WILLIAM KEMP, County-constable, apiarian, proprietor of fruit and market-garden, King Street, West Toronto Junction, was born in the State of Illinois, and came with his people to Lambton County when a child, where he resided until 1877. In that year he removed to York County locating on his present purchase, which he has since continued to cultivate. Mr. Kemp’s father, the late John Kemp, was of English birth, and emigrated to the States, settling in Chicago when that large and flourishing city was in its infancy, removing from thence to Lambton County, and settled on land given him by the Government for services rendered when a soldier in the British Army, where he lived until his death. He left a family of four sons and three daughters. The subject of this notice remained on the homestead until twenty-five years of age, afterwards living at various places in the county previous to taking up his residence here. He married in 1873 Elizabeth Munn, daughter of the late George Munn, of Trafalgar Township, Halton County. (vol. II, p. 226)
DAVID KENNEDY, retired. The parents of our subject, James and Diana (Foster) Kennedy, were natives of the County Cumberland, England, from which place they emigrated to York in 1832, and settled on Duke Street, subsequently purchasing property on Queen Street West, where he was extensively engaged in manufacturing carriages until his death in 1864. David is the second eldest son in the family, and was born in the County of Cumberland, England, in 1819. He came to York with his parents where he received such an education as the early schools of the city afforded. At an early age he entered his father’s shop, and although he never learned a trade he soon became a skilful workman. In 1855 he succeeded his father in business, and a few years later became extensively engaged in the lumber business, which he conducted until 1874, when he removed to the Township of West York, lots 36 and 37, where he purchased one hundred and eight acres of land, upon which he erected a fine and commodious house at a cost of about $5,000. This beautiful and picturesque piece of property, Lake View Park, is situated five miles west of Yonge Street, on Bloor; here Mr. Kennedy has passed nearly twelve years of hard labour, and expended about $20,000 in converting a wild and romantic broken forest into a lovely quiet home, which is truly unsurpassed by any in Ontario; at considerable cost he has constructed three lovely artificial lakes that are stocked with four thousand brook trout. In 1837, during the Rebellion, our subject was one of six soldiers stationed at the Old Fort when the alarm bell for war rang; they remained two days without receiving a supply of food, there being no commissioned officer in command. After being relieved, Mr. Kennedy joined Captain Brown’s company of volunteers, which he accompanied to Montgomery’s Farm, the scene of action, where he participated in the engagement, also in the firing of the hotel. After serving about thirty days he returned home. In politics he is a Liberal Conservative, and in religion a member of the Church of England. In 1849 he was married to Marion Cullen, of New York, by whom he has six sons and four daughters. His eldest son, David, is a great traveller, and is at present scaling the Rocky Mountains for pleasure. Charles R. Kennedy, his second son, was born in Toronto in 1852, where he was educated. He has chosen the artist’s profession, which he began about eight years since under the direction of Mr. Leslie Judson, of this city; he is at present located at 22 King Street East. Frederick Kennedy, third in order, was born in Toronto in 1854, is at present situated at 452½ Queen Street West, where he has been for several years engaged as a jeweller and watchmaker. Three sons and three daughters remain at home and attend to the farm duties; one of his daughters married Walter Foxwill, a retired farmer of West York. (vol. II, p. 226)
RICHARD KERSLAKE, proprietor of market garden on the Shaw Estate, is a native of Devonshire, England, and came out to Canada in 1872. He was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that occupation for two years after his arrival here, commencing his present business at the above location in 1874, where he owns six acres and cultivates a variety of plants and vegetables. Mr. Kerslake married in 1862, Mary Ann Pym, also a native of Devon, England, the issue of the union is four sons and three daughters. (vol. II, p. 227)
THOMAS KINGSLEY, proprietor of market-garden on Cinnamon Street, lot 33, concession 2, West York, was born in County Wexford, Ireland and came to Toronto in 1840. He was for twenty-seven years employed in farming with George Cooper. He first bought two acres of land and afterwards added six more, making in all eight acres, and carried on a regular market-garden. He married in 1851 Miss Helen Maloney, a native of County Clare, Ireland; they have one son and five daughters, all living, viz.: Edward, Lizzie, Katie, Hellen, Mary and Annie. (vol. II, p. 227)
PETER LAUGHTON, market-gardener, Carlton, is a native of Bedford, England, and came to Canada in 1867. He was for two years in a city store, afterwards taking charge of a private garden. At the expiration of that time he leased a part of the Davison Estate, where he carried on market-gardening for eleven years, purchasing in 1881, twenty-seven acres at his present location, where he has one of the most extensive gardens about the city. (vol. II, p. 228)
EDWARD LINDNER, of Carlton Village, is of German extraction, his father, John Lindner, emigrating from that country to Canada in 1854, and settling in Newmarket, where the subject of this notice was born. The family remained four years at Newmarket, removing afterwards to West Carlton where the father still resides. Edward learned the trade of carpenter, and in 1879 established himself as a builder, and during his comparatively short business career has erected more than forty houses, and has twelve under construction at the present time, all of which have been built on speculation at his own risk. In addition he has done a considerable amount of contract work, and has also built on his own account, the large and commodious block known as Lindner’s Hall. This handsome structure is three stories high, measuring 28 x 120 feet, and contains besides a general store, barns, etc., two public halls and a capacious dining room for the use of lodgers. One of the halls is occupied by the Independent Order of Good Templars. The size of the lower hall is 28 x 96 feet, the upper hall is the same size but includes the dining-room. We may say that it is due largely to the enterprise of Mr. Lindner that the Village of Carlton has assumed its present proportions, and the inhabitants will appreciate at its proper value his residence in their midst. (vol. II, p. 228)
CHARLES McBRIDE, hotel proprietor, Eglinton, was born in the Township of York (East) in 1832. The family first settled in Canada in 1793, the grandfather having emigrated from the North of Ireland to Pennsylvania some years before that date. He was one of the original pioneers and assisted to clear the land which now forms the centre portion of the City of Toronto. He sold two lots, one of four acres and one lot of one acre, for a few dollars, which, had he kept, would probably have left his grandchildren millionaires. After selling his city property he moved on to lot 17, concession 1, on Yonge Street, where John McBride, the father of Charles, was born in 1802, who also resided on the old homestead until his death in 1865. Charles McBride commenced the hotel business at Prospect House, Eglinton, and kept the same for fourteen years, and in 1872 bought the farm of fifty acres that he now owns, and erected his present hotel. (vol. II, p. 228)
FRANCIS McFARLANE, proprietor of the York and Vaughan Hotel, is a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to Canada in 1850. He was engaged in the lumbering up to 1867, after which he leased and took possession of his present premises, where he remained six years. He then removed to a hotel a little south of this locality, and after spending nine years there, returned to his former place of business where he has since continued. Mr. McFarlane is district agent for the following agricultural implement manufacturers, viz.: Fleury Estate, Aurora; Wilson & Company, Hamilton; Coulthard, Scott & Company, Oshawa; and keeps in stock a full line of binders, reapers, mowers, drills, rakes, ploughs, fanning mills, harrows, etc.; he also repairs for any of the above, and conducts an extensive trade with the farmers of the country. (vol. II, p. 229)
KENNETH McLENNAN, Brockton, proprietor of market-garden, Bloor Street, is a native of the Isle of Skye, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, and came out to Canada in 1852. A shoemaker by trade, he followed the business for about six years after his arrival, and then changed his occupation to that of market-gardening, and commenced on his own account on Argyle Street, afterwards removing to the corner of Dundas and Queen Streets. In 1871 he bought fourteen and a-half acres and moved to his present location, but has since disposed of some, and now cultivates about thirty acres. He has built on and improved his place considerably. He married in the Isle of Skye, Catharine McKay, and out of a family of twelve children, two daughters only are living. (vol. II, p. 229)
JOHN McNAMARA, farmer and market-gardener, was born near Galway, Ireland. He came out to Canada in 1848, and settled in this county, where he has been engaged in the above business since his advent. He cultivates about thirty acres of land, and employs, according to the season, from five to twenty hands, and markets his goods fresh in the city daily. He married in 1864 Elizabeth Clarke, a native of England, who came out in 1858, the issue of this union was ten children of whom four sons and four daughters are living. (vol. II, p. 229)
P. McNAMARA, proprietor of the market-garden on Caroline Street, is a native of Ireland and came out to Canada at an early date. In 1868 he bought the ten acres of valuable garden land which he still retains, and two years later commenced the business he continues to conduct. (vol. II, p. 230)
HENRY MASON, lot 6, concession 1, is a native of Mossingham, Lancashire, England, and came to America with his people in 1833. His father, the late William Mason, lived in Rochester five years, and on coming to Canada in 1838 settled in Scarboro’, where he died. Mr. Mason first started on the farm in that township belonging to his father, afterwards becoming possessed of the same by purchase, which he exchanged for another in the same municipality. In 1877 he bought the farm where he now resides, but only moved into it in the spring of 1883. He married in 1852 Fanny Palmer, who died in 1882, by whom he had a family of five sons and five daughters. (vol. II, p. 230)
GEORGE C. MOORE was born in the Township of West York, and is the son of the late William Moore, a native of Ireland, who was born in 1795 and came to Canada in 1809. His father, on his arrival, remained some time in Montreal, and about 1811 commenced to bring goods to Toronto by team, which he lost in the St. Lawrence River by breaking through the ice. He was in the War of 1812, and at the Battle of Queenston Heights was wounded in the face by a musket ball. He received a medal for his services, was commissioned a Lieutenant and afterwards Captain in the militia. He married Sarah, daughter of William Harrison, a U.E. Loyalist; his surviving family consisting of three sons and one daughter, viz.: Joseph, James and the one whose name heads this sketch; the daughter is Mrs. James Dobson, of Yorkville. George C., on leaving the homestead, moved to Yorkville, where he resided about nine years, ultimately removing to Davenport, and in the spring of 1844 settled at his present location. He married in 1863 Fanny, daughter of John Charlton, of London, Ontario; the latter, in company with two sons, was at the burning of Montgomery’s Tavern during the Mackenzie Rebellion. (vol. II, p. 230)
THOMAS MULHOLLAND, lots 6 and 7, concession 2, was born in this township in 1816, and is the son of Henry Mulholland, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to Canada and settled in York County in 1806; he was in the War of 1812, and participated in the Battles of York, Stony Creek and Lundy’s Lane, and lost his life on the Atlantic Ocean through the foundering of a vessel, The Lady of the Lake. Thomas Mulholland has always resided at the old homestead, and during the Rebellion of 1837 took part in the skirmish on Yonge Street as a volunteer in loyal troops and witnessed the burning of Montgomery’s Tavern. He married in 1847 Mary A. Conland; the family consists of five sons and six daughters. Mr. Mulholland owns large tracts of land which are in the Townships of West York, King and Innisfil (Simcoe County). The family are of German descent. (vol. II, p. 230)
B.W. MURRAY (Blair Athol), lot 1, concession 4, West York, is a native of Scotland and came to Canada in 1857; he held a position in the North of Scotland Bank for six years, and on his arrival here became connected with the Bank of British North America. He subsequently accepted a position in the Commercial Bank until 1860; he then went to the States to take a position there, but returned to Canada in 1872, and in 1876 was appointed to the charge of the Accountant’s Office of the Court of Chancery (now Supreme Court), which position he still holds. He married in 1858 Julia, only daughter of William Henry, of Montreal, and grand-daughter of Alexander Henry, a famous North-West traveller, who coming to Canada with General Amhurst in 1760, in conjunction with two brother officers, purchased large tracts of land in the North-West; this gentleman was the only one who escaped at the capture of Fort Michilimackinac, and it was to a female slave he owed his life. (vol. II, p. 231)
JAMES ORR, lot 16, concession 6, is a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and came out in 1867, since which time he has followed farming, an occupation he had previously been accustomed to. He married in 1873 Elizabeth McLean, daughter of Laughlin McLean, an old settler of the township, native also of County Antrim, Ireland, who came out in 1827 and settled soon after at Black Creek. In 1840 he settled on the farm now owned by our subject. (vol. II, p. 231)
MATTHEW PARSONS, farmer, lot 3, concession 3, was born in Wiltshire, England, and came out to little York with his parents in 1820. His father settled on lot 22, concession 6, West York in 1821, which was then bush, which he cleared, cultivated and lived upon until his death in 1864, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. The surviving family consists of the subject of this notice and three sisters, viz: Mrs. Joseph Smith, of Etobicoke; Mrs. Daniel Maybee, of Albion Township, and Mrs. Jacob Mattice, Jarvis, Ontario. Matthew married in 1841 Elizabeth McKay, daughter of Jacob McKay; the issue of the union being two sons and five daughters; one son and three daughters living, all of whom are married and settled in the county. The son, William Albert, is now living on the west part of the McKay homestead, lot 3, concession 3. After his marriage Matthew Parsons remained for some time on the old homestead, removing to his present locality in 1851. (vol. II, p. 231)
JOHN PAUL, Weston. Among the most esteemed citizens of York County may be mentioned the name of John Paul. He was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, November 21, 1802, and landed at Toronto in 1823. Being a teacher by profession he resided in different localities for about fourteen years; since which he has always lived in the vicinity of Weston. He was been Major of militia, and was Captain during the rebellion of 1837. He also has been Deputy Returning-officer for twenty years. In 1827 he married Jane Miller, who was born in Etobicoke Township, York County, in 1811, and who died in 1864, by whom he had eight children, all living, viz.: George O., John, James, Isabella A. McDougall, Mary B. Warbrick, Jane A. Curtis, Catharine and Harriet Denison. (vol. II, p. 232)
REMBLER PAUL is the son of Thomas and Sarah Paul, natives of Norfolk, England, who landed in Quebec in 1832, where, shortly afterwards, the subject of this sketch was born. They spent four years in Quebec, and a subsequent eight years in Kingston, from which place they removed to Toronto, where Mr. Paul, sen’r, died in 1855. He was a veterinary surgeon by profession, and when in Toronto formed a partnership with Mr. Capriol, who was the first to open a repository for the sale of horses and carriages in the city. Rembler learned the profession of veterinary surgeon from his father, previous to which he had spent some time in the office of the British Whig, where he learned to set type, but apparently did not follow up this occupation. He practised as veterinary surgeon for about twenty years, but only carried on the repository about a year after his father’s demise, although he still owns the property where Grand & Louis do business. He retired from his profession in 1879, and engaged in real estate speculations, mostly in the North-West, where he now owns three thousand acres of land eleven miles south of Regina, stocked with horses, cattle, etc. In 1883 he cultivated three hundred acres of grain. He also owns a silver mine in Thunder Bay and a coal mine near Bancroft. Mr. Paul married in 1852 Elizabeth H., daughter of the late Calvin Davis, of Toronto, by whom he has one son. (vol. II, p. 232)
JOHN PAXTON, florist and market-gardener, lot 29, concession 3 from the bay, is a native of Alloa, Scotland, and came to Canada in 1858, landing at Quebec, where he remained and had charge of a gentleman’s garden for thirteen years. In 1870 he came to Toronto, and after two years spent in the service of the Hon. D.L. Macpherson, he leased a place at Carlton, and at the end of five years bought the ten acres he at present cultivates, and by industry and thrift has succeeded in establishing a large and flourishing business. He keeps on sale a choice variety of flowers, plants and vegetables. He married in 1858, while in Quebec, Jane Young, of Langley, Buckinghamshire, England. (vol. II, p. 232)
WILLIAM PEARS, Manager for Booth & Pears (or Y. & C. Brick Manufacturing Company), brick manufacturers, Carlton West, is the son of Leonard Pears, a native of Yorkshire, England, who came to Canada in 1851. This yard employs about twenty-three men and turns out about two million bricks annually. They manufacture both common and pressed brick by steam, their yard containing all modern appliances. The firm was established in 1880, the business having previously been entirely in the hands of Mr. Pears, who conducted it for thirty years. (vol. II, p. 233)
PHILLIPS & BERRY, Lambton Mills, manufacturers of all kinds of flannels. The business was established in 1884, both members of the firm being young men from Yorkshire, England. They imported their machinery from Thornton Brothers, Yorkshire, England, who are represented in this county by Mr. A. Jackson, Lambton Mills. (vol. II, p. 233)
WILLIAM PLANT is a native of Staffordshire, England, where he learned the trade of brick and sewer-pipe making, and for several years had the management of a yard there. He came to Canada in 1860, and worked about two years for Mr. Nightengale, afterwards establishing himself in the business of sewer-pipe making at Yorkville, removing from thence to the west end where he remained until 1874, in which year he came to his present location where he has carried on a large and extensive brick business, and having recently sold out, is on the eve of retiring into private life. He was married in England to Sarah Whitehouse, of Staffordshire; out of a family of seven children, one son and two daughters only are living. His son, Stephen J. Plant, is a patentee of the best brick-making machines in use, together with a patent kiln for the baking of bricks. Mr. Plant, sen’r, made for Mr. Nightengale the first kiln for baking sewer-pipes in this part of Canada. In 1882 he received a diploma for the best building materials at the Exhibition. (vol. II, p. 233)
JOSEPH PRATT, farmer, lots 17 and 18, concession 2, was born in Warwickshire, England, and came to America in 1852, taking up his residence in Ohio, U.S., where he stayed two years and then returned to England. In 1859 he came out to Canada and settled in Toronto, where he conducted a flour and feed store on Bloor Street West up to 1867. He then bought one hundred and fifty acres of land at the above location, and in 1877 another farm of one hundred acres, which he continues to cultivate. He married Susan Killey, of Warwickshire, by whom he had six sons and two daughters. (vol. II, p. 233)