Helen Buchanan

Other Events:

• Name: Helen Webb
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-56697
• Residence: 1872, South Dumfries Twp., Brant Co., Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Recipes: 1898, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Notes:

Recipes:
POTATO PUFF
Mrs. Capron and Mrs. Webb, Waterloo

Take two cupfuls cold mashed potato, two eggs, butter,cream or milk; stir into the potato two tablespoonfuls melted butter, beating to a white cream before adding anything else. Put with this two eggs whipped very light and a teacupful of cream or milk, salting to taste. Beat all well, pour into a deep dish, and bake in quick oven until it is nicely browned. If properly mixed it will come out of the oven light, puffy and delectable.

Helen married Dr. Joseph Hughes Webb 14 Mar 1872, South Dumfries Twp., Brant Co., Ontario, Canada. Joseph (son of Clayton Webb) was born 20 Feb 1846, Newmarket, York Co., Ontario, Canada; died 26 Jan 1921, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 28 Jan 1921, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Clara Belle Webb was born 1 Jul 1874, New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1 Jul 1874, New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 1 Jul 1874, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
2. Charabel Webb was born 1875, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-60795
• Occupation: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Capitalist
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: Bef 1901, South Dumfries Twp., Brant Co., Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1901, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Teamster

Notes:

JOHN BUCHANAN, farmer, Township of South Dumfries, was born in Galt, County of Waterloo, Ontario, 15th August, 1821, and is a son of Alexander and Betsy Buchanan, natives of the United States, from which country they emigrated to Canada about the year 1817, and first settled in Galt, where they remained four years. They then moved to the farm in South Dumfries Township, on which Mr. Buchanan resided till sixteen years ago, when he returned to Galt and retired into private life. He is living there now with his second wife, hale and hearty, in his eighty-seventh year. His first wife died on the farm in 1842, and his second was Mary Wylie, still living. Mr. Buchanan had eleven children, ten of whom, six sons and four daughters, are still living. John Buchanan, the subject of this biography, was married 28th March, 1850, to Isabella McPherson, who was born in New York State 17th November, 1826. They are both members of the United Presbyterian Church at Galt. Their only child, Helen, was born 19th August, 1851, and is the wife of Dr. Webb, Town of Waterloo, Ontario. When Mr. Buchanan commenced life for himself, he purchased 100 acres of land, on which he at present resides, and to this he has since added 184 acres, making in all 284 acres of highly cultivated and improved land, bearing proofs of undoubted prosperity and industry.


The history of the county of Brant, Ontario: containing a history of the county: its township, cities, towns, schools, J. H. Beers & Co. Warner, Beers & Co.

John married Isabella McPherson 28 Mar 1850. Isabella (daughter of McPherson) was born 17 Nov 1826, Caledonia, New York State, USA.; died 4 Oct 1894, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Isabella Buchanan
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-60796
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141449171
• Historic Building: 44 Wellington St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-103088
• Residence: 1821, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Land: 1834, North Dumfries Concession 07 Lot 02, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Land: 1834, North Dumfries Concession 07 Lot 03, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1851, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Elected Office: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; councillor, Reeve
• Elected Office: 1853, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Councillor - Waterloo County
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; U. P. Presbyterian
• Retired: 1881, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Alexander was the eldest son of John Buchanan who arrived in the Branchton area in 1817. Alexander described as a man of "magnificent physique" came to Galt in 1819. First operated Absalom Shade's distillery for about 4 years. Later farmer in Branchton and was appointed the assessor of the Township of Dumfries in 1827. He served as a councilor of Township of Dumfries and as a councilor of North Dumfries. He did in 1881 with a estate valued at $300,000.

Cambridge Mosiac, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [snippet from original text in book]

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Galt was almost hemmed in - a place without an outlet. The natural route was eastwards to the head of Lake Ontario at Dundas, but between the two points was a literal slough of despond in the shape of the far famed Beverly swamp, whose bottomless mud-holes and almost impassible " corduroys: were the terror of travellers for many a year thereafter.

This benighted region had a most unenviable reputation. It blocked the way between the head of navigation at Dundas and Hamilton, and the fertile lands of Dumfries and Waterloo. It could not be avoided, therefore, and the blazed road (A term in common use, indicating chips chopped off the sides of trees in the early settlements to show travellers the road.) through its long desolate morasses, was seldom passed without accidents and delays innumerable. A dozen teams all "stuck" (to use the expressive term of the period) within a few miles of each other, was no uncommon occurrence, and only the marines could believe the stories of the size and depth of the mud-holes which have been handed down to us.

Once upon a time a reckless rider attempted, contrary to advice, to pass through on horseback in the middle of the spring floods. A few hours afterwards a pedestrian found what at first glance he took to be a blue Scotch bonnet floating in the middle of a treacherous-looking pool. On attempting to recover the bonnet, he was horrified to find it covered the head of the reckless rider, who had plunged into the fatal morass, and, astride of his horse, had gradually sunk down, until arms, neck, mouth, and eyes, had been engulphed in the oozy, treacherous, almost fathomless abyss. Before assistance could be obtained, horse and rider had entirely disappeared!

How far this and similar stories can be relied upon, the reader can judge for himself, but certain it is, that the passage through Beverly swamp was greatly and justly dreaded. These feelings were increased by current rumours of an old peddler and even of other benighted travellers who had undertaken to pass through the swamp after dark, having mysteriously disappeared. These rumours became crimes of blood to the active imaginations of those days, and so widespread and strong had they become, that when Mr. Alexander Buchanan, a man certainly not deficient in courage, came in from New York State in 1819, he started through the wild and trackless woods after dark to his father's clearance near Branchton, rather than linger in Beverly swamp, with its dismal surroundings and evil reputation.

Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario, by James Young , pg 56-57

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JOHN BUCHANAN, farmer, Township of South Dumfries, was born in Galt, County of Waterloo, Ontario, 15th August, 1821, and is a son of Alexander and Betsy Buchanan, natives of the United States, from which country they emigrated to Canada about the year 1817, and first settled in Galt, where they remained four years. They then moved to the farm in South Dumfries Township, on which Mr. Buchanan resided till sixteen years ago, when he returned to Galt and retired into private life. He is living there now with his second wife, hale and hearty, in his eighty-seventh year. His first wife died on the farm in 1842, and his second was Mary Wylie, still living. Mr. Buchanan had eleven children, ten of whom, six sons and four daughters, are still living. John Buchanan, the subject of this biography, was married 28th March, 1850, to Isabella McPherson, who was born in New York State 17th November, 1826. They are both members of the United Presbyterian Church at Galt. Their only child, Helen, was born 19th August, 1851, and is the wife of Dr. Webb, Town of Waterloo, Ontario. When Mr. Buchanan commenced life for himself, he purchased 100 acres of land, on which he at present resides, and to this he has since added 184 acres, making in all 284 acres of highly cultivated and improved land, bearing proofs of undoubted prosperity and industry.

The history of the county of Brant, Ontario: containing a history of the county: its township, cities, towns, schools, J. H. Beers & Co. Warner, Beers & Co.

____________________________________

One of the most pressing necessities before the township could be brought into occupancy, was to have it properly surveyed. Mr. Adrian Marlett, of Ancaster, Provincial Deputy Surveyor, was promptly engaged by Mr. Dickson for the purpose, and surveyed a considerable portion of the lands in the neighbourhood of Galt during the fall of 1816. He commenced his work again early the following year, and continued it until it was completed.

The first building erected was near the corner of Main and Water Streets, where Mr. Alexander Buchanan's residence now is. It was constructed of logs, two stories high in front, with a one-storey kitchen attached. The front was enclosed by a log fence. This was deemed quite an ornament in those days, but would hardly be esteemed so highly at the present time. For many years afterwards one end of this building was used as a rude store by Mr. Shade, and the other as a dwelling for him-self and wife.

Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario, by James Young, 1880 Toronto: Hunter, Rose Pg. 30, 31

Historic Building:
Constructed in 1855, possibly by William Leslie (carpenter) house known as the "William Leslie House" historic listed property city of Cambridge. Former Residence of Alexander Baird and family, murals were painted in this home by "Jack" Baird. Also the former home of R.P. SLater and family. Galt councillor and Mayor of Niagara Falls, Canada.

Elected Office:
Municipality Dumfries NYears on local council: 1852 Councillor; 1853 Reeve
Years on Waterloo County Council: 1853

Alexander — Elizabeth "Betsy" Leese. Elizabeth (daughter of John Mattison Leece and Margaret McArthur) was born CALC 18 Jan 1802, of, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 21 Apr 1841, South Dumfries Twp., Brant Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141448531
• Name: Betsy Leese
• Name: Elizabeth "Betsy" Buchanan
• Name: Elizabeth Leece
• Name: Lizzie Leese
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-55144

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-158828

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187826868
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-61661

Notes:

Shade acted as Mr. Dickson's agent and attorney, and as soon as it became known in the Niagara district and other settled parts of the Province, that lands could be had on easy terms, a few straggling settlers made their way to the locality, and some returned to take up their abode. Scarcely any persons came in during the fall of 1816, and for several years afterwards, the progress made was not very promising. Report puts down the number of families in the township in 1817 as thirty-eight, com-prising in all one hundred arid sixty-three souls, and the whole of the farm stock as less than the number of animals now to be found on a single place. From a Government source, we find that in 1818 the estimate was only thirty-eight settlers, and sixty-three persons in all.

These statements are doubtless not far astray, but the latter estimate is probably below rather than above the mark, for, besides a few settlers who early took up land in the St. George neighbourhood, a small colony, chiefly from Genesee County, New York State, had located in the bush between Galt and the present village of Branchton, as early as 1817. Among these were Messrs. Donald Fraser, Thomas McBean, William Mackenzie,* John Buchanan, Robert Carrick, Alexander Harvie, Daniel McArthur and Dugald McColl, whose descendants, in several instances, still continue to hold and cultivate the lands then taken up.

*Donald Fraser, Thomas McBean and William Mackenzie walked all the way from Genesee Co., New York State, to Dumfries, during May, 1817. Mackenzie had assisted Mr. Marlett in surveying near Galt during the previous fall, and piloted the way. While on the road near Hamilton, the elder Dickson and his son William passed them on horseback. They knew Mackenzie, and informed the travellers that they could get Articles of Agreement immediately for any lands they might select, as they were then taking up these necessary documents. After arrival, Fraser, McBean and Mackenzie soon selected farms, and received the Articles therefor, which are said to have been the first three ever given by Mr. Dickson for any part of his Dumfries lands.


Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario, by James Young, 1880 Toronto: Hunter, Rose pg 33

John — Margaret McArthur. Margaret was born 1780, , Scotland; died 13 Mar 1844; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/248381754
• Name: Margaret Buchanan
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-54361

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-54724
• Land: 30 Jul 1817, North Dumfries Concession 10 Lot 08, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

The price of land at this early period was about $3 per acre. There is lying before us as we write, in a perfect state of preservation, an agreement entered into for a farm between Mr. Dickson and Mr. John Leece. This gentleman was a native of Lancashire, England, but had been for some time in Albany, New York, before coming to Dumfries. The agreement was for the sale of the south half of lot number eight, in the tenth concession-being the farm now owned by Mr. William Smith, situated on Mill-creek, about one mile from Galt. The document was signed on the 30th of July, 1817, the signatures upon it being those of William Dickson, by his Attorney, Absalom Shade, and the purchaser, John Leece. The witnesses were William Dickson, jr., and Charles Irwin. The consideration money was £75, and it was payable in five years with interest.


Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario, by James Young, 1880 Toronto: Hunter, Rose pg 30

John — Margaret McArthur. Margaret was born 1765, , Lancashire, England; died 1835, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Margaret Leece
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-199431