George John Telfer^{[1, 2]}

1801 - 1885  (84 years)

• Photos

  George Telfer's Iron Kettle

  
  

• Name	George John Telfer
  Born	26 Apr 1801	Yarrow, , Selkirk, Scotland   [3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
  Christened	26 Apr 1801	Yarrow, , Selkirk, Scotland   [8]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179587112
  Interesting	life story, pioneer
  Immigration	1823	, Canada
  Residence	1837	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Occupation	1861	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1861	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	United Presbyterian
  Land - Directory	1864	North Dumfries Concession 08 Lot 13, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [10]
  Occupation	1871	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1871	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	C. Presb.
  Occupation	1881	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1881	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	C. Presbyterian
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-70202
  Died	1 Dec 1885	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 7]
  	Cause: Heart Disease 6 months
  Buried	Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 7]
  Person ID	I70202	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2024

  
  

  Father	William Telfer,   b. Abt 1770, of, Yarrow, , Selkirk, Scotland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Mother	Elizabeth Laurie,   b. Abt 1770, of, Yarrow, , Selkirk, Scotland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F40455	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Helen Shiel,   b. 1806, , Scotland ,   d. 22 Dec 1870, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 64 years)
  Children	1. William Telfer,   b. 1836, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 31 Oct 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 65 years)   2. John Telfer,   b. 1838, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 4 Sep 1884, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 46 years)   3. Margaret Telfer,   b. CALC 24 Sep 1840, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 11 Apr 1927, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 86 years)   4. Thomas Telfer,   b. 28 Nov 1843, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 18 Dec 1914, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 71 years)   5. Elizabeth Telfer,   b. CALC 19 Aug 1845, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 19 Feb 1882, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 36 years)   6. Robert Telfer,   b. 14 Nov 1849, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 13 Mar 1868, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 18 years)
  Last Modified	13 May 2024
  Family ID	F19164	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Betsy Young,   b. CA 1805,   d. Bef 1836  (Age ~ 30 years)
  Children	1. Telfer,   b. CA 1830,   d. Bef 1836  (Age ~ 5 years)   2. Telfer,   b. CA 1830,   d. Bef 1836  (Age ~ 5 years)   3. Telfer,   b. CA 1830,   d. Bef 1836  (Age ~ 5 years)
  Last Modified	13 May 2024
  Family ID	F58875	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  The Guelph road gave employment to many of the settlers, and, enabled them to earn a little ready money, which was a very scarce commodity in those days. Not a few ox teams from Dumfries found employment in opening the road to, and clearing the site of the proposed village of Guelph, and among those who helped to "slash" out the timber along the line of road-which extended about sixteen miles through the bush--were Stephen Moffat, George Telfer and John Lockie, well-known Dumfries names.* By this enterprise, and others equally worthy of commendation, Mr. Galt became the founder of Guelph, and gave a much needed impetus to the settlement and development of the country. *How immeasurably the circumstances and comforts of the community have improved since the days when this road was constructed, may be known from the fact, that Mr. Moffatt and other workmen employed upon it, sometimes had to eat the fattest of pork, raw; their bread was baked in the hot ashes of their camp fires-the quality of which, therefore, needs no remark and they drank, at their meals, hemlock tea! To make up for such fare-we suppose-a barrel of whiskey, with a tin cup attached, always stood at the roadside, and each workman or passerby was allowed to partake ad libitum. 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. 50 ________________ Death of Mr. George Telfer of North Dumfries For some months past we have referred to the increasing infirmities of this well known old and most respected resident, so that it will be no matter of surprise to his friends now that we are called upon to chronicle his death, which occurred at his residence on Tuesday afternoon last. Mr. Telfer came to Canada in 1823, and coming west, settled for a time in the old log home on the "Blake" farm, afterwards occupied by the late R. Wilson, - the fine property now owned by the Messrs. McPherson. For some years after his arrival he worked for the first Wm. Dickson and subsequently for the late A. Shade, until having accumulated some savings, he bought the farm on which he resided, West River Road, until his death. Mr. Telfer was twice married, his first partner being Miss Betsy Young, Three children, the fruit of this union were carried off by scarlet fever. A few years after that of his first wife, he married Miss Ellen Shiel, sister of the late James Shiel, his second partner dying in 1870. By this union he had six children, viz.: - Mr. Wm. Telfer, Mr. John Telfer, (whose sudden death in Galt by heart disease a year or more ago will be well remembered), Mrs. Thomas Deans, of North Dumfries, Mr. Thomas Telfer, residing on the homestead, Mrs. Jas. McDavitt, dead, and Mr. Robert Telfer, also Dead. Mr. Telfer was one of the links of the past and very fortunately he was spared the full possession of his faculties until but a short time before his death. His reminiscence of his early life here; his old acquaintances and friends, such as Michael Knox and Mr. John Lockie, whose death occurred while walking behind the sleigh in which Mr. Telfer, himself, and some others were making their annual trip to Cayuga, where they worked at plastering and odd jobs during the winter to earn the little money so scarce and so much wanted in the settlement in Dumfries. Only a blazed trail to Paris; only a market for wheat at Dundas and Hamilton, and then 2s 6d york a bushel, part cash, balance trade at all kinds of prices; Michael Knox coming into the settlement once a year from the North West with a party of trappers and fur carriers, on their way to the East, and camping on what is now "Queen's Square," his brief stay being a reunion with all his old friends in this section and a "wee drap" just "tee dac them guid." Mr. Telfer's brother, John, came out a few years before the subject of this notice. He kept a store for a time on West Main street, in Galt, thence removing to Sarnia and thence to Owen Sound, where he died. His daughter now lives in Port Huron. His son, John, who holds a very responsible position in the construction department of the Wabash railway, visited Galt last winter. He also resides in Port Huron. Mr. Telfer's funeral took place yesterday (Thursday) and was very largely attended. He was interred in Galt cemetery. Galt Reporter Dec 4 1885 pg 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Thomas Telfer Born: Canada Age: 27 Father: George Telfer Mother: Helen Telfer Born: abt 1844 Spouse: Helen Tait Age: 24 born: Scotand Father: James Tait Mother: Isabella Tait married 28 Apr 1871 married: Waterloo, Galt [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 9909-74. John Telfer, 35, occ. Yeoman, b. North Dumfries, res. same, son of George and Ellen, married Ellen Deans, 25, b. North Dumfries, res. same, daughter of James and Janet, witnessed by: James Deans, Thomas Telfer and Walter Murray, All of Galt, 25 Dec 1873 at Galt [S122] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Mount View CC#4495 Internet Link . George Telfer/ 1801-1885/ Helen Shiel/ his wife/ 1806-1870/ William/ their son/ 1836-1901 / [S205] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1881, North Div. 2 Page 32. [S1778] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1861, Div 5 Page 38. [S355] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1871, Div. 2, Page 50. [S3231] Find A Grave, Cemetery, M., America, N., Municipality, W., & Cemetery, M. (1801). George Telfer (1801-1885) - Find A Grave Memorial. Retrieved 16 August 2020, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179587112/george-telfer. [S27] International Genealogical Index - Extracted Church Records, Parish registers for Yarrow, 1691-1854 Church of Scotland. Parish Church of Yarrow (Selkirkshire) Film 1067929. George Telfer Chr: 26 Apr 1801 s/o William Telfer & Elizabeth Laurie [S507] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Galt - First United Presbyterian. John Telfer of Dumfries and Mary Scott of Dundas married 10 Mar 1837 in Dumfries, witnesses: George Telfer and William McKenzie. [S330] Directory - ON, Waterloo - 1864 - County of Waterloo gazetteer and general business directory for 1864.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 26 Apr 1801 - Yarrow, , Selkirk, Scotland Christened - 26 Apr 1801 - Yarrow, , Selkirk, Scotland Immigration - 1823 - , Canada Residence - 1837 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1861 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - United Presbyterian - 1861 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Land - Directory - 1864 - North Dumfries Concession 08 Lot 13, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - C. Presb. - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - C. Presbyterian - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: Heart Disease 6 months - 1 Dec 1885 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth