William W. Farr, lot 5, concession 9, was born in the Township of Chinguacousy, County Peel, in the year 1830. His father, the late James Farr, emigrated from the neighbourhood of Weston, Herts, England, at an early day, and settled first in Weston, where he stayed until 1829. He it was who gave to the Village of Weston its title, in commemoration fo his English home. On leaving Weston he went to Peel County, and at the expiration of twelve months moved into Vaughan Township, on the same farm where William, his son, now lives. He resided there until his death, which took place in 1841, at the age of fifty-three years: his widow is still living, being eighty-one years old. Mr. Farr, sen’r, held a Captain’s commission in the militia. W.W. Farr has been twice married: first in 1850 to Eliza Fletcher, by whom he had one child. His second union was with a daughter of the late John Williams, an old settler who lived to be ninety years of age. He has four children by his present wife. Mr. Farr has been a member of the Woodbridge Village Council for three years, a position he still holds. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 339)
Edward Fletcher, lot 9, concession 8, was born on the lot on which he now resides. His father, the late Walter Fletcher, was an early settler in the township, having located here in 1826. He was a native of County Leitrim, Ireland, and after settling on his farm in Vaughan remained there until his death in 1869, at the age of seventy-nine years. Edward was born in 1837, and is the youngest son of his father’s family, which consisted of three sons and two daughters. Mr. Fletcher is unmarried. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Conservative. (vol. II, p. 340)
Joseph Graham, lot 18, concession 2, is a native of Vaughan Township, and was born on concession 2, in 1840, being the second son of the late William Graham, an old settler in this section. He (Mr. Graham, sen’r) was a cooper by trade, and followed that business for many years at York Mills, and subsequently in Vaughan, and was widely known throughout the district as a hard-working, industrious man. The members of his family are located within a few miles radius, and are all farmers. Joseph Graham was married in the year 1877 to Louisa Frank, by whom he has a family of two, both boys. He belongs to the Methodist denomination, and votes for the Reform Party at elections. (vol. II, p. 340)
Michael Harvey, lot 26, concession 6, is a native of County Tyrone, where he was born in 1829. His father being dead, he, accompanied by his mother and other members of the family, came to Canada in 1850. They came direct to Vaughan, and settled on the adjoining lot on which he now lives. He moved on to the present lot in 1862, which he continues to cultivate. (vol. II, p. 340)
William Hemphill, lot 33, concession 9, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in the year 1831. He emigrated to Canada, in company with his parents, in 1841. They came direct to York County, and almost immediately took up their abode in Vaughan Township, on the same farm now occupied by William. He is the second son in his father’s family: his paternal parent, Joseph Hemphill, died in Vaughan, in 1878, at the ripe old age of eighty-four years. Mr. William Hemphill, since the family first located there, has always lived on the homestead, which was at first all bush. He was married in the year 1865 to Jane Hamilton, sister of Mr. Gavin Hamilton, of this township, by whom he has eight children. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 340)
Gideon Hislop, lot 50, concession 1, is the grandson of a Scotch farmer, who emigrated from Perthshire, Scotland, at an early day, and located on the lot now owned by the subject of this notice. Mr. Hislop was born on the family homestead, and is the fourth son in his father’s (the late Gideon Hislop) family. The latter in his day contributed a great deal to the township improvements, and in other ways, such as introducing some very fine Clyde draught horses, for a better class of stock. Mr. Hislop is not married, but his mother and sister reside on the farm with him. He is a Reformer in politics, and the family are members of the Presbyterian Church. (vol. II, p. 341)
John Hugill, lot 32, concession 7, was born in the City of Toronto, in the year 1833. His grandfather, John Hugill, was an early settler in York, and formerly conducted a brewery in Toronto. His father, also named John, died when our subject was but four years old. John Hugill has travelled around a good deal in his lifetime, but he has lived about thirty-five years in Vaughan off and on. He is interested in the breeding of horses, and has now a fine imported Clyde colt with an excellent pedigree. Mr. Hugill married in 1855 Susan Cloney, daughter of John Cloney, of Etobicoke Township, by whom he has a family of ten children. He attends the English church, and votes for Conservative measures. (vol. II, p. 341)
Robert Irwin, lot 28, concession 6, was born in the County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1811, and emigrated to Canada in 1832. He first settled in concession 7 of Vaughan, after coming direct to York County, where he remained about five years. He then sold that farm and located at Hogg’s Hollow for two years, after which he bought the farm where he now resides. The only office he has held since his residence here is that of Returning Officer, which he filled for one year. His connection with the Presbyterian Church has been marked by the earnest attention he has given to all matters relative to its welfare, he having been an elder for several years. Mr. Irwin was married in the year 1858 to Eleanor Wallace. He is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 341)
David Jeffrey, an old settler in this township, whose long public connection with the municipality entitles him to receive at our hands more consideration than the space allotted to us usually affords, was born in the parish of Whitson, Berwickshire, Scotland, in the year 1799. He was put to the plough at an early age, and before he had arrived at manhood had acquired a practical knowledge of all matters relating to agriculture. He was employed on the estate of Sir John Hay to carry out a series of important improvements, in which situation he remained until 1833, when the family decided upon emigration. He had, some little time before, married a half-cousin, Jane Mitchell, and the family, consisting of father, mother, two brothers, and three sisters, besides himself and wife, took passage for Quebec, and, having friends in York County, they proposed proceeding thither to settle. The voyage across the Atlantic occupied fourteen weeks, and the journey from Quebec to Little York was made by Durham boats. In was an August Sabbath afternoon when “Muddy Little York” (then on the point of being re-christened) was reached, where they stayed a few days before resuming the journey to Richmond Hill. After arriving at their destination, the first business was to gain possession of some land, which they eventually did, being lot 34, concession 8 of the Township of Vaughan, for which they paid £400 sterling – £200 down. As was usual in such cases, they had to put up with considerable inconvenience and hardship during the first few years of settlement, the township then being far from completely settled. Mr. Jeffrey early became associated with the local governing body, and was elected one of the commissioners appointed to conduct the expenditure allowed by Government for public improvements in the municipality. He also assumed the office of Township Clerk, which he managed with ability for seven years. Mr. Jeffrey is a politician of strong Reform proclivities; and, having personally suffered under the system originated by “The Family Compact”, has ever since endeavoured to promote the return of Reform candidates. Having lived through the dangerous period of the Rebellion, he was well acquainted with its causes and effects, and has never wavered in his allegiance to the party who fought for and obtained Responsible Government for the people of Canada. Mr. Jeffrey is still hale and hearty, and his declining years are made happy by his children and grandchildren, to whom he often recounts the story of the stirring times gone by. (vol. II, p. 342)
John Jeffrey, lot 15, concession 9, was born on the lot which he now occupies in 1849. His father, the late Richard Jeffrey, emigrated at an early day from the County of Kent, England, and, on his arrival in York, settled in concession 8. He afterwards worked on the farm now occupied by his son John, where he resided until his death in 1872, at the age of fifty-four years. His wife is still living on the homestead. John Jeffrey is the only son living of their family. Being of a retiring disposition, he has taken no part in municipal affairs, but attends strictly to his own immediate concerns. He attends the Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer in politics. He has five sisters, two of whom are married, one to Mr. Gavin Hamilton, and the other to Mr. Thomas Richardson. Mr. Jeffrey, in addition to the management of his own farm, practises as Veterinary Surgeon, having received his diploma from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1874. (vol. II, p. 342)
John Johnson, lot 2, concession 8, was born in the year 1840, on the lot where he still lives. He is the eldest son of the late Robert Johnson, who emigrated from Dumfries, Scotland, in the year 1832, and, after remaining two years in the Ottawa district, located in Vaughan Township, York County, where he brought up his family. (vol. II, p. 343)
David Johnston, lots 3 and 4, concession 8, was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, in the year 1811, and emigrated to Canada in 1831. He settled first in the vicinity of Ottawa, and at the end of two years moved west, and settled in Vaughan Township, on his present farm. At the time he first located here the country around was very wild, although the land was mostly taken up. In 1849 Mr. Johnston married Catharine Dalziel, daughter of John Dalziel, of this township. They had a family of five children, two of whom are now dead. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and a Liberal in politics. (vol. II, p. 343)