In an old newspaper published at St. David's in the year 1816, there is a list of those who were entitled to receive pensions because of injuries received during the war of 1812-14. In this list is the name of Lieut Thomas Smith, late of the 2nd York. He was wounded at Lundy's Lane on the 25th July, 1814, and was entitled to receive a pension from and after the 23rd November, 1813. The pension amounted to twenty two pounds, two shillings, eight pence, one farthing yearly.

Many of the settlers up the river were much indebted to Capt. Smith and his family for many kind services. His home was always open to them whenever they were led that way, and for years this was the only outlet. It was here that Roswell Matthews stopped on his way up the Grand River in the fall of 1817. Here he left his wife and younger children for three months, during the winter, while he and the older sons went on up the river to cut the first tree and build the first house in Elora.

High up on the hill, on the east side of the road and north of Cox's Creek at Winterbourne, there is a log house on the same site as a former one. It was here, at the home of Alpheus Smith, that the prayer meeting was being held, on a Sunday evening, during which Alpheus Smith's father, the old captain fell to the floor unconscious and remained in that state until the following Sunday when he died. Alpheus Smith married Ann Weaver, from Ancaster, and it was their daughter Mary, or Polly, a life long resident of Winterbourne, who told me the story of Captain Smith, which she alone could tell, and that but three weeks before her death


With that large hearted kindness so characteristic of Captain and Mrs. Smith, they, in 1832, adopted Catherine Kennedy, who, like Mary Asia Wilbee, had been left motherless when a child. Catherine Kennedy grew up with the younger ones in the family until she married the late William Stork and is at present living in Winterbourne.

Like many other pioneers, Capt. Smith had neglected to secure a proper title to his property and was ejected by the Hon. James Crooks' estate. He then took up another farm half a mile north of Winterbourne; made another move and tried hotel keeping on the roadside south of Winterbourne and, giving that up, he returned to the Holmwood farm. For many years he carried the mail from Preston. Capt. Smith was described as "stout, well built, about 5 ft. 10 in., limped from the wound in his knee, and was a great one to tell stories." Mrs. Smith died on November 5th, 1845, at the age of 67 years. In later years the Captain lived with his younger son. During a religious meeting which was being held in the house he fell from his chair, stricken with paralysis, and died a few days later, on the 15th of April, 1850, at the age of 82 years and 5 months. Both are interred in the Methodist Cemetery at Winterbourne. The sons were: Alpheus, who married Ann Weaver. Alexander, who married Louisa Moss. They lived at West Montrose and died in Michigan. Cushman, who married Mary Asia Wilbee. Thomas married Sarah Heartwell. Stephen married Betsy Smith. William and Peter died young. Samuel married Jane Hanna. Their first home was a little north of Winterbourne, now known as the Holmwood farm. Here the old Captain died. Later they moved to the vicinity of Mt. Forest. The daughters were: Priscilla, married to Williams Sexton. Azubah, married to Willard Clemons ; they lived at St. George. Mary, married to Emanuel Gaukel. Roxy, married to Milton Woodward, and Elisheba, unmarried.

Mary Smith, who died at Winterbourne in March, 1901, at the age of seventy-one years and six months, was a daughter of Alpheus Smith, and to her we are especially indebted for much of the family history here given.

When coming up the road, on the east side of the Grand river, past the village of Bloomingdale, we soon reach the townline between the townships of Waterloo and Woolwich. Here the road forks like the letter "Y." The left fork is the road past the old home of Captain Smith to the bridge which crosses the Grand river and thence on to the village of Conestogo. The right fork turns to the north, passing through the village of Winterbourne and on through the townships of Woolwich and Pilkington to Elora and Fergus. This is commonly called the "river road" because it follows the general course of the river.

At this corner, where the road divides, several of the earliest settlers made: their homes..

The Early History of Elora, Ontario, and Vicinity by John R. Connon

Historic Building:
The Smith family log house was located on the east side of the Grand River opposite the mouth of the Conestogo which here flows into the Grand from the west. The house was a half mile east of the town of Conestogo, and it stood less than a hundred feet from the present (1995) Stroh brick farm home. The pioneers hand-hewn log house (with fireplace) was built 28 feet long, 26 feet wide, and two stories high. The ceilings were 6 to 7 feet high, the kitchen was 12 by 24 feet with a large fireplace; a winding stairway led to the four rooms above. During the long winter evenings the warm cheery fireplace was the centre of family social life and comfort....

The Smiths turned their home open to travellers staying in the area. The family lost their title to the land and house due to irregularities in the land records and after thirty years, took up a new homestead 1/2 mile north of Winterbourne and was named "The Holmwood Farm".<sup>1a

1a</sup>"Captain Thomas Smith (born 1767, died 1850) and descendants " by Raymond W. Kalbfleisch, Petoskey, Michigan, 1995. 174 pgs, illustrated, with index. Located at the Grace Schmidt Room, Kitchener Public Library, 929.2 Smith-K 1995

Military:
Served in the Flank company of the 2nd York Militia Regiment under Captain Applegarth. Militia rolls names on him and petitions for compensation after the war listing their homes as being in Block 2 or Waterloo

Thomas — Mary Weaver. Mary was born 20 Aug 1778, of, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 5 Nov 1845, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Winterbourne Pioneer Methodist Cemetery, Winterbourne, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Smith
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-48770

Other Events:

• Residence: Pilkington Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-177667

Notes:

Henry Wilbee was a son of George Wilbee and he was married before leaving England to Sarah Sanders. On the voyage out, on June 11, 1821, their daughter, Mary Asia, was born and the mother died at Capt. Smith's as
already mentioned. Henry Wilbee afterward married Mary Wood.

The farm that Henry Wilbee expected to own was part of Lot 3, on the 3rd concession, that was later known as the 'Blyth' farm, and his father George Wilbee had chosen part of Lot 3, on the 2nd Concession, that was afterward owned by George Fasken. The house in which Henry Wilbee lived was on the west side of the river road, on the Wolcott farm, and about two miles south from Elora. His father's house was on the east side of the road opposite. A small stream flowing from a spring crosses the road at this place and nearby is a cross, road that leads to a fording place on the Grand River. Their houses were on the side of the hill facing the south, and they lived here for some years, but there is nothing to mark the spot now.

Both father and son were carpenters, and, like his father, Henry Wilbee, had to leave his home to find employment at his trade. It was almost five years after coming to Pilkington that the City of Guelph was started by the Canada Company and he helped to complete some of the first buildings there and he also worked at Goderich. In 1833 Henry Wilbee was employed by Mr. Gilkison to build a saw mill at the Elora Falls. To serve as a shelter while doing this work he built the first log shanty west of the Grand River anywhere near Elora, which means that at this time there was not another habitation between this part of the Grand River and Lake Huron. Later, in 1839, he came to live in Elora in a house on the west corner of Victoria and Woolwich streets. One of his contracts was the carpenter work of the first English Church. He left Elora in 1856 and died at Dundas in March 1858 at the age of sixty-two. In his family there were: Mary Asia married Cushman Smith; Henry married Caroline Penfold and lived at Brussels, he was killed there by a falling beam; William was killed by a falling tree near Capt. Smith's; Henrietta died when young; George married Jane Penfold. He died at Doon in October 1886. (Mrs. Hiram Card, living in Elora, is a daughter); John married Bethany Cowil and lives at Grand View, near Brantford; Thomas married Elizabeth Swain, he died at Brantford; Sarah married Charles Moss and went to Flushing, Michigan; Frederick married Mary O'Neill, lives in Hamilton; Elizabeth married Thomas Turner; Edwin M. lives in Piqua, Ohio; and Leonora died young.

The Early History of Elora, Ontario, and Vicinity by John R. Connon

Henry — Sarah Sanders. Sarah died CA 1821, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Sarah Wilbee
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-177668