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

Benjamin Terry, lot 25, concession 5, is the son of David Terry, deceased, who emigrated to Canada from Pennsylvania in 1822, and coming to York County settled near Newmarket. A few years afterwards he moved to the farm now occupied by Benjamin, where he remained until his death in 1857. Benjamin Terry was born in Pennsylvania in 1809, and was thirteen years old when he came to Canada. He took part in the Rebellion of 1837, but managed to escape arrest. He was married in 1843 to Lucilla Mount, daughter of Joseph Mount; they have ten children living: Esther, Mary, Susan, Lavinia, John A., Joseph M., Sarah, Lucinda, Franklin and Emma L. (vol. II, p. 426)

John Thompson, lot 28, concession 10, is the son of William Thompson, and was born in King Township in 1843. He received an education such as the Common schools of that day afforded, and was brought up to farming on the old homestead. In 1877 he located on lot 28, concession 10, where he still resides with his family. He married Eliza Irwin, of Toronto, in 1866; their family consists of four children, viz.: William, born in 1868; Delia, born in 1870; Henry James, born in 1871, and John, born in 1880. (vol. II, p. 427)

William Thompson, lot 28, concession 10, is the son of William Thompson, whose sketch appears elsewhere. He was born in King Township in 1840, and after receiving a Common-school education worked with his father on the home farm, which he still occupies. He was married in 1870 to Rebecca Irwin, of Toronto, by whom he has six children, viz.: Harold, Anna, Mary E., William R., James H. and Bertha M. The farm bears evidence of skill and attention, and is a credit to the possessor. (vol. II, p. 427)

William Thompson was born in England in 1810, and emigrated to Canada in 1836. He located near Lloydtown, York County. In 1856 he purchased one hundred and fifty acres on lot 28, concession 9, and later on acquired lot 27, concession 9. By industry and perseverance he was in 1874 enabled to retire from active life and bought his present residence. He was married in 1833 to Ann Culley, a native of England; they have eight children, as follow: Henry, born 1834; Rachel, born 1836; Annie, born 1838; William, born 1839; James, born 1841; John, born 1842; Caroline, born 1849, and Martha, born 1853. Mr. Thompson belongs to the Episcopal Church, and is in politics a Conservative. (vol. II, p. 427)

Jacob S. Tool, cheese factory, Aurora, was born near Kettleby in King Township in 1858. His grandfather came from Pennsylvania to Canada in 1802 and settled near Bogart Town. He afterwards removed to near Kettleby and erected the first saw-mill in this section. The father of our subject was named John, who was born on the old homestead and devoted nearly all his life to farming. He married Miss Davidson, of Bond Head; their family being as follows: Jacob S. (our subject), John B. and Sarah A., married to James Hunter, of Oakville. Jacob S. commenced his cheese factory about one year ago and has done a satisfactory local trade, its capacity being about four hundred and fifty pounds per day. The family are all Reformers in politics. (vol. II, p. 427)

Michael Trainor, lot 9, concession 10, is the second son of the late Patrick Trainor, and was born on the old homestead in 1844. He inherited his present farm of one hundred acres, and afterwards purchased an additional one hundred acres from his brother. He was married in 1870 to Ellen Curtis, daughter of John Curtis, by whom he has six children, viz.: Loretta, Annie, Lucy, Louisa, Michael Ambrose and James A. (vol. II, p. 428)

Patrick Trainor, deceased, was born in Ireland in 1816, and was twelve years of age when he came to Canada with his parents. The family came to Peel County, and located in Albion Township, where they remained some years, afterwards removing to King Township, York County, where the father died. Patrick was early inured to all the hardships which wait upon the pioneer, and assisted in clearing farms in Albion, Etobicoke, Toronto Gore, and King Township. He made his home on lot 9, concession 10 of King Township, which consisted of two hundred acres. The education he acquired in youth was but limited, although the absence of instruction had little or no effect on the success which attended him through life. He died in 1879, leaving a fine estate to his widow and nine children. John Trainor, lot 16, concession 9, eldest son of the late Patrick Trainor, was born on the old homestead in King Township in 1839. He has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, and inherited part of his present farm. He bought one hundred and sixty-six acres on lot 17, in the same concession. He was married to Ellen O’Neill, of Ireland; they have nine children as follow: Mary A., Patrick J., Maria J., Ellen, John, Michael, James, Thomas, Hannah T. Mr. Trainor belongs to the Roman Catholic Faith, and is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 428)

Philip Wade, deceased, was a native of Sussex, England, and came to this country prior to the Rebellion of 1837. He settled on lot 4, concession 3 of this section, the whole of which was then a wilderness. He cleared the land and put it in a good state of cultivation, and died in 1870, at the age of seventy years. John Wade, lot 4, concession 3, son of the above, was born in England in 1831, and came to Canada with his parents when only five years of age. He has all his life been connected with farming, and endured in early years all the hardships and privations of the pioneer. He purchased his father’s farm at his death, which he has continued to cultivate. He married Miss Sarah Hoover, of this township, by whom he has eight children. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 428)

Jesse Walton, deceased, was born in New Brunswick, being the son of a U.E. Loyalist who settled in that Province after the War of 1812. Jesse removed west to York County, U.C., in 1824, and bought a farm near Newmarket, subsequently removing to Tecumseth Township, Simcoe County, which was then complete bush. During the first few years the section was so sparsely populated that they were months together without beholding a strange face. In 1840 Mr. Walton came to King Township, and bought lot 30, concession 4, where he remained until his death in 1872. Jacob Walton, merchant, Kettleby P.O., son of the above, was born near Newmarket in 1826, and after leaving school was apprenticed to the trade of blacksmith at which he worked for about ten years. He was appointed Postmaster in 1853, and began the business of general merchant with a small stock of goods. He also bought his father’s farm on lot 30, concession 4. He built his present handsome residence in Kettleby in 1876, and has also erected other property at various times. He was married in 1876 to Mary, daughter of Thomas Lloyd, of King Township. They have seven children, viz.: Ellen, Frederick, Jane, Elizabeth, Jesse, Clara and Gertie. (vol. II, p. 429)

John Watson, deceased, was a native of England, and came to Canada in 1833. He settled in York County, and purchased a bush farm in Vaughan, which he cleared and put under cultivation and farmed until his death in 1850, at the age of fifty. His wife was Sarah Watson, whom he married in England, and who accompanied him to Canada; she died in 1880, at the age of seventy-three. Joseph Watson was born on the old homestead in Vaughan. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to the trade of a blacksmith, which he has since continued to follow, and has been exceedingly prosperous. In 1859 he bought and settled upon his property, lot 1, concession 6 of King Township. He was married in 1859 to Miss Robinson, by whom he has four children living. (vol. II, p. 429)

Thomas Webster, lot 12, concession 1, was born in England in 1828, and came with his father, William Webster, to Canada in 1842. The family settled on lot 35, concession 4, King Township, containing one hundred and twenty acres which the father cleared and afterwards cultivated. He died in 1878. Thomas remained on the family homestead until he arrived at the age of manhood, when he bought the farm which he now occupies. He married in 1851 Mary Doane, daughter of Mr. B. Doane, formerly of Pennsylvania, by whom he has seven children, viz.: Hilda, Ebenezer, William, Barbara, Joseph, Isaac and Frederick. (vol. II, p. 429)

Milton Wells, lot 10, concession 2, was born in 1857, on concession 1 of King Township, being the son of Job Wells. He received a Common-school education, and was brought up on his father’s farm, in which vocation he has been continuously employed. He was married to Miss Lena Stewart, of King Township; they have one son, Roy S. Mr. Wells is a Conservative in politics, and belongs to the Presbyterian Church. (vol. II, p. 430)

Isaac Willis, deceased, was born in the State of New Jersey, U.S., 1781, and came to Canada in 1803. He purchased four hundred acres of bush-land near the present Aurora Village, which he cleared and put under cultivation. He was a man of great energy and very skilful in all matters relative to agriculture, therefore it may easily be surmised that prosperity was his portion. His wife was Miss Vandyke, of New Jersey; they had eight children, six of whom are still living. He died in 1838, leaving a very handsome property. Frederick Willis, son of the above, was born on Yonge Street, York County, and was raised up to farming, to which he devoted his whole life and labour. He inherited one hundred acres of bush-land from his father, which he afterwards sold and purchased his present home, lot 5, concession 6, in 1831. He was married in 1843 to Hannah Moseley, who died leaving three children. His second union was with Mrs. Jane O’Brien, a daughter of William Jenkins. Mr. Willis is a Reformer in politics, and belongs to the Presbyterian Church. His first wife had six children, three of whom died; the survivors are living in this county, their names being: John W., Joseph A., and Jane Phoebe. (vol. II, p. 430)

Emanuel Wood, lot 14, concession 9, was born in England in 1820, and emigrated to Canada in 1842. Having little or no means on his arrival, he worked as hired man for a number of years, until he had sufficient money to buy a farm. Having got together the necessary funds, he purchased the farm where he now resides, containing one hundred and thirty-eight acres of land. He married in 1844 Miss Mary Ann Holland, by whom he has ten children. He was a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 430)

John M. Wood, merchant and postmaster, Lloydtown, is the son of Marshall Wood, who came to Canada with his parents at an early day. The father of Mr.Wood settled on Yonge Street, and afterwards purchased lot 6, concession 6, and removed to Lloydtown, where he died in 1866. John M. was born at Lloydtown in 1847, and after receiving an ordinary English education began business as carriage-builder in Schomberg in 1867. He occupied his present locality, where he built a store and residence in 1882. He was burnt out the following year. He is now doing a flourishing business, and in addition discharges the duties of postmaster and telegraph operator. He married Miss Cameron, daughter of George Cameron, of Stouffville, by whom he has five children, three daughters and two sons: Maud, Mabel, James, Lillian and John. He belongs to the Methodist church, and is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 431)