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

John Page, lot 9, concession 2, was born in the Township of Vaughan in the year 1828. His father, the late Lewis Page, was born in the United States and came to Canada in 1822. He worked around in the Township of Vaughan until 1825, in which year he married and settled down on the farm now occupied by the subject of this notice, which he had purchased, and where he remained about five years. He then rented the Vaughan farm and bought another one in King Township, where he resided twenty years. At the end of that period he removed again to Vaughan and located on his original purchase, where he continued to reside until his death, which event transpired in 1858, at the age of fifty-eight. The mother of our subject was before her marriage Rebecca Rupert; she died in 1881, being seventy-two years old. Both his parents were of English extraction. John was born on the old homestead in Vaughan. In 1851 he married Jane, daughter of the late Job Wells, of King Township, by whom he had a family of five children. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 358)

William Patterson, lot 26, concession 9, was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland, in the year 1815. He came to Canada with his parents in 1831. He is the eldest son of the late Archibald Patterson, by his second wife, and on settling in Vaughan, our subject had to take the entire management of the farm in consequence of his father’s advanced age and corresponding infirmities. The latter died in the year 1837 at the venerable age of ninety-five years. Since Mr. William Patterson’s residence in the township he has taken an active part in municipal affairs, having, for the last twenty years, filled the office of Road Commissioner, and he has been Tax Collector for about half that period. In addition to these he has been a School Trustee for a number of years. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and a Reformer in politics. Mr. Patterson married Mary Jane, daughter of the late Thomas Sharpe, by whom he has a family of nine children. (vol. II, p. 358)

Henry Paul, lot 24, concession 10, was born in England in the year 1809. He emigrated to America alone in 1834, and landed at New York. He remained some months in Utica, New York State, and then removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he lived nine years. He subsequently came to Canada and located in Vaughan Township on the lot where he now lives. He was married in the year 1856 to Patience Peacock, a daughter of the late Thomas Peacock, of Toronto Gore. They have a family of four sons and three daughters, viz.: Mary, born November 8, 1857; Jane, born September 13, 1859; Henry, born January 7, 1862; Thomas, born January 24, 1864; Georgina, born March 18, 1866; John, born June 9, 1868; Robert, born October 11, 1870. He belongs to the English Church, and is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 358)

Thomas Peterman, lot 30, concession 7, was born on the lot upon which he is at present living and is the second son of Mr. Henry Peterman, who lives in Aurora; his father was born on concession 3 of this township, the family having originally emigrated from Pennsylvania. Mr. Henry Peterman of Aurora, brother to Thomas, is very active in church matters, and was a class leader of the Methodist Church. His retiring disposition has retarded him from interfering in municipal affairs. He is a Reformer in politics. Wesley and Reuben, two younger brothers of the family, work on lot 29, concession 6. (vol. II, p. 359)

Captain James Playter, deceased, was born and had always lived in the County of York, and during the most of his life resided at Richmond Hill, where he carried on for many years a large agricultural and lumbering business at the old homestead of his uncle, the late Squire Miles, who contributed so largely to the church and school of that village. He was many years Captain of the 4th Battalion York, Upper Canada Militia, retiring with rank in 1861. In earlier life he manifested much interest in Sunday school work. He took little part in public matters, though being a great reader, he was very familiar with the political history of the country in every detail. He was a Liberal Conservative in politics, but supported men rather than party. Captain Playter was a descendant of a very old Anglo-Saxon family. He was a son of James Playter, a U.E. Loyalist, who over eighty years ago held municipal offices in the country, and grandson of the Captain Geroge Playter referred to in “Toronto of Old”, as an intimate friend of Governor Simcoe. He was related to many of the oldest families in the Province, was twice married, and the father of Doctor Playter, of Toronto, and seven other sons, one still living at Richmond Hill, another in the Bank of Commerce, and two daughters. His death occurred December 20, 1882, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. (vol. II, p. 359)

John Porter, lot 3, concession 9, was born in the year 1810, and is a native of Yorkshire, England. In 1831 he came to Canada in company with his wife to whom he had only just been united, and settled in York County. After remaining in little York about six months he moved into Vaughan Township, where his brother, the late William Porter, had previously settled. Mr. Porter located on the farm he now occupies, which was then in its primitive state, and the absence of roads and other adjuncts to comfort and convenience contributed not a little to his labour in early years. He takes a very active part in agricultural matters, being amongst the first to introduce heavy draught horses and the breed of Leicestershire and Cotswold sheep in this section. His wife’s maiden name was Ann Mercer, also a native of Yorkshire; they had a family of fourteen children, seven of whom only are living. Mr. Porter is a member of the Township Agricultural Society; a Reformer in politics, and a member of the Methodist Church, of which he is a Trustee. (vol. II, p. 360)

William Powill, lot 47, concession 1, is a native of Beverly, Yorkshire, England, and was born in the year 1814. He emigrated to Canada in 1830, and settled near the Village of Richmond Hill, York County, and commenced to work for Miles Langstaff, with whom he stayed between three and four years. He then rented a farm from Colonel Moodie for four years, afterwards moving into Whitchurch Township, where he rented another farm. At the expiration of two years, not liking the section, he moved to Vaughan on the farm which he still occupies. Mr. Powill in 1835 married Margaret, daughter of Colonel Bridgeford; by this union he had five sons and one daughter, all of whom are living at the present time. His wife died, and he married again in the year 1858. His second espousal was to Elizabeth Chamberlain, by whom he has had seven sons and two daughters. Mr. Powill has taken an active part in the management of the affairs of the municipality, and was a member of the first Council elected for the Village of Richmond Hill. He continued in the Council about seven years. He and his family are adherents of the Church of England, and in matters political he remains an uncompromising Conservative. Of his family twelve sons and three daughters are now living; the sons are all impregnated with the intensely loyal spirit of the father, and are prepared, should necessity ever require it, to defend the Crown against any enemy. Mr. Powill, during the Mackenzie Rebellion, was a member of Captain Gapper’s troop of horse. Mr. Powill was the son of the late Benjamin Powell, who died in the Township of Whitchurch. (vol. II, p. 360)

Joseph Readmer, lot 31, concession 6, was born in 1837 in the Township of Vaughan, on lot 12, concession 9, being the second son of Mr. Thomas Readmer, who now resides on concession 8. The latter is a very old settler, and came to Vaughan when he was thirteen years old. The family were originally from Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, and on their first landing here settled at Lachine, Quebec Province, where they remained about five years, subsequently coming west and settling in Vaughan Township. The family consisted of two sons and six daughters. Joseph Readmer married in 1859 Sarah Ann Margaret Peterbough, whose parents came out with the Selkirk party, for the colonization of the Red River region: they have one son. The family are Presbyterians, and Mr. Readmer is in politics a Reformer. (vol. II, p. 361)

Daniel Reaman, lot 15, concession 2, is a native of this township, having been born on lot 10, concession 2. His father, the late Josiah Reaman, was a man well known in the Township of Vaughan and surroundings, and was also born on lot 10, concession 2. The family were originally from Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch is the third son living of his father’s family. He has two brothers living in this section, one, Josiah, residing with him, and the other, Nicholas, living on the old homestead; he has one brother, William, living in Orillia. His brother Josiah takes a very great interest in bee culture, and is always proud to show strangers the working and household arrangements of his numerous family. Daniel Reaman has been thrice married, his present wife’s name being Margaret Woods previous to their union: he has one child. The family are members of the Methodist Church, and Daniel is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 361)

Michael Reaman, lot 7, concession 9, was born in the year 1849, and is the third son of the late Michael Reaman, whose parents originally came from Pennsylvania and settled in York at an early day. Mr. Reaman, sen’r, was born in York County, and took up his residence in Vaughan Township when the settlement of that section first began. He was a man well and widely known, and the enthusiastic interest he took in all Parliamentary matters gave to him more than a local celebrity. He was a strong Reformer, and up to the time of his death in 1871 never flinched – whatever may have been the position of his party – from the principles he early imbibed. Mr. Reaman, the subject of this notice, was married in 1876, his wife’s maiden name being Jane McCauley, a daughter of Malcolm McCauley, of this township: they have a family of four children. He is a member of the Methodist Church. His interest in political matters is centred more in obtaining good measures than in promoting the advancement of party. He does a great deal of stock-raising, and has some thoroughbred Durham cattle. He owns the first prize draught stallion “Edinburgh Tom”, which was imported in 1884, and is valued at $2,500. (vol. II, p. 361)

Thomas Richardson, lot 14, concession 9, is the only son living of the late Thomas Richardson, who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in the year 1818, and took up his residence first in Philadelphia, United States. Mr. Richardson, sen’r, after a short stay in the United States came to Canada and settled at little York, where he worked for Dr. Baldwin some time, and subsequently kept a hotel for a number of years. He then purchased a farm in Vaughan Township, in concession 8, which he lived on and cultivated until his death in 1875, at the age of eighty-five years. Thomas, the subject of this notice, was born in little York in 1825. In 1859 he married Miss McCormack, by whom he had one son. She died, and he afterwards married again, his second wife being Elizabeth, a daughter of the late Richard Jeffrey, of this township: they have four children. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 362)

Thomas Riddell, lot 10, concession 10, was born on lot 12, concession 9, Vaughan Township, in the year 1842. He is the fourth son of the late Alfred Riddell, an early settler in Vaughan, who emigrated with his father’s family from Roxburghshire, Scotland, and located here in 1834. Mr. Riddell, sen’r, took an active interest in all matters concerning the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a ruling elder for upwards of twenty years. He lived on the farm until the time of his death, which occurred in January, 1863, being then sixty-seven years of age: his wife is dead also. The subject of this sketch was married in 1872, his wife being Jane, a daughter of Mr. John Mason, of Toronto Gore: they have a family of four children. He is a Reformer in politics, and, like his father, a firm adherent of the Presbyterian Church. (vol. II, p. 362)

Robert Robinson, lot 1, concession 6, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in the year 1837. He accompanied his parents on their emigration to Canada in 1838, and is the eldest son of his father’s family. His father’s name was Mark Robinson, who is still living in the Township of Chinguacousy, where he settled soon after his arrival in Canada. He is now seventy-four years of age, and during his lifetime has taken great interest in municipal affairs. He is also a prominent member of the Church of England, and has been churchwarden on several occasions. Robert Robinson in 1869 married Mary Jane Graham, daughter of the late William Graham, of this township. The latter was a proprietor of a large lumber mill, and was also a prominent member of the Masonic order. Our subject was the first pupil who passed through the Ontario Veterinary College, taking his diploma on March 27, 1866. He is a Conservative in politics, and a member of the English Church. He has a family of five children. (vol. II, p. 362)

Peter Rupert, lot 16, concession 3, is descended from a family who originally came from Pennsylvania, U.S. He is the son of the late Adam Rupert, who died comparatively young, at the age of thirty-four, and was born on the farm where he now resides in the year 1809. Reminiscences of the early days of settlement may often be brought back to many through the medium of a biographical sketch, and the early battles with nature in which the pioneers played their part, to the mind’s eye, may be fought over again by a perusal of these pages. With these events, although but a boy at the time, our subject was well acquainted, and retains a vivid recollection of the trials and hardships undergone. The absence of all signs of civilization, nothing around but the vast and apparently endless bush, may well make an impression on the mind of anyone, and Peter Rupert was not exempt in this respect. Having witnessed the rise and progress of his native township, he is naturally proud of the part he has played in its development. He remembers well the time when but one little German school was all the educational facilities afforded in the township, most of the settlers being Germans from Pennsylvania. There was plenty of wild animals however, and the nights were made hideous by discordant noises. Mr. Rupert has happily seen a new state of things, and how, by the industry and energetic will of man, the wilderness may be brought into entire subjection. He was married in the year 1831 to Susan, daughter of the late John Pulebaugh, by whom he had seventeen children, some of whom are still living in the neighbourhood. Mr. Rupert took an active part in municipal affairs, but never accepted office. He is an adherent of the Methodist Church. (vol. II, p. 363)