King Township Residents from A History of Toronto and County of York

William Beasley, deceased, was descended from a U.E. Loyalist family, and was born in the Bay of Quinte District in 1812. He early acquired the trade of carpenter, and on coming to York County located in King Township in 1840, and followed that trade in connection with farming, he having purchased the east half of lot 8, concession 9. In 1872 he purchased the east half of lot 4 and part of lot 5, concession 10, where he resided until his death in 1874. His widow, one son and a daughter still reside on the same lot. His wife’s maiden name was Miss Ruterbough, of Vaughan Township, by whom he had eight children: five are still living. John Beasley, lot 8, concession 9, is the eldest son of the late William Beasley, and was born on the old homestead, where he has ever since resided. In addition to the careful attention he has paid to the raising of crops, the breeding of cattle has occupied a considerable portion of his time, he having at present some very fine thoroughbred shorthorns. Mr. Beasley has been appointed a Justice of the Peace, which was a very wise selection. He has also held the office of Township Collector for many years past. He was married in 1869 to Miss Kurtz, by whom he had three children, two of whom are living: William J. and Victoria E. Mr. Beasley is a Reformer in politics. He is an active member of the Good Templars and Grange organizations. He is also a commissioner for taking affidavits, conveyancer, etc., and recording steward of the Kleinburg circuit of the Methodist Church; altogether taking an active part in local affairs. (vol. II, p. 384)

James Bell was born in Scotland in 1810, and emigrated to Canada in 1831. He navigated the lake for a few years, and then bought a farm near Guelph, which was at the time complete bush. He cleared his land with the help of his son James; by their united efforts it was soon under cultivation. Mr. Bell’s wife, whose maiden name was Mary Cairns, died the year subsequent to their arrival in this country: two of their children are living – James and Jane. Mr. Bell came to Canada without means, but has been very successful: his is still living on the old place. James Bell, jun’r, was born in Scotland in 1827, and was only four years old when his father brought him to Canada. He was married in 1854 to Miss Margaret McCallum: they had five children, four of whom are living – Duncan, Adam, James, and Elizabeth. He is in religion a Presbyterian, and in politics a Reformer. A fine large brick church stands on an acre of ground presented by Mr. Bell. (vol. II, p. 385)

John Black, lot 14, concession 1. His parents came to Canada in 1800, and settled in the Province of Quebec, where the subject of this notice was born in 1818. His father was accidentally killed in Quebec, and his mother afterwards removed to York County. In early life John was employed variously, and in 1840 he commenced farming. He bought the farm on which he now resides in 1843, and also purchased lot 2, concession 3. By thrift and constant attention he has been moderately successful, and has been enabled to divide a fair share of his accumulation among his children. He was married in 1840 to Araminta Hillier, by whom he had nine children; seven are still living, viz., Jerad, Joel, Zemas, John, Margaret, Mary, and Maria. Mr. Black took an active part during the Mackenzie Rebellion, and for the sympathy and assistance he gave towards that movement was imprisoned for a time by the Government. (vol. II, p. 385)

Absalom Blaker, lot 21, concession 2, is of German extraction. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and came to Canada in 1828. He located first in Toronto, where he worked at the trade of carpenter for a few years, making trips to the United States at intervals. He then went to Newmarket and started the first foundry in that section, which he has conducted for close upon ten years. He subsequently bought his present farm, which he has continued to reside upon. He espoused Miss Eunice Hutchinson, by whom he has had seven children, three only of whom are now living, viz., Henry, born in 1837; Charles, born 1841; and Margaret, born 1843. (vol. II, p. 385)

Thomas Borden, retired, was born in King Township, York County, in 1822, being the son of Joseph Borden, who emigrated from the United States to Canada in the year 1800. Mr. Borden, sen’r, purchased property in concession 8 of King Township, where he raised a family of three children, and remained there until his death in 1868. Thomas, on commencing life for himself, bought some land on lot 25, concession 6, in his native township, which he successfully cultivated until 1883, when he retired and purchased his present residence in Lloydtown. He married in 1857 Jane Dale, of King Township: the issue of this union is a family of eight children. Mr. Borden is a Reformer in politics, and belongs to the English Church. (vol. II, p. 386)

William Breedon, deceased, was born in England in 1791, and emigrated to Canada with his family in 1829. He was a shoemaker by trade, which business he followed after his arrival here, and in 1834 purchased land on lot 6, concession 10, in King Township, which, with the assistance of his sons, he succeeded in clearing. His occupation hitherto having been of a sedentary nature, and he himnself being totally unacquainted with the hardships and privations of pioneer life, as may be imagined he found the work of preparing wild land for cultivation somewhat uncongenial work; but energy and a determination to conquer triumphed over discomfort, and all difficulties were eventually overcome. The result was that he left to his family a fine property and the example of a well-spent life. William Breedon, eldest son of the above, was born in England, and came to Canada with his parents when only eight years old. He was early initiated into all the hardships of pioneer life, and assisted to clear his father’s farm. He bought his present farm in 1842, which he has much improved. He was married in 1842 to Elizabeth Harman, by whom he had one son, William J. (vol. II, p. 386)

W.J. Brereton, physician, was born in Simcoe County in 1846, being one of a family of six children born to Mr. C. S. Brereton, who emigrated from England and took up his residence in Simcoe County at an early date. W.J. Brereton received a thorough English education in the Common School, which he completed at the High School, subsequently graduating at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Ontario, in 1871. He bought and located at his present residence the same year, and in 1872 married the eldest daughter of the late Mr. H. Lount, of Barrie. He has four children living: Cloudsley H., born October 25, 1873; Ewart L., born 1876; Clara, born 1879; Ottie, born 1882 and died 1884; Mandall Schovell, born June, 1884. He is a Conservative in politics, and in religion a member of the Church of England. (vol. II, p. 386)

James Brett, lot 6, concession 4, was born in Willowdale in 1841, being the son of the late John Brett, who emigrated from England in 1836 and settling in York County located at Willowdale. Mr. Brett, sen’r, was confined during the Rebellion of 1837, and was ever after a strenuous supporter of Reform. He died in 1884, at the age of seventy-five years. James lived on the old homestead until he was nineteen years of age, and was then apprenticed to the waggon-making trade. He commenced business for himself at Thornhill; but shortly afterwards removed to his present stand, where he does a large trade, and manufactures all kinds of waggon and carriage wood work, together with painting and trimming. He runs a blacksmith’s business in connection. He was married in 1866 to Miss Carley, daughter of Peter Carley; they have three children: George E., James O. and John L.W. He is a Reformer in politics, and in religion a Methodist. (vol. II, p. 387)

James Brown, lot 1, concession 3, was born in the North of Ireland in the year 1800. He is a weaver by trade, and came to Canada in 1840, having spent seven years previously in the United States. He followed his business after his arrival here, having taken possession of his present farm, which was then all bush, he having cleared and otherwise improved it at intervals. He was married in Ireland in 1821 to Mary Stewart, by whom he has five children living: George, Robert, William, James and Mary. Mr. Brown belongs to the Church of England, and is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 387)

John R. Brown, retired farmer, Lloydtown, is descended from an Irish family, who settled in Pennsylvania, U.S., at an early day. John R. came to Canada in 1830, and settled in York County, and during the Rebellion of 1837 was arrested for complicity in the rising. He was imprisoned for eight moths, and afterwards banished from the country. He returned again after an absence of two years, and purchased lot 26, concession 8 of King Township, for which he paid eight dollars per acre. He has been very prosperous, and has erected for himself and family, at considerable expense, a handsome and commodious brick residence. He retired from active life in 1880, and is now living in ease and comfort on the fruit of his past labour. He married in 1840 Mary Price, a native of Pennsylvania; they have a family of eleven children, as follow: Charles, Martha, Angelina, Louisa, George W., Franklin, John N., Martin, Josiah, Mary and Evaline. Mr. Brown is a Methodist in religion, and a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 387)

John Brown, blacksmith, was born in England in 1823. His father was Thomas Brown, who emigrated with his wife and family to Canada in 1830. Mr. Brown settled first in the County of York, where he bought some land, which he afterwards sold, and then moved to Wilmot Township, Waterloo County. He died there at a good old age, having in his connection with the section made himself highly respected. John was about seven years of age when he came to Canada. He was at the age of fifteen apprenticed to the trade of blacksmith, and after serving a term of five years, commenced his present extensive and profitable business. He married Miss Elizabeth Thompson, of this township, by whom he has two children living, Louisa and Ivon H. Mr. Brown is a Methodist in religion, and a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 388)

James Burns, lot 6, concession 4, is a native of Scotland,and came to Canada in 1834. He located on his present lot the same year, which was then entirely bush, to which he has since added the adjacent lot (5). He has given agricultural matters the greater portion of his attention, yet for twenty-five years Mr. Burns operated a saw mill, and also a grist mill on Manitoulin Island, where he owns about six hundred acres of land. Mr. Burns has accumulated this property notwithstanding loss from fires, etc. He was married in 1837 to Miss Mary McPhearson, of Scotland, who died in 1881. She had five children, four of whom survive her: John, Catharine, William and James. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer in politics. As an instance of the state of the country at the period of Mr. Burns’ first location, money was so scarce that months often passed by without those in the more remote settlements seeing a single piece of silver. (vol. II, p. 388)

Frederick Burrows, lot 15, concession 3, is one of a class of men to whom has been given the peculiar privilege of making the best of opportunities. Originally a furniture polisher and finisher, he worked at that business for a time after he came to Canada in 1837, and subsequently purchased land in King Township; his intention was to devote the remainder of his life to agriculture. However, the fact of the non-existence of roads and other attributes to personal comfort and convenience dissuaded him from continuing the cultivation of his property, and he returned to Toronto to follow the business in which he had previously been engaged. In 1852, on the completion of some of the railroads, he returned to his lot, cut and sold the timber, and erected a saw mill which was the first steam saw mill in King Township, and soon put his land in a high state of productiveness, which he has since been enabled to keep up to the average. He is a native of Ireland, and was born in the year 1816. He was married in New York to Martha Potts, a native of Ireland, by whom he has had five children, three only are now living, viz: Frederick is a School Inspector of Lennox County; James, a farmer in Grey County, and John has a farm in this township. Although getting somewhat advanced in years, Mr. Burrows is still an active man, and superintends all the business of his farm. He is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 388)

Joseph Butler, lot 29, concession 4, is the son of Joseph Butler, sen’r, and was born in England in 1832. He came to Canada in 1854 without funds, and worked some years as a farm hand. He afterwards rented land and finally purchased the farm where he now lives, which he has himself cleared and made highly productive. In addition he owns seventy-five acres in the New Survey. He married Charlotte Mumford, a native of England, by whom he has seven children living. He is a Conservative in politics, and in religion belongs to the Methodist Church. (vol. II, p. 389)

John Nelson Byers, physician and surgeon, was born in 1842. His father was Samuel Byers, a native of Ireland, who settled in York County in 1834. He participated in the Rebellion of 1837, and died in the year 1874 in Ontario County. The subject of this sketch had the advantage of a good sound education, and in 1868 graduated as M.D. from Victoria College. He first began practice in Muskoka in 1868, and in 1875 located at Lloydtown, where he has since remained. He married in 1867 Miss Hadwen, of English birth, by whom he has five children. He is a Conservative in politics. Mr. Byers’ maternal great-grandfather and grandfather, John Rouse, were U.E. Loyalists, having emigrated from Pennsylvania, U.S., in 1812; their property was confiscated by the American Government. (vol. II, p. 389)