Archibald Cameron, lot 17, concession 6, was born in Caledon Township, Peel County, in the year 1826, and is the eldest son of the late Donald Cameron. His father was a native of Argyleshire, Scotland, whose early years were spent in tending cattle on the mountain pastures of his native county. He emigrated to Canada in 1819, but previous to his departure married Elizabeth Armour, who accompanied him, and heroically endured the severe hardships which they afterwards encountered. They landed after their voyage in Montreal on August 21, and immediately commenced the long and tedious journey to Peel County, where they proposed to settle. After several delays which occurred at different points on the route, and the additional misery of having sickness on board the boat, they arrived at their destination about the latter end of October, and it appeared as though they had not reached the final stage of despondency. They received their grant of sixty acres in the Township of Caledon; but were compelled owing to the sparsity of settlement to sleep out in the woods for several nights without shelter, not being able to build a shanty for want of the necessary assistance. Mr. Cameron contrived however by perseverance, and the consolation which his deep religious convictions afforded him, to overcome innumerable obstacles and to emerge from his state of wretchedness to one of comparative comfort. He remained in Caledon Township about seven years, and then removed to Vaughan, where he lived until the time of his death. During his lifetime he took great interest in municipal affairs, and was in the Township Council for some years. He was an Elder of the Presbyterian Church. Archibald Cameron took charge of the homestead at his father’s death, which he has since continued to cultivate. He married in 1851 Catharine McMurchell, by whom he has a family of eight children. He is an Elder of the Presbyterian Church, and a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 333)
Lacklen Cameron, lot 12, concession 10, was born in the Island of Mull, Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1830. In company with his parents he emigrated to Canada in 1856, who settled in the Township of Saugeen, Bruce County, where they remained about one year, subsequently removing to the Township of Bruce, where they secured one hundred acres of land, which the subject of this sketch still owns. He rented a farm in Vaughan Township, on which he lived about seven years, and at the expiration of that time purchased the farm where he now resides. He is also the owner of an additional fifty acres in another part of the township. He married Margaret, a daughter of the late Archibald Sommerville, of this township; they have a family of seven children. Mr. Cameron is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 334)
John Chapman, lot 37, concession 1, is the descendant of a U.E. Loyalist family who emigrated from the State of New York at an early day. Our subject was born in 1804, and came with his mother and stepfather to Canada; the latter drew land from Government, the same now occupied by Isaac and James Chapman. The first settlement was made on the farm now owned by Mr.Arnold, which was the first farm cleared on Yonge Street. Mr. Chapman was married in 1826 to Hannah Pearson, of English parentage, by whom he had twelve children. The family generally belong to the Presbyterian Church, but some of the sons are Methodists. Mr. Chapman takes an active part in politics, and votes for measures rather than party. As U.E. Loyalists the family retain the patriotic spirit which animated their forefathers, and the evidence they have shown of their firm adherence to the Crown is to them a source of considerable pride. (vol. II, p. 334)
James Cherry, lot 32, concession 9, was born in Vaughan Township, on the lot where he now lives, in 1838. He is the only son of the late John Cherry, one of the earliest settlers in this part of Vaughan, who emigrated from County Down, Ireland, and settled in this township about the year 1834. James married Elizabeth, daughter of the late Samuel Sheardon, of this township, by whom he has five children, all girls. The family are adherents of the Lutheran Church, and in politics Mr. Cherry votes Conservative. He takes considerable interest in stock-raising, and last year imported two of the Clydesdale breed of horses, and in other matters shows his enterprise and judgment. (vol. II, p. 335)
William Constable, lot 16, concession 6, was born in Yorkshire, England, in the year 1815. He emigrated to Canada in company with his step-father, William Jarolt, in the year 1830. He remained in the lumbering districts of Quebec Province about six years and then moved west to York County and settled in the Township of Vaughan. He rented a farm on lot 21, concession 6, where he stayed five years, after which he bought his present farm. He lived on lot 20, concession 5, about four years and returned to lot 16, concession 6, on which he had erected buildings and where he het resides. He married in 1830 Mary Jackson, daughter of the late George Jackson, of York Township; they have a family of two children living. He is an adherent of the Lutheran Church, and a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 335)
G.J. Cook, lot 28, concession 3, was born at Caarville, Vaughan Township, June 7, 1852. He is the youngest son of the late Thomas Cook, a very early settler in this section. His father located on lot 16, concession 2, which he farmed, and in addition carried on a large business as merchant miller. He gave up business here and went to New Zealand, with the intention of permanently settling there; but not liking the country, he returned to Canada,and again fixing his residence in Vaughan, died there in the year 1877, leaving his property to his sons. Two of the sons reside at Caarville. J.G. Cook was married in the year 1876 to Jane Denton, daughter of William Denton, now living in Mono Township, County Dufferin, formerly of Vaughan. They have a family of two sons. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and in politics supports the Reform Party. (vol. II, p. 335)
Thomas Cook, lot 16, concession 2, is the son of the late Thomas Cook, of English birth, who emigrated to America in the year 1830. Mr. Cook, sen’r, first settled in the United States, and coming afterwards to Canada he settled in the Township of Vaughan, where he located on a portion of what was known as the old “Fisher Estate”. He purchased six hundred acres, which he divided with his brother William, and where, in connection with farming they operated a grist-mill which was already on the land, being the first mill erected in the township. They did a very large business, having the monopoly of the trade in the section. Mr. Cook took considerable interest in the affairs of the township and was for a number of years a member of the Council. He was a Justice of the Peace for some time previous to his death, in which position he discharged his duties with much discrimination and judgment. In church matters he was ever to the fore, and the Methodist body, of which he was an earnest member, in many instances received substantial proof of his devotion to the cause of the Gospel. He died in the year 1877 on the old homestead, after a long and successful career, and a life of usefulness to the public weal. Thomas, who now resides on the home farm where he was born, is the second son of his father’s family. He married in the year 1879 Elizabeth Ann Bell, a Canadian by birth, by whom he has two children. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Church, and in political opinions gives his support to the Reform Party. (vol. II, p. 336)
William Cook, lot 16, concession 2, was born on lot 17, adjoining the farm upon which he now resides, and is the eldest of the three sons of the late Thomas Cook mentioned in a previous biography. William married in 1872 Mercie Ellerby, daughter of Mr. Joseph Ellerby, of Markham Township. The family are adherents of the Methodist Church. Mr. Cook has been a member of the Vaughan Township Council for four years, and is now Deputy-Reeve. In political matters he is a Reformer. (vol. II, p. 336)
George Cooper, lot 25, concession 8, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in the year 1843, and emigrated with his parents to Canada in 1854. His father, the late John Cooper, settled on his arrival in concession 2 of Markham Township, where he remained about one year. He subsequently removed to Thornhill, where he died, after a residence of eight months. His wife, the mother of our subject, lived in Thornhill about twenty years after the death of her husband, and is still living in Vaughan with her son, being now about eighty years old. Mr. George Cooper was married in 1868, the maiden name of his wife being Fanny Wells; they have seven children. He has taken little or no active part in local affairs. He belongs to the Episcopal Church, and is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 336)
John Cowan, blacksmith, Purpleville, was born in the Township of Vaughan, in 1862. He is the second son of Mr. John Cowan who laid out the Village of Purpleville, and for a number of years carried on a blacksmith’s business there, having since removed to the United States. Our subject has lived the greater portion of his life across the border. He learned his trade at Teston with Mr. Richard Lund, and has since commenced business at Purpleville, which, there is good reason for believing, is a successful one. (vol. II, p. 337)
John Craddock was born in the Township of Vaughan, within a short distance of his present residence. His father was a native of Yorkshire, England, his mother was from Lincolnshire, England. His parents came to Canada in 1831, and located on lot 29, concession 4, where he conducted a lumbering business in addition to farming for a number of years. They were among the early settlers of Vaughan, and the old people are still alive and reside in the town of Barrie. Mr. Craddock, jun’r, was married in the year 1861, his wife’s maiden name being Elizabeth Nixon, daughter of Mr. William Nixon, of concession 4 of Vaughan. The family are adherents of the Methodist Church, and are all Reformers in politics. (vol. II, p. 337)
Robert Creighton, lot 10, concession 10, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in the year 1813, and emigrated to Canada in 1828 in company with his father, his mother being dead. They came via New York, where they remained a few months, and subsequently made their way to Little York. They settled down in Toronto where they lived eleven years, and then moved up Yonge Street, and located for over nine years on the spot where Davisville now stands. In the year 1841, Mr. Creighton, sen’r, purchased the farm now in possession of his son Robert, where he resided until his death, which took place in 1883, at the age of seventy-seven years. Robert was married in the year 1846 to Jane Stewart, she being a daughter of the late Henry Stewart, of Toronto. They have one son. In politics Mr. Creighton is a Reformer. (vol. II, p. 337)
Robert Croft, lot 28, concession 8, is a native of Lincolnshire, England. He was born in 1810, and in 1831 emigrated to Canada accompanied by his wife and one child. He came direct to York County, and settled at Thornhill, where he worked for three or four years. He then removed to Vaughan Township, where he spent three years, and subsequently lived nine years in Markham. At the end of that time he purchased a farm in the latter township, on lot 4, concession 4, where he resided about twelve years. He ultimately bought the property in Vaughan where he now lives. He has been twice married; by his first wife he had eleven children. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 337)
James Dalziel is the son of the late John Dalziel, who emigrated from Lanarkshire, Scotland, with his family in 1828, and immediately on his arrival in York, settled in the Township of Vaughan, on lot 1, concession 5, where he lived until his death in 1842. James was born in Scotland in 1816, and on the death of his father occupied the old homestead. He has benefited the Township of Vaughan considerably by the introduction of a fine stock of Durham and Shorthorn cattle, and has also infused much spirit into the working and aims of the Agricultural Society. He has taken a number of prizes for ploughing, and may be classed as the best ploughman in the section. He has a brother also who is a first-class ploughman. The farm he lives on was originally owned by the late John Smith, who afterwards built mills at Pine Grove. Mr. Dalziel rents his farm and only retains a few acres, living now in retirement. He married in 1872, his wife’s maiden name being Janet McLean, a native of Scotland, by whom he had four children, two boys and two girls. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 338)
James Devins, lot 18, concession 10, was born in concession 6 of York Township in the year 1804. He is descended from a family who originally emigrated to Canada from Pennsylvania, U.S., his father, the late Isaac Devins, landing at the mouth of the River Don with Governor Simcoe, whose tent he assisted to put up. Mr. Isaac Devins located in the Township of Markham, but not being satisfied he came to concession 6 of York Township, where he subsequently died, being over eighty years of age. In the early days the settlers had to go to the head of the lake in scows to have their grist ground. The first saw-mill built on the Humber was erected by an uncle of our subject, and was put up by order of the Government. James Devins moved from York into Vaughan Township at an early period of settlement, there being at that time less than half-a-dozen dwelling-houses between Toronto and Vaughan. Our subject married in 1830, his wife’s maiden name being Eleanor Christner: their family consisted of nine children. In politics Mr. Devins has taken a somewhat active part, and at election times has given great assistance to the Reform party. He belongs to the Methodist persuasion. (vol. II, p. 338)
George Elliott, lot 11, concession 8, was born on the farm where he now resides. He is the eldest son of the late John Elliott, an old settler in Vaughan, who emigrated from Northumberland, England, at an early day. Mr. Elliott, sen’r, remained two years in Montreal, and subsequently spent a similar period in Toronto. In 1834 he purchased a farm in Vaughan, where he continued to live till his death in 1869, at the age of sixty-nine years. He belonged to the Congregational Church, and was a Reformer in politics. George Elliott married, in 1860, Elizabeth, daugher of the late George Gowland, of this township: they have a family of seven children. In religion and politics he follows in the footsteps of his father. (vol. II, p. 339)
Richard Egan, lot 33, concession 8, was born in the County Monaghan, Ireland, in the year 1831, being the youngest son fo the late Johnston Egan. His father emigrated to Canada, accompanied by his children (the mother being dead), in the year 1831, and settled in Vaughan as soon as possible after his arrival in York. He purchased land from the Canada Company, lot 31, concession 7, which he occupied for three years, at the expiration of which time he sold out and bought the farm where his son, the subject of this sketch, lives. He died in the year 1858, being about fifty-five years of age. Richard took possession of the old homestead, which he has continued to cultivate, and he has brought up his family. He was married to Jane, a daughter of the late Joseph Hempsall, of this township: they have nine children living. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 339)
John H. Ellis, lot 32, concession 8, was born in the County of Nottinghamshire, England, in the year 1830. He came out to this country with his parents when an infant. His father located on the farm now occupied by his son, which he cleared and otherwise improved. He lived to the ripe old age of eighty-one years, his death taking place in the year 1882. John H. Ellis was married in 1863, his wife being Sophia Josephine, daughter of the late Abraham Crossen: they have a family of four children. He belongs to the Lutheran Church, and is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 339)