Peter Keffer, lot 12, concession 3, was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, December 30, 1879. His father, Jacob Keffer, was a native of Germany. The family came to Canada in 1806, and settled on the lot now occupied by the subject of this sketch, where the father lived until his death. Mr. Keffer was married in 1823 to Miss Fisher, by whom he had nine children. They are adherents of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Keffer, like his father, is a Reformer in politics. He has one son living on the homestead with him, who is married and has one child. (vol. II, p. 343)
William Keffer, lot 9, concession 3, was born on the farm where he now resides, in the year 1812. He is the youngest son living of the late Michael Keffer, who settled in Vaughan as early as 1806, where he lived until his death in 1852. His family consisted of six sons and three daughters, some members of the family dying very young. Although brought up to the Lutheran faith, he afterwards joined the Church of England, and entered with spirit into all matters undertaken for its future benefit. He gave the land for the first church built, which is still standing, and where services are yet conducted: it is a log building. William Keffer married in 1831 Susanna Burkholder, a daughter of Oldrick Burkholder, of this township: they have six daughters and two sons living. Mr. Keffer has taken an interest in municipal affairs. He is an adherent of the English Church, and a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 343)
Robert Kerr, lot 23, concession 7, was born in 1812 in the Island of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands group. His father was a soldier in the British army, and served during the Peninsular War. Robert emigrated to Canada in the year 1844, accompanied by his wife and two children. He remained a few months in Toronto, and then moved into York Township. In the year 1846 he accepted a situation as school teacher in concessions 2 and 3, York, where he taught for one year, afterwards removing to Vauighan Township, and was there occupied in teaching for a number of years. In the year 1860 he settled on the farm where he now lives. He is an adherent of the Presbyterian Church, and a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 344)
Thomas Kersey, lot 22, concession 10, is the eldest son of the late William Kersey, and was born in 1836, on the farm where he now resides. His father came from Westmoreland, England, and on his arrival in York remained two years in Toronto Gore, and subsequently settled on the farm in Vaughan. He was a man highly respected throughout the township, and held several important offices in connection with the municipal government. He was a member of the Township Council, and received the appointment of first License Inspector of the section. His death occurred in 1876, he being seventy-five years old. Thomas Kersey has continued to reside at the old homestead. He has two brothers, one of whom lives with him on the farm. His mother is also living and in good health, being now seventy-five years of age. He attends the Episcopal Church, and is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 344)
Robert King, lot 13, concession 9, is of Scotch parentage, and was born on the farm where he now resides. His father, the late Robert King, an early settler in this part of the township, emigrated from Ayrshire, Scotland, and, previous to his location in this section, remained some time in Kingston and Toronto, where he worked at his trade of stone-cutter. About 1830 he came to Vaughan, and commenced farming,and continued to follow that industry until his death in 1872. Robert’s birth took place in 1836, he being the youngest son of the family, and he has always followed farming. He was married in 1859 to a daughter of Mr. James Devins, by whom he has a family of seven children. He is an adherent of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Reformer. (vol. II, p. 344)
Nathaniel Kirby, lot 38, concession 1, was born in Yorkshire, England, in the year 1806, and emigrated to Canada in 1831. He came direct to York County and located in Vaughan Township, where he had a brother already settled. For some years he worked among the farmers of the district, and in 1836 rented a farm in Markham Township. At the expriation of five years he went to live at Weston, and conducted a hotel in connection with a farm for about eighteen months. He then moved to concession 2 of Vaughan, to a farm formerly occupied by Mr. William Cook, where he stayed twenty-five years. In 1860 he moved on to the farm where he now resides. He married in 1836 Harriett Mason, also from Yorkshire, by whom he had five children. He is a Conservative in politics, and a member of the Church of England. When he first settled in Vaughan there were a church and a log school-house in Thornhill. (vol. II, p. 345)
James Kurtz, lot 28, concession 9, is the youngest son of the late John Kurtz, and was born on concession 2 of Vaughan, in the year 1842. He has resided on his present farm since the death of his father in 1879. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 345)
John C. Kurtz, lot 27, concession 10, was born near Richmond Hill, in the year 1830. His father, the late John Kurtz, came from Pennsylvania when quite a child, and settled with his parents in Vaughan. In the year 1849 he moved to concession 9, where he lived until his death in 1880, at the age of seventy-two years. John C. married in 1871, his wife being Sarah Calham, daughter of Mr. James Calham, of Toronto Township, by whom he has a family of six children. Mr. Kurtz has taken great interest in municipal matters, and his opinion is often sought in connection with township affairs. He is also an enthusiastic politician, and works hard for the Reform Party. The temperance cause has in him an ardent supporter, and he looks hopefully forward to the time when the Scott Act shall be carried in his native county. (vol. II, p. 345)
Jacob Lahmer, lots 16 and 17, concession 5, was born in the year 1828. He is the only son of the late Jacob Lahmer, a native of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Canada in the year 1823, and shortly afterwards settled in Vaughan. His mother’s maiden name was Susan Mussulman, who carried on the management of the farm after her hsuband’s death, her own taking place in 1879. The old homestead was Jacob’s birthplace, where he has always lived. He has taken great interest in municipal and agricultural matters, having been a member of the Township Council for two years, and a Director of the Agricultural Society since its inauguration. He has assisted materially in the development of well-bred stock in the section, and has taken several prizes at the neighbouring fairs for Durham cattle. Mr. Lahmer was married in the year 1850 to Barbara Snider, daughter of the late Mr. John Snider, of Vaughan. (vol. II, p. 346)
John Lahmer, lot 15, concession 3, was born in the Township of Vaughan, in the year 1854, being the eldest son of Jacob Lahmer, whose sketch precedes this. He was married in 1881 to a daughter of Mr. Thomas Mulholland, a prominent pioneer of York Township. Mr. Lahmer gives great attention to all matters concerning agriculture. He was the leading institutor of the Vaughan Ploughmen’s Association, which has won such celebrity of late years. At the inaugural match in 1879, he and three of his brothers won one watch, two silver cups and two ploughs as premiums. Although the object of this sketch was not so successful as some ploughmen, he has tried his skill against the best men in the county. Mr. Lahmer has also taken an active part in politics, and is prominent among the workers of the Reform Party of West York. He is Vice-President of the Riding Association, and has been Secretary of the Township Association for years. (vol. II, p. 346)
Joseph Lankin, lot 8, concession 6, was born in the Township of Vaughan (where the Village of Maple now stands) in the year 1830. He is the third son of the late Rickard Lankin, an early settler, who located on lot 19, concession 4, when nothing but bush was to be seen around. Mr. Lankin, sen’r, afterwards moved back to lot 3, concession 1, where he lived about eight years. He subsequently went to Pickering Township, and after spending a number of years there took up his residence in Hamilton, where he died. Joseph, the subject of this notice, was married to Elizabeth Hodges in 1845. She was a daughter of Jonathan Hodges who emigrated from Ireland in the early times of settlement. Mr. Hodges, at the commencement of his career in the township, taught school, which he continued for four years, and then bought a farm in Tecumseth Township, on which he lived until his death. Mr. Lankin by his marriage has a family of six sons and two daughters living. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and a Conservative in politics. When he first settled on his present lot it was a swamp, and there was no church nearer than Woodbridge. (vol. II, p. 346)
John Lawrie is a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, having been born within a short distance of the City of Glasgow in the year 1802. He was early initiated in the weaving business, but did not follow it, afterwards working with his father on the farm. He married Isabella Reid in 1830, and emigrated to Canada in the same year. He settled first in York Township, where he lived nearly five years. He then removed to Scarboro’, where he lived six years, and from there he moved to his present residence, lot 12, concession 9, Vaughan. At the time of his settlement in Vaughan roads were conspicuous by their absence, and schools, churches, and institutions of that kind were dreams of the future; religious services were then conducted in barns, and oftentimes in the kitchen of Mr. Sommerville. Mr. Lawrie was a member of the first Council of Vaughan, and in other affairs took an active part. He entered with spirit into the building of Knox Church in the township, and has always been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. The family consists of five daughters and one son. He is a Conservative in politics. Gavin Lawrie, son of the above, was born in Scarboro’ Township in 1836. He married in 1859 Eliza Jane Bennett, by whom he has a family of five children. In religion and politics he follows his father. (vol. II, p. 347)
John Line, lot 18, concession 4, is a born resident of Vaughan township, having been born on the lot where he still continues to reside. He is the only son of the late Henry Line, a Canadian by birth, and one of the oldest settlers in Vaughan, the family having originally emigrated from Pennsylvania. Mr. Line, sen’r, always lived on and industriously cultivated the home farm, where he died in 1870 at the age of sixty-four years; his wife is still living in Maple Grove. Mr. John Line was married in 1858 to Martha Bennett, a daughter of the late Jacob Bennett; they have seven children living. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and a Conservative in political opinion. (vol. II, p. 347)
Samuel Line was born on lot 15, concession 4, Vaughan Township, in the year 1814, being the third son of the late John Line, mentioned elsewhere. He was married in 1841 to Rebecca Murray, daughter of the late Christopher Murray, an old settler in this township; they had three children, only one of whom is now living. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and belongs to the Reform Party. (vol. II, p. 347)
William Line, lot 16, concession 4, was born in Vaughan Township, on lot 15, concession 4, in the year 1816, and is the youngest son of the late John Line. His father emigrated from Pennsylvania at an early day, and on his arrival in York immediately settled in Vaughan on the same farm now owned by our subject, which at that period was all bush. He continued to live on the farm until his death, which event occurred about the year 1840. William Line was married in 1839; his wife’s maiden name was Susan Snider, she being a daughter of the late Jacob Snider; the issue of this union is five children. They are adherents of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Line’s political sympathies are with the Reform Party. (vol. II, p. 347)