Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Home Search  
Print Bookmark

James Gordon Smith[1]

Male 1801 - 1871  (70 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name James Gordon Smith 
    Born 7 Apr 1801  Rustico, , Prince Edward Island, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4] 
    Gender Male 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194303330 
    Land 25 Feb 1838  Wilmot Township - Concession 2 Lot 28, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Occupation , Prince Edward Island, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    ship carpenter 
    Occupation 1852  Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1852  Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Church of England 
    Occupation 1861  Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1861  Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Anglican 
    Occupation 1871  Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1871  Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Church of England 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-245313 
    Died 17 Nov 1871  Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Saint James Anglican Cemetery, Wilmot Township, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I245313  Generations
    Last Modified 7 Nov 2024 

    Family Helen R. "Ellen" Glover,   b. 1808, , Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 May 1878  (Age 70 years) 
    Children 
     1. Anne Smith,   b. 1826, Margate, Prince Edward Island Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 May 1900, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
     2. James G. Smith,   b. 1830, , Prince Edward Island, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. William Glover Smith,   b. 28 Feb 1833, , Prince Edward Island, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 May 1899, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years)
     4. Jane Smith,   b. 1834, , Prince Edward Island, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Margaret Eliza "Eliza" Smith,   b. 2 Mar 1838, Margate , Prince Edward Island Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Oct 1908, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
     6. Ellen Smith,   b. 8 Oct 1840, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Dec 1918, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)
     7. Henry Smith,   b. 1842, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. Elizabeth Craig "Lizzie" Smith,   b. 25 Mar 1842, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Feb 1922, Riceville, Mitchell, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)
     9. Era Riste ? Smith,   b. 1846, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     10. Sarah Eby "Sadie" Smith,   b. 4 May 1847, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Jul 1928, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)
     11. Mary Hannah Smith,   b. 6 Nov 1850, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Dec 1928, Saint Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)
    Last Modified 12 Nov 2024 
    Family ID F227328  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • CHURCH HILL FARM.

      He who sees interest in relics of antiquity and articles that were useful before those who live in the present century were born, can revel to their heart's content if he pays a visit to this lovely old home. It is in the heart of an agricultural section especially favored by nature, and most beautifully adorned by the hand of man. The Church Hill farm derives its name from the fact that about one hundred yards to the northeast of the residence, on a slight incline, stands the English church, the first in the neighborhood. Through an opening in its wealth of evergreen foliage we get a glimpse of its square tower, a new feature erected for the reception of its monster bell, bequeathed by the late Samuel Mark in 1896. The land upon which the edifice stands, together with that taken up by its sacred dead, was given by the Canada Company soon after the Huron road opened up this section for settlement. The bell is probably the largest of any country church bell in Western Ontario.

      The residence of the Church Hill farm (is yet an unpretentious affair), but its environments are particularly homelike on account of its profuse display of evergreen foliage and ornamental shrubbery, a feature for which the homes along the Huron road, from Haysville to its terminus, are most conspicuous. The farm, which comprises one hundred and three acres, is described as lot No. 28, second concession, three miles south of New Hamburg. It was originally part of a six hundred acre tract purchased from the Canada Company by the late Henry Puddicombe, and came into the possession of the late James Gordon Smith on February 25, 1838. It was then a dense wilderness. Smith was born at Rustico, Prince Edward Island, April 7, 1801, and died in 1871, aged 70 years. I take this record from the old family Bible, printed in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1795. He was a ship carpenter by trade. The farm, which he purchased for four dollars per acre, he cleared up himself. He experienced many hardships and privations after leaving his island home, having walked a distance of one thousand and ten miles before he reached his destination in the wilds of Upper Canada. His first trip was in 1836. But he remained only a short time, for we learn that after framing a barn for Henry Puddicombe he returned to Prince Edward Island, coming out again in 1838, bringing with him his wife and family.

      His son, William Glover Smith, became heir to the property. He was also born in Prince Edward Island, the date of his birth being February 28, 1833. He was married to Margaret Cullom in 1877. The fruits of this union were two children, one son and one daughter. The daughter is deceased, and Allen Radcliffe Glover, living with his widowed mother at the old homestead, is the sole surviving heir to the estate. The father had a wide circle of acquaintances, and his death, which occurred suddenly on May 10, 1899, was deeply regretted by his neighbors who had known him so long. At one time he was acting captain of the New Hamburg company of volunteers. He was a patriot of the true type and took an active and interested part in affairs military. He was among the first to answer the call for volunteers when this country was threatened by the memorable Fenian invasion of 1866. For meritorious services in that brief campaign he was one among other heroes recently recognized by the Government in the way of being awarded a medal. The mother and son expect soon to receive this emblem of gratitude from a grateful Government. Deceased was also a member of the Township Board of Health for many years.

      Allen Radcliffe, the son, is an energetic, enterprising young man. While the education he has received was only what the public school of his neighborhood afforded, he would be taken by the stranger as a bright, young college youth. He was born January 14. 1879. Though yet young in years he gives evidences of splendid creative ability, and manages the affairs of the farm in a manner from which much older heads could learn a profitable lesson. He has a remarkable penchant for preserving old family heirlooms, and his collection of articles of antiquity would supply a good-sized museum. Of the collection of old relics I will take pains to mention a few of the most rare: letter written on October 21, ...
      [not microfilmed] and minerals, Indian ornaments, an old bond dated September 6, 1787, a Ready Reckoner, 1790, a pair of brass spurs stamped with the year 1501, a walking hazel cane used in olden times for opening gates while on horseback, is 150 years old, clock brought from Barnstable, England, in 1799, a pair of deer horns which his grandfather purchased from the Indians, their dinners being the price paid, a set of tools brought from England in 1799. In addition to the latter list there are many articles of a later date. The collection of old coins is also a very rare and valuable one, and his collection of foreign and domestic stamps is one of considerable value.

      While enumerating this collection of things of a past day and generation, the writer had his attention called to a remarkable instance or kindness and consideration for man's noblest friend in the brute creation. In the stalls of the stable are three grey horses whose respective ages are twenty-five, twenty-six and twenty seven, that have been in the possession of the family ever since they were colts. Despite their advanced ages they are still full of life and spirit, the oldest being used in ploughing sod at the time of my visit.

      For the past five months an unusual activity has been going on at the Smith homestead. This was the result of a decision to rebuild the old barn.

      The raising of the new bank barn, 62x72 in dimensions, in place of the old structure erected in 1846, took place on June 3rd, 1899. About 120 men were present to take part in the raising. Four purlin plates, each 60 feet long, taken from one stick of Wilmot pine by a whip saw nearly fifty years ago for the old barn, and perfectly sound to-day, were used in the new frame. Forty cords of stone were used in the foundations, which have been pointed in the best manner possible. The stables are floored with Napanee cement, the posts are of finely turned cedar, to be surmounted by neat ornaments, and the stalls, etc., are nicely finished in the best white ash lumber. The frame is enclosed with the best quality of planed lumber, battened and painted. Some 16,000 feet of lumber was used in its construction. The interior has been laid out in a manner to meet every requirement as to convenience. Tiny colt boxstalls, neatly finished and supplied with the latest improved troughs and fixtures for convenience in feeding the youngsters, is a feature that is strikingly novel in a farm building. Mr. Smith, the young proprietor, has devised a system of ventilation and waterworks for the new building that is worthy the special attention of farmers. The stables are supplied with water from a cement reservoir on an elevation a short distance from the barn. The top of the building is surmounted by three ventilators, the centre being an octagon from which will appear the figure of a horse. Behind the stabling is a long cellarway, with a capacity for 7,000 bushels of roots.

      I have visited a good many barns in the past year or so, but none have I seen where greater pains have been taken for convenience and neatness in the construction of a barn than in this one.

      Waterloo County Chronicle, 2 Nov 1899, p. 6

      ____________

      Smith, James Gordon. - Born in Prince Edward Island in 1801, came to Wilmot in 1836, walking the 1010 miles on snow shoes. He returned to P. E. I. and brought his wife and five children in 1837, taking up the farm now owned by his grandson, Alan R. G. Smith. Six children were subsequently born on the homestead. The names of the children are, Ann, Mrs. John Allchin, deceased, Gordon Smith, Stratford, deceased, Henry, Dubuque, Iowa, deceased, Elizabeth, Mrs. Gideon Weaver, Jane, Mrs. John Helmer, deceased, Ellen, Mrs. Jonathan Cook, Sarah, Mrs. John Bean, Wm. G. Smith, of the homestead, deceased, Sarah, Mrs. Benjamin Eby, deceased, Margaret Eliza, Mrs. Major Robert Campbell, deceased, Mary H., Mrs. W. R. Plum, New Hamburg. The home of Mr. Smith was and still is much noted for its open hearted hospitality and was a favorite stopping place for the clergy of the period.

      Church of England, An Historical Sketch of the Parish of Wilmot 1828-1913, Diocese of Huron, Ontario, New Hamburg, Canada by Charles James Fox, Sep 1913

  • Sources 
    1. [S5] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - 1858-1869 Marriage Register.
      John S. Bean, aged 25, res Wilmot, born Wilmot, son of John and Anna married 3 Jul 1867 to Sarah Eby Smith, aged __, res Wilmot, born Wilmot daughter of James and Helen

    2. [S134] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1851, Div. 1 Pg. 18.

    3. [S190] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1871, Wilmot Twp. 1871 Div. 2 Page 30.

    4. [S844] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1861, Sect. 4 Page 22.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 7 Apr 1801 - Rustico, , Prince Edward Island, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsLand - 25 Feb 1838 - Wilmot Township - Concession 2 Lot 28, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - ship carpenter - - , Prince Edward Island, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1852 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1852 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1861 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Anglican - 1861 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1871 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1871 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 17 Nov 1871 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding ©, v. 12.0.1, written by Darrin Lythgoe 2001-2024.