Thomas Tedder, lot 25, concession 9, is of English birth, being the second son of the late William Tedder, who emigrated from the County of Norfolk, England, and settled near Woodbridge. In 1859 Mr. Tedder, sen’r, moved on to the farm where our subject now resides, and remained there until his death in 1882, at the age of sixty-seveen years. He was an active worker in the cause of the Gospel in his day, and was a class leader in the Methodist Church about thirty-five years. Thomas was born on the old homestead in 1844, and has all his life devoted his attention to farming. He was married in 1866, his wife’s maiden name being Mary McGillivray; her father was the late Neil McGillivray, of this township. They have no family. (vol. II, p. 368)
Samuel Thompson, lot 35, concession 2, is from the county of broad acres yclept Yorkshire, England, where he was born in the year 1812, and where he spent the early portion of his life. About the year 1830, accompanied by his stepfather, Thomas Grundy, his mother and other members of the family, he came to Canada. They settled first at Unionville, in concession 6 of Markham, and there Samuel continued to reside, working with his stepfather, who was a blacksmith by trade. He subsequently worked on the farm of Mr. Robert Grundy in the same township for several years, and finally, in 1850, purchased the farm in Vaughan, on which he still resides, and which he still cultivates. In 1847 he married a daughter of his former employer, Mr. Robert Grundy, by whom he had eleven children, nine being still living. He is a member of the Methodist Church, of which he is a Trustee, and generously presented the lot upon which the edifice was erected. The first church was burnt down, and Mr. Thompson was instrumental in having it rebuilt. He is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 368)
John Train, lot 27, concession 8, was born in the City of Toronto in the year 1832, he being the eldest son of the late Christopher Train, who emigrated from Hull, Yorkshire, England, the year previous to the birth of our subject. His father, after his arrival in Canada, came direct to York County, and for the first two years, remained in Toronto, where he engaged in sawing lumber, but, on account of ill health was obliged to quit that business. He bought a farm in Vaughan Township, on lot 20, concession 10, where he remained some time. He was induced to try Toronto again, and after battling vainly against ill-health, he was obliged once more to seek the repose and pure air of the country. He came back to Vaughan, and after a lapse of eight or nine years he bought the farm where Elder’s Mill now stands, and commenced to operate the saw-mill, renting off the agricultural part of his property. After a time he sold his farm and mill and returned to his first purchase in concession 10, this in turn he sold, and finally bought the farm on which his son, John, now resides. He died in 1857, at the age of fifty-eight years. John Train followed his father’s business, and runs a saw-mill on his property in Vaughan, and in addition has one in the neighbourhood of Georgian Bay, where he does a large lumbering trade. In 1856 he espoused Ann, daughter of Mr. Thomas Gimmerson, a native of Wallace Township. They have nine sons and two daughters. Mr. Train has taken scarcely any interest in municipal matters; he belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 369)
Samuel Troyer, lots 1 and 2, concession 3, was born in the Township of Vaughan in the year 1838, and is the fifth son of the late Christian Troyer, minister of the Mennonite Church for upwards of forty years, a Canadian by birth, who settled in Vaughan at an early period in its history. His mother was born on Yonge Street, near Thornhill, and was a daughter of the late Nicholas Coger who died in the year 1842. His people on both sides were originally from Pennsylvania, U.S. His father commenced farming on lot 5, concession 3, where he lived for twenty-six years, after which he moved on to the farm which is now in the hands of our subject. Mr. Troyer was married in the year 1865, his wife’s maiden name being Mary Ann Baldwin, a Canadian by birth; the fruit of this union was a family of six children, all living. They belong to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Troyer is not much of a politician, but countenances good measures, rather than support hard and fast lines of party. The house on Yonge Street, near Thornhill, formerly in the possession of his grandfather, was the fifth built north of Toronto. vol. II, p. 369)
Jacob Twyer, lot 8, concession 8, was born in York Township in 1829, and is a descendant of a family who came from Pennsylvania at an early day. He is the fourth son of the late Jacob Twyer, an early settler of York. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. Our subject was married in the year 1859 to Mary Hackins, a daughter of the late James Hackins, of Albion Township, by whom he has twelve children, all living. Mr. Twyer is an adherent of the Bible Christian Church, and is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 370)
Peter Vanderbuigher, lot 24, concession 2, is descended from a U.E. Loyalist family, who came from Pennsylvania, U.S. His father was Richard Vanderbuigher, who was born in Markham Township, his parents being amongst the very earliest settlers there. Peter was also born in Markham in the year 1817. In the year 1843 he purchased the farm in Vaughan, where he still resides. In 1843 he married Mary Ann Marsh, of Canadian birth, and daughter of the late James Marsh, of Markham Township; by this marriage he has seven children. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 370)
Peter G. Wardlaw, lot 21, concession 9, was born in the Township of Etobicoke, in the year 1851, being the second son of Mr. Peter Wardlaw, who resides on lot 24, concession A of that township. Mr. Peter G. Wardlaw was married in 1875, his wife’s maiden name being Elizabeth Parsons, daughter of Mr. Matthew Parsons, of York Township. They have a family of three children. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 370)
James Watson, lot 23, concession 3, was born at Gambleton, Scotland, in the year 1820, and came to Canada with his parents when but two years of age. His father, the late John Watson, on arriving with his family at Toronto moved up at once into Vaughan Township, and located on lot 9, concession 2, where he remained a few years. Apparently not satisfied with his position he gave up the farm and hired himself out for a length of time, subsequently locating on lot 23, concession 5, where he lived six years. He tried two other localities before ultimately settling on lot 25, concession 4, where he died. The subject of this sketch commenced life on his own account by threshing, which branch of industry he followed for over twenty-seven years. In 1866 he purchased the farm he now holds, and which he has farmed very successfully up to the present. He married in 1858 Nancy Jane White: they have a family of three children. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 370)
Thomas Watson, lot 32, concession 4, is a native of Yorkshire, England, and was born in the year 1814. He emigrated to Canada in the year 1831, and the subsequent eleven years worked for different farmers in and about Thornhill, amongst others the late Mr. Thorn. He then purchased land in the Township of Vaughan on which he still resides. Being economical as well as industrious he has become the owner of two other farms, and possesses now a considerable amount of property. Mr. Watson was married in the year 1835, his wife’s maiden name being Hannah Morrison: they have a family of seven children living. He has taken no active part in municipal affairs, his own business and family having absorbed his whole time and attention. He belongs to the Episcopal Church, and is a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 371)
William Watson, lot 7, concession 6, is a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, where he was born in the year 1831. He came to Canada in 1856, and settled in Markham Township, York County, where he remained about two years. He then moved into Scarboro’ Township, where he stayed seventeen years, subsequently locating on lot 7, concession 6, in the Township of Vaughan. Mr. Watson was married before he left Scotland; his family consists of seven children, all living. He has exerted himself very much in church matters, and is an elder of the Presbyterian body. He is a Reformer in politics. While a resident in Scarboro’ Township he took considerable interest in the Agricultural Society, of which he was a director. (vol. II, p. 371)
George Weldrick, lot 35, concession 1. This gentleman, so well known in connection with agricultural matters in the township and county, was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England, in 1828. He emigrated to Canada in 1849, and settled in Scarboro’ Township, where for a short time he ran a threshing machine, subsequently renting a farm. He afterwards rented a farm from Mr. T. Langstaff, near Thornhill, in Markham Township, which he cultivated and resided upon about fourteen years. He then purchased his present farm, which has now been in his possession about fourteen years. He was married in the year 1852, his wife being Hannah, daughter of the late William Boynton, of Markham Township: he has a family of three sons and one daughter. Mr. Weldrick has in his possession several prizes and diplomas received from the County and Provincial Fairs, awarded to him for excellence in his breeds of cattle and sheep, together with horses. His Leicester Cotswold sheep and Durham cattle are much admired. In other matters connected with agriculture he has always shown a desire to promote its interest in his section; and, by adopting the most complete methods, has been the cause of much emulation amongst his neighbours, to the general benefit of the township. Mr. Weldrick in politics is now a Conservative, having in recent years altered his opinions on the National Policy. He is an adherent of the Methodist Church, and highly respected wherever he is known. (vol. II, p. 371)
Hiram White, lot 8, concession 3, is a native of Vaughan Township, and was born on the farm where he now lives. His father, the late Hiram White, was one of the first settlers in the section, there being but three houses when he first located there. Mr. White, sen’r, was from Vermont, U.S., but is descended from an English family who settled in that State before the Revolutionary War. On coming to Canada he first settled in Etobicoke Township on the Humber River, but remained there only a short time, subsequently moving into Vaughan where he lived until his death. He had a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, Hiram and one sister, Mrs. Simon Shink, being the only two living of this family. Mr. White married in 1853 a daughter of Mr. William Keefer, by whom he has a family of seven children. He is connected with the English Church, and in politics is a supporter of the Reform party. (vol. II, p. 372)
Robert Wilson, lot 23, concession 5, was born in the Township of Chinguacousy, Peel County, in the year 1841. He is the eldest son of Mr. John Wilson of that township, who emigrated from the County of Cumberland, England, about the year 1827. He settled in the Township of Chinguacousy, where he purchased land on lot 9, concession 1, west of the centre, where he has since continued to live. Mr. Wilson, sen’r, married after his arrival in Canada, his wife’s name being Ellen Craig; they had a family of six sons and four daughters, of whom five sons and two daughters are living. Robert Wilson has never married. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 372)
David Witherspoon, lot 25, concession 7, was born in the Township of Vaughan on lot 12, concession 7, in the year 1856, being the youngest son of Mr. Peter Witherspoon, an old settler in the township, who has now retired and lives at Woodbridge. Mr. Witherspoon was married in the year 1883. His wife’s maiden name was Mary Blough, daughter of Mr. John Blough of Vaughan Township, by whom he had one child. In religion he is a Presbyterian; in politics a Reformer. (vol. II, p. 372)