Kitley Township

January 18 2018

Charlie Sanford Luckey – The Last Man Hung in Elizabethtown

John Kitley Township Charlie Luckey, Kitley Township Ontario, Luckey Murders, Lyn Museum Elizabethtown, Newbliss Ontario, The Last Man Hung in Elizabethtown Ontario 1

The Luckey Murders

There are several accounts that have been written about this tragic murder, but rather than quote from those accounts, we are providing you with transcripts from the newspapers that covered the incident. This way you will be getting the first hand account of how the events unfolded.

The Irish Canadian, Thursday, October 13, 1892

— A Monstrous Crime

— Charged with murdering Father, Mother and Sister

— A Young man under arrest for one of the most inhuman crimes ever recorded in Canadian Annals- The Butchery of William Lucky and his family.

Smith’s Falls, Oct. 9^Th – A small village called New Bliss, about seven miles from here, was the scene of a crime yesterday, the foulest perhaps that has ever taken place in Canada. In brief, it was a terrible triple murder, followed by incendiarism to cover up the traces of the horrible deed, which involved the life of an aged man, his wife and daughter. The names of the victims are William Luckey, Mrs, Luckey (his wife) and their daughter Minnie. To add to horror, if that were possible, to the awful crime, a son of the murdered man named Charles Luckey is in the cells here, held on suspicion of being the author of the outrage. The details of the unhappy affair are as follows: About 2 o’clock in the afternoon a neighbour of the dead man noticed the house to be in flames and immediately started for it, he was quickly joined by a number of other men who were attending a threshing machine at another house close by. The house occupied by the Luckey’s was situated about 50 rods back from the road, on the opposite side of which lived the two nearest neighbours. A number of trees stand in the field in front of the house, and these prevented a very good view of it, so that when the neighbours arrived on the scene the fire had gain considerable headway. The whole interior of the house was enveloped in flames when the first man reached it, and every door and window was shut and fastened. An entrance was quickly forced, when the odour of burning flesh told the awful tale that human life, or lives, were being sacrificed. Water was poured upon the fire about the front door, and as soon as possible one of the men entered to reconnoitre. The floor was burned away, and there in the cellar, on top of the burning timbers and debris, he saw the charred remains of the three occupants of the house, two of them father and daughter, in one corner and mother in another. By means of a pole and wire what was left of them was taken from the burning building, the fire meanwhile raging around the courageous rescuers. The heads and limbs and nearly all the flesh were burned away from the victims, so that they were unrecognizable, and could only be told one from another by the formation of the trunks. The house, a log one, with stone attachment was burned tot he ground, nit a log being left, and when all was over the people stood about, shocked and stunned by the overwhelming evidences of a terrible crime that had occurred in their midst. It was clear that murder had been committed, followed by arson, for on no other hypothesis could be explained that in broad daylight, in a small house, could three people be burned to death. Then there were the facts of all the doors and windows being fastened and the fire starting on the inside of the house, and, to still further establish the fact, two axes were found.

COVERED WITH BLOOD

The movements of the family for the day were discussed, and the following generally accepted theory evolved: Mr. Luckey had come to Smith’s Falls to market on Saturday morning, and it is supposed that his wife, who was alone in the house during the afternoon, was murdered first. Mr. Luckey arrived hoe about two o’clock in the afternoon, and was seen driving in by his neighbours. On entering the house it is supposed that he too was dispatched, and just about the same time the daughter, who had been spending the morning at a brother’s house, nearly reached home. It is presumed, from the fact of finding her false teeth in the yard a few feet from the house, that when she reached the house and was about to enter, she saw the dead bodies of her parents, and ran screaming away. The murder, it is thought pursued her, caught her and chocked off her screams where the teeth were found, dragged her back into the house of carnage, and killed her. Then to cover his awful day’s work, he fired the place and fled. The neighbours saw a strange man crossing the fields in the morning toward the Luckey homestead and one neighbour, who had met the same man going from town towards there in the morning, met him returning just after dark that night. Chief McGowan, of this town, was communicated with, and about 2 o’clock this (Sunday) morning arrested a Man in his bed at the Palace Hotel here. The suspect had registered a Charles Kingston, Ottawa, but on being questioned by the chief, admitted that his name was not Kingston, but Charles Luckey, and a son of the murdered man. He has not lived at home for years, and, it is said did not agree with his father when he was there. The murdered woman was his stepmother, and this was the cause of many quarrels in the days when he lived at home. The last year, it is reported, he has spent in the Central Prison for stealing at Ottawa, and he was only liberated on Friday last. He is a young man of about 26 years, and not at all of a criminal appearance. When searched $35 was found upon him, and blood was found upon some of his clothing. He admitted to Chief McGowan that he had been out in the neighbourhood of his old home on Saturday, but said he had not gone into the house or into any house. He shows very little concern about the death of his family, and is not much exercised over his arrest on one of the most heinous, that ever blotted the annals of Canadian history. The murdered man was among the most respectable and well to do farmers of the district, and today thousands of people from all the surrounding country have visited the scene of the crime.

Toronto Daily Mail, Friday, December 15, 1893

Luckey Hanged

He Expiates his cruel crime on the scaffold

The Execution at Brockville passes off without incident- he walks firmly to the gallows- no confession made- history of Newbliss tragedy- An atrocious crime- convicted of murdering his stepmother

Brockville, Dec.14 – Charles Luckey went to bed last evening at 6:30 and in an hour and a half he was sleeping soundly. He awoke at 11 o’clock, but soon fell sound asleep again, and slept steadily until 4 o’clock this morning, when he was awakened by Gaoler McDougal and Turnkey Downey. He was calm and composed at that time, and at once dressed himself in the prison garb which he has worn since his incarceration. He was escorted to the day-room, where he dressed himself in the suit which he wore to the scaffold. After this he ate a bun and drank part of a cup of tea, then picked up his Bible and read until the Rev. Dr. Sanders arrived at 5:10. Luckey greeted the doctor heartily and at once entered into a religious discussion, expressing the conviction that there was a mansion prepared for him. After reading some time he broke down considerably, remarking as he did so that he would “soon be at home over there.” He then entrusted to Dr. Saunders, to whom Luckey had become devotedly attached, a written statement, which is the last instrument executed by the murderer. He than sang a hymn No.304, one of moody and Sankey’s favourites, and at once took up the march to the scaffold.

BEGINNING OF THE END

Just at present there is very little light before 7 o’clock, but as early as that hour this morning struggling visitors could be seen wending their way toward the county buildings, which, in view of the scene shortly to be enacted within their walls, seemed even more formidable than they appeared on ordinary occasions. The meeting point for the majority of those who held tickets of admission to the gruesome spectacle seemed to be Sheriff Smart’s office. In this small compass by 7 o’clock over a score f people had assembled. Among the number were doctors, lawyers, private citizens, and not a few residents of the outlying country districts and villages, though a canvass of the party would probably have revealed a larger percentage of newspaper men than any other class. The latter were mostly young men, and what talking went on was mostly done in whispers, it was plainly apparent that the scribes had come on business, and were looking closely after any details which might be offered. Additions were constantly being made to the small knot of people gathered, and by 7:30 enough had assembled to necessitate an adjournment on the part of quite a few to the cold corridor. It was a cold vigil outside, but there was not a long wait, and about twenty minutes to 8 o’clock Deputy Sheriff Geo. B. Smart made the announcement which started everyone hurriedly in the direction of the corridor leading to the gaol proper. A policeman was on guard at the main entrance, and as the crowd filed in every ticket was closely scrutinized. Chief Rose assisted in this work, and one or two parties who attempted to pass the close scrutiny without the necessary credentials were promptly turned down and ordered to leave. The passes were hand written, and bore the signature of Deputy Sheriff Smart. Sheriff Smart himself was not present, being almost worn out by the long vigil which he exercised regarding the prisoner.

THE PLACE OF EXECUTION

By the time the crowd of ticket holders had passed inside the gaol through a portion of the long corridor and what appeared to be a large-sized cell, they found themselves in the open air, but surrounded by a massive looking stone wall fully twenty feet in height. This is known as the women’s yard. It did not require very keen powers of perception on the part of every man who made his entry there to see that it had been selected as the place of execution. The yard is about fifty feet in length by twenty five in width, and affords a clear space of that extent with the exception of a small stone structure at the east end. This was formerly a water closet, but has not been used as such for some time. This structure to a certain extent cut off the view of the scaffold, which had been erected at the eastern end of the enclosure. Two of the uprights and the heavy weight could be plainly seen from the door by which the crowd entered the enclosure, but the exact spot where the prisoner stood when the noose was ready to be adjusted was hid from view by the little stone building. It was necessary therefore for those who desired an uninterrupted view to take positions on either side of the yard, and this plan was followed by most of those present.

THE PROCESSION

There was a wait of several minutes in the yard, and when finally at three minutes to eight o’clock the tramp of feet was heard coming from the direction of the main corridor, the expectant sight seers were vigorously engaged in stamping their feet with a view to starting sufficient circulation of the blood to keep from freezing. In a second more however, the dismal view and freezing atmosphere were lost sight of by all as the form of the deputy sheriff appeared in the doorway. He led the small procession, which included Dr. Moore, the regular gaol physician, the Rev. Dr. Saunders, the prisoner’s spiritual adviser with Radcliffe, the executioner. Gaoler McDougal and the condemned man brought up the rear. It was a business like proceeding in every way, and was closely watched by everyone present. The main interest, of course centred in the prisoner himself. He had his arms closely bound to his sides, bit it was apparent to everyone that the wonderful nerve which he had exhibited at his trails and during his long incarceration had not deserted him. His face looked ghastly pale, but he walked with a firm step and seemed to wear a sort of smile as he glanced curiously about at the half hundred or more spectators present. He was side by side with Radcliffe, and the latter’s demeanour was no less remarkable than that of his prisoner. The executioner wore no mask whatever and was dressed in a nice fitting dark coloured frock coat and trousers. He walked Luckey straight tot he far end of the enclosure so that he stood directly under the noose, and then faced him towards the gaol as he did so he grasped Luckey’s hand aand shook it warmly, holding his left hand upon the prisoner’s shoulder. Luckey returned the grasp heartily and in a low tone said: “I forgive you, Radcliffe, and I am an innocent man.” There was apparently not a single tremor in either man and not another word was spoken by the prisoner. Radcliff after positioning Lackey’s legs, motioned to the Rev. Dr. Saunders and the later proceeded to read a passage of Scripture from a Bible which he carried with him. He then repeated the Lord’s prayer, and as he reached the words “Deliver us from evil” a sharp click was heard and Luckey’s body shot into the air. The clock on the Courthouse had struck the hour of eight as the drop fell. There was a convulsive twitching of the whole body for a few seconds, and then the body straightened out and hung rigid. Man had exacted from man the penalty of a foul and atrocious murder, and the whole time occupied in the proceedings had been scarcely five minutes. Those who had been under the impression that Luckey would make a confession were much disappointed. He made no such sign and went to the scaffold protesting his innocence. Drs. Davis and Moore immediately after the drop fell grasped the prisoner’s pulse, and in just 6 1/2 minutes Luckey was pronounced dead.

THE INQUEST

The following jury was empanelled: Messrs. F.W. Lord, forema; Geo. Rynolds, Wm. A. Edgers, Jas. Window, John Davis, John Young, Wm. J. Bussell, Chas. H. Brigginshaw, Wm. Buchanan, Jas. A. Clapp, Wm. S. Lloyd, James Cooper, Herb Smart, Nelson Lacasse. The body was allowed to remain hanging until 8:25, when Hangman Radcliffe cut it down. It was view by the coroner’s jury, which at once retired, in accordance with the requirements of the law, and a verdict was returned that Charles Sanford Luckey came to his death by being hanged by the neck. The neck was dislocated. When the black cap was removed the features of the dead man were as calm as when he last faced the crowd. In accordance with the wishes of the goal surgeon, a post-mortem examination was conducted. No word having been received from Ottawa in reference to the disposal of the body, it was buried this afternoon within the gaol walls.

Just as the executioner was leaving the hotel this morning for the gaol, he was met by three men, who used very strong language, calling him murderer. Radcliffe laid an information with the Chief of Police, with the result that some arrests followed, and it is understood that the executioner will prosecute.

The condemned man handed several pages of closely written manuscript to the Re. Dr. Saunders just before his execution, dealing altogether with spiritual matters, in which he emphasized the fact that there was only one kind of sinners, and Christ came to save them. It was a religious exhortation, and had no bearing on the case.

HISTORY OF THE CRIME

The Luckey farm is situated near the village of Newbliss, about half a dozen miles from Smith’s Falls, and in the homestead the old father and his wife, with the daughter, lived happily. The four sons were away. Charles, the youngest, being a ne’er-do-well who was for years a source of much trouble to his parents. Time and again did they assist him out of his many scrapes, but when he was sent to the Central Prison in November, 1891, for the theft of a cap and coat in Ottawa, the father regarded it as the last straw, and there-upon determined to let the boy go his own way, and never more assist him. This resolve seems to have rankled in the young man’s breast, and the fancied injury grew until to him it assumed the proportions of being “disowned and accursed.” Then Charles Luckey made a vow to be avenged on his father. How he kept that vow furnishes a dark page in the annals of that country. In his release from the Central on the 7^th of October 1892, he at once turned his face homewards, not as a prodigal son, but with the full intention of doing an injury to those he should have honoured and respected. The following afternoon neighbours observed the Luckey homestead in flames. They found the house securely fastened, and the interior a furnace. No one appeared about the premises, but a repellent odour apprised the horrified farmers that they were in the vicinity of an awful tragedy. In the ruins of the house they found the charred remains of the three occupants, father, stepmother, and daughter. Next day Charles was arrested in a Smith’s Falls hotel, and went so far as to admit that he had been to the farm the previous day and had seen the house on fire, but did not consider that he was called on to go to the assistance of his parents. On his feet were a pair of boots which were identified as belonging to his father, and some spots of blood on his clothing were also regarded as damnatory evidence to stamp him as a parricide. The money in his possession was not satisfactorily accounted for either. Link by link the chain of circumstances that finally condemned him were slowly put together, but when in April last he was tried at Brockville the witnesses were conflicting, and a verdict of not guilty was returned. The prosecution then laid the capital charge against him for murdering his stepmother, and in October he was again placed on trial, and under the new law was permitted to testify in his own behalf. He did this in such a fashion that, assisted by the evidence of an old man named Whiting, the jury had no hesitation in finding him guilty, and on the night of November 3^rd he was condemned to death by Mr. Justice Rose. An appeal for executive clemency proved futile.

Postscript

The three Luckey Family members are buried in the St. Andrews Church Cemetery in Toledo. Their Headstone is a tall red granite column with a shrouded draped Vase at its top. Other family members are also buried here.

May 21 2017

Kitley Township Map of 1861-62

John Kitley Township Historical Maps, Kitey Township Ontario, Leeds and Grenville, Map of 1861-62 3

The original 1861-62 map was a large paper on cloth wall map showing all the townships I Leeds and Grenville County. We so happen to have one of these large maps in the museum. However in 1973 Mika Publishing in Belleville reproduced these maps by township in a book called: Historical Atlas of Leeds & Grenville, Ontario” Also included in this book are excerpts and illustrations from Thad. Leavitt’s book “History of Leeds and Grenville from 1749 to 1879” published in 1879.

We have shown an overview view of the map,and then individual sections.

**Concessions 6,7,8,9 Eastern side of Township**

**Concessions 8,9, 10 on the Eastern side of the Township**

**Concessions 4,5,6 & 7 on the Eastern side of the Township**

**Concessions 1,2,3,& 4 on the Eastern side of the Township**

**Concessions 1,2,3 & 4 on the Western side of the Township**

**Concessions 5,6,7 & 8 on the Western side of the Township**

**Concessions 7,8,9, and 10 on the Western side of the Township**

February 28 2017

Kitley Fire Department

John Kitley Township Elizabethtown Kitley Township, Frankville, Kitley Fire Department, Leeds and Grenville County 0

Kitley Volunteer Fire Department- 1965 to 1985

The First Twenty Years

On May 6^th, 1985, Kitley Fire Department celebrated its’ 20^th Anniversary. During these years the Township of Kitley went from being without a fire department to having one of the best equipped and best trained in the Country. Accomplishing this took a considerable outlay of time and money.

Fire protection for the township prior to 1965 was inadequate at its best. Smith’s Falls was paid to respond to calls for help, and respond they did. Their best equipment however was allocated for use in the town of Smith’s Falls, and only their second pumper came to calls in Kitley. Since an adequate supply of water in town was supplied by hydrants, they did not have a tanker to haul water. Local residents had to supply the water unless the fire was close to a creek or pond from which they could pump water. Seeing milk cans of water being hauled to supply the pumper was a frequent sight at a fire in the township. No matter how great the effort, water could not be hauled in sufficient quantity to supply the pumper.

The first hope for improvement came because of a push from the village of Frankville. A group known as the Frankville Fire Brigade was formed to provide fire protection for the village. Thought their equipment was very limited, they had a building and a good well. The well was equipped with a deep lift pump, and was able to provide a continuous supply of water through a 1 ½ inch line.

On August 13, 1964, Reeve Charles Sands met with the Village of Frankville Trustees, The Frankville Fire Brigade and a large group of interested people. The decision was made that changes in Fire Protection were necessary.

The Fire Marshall’s office was contacted regarding requirements for a legal fire department. Mr. Maurice Roussey met with the Council and informed them that setting up an adequate Fire Department was too large a venture for a village and that a Township Fire Department should be considered instead.

A survey of the Township’s requirements was undertaken and provided information that the Frankville Fire Hall and an unused Toledo Fire Hall did not meet standards and did not have room for expansion. The discussion for a new fire hall was discussed at length by Council. Even though they would have liked to have the building in the centre of the Township, this was not possible since the men interested in being firefighters were from the Frankville area. In the end, the location was decided when land was donated on the north end of Frankville for this purpose. The property was of sufficient size and on Hwy#29. The deed was completed and the lot fenced in May of 1965.

With the support of volunteers a fire hall was constructed. The building including heating and hydro cost a total of $7,445. Of this amount Council through taxes paid only $3,205., the Fire Association through fundraising paid the rest as well as 2,222 hours of volunteer labour by 66 men.

The total equipment at this time amounted to a 1946 Mercury truck with a 1000 gallon tank inherited from the Frankville Fire Brigade. This truck affectionately named “Lulabelle” was the complete source of water. Driving ‘Lulabelle’ however required special care, since there were no baffles in the tank, unless it was completely full, the movement of the water would push her through stop signs.

The Fire Department decided a better tanker was necessary, and in November of 1965 a 1959 GMC truck was purchased for $900. as well as a 1200 gallon tank. The money was borrowed from the bank using the signatures of 27 men as collateral. By June of 1966, the loan as well as interest was paid off Volunteers repaired the truck and tank to get it ready for use by the department.

December 14, 1965 was a great day for Kitley Fire Department. The new pumper arrived! This vehicle from King Seagrave carried 500 gallons of water and was equipped with a pump capable of delivering 625 gallons per minute, it was completely equipped with hose, nozzles, ladders and most of the other items a firefighter might need. A new Hale portable pump, to be used for filling the tankers also arrived in December. The pumper at a cost of $17,486. and the portable pump at $610. were both purchased by council.

The official opening of the Fire Hall took place on Saturday, June 223, 1966 at 2pm. Kitley Fire Department now had equipment which would meet all the requirements of the Fire Marshall’s Office.

Alarm System

In order to receive calls an alarm system was needed. Since no system was available through the Lewis Telephone System, the firefighters set up their own. They installed phones in all the firefighter’s homes and then strung their own wire to the old Frankville Fire Hall and to the office of the Lewis Telephone System. Even though the wire was old, the system for ringing the 25 phones was ‘state of art’ for 1965. The wire however was a different matter. Every weekend Ray Ireland and Ken Baker spent many hours climbing poles and splicing wires. Stories still circulate regarding the number of side cutters that Ray left on the cross arms of telephone poles.

Fire Association

The Fire Department would have been hard pressed to succeed without the assistance of the Firefighter’s Association. Since the formation of the Department, the Association has met regularly on the 3^rd Monday of every month. Hey have been involved in almost continual fundraising for 20 years. They raised money through raffles, Walk-a-thons, New Year’s Eve dances, Wedding receptions and in numerous other ways. The association has raise many thousand dollars and spent it on necessary equipment for the Fire Department

Women’s Auxiliary to the Fire Department

**Kitley Fire Depts. Women’s Auxiliary**

On April 25, 1977, the Women’s Auxiliary was formed with Linda Brundige as its first president. Their objective was fund raising and they helped purchase pagers and turn out gear.

^{Extracts taken from the booklet “ Kitley Volunteer Fire Department- The first twenty five years- 1965-1985. Authors and publisher unknown. Thanks to the Elizabethtown-Kitley Fire Department for this information.}

Unfortunately our photos are not the best, if anyone has some good qualtiy photographs we would appreciate hearing from you.

January 5 2017

Kitley Agricultural Society

John Kitley Township Agricultural Society, Frankville, Kitley Township, Leeds and Grenville 0

Kitley Agricultural Society

The annual meeting of this society was held at the Edger’s House, Frankville, on Thursday last. N.H. Beecher, chairman; W.D. Livingston, secretary. The treasure’s report read as follows: Receipts from all sources, including balance from last report, $811.56; expenditures, $500.78; leaving a balance on hand of $310.78. The following officers were elected: President, D. Downey; vice president P. Stewart; directors, William Enni, O.L. Munro, Joseph Hanton, William Mitchell, R. Richard, B.F. Stewart, Joseph Jones, Jas. L. Gallanger W. G. Lee; secretary, W.D. Livingston; treasurer, William Eaton.

The fair this year is to be held on Thursday and Friday Sept. 26 and 27.

The Athens Reporter and County of Leeds Advertiser

Excerpts have been taken from this paper referencing the following event

Tuesday Jan. 15, 1895 issue-

December 29 2016

Frankville Fair – Sept 26th and 27th, 1895

John Kitley Township Country Fairs, Frankville Fair, Kitley Township, Leeds and Grenville 2

From the pages of The Athen’s Reporter and County of Leeds Advertiser, Tuesday Aug 20, 1895 issue we have learned a bit about the annual Fair held in Frankville. Unlike the fair held at Unionville, it appears to be a smaller county fair. The list of prizes and judging catagories gives us some idea into what the fair was like.

If you read further down this page after the list of prizes, The Athen’s Reporter of Oct 1st, 1895 gives an account of a day at the fair.

The officers of the Frankville Fair Association, recognizing the fact that the cash and special prises that have been so freely given by he businessmen of the surrounding towns and villages have been of great help in bringing our fair up to its high standard as a Township Show, desire to once more take this opportunity of returning thanks to all those that have contributed so generously to the success of our fair.

John F. Wood, M.P., Brockville Cash $20.00

Walter Beatty, M.P.P., Delta “ $10.00

Montreal Bank, Brockville Branch “ $10.00

Toronto Bank, Brockville “ “ $10.00

Molson’s Bank, Brockville “ “ $10.00

Molson’s Bank, Smith’s Falls, “ “ $10.00

Union Bank of Canada, Smith’s Falls “ $10.00

Jas. Cummings, Lyn “ $ 5.00

W.A.Edgers, Frankville “ $ 5.00

R.Brownbridge, Frankville “ $ 5.00

D.Derbyshire, Brockville “ $ 5.00

R.Bowie, Brockville “ $ 5.00

W.H.Comstock, Brockville “ $ 5.00

Pair General Purpose Horses

The James Smart Manufacturing Company, Brockville, One Dandy Perfection coal stove, value $6.00, to first.

William Johnston, Dealer in Dairy Produce, Brockville, One bag of sale, value $1.25 to second.

Pair Carriage Horses

Central Canada Coal Company (limited) Brockville. James Reynolds Secretary. When in want of any kind of coal, call on us before purchasing elsewhere. One ton of coal in yard, value $5.00 to first.

John Briggs & Sons, Sash & Door Factory, Brockville- Goods to the value of $1.50 to second.

Pair of Roadsters

Cossitt Bros, Agricultural Instruments, Brockville-One set mowing maching knives, value $3.50 to first.

D.Allport, Proprietor Smith’s Falls Woolen Mill.- One piece of flannel, value $1.25 to second.

Pair Carriage Horses Sixteen Hands, to be Driven by a Lady

J,R.McNish, General Produce Merchant, Brockville, Cash $4.00, to first

WR.Gardiner, Manager Edged Tool Works, Brockville, One axe and helve [sic], value $1.50 to second.

Single Driver, to be driven by owner’s wife or daughter

R.W.Steacy, jeweller, Smith’s Falls, Piece of silver ware, value $3.00 to first

D.W. Downey, Boot & Shoe Store, Brockville – One pair of Ladies’ boots, valu $1.50 to second

Single Roadster

A.S. Ault & Co, coal merchants, Brockville. Farmers and blacksmiths will find it to their own advantage to call on us when in town for either stove or blacksmith coal. Stove coal was sell for $5.00 per ton in our yard., Office, Kings st. east.- Ten lengths 4 inch sewer pipe, value $3.00 to first

G.A.Rudd, manufacturer of Harness, buggy tops, &c. -\One whip, value $1.50 to second.

Three Year Old Colt in Harness

William Gilroy & Co., general merchants, Smith’s Falls- One carriage rug, value $1.75 to first

Copy of the Brockville Times to the second, value $1.00

Bicycle Race, Ladies

E.J.Scott, jeweller, Smith’s Falls- Ladies’ Ring, value $4.00 to first

R.Davis & Sons, merchants, Brockville – One Silk handkerchief, value $1.00 to second

Cow showing most milking points

Smith & Knapp. Cash $5,.00 – $3.00 to first and $2.00 to second, Competition open to Patrons of Barlow’s and Frankville cheese factories only.

Collection of Oil Paintings

R.H.Smart, hardware merchant- Carpet-sweeper, value $2.50 to first

Allen Turner & Co., druggists, Brockville – Selection of tube colors and brushes, value $1.25 to second.

Collection of Crayon Drawings

W.Johnston, druggist, Smith’s Falls- Fancy case, value $1.50 to first

Copy of Weekly Times to second

Collection of Water Colors

A.H. Swarts, furniture dealer and undertaker, Brockville. Call and see my stock and you will be surprised at the wonderful low prices. –One bamboo table, value $1.50 to first; Copy of Brockville Times, value $1.00 to second

Colony of Working Bees

Cossitt Bros. Ag’l Implements Mfg., Brockville- One set mowing machie knives, value $3.50 to first

William Martin, general agent Massey Harris Mfg. Co., Brockville – Cash $2.00 to second.

Display of Honey

Agricultural Society – $4.00 to first

Alex. McCrady & Son’s Brockville – Pair Driving mitts, value $3.00 to second

Twenty Pound Crock of Butter

The Rathbum Co., dealers in lumber, sash, doors and factory goods, coal, all sizes, best quality and at lowest prices; also bran, shorts, Flour and feed – 100 lbs, Diadem flour, value $2.50 to first

Collection of Fruit

John Culbert, Rock Bottom Grocery, Brockville- Caddy tea value $2.00 to first, copy of the Weekly Recorder to second

Two Colored Cheeses

D.Derbyshire, produce dealer, Brockville- Cash $5.00-$3.00 to first and $2.00 to second

Two White Cheese

W.J.Cluff, dealer in cheese factory supplies, dairy products and general insurance agents, Brockville- Cash $2.00 to first

T.Gilmour & Co., wholesale grocers, Brockville- One caddy tea, value $2.00 to second

Display of Fancy Work

R. Hawkins, Tinsmith, eavetroughing and dealer in Stoves and Cooking Ranges – A Bird Cage value $1.25

Artificial Paper Flowers

Charles C. Lyman & Co., dry goods merchants, Brockville- Oil cloth floor mat, value $1.00

Best Looking Young Lady

William Coates & Son, practical opticians, Brockville – One silver necklace $1.00, prize winner to call for prize

Best Matched Pair of Cows

E.G. Dobbie, hardware merchant Brockville- Set knives and forks, value $1.50

Mantle Drape

C.M. Babcock, staple and dry goods Merchant, Brockville – One umbrella, value $1.00

The Athen’s Reporter and County of Leeds Advertiser Tuesday Oct 1, 1895 issue

Frankville’s Big Exhibition

The Exhibition Went on “Lively all the While” – The people were there in Thousands and Everybody had a Great Big Time, –

Thursday morning opened up pretty glum and gloomy for the managers of Dave Dowsley’s big show, but about noon the clouds brook away, the sun showed its face for the rest of the day and the exhibitors made a big rush and push to exceed all the township and many other county fairs in Eastern Ontario.

The show of horses was pronounced by competent judges to be the largest and best of all the fairs in this section, and while the Reporter is not an expert in horse lore, we must coincide with the universal verdict.

Cattle, sheep, and swine were shown in large quantities and were a marked improvement on all former exhibits in breeding…… (page ripped and part of this story is missing)…..and quantity of root crop, and we have attended nearly every exhibition of the Frankville fair and have no hesitation in saying that the display was the best ever seen there. We would, however, suggest to the managers that if more care were exercised in placing each class or variety of exhibits together and putting a couple of windows more in front end of Main hall it would add very materially to the convenience of visitors who wish to thoroughly inspect the various exhibits.

Outside on the grounds, the last afternoon, the fun was fast and furious. The trials of speed drew a large crowd to the side of the track.

The Merry-go-Round did not get into running order until late in the afternoon of the last day, but from that until the close every space was occupied. The musical wonder was there also and drew a fair sized crowd. The darkey, barber acrobat, and grey eyed Annie combination came in for a share of attention. A tintype gallery, a number of Aunt Sallies, and a phonograph man, each tried and fairly succeeded, in drawing a few shekels from the pockets of the crowd.

In the inner circle “Uncle Dave” mounted a stocky mare, ‘wearing the same white “Greely plug” that has done duty for so many years, was the High Muckety-Muck of the sports. A barrel race, wheelbarrow race, running race (forward and backward), smoking race, run and jump, bun feed, and pig race were all run off in lively time and afforded and endless amount of fun for the spectators.

On the track, Moonstone, Bayonet, Texas Pointer, and Daisy had a close contest for supremacy, with the result that Bayonet got 1^st, Moonstone 2^nd, and Texas Pointer 3^rd place.

A bicycle race was wheeled off between the heats and resulted in Brownlee 1^st and Moles 2^nd.

The baby show attracted a lot of interested spectators. Mayor Culbert and the Recorder man acting as judges. They could not do better than to award the prize to an Athens baby, seeing that the judges at Unionville were partial enough to award the prize for the best looking young lady to that classic village. Mrs. Alex. Green was awarded the special prize.

The prize list will be published in the Recorder as soon as the secretary gets it in shape for publishing and it can be relied upon as correct and official.

October 21 2016

Kitley – The Early Years

John Kitley Township Kitley Township Ontario, Leeds and Grenville County Ontario 12

Kitley – The Early Years

elizabethtown-kitley-master-1800-map-1-copy — Kitley Township

When the United Empire Loyalists travelled up the St. Lawrence River in their bateaux, Durham Boats and canoes, in 1784 to claim their new homesteads, Kitley Township was still a wilderness, inhabited only occasionally by nomadic Indian tribes on hunting and fishing expeditions.

While UEL pioneers were settling along the riverfront townships, the future township of Kitley was undeveloped and uninhabited.

Edwardsburgh, Augusta and Elizabethtown were first settled, but north of these new townships, dense forests stretched to the Rideau River and beyond.

The land had formerly been Indian Territory, though the natives used it only for occasional hunting and fishing expeditions. They had no permanent settlements such as those which once existed in Augusta Township. The Iroquois had a number of trails running through the wild forest which covered the area, the paths starting at the St. Lawrence and winding up in the Rideau District.

French Canadian fur traders also criss-crossed the area but left no permanent camps to mark their passage.

In 1790, Governor Frederick Haidimand, a British army general, ordered surveys of the lands north of the settled townships.

Survey parties under Lt. Gersham French and Capt. James Sherwood of Jessop’s Rangers, examined the area which was to become Kitley and found it suitable for habitation and settlement. They were impressed by the numerous mill sites found along inland streams.

The actual survey of Kitley was delayed for seven years until 1797. In the meantime, Kitley had its first settler, a pioneer farmer named James Finch. With his family, James Finch settled on what was later to become Lot No. 29 in the 7^th Concession.

The Pioneer Upper Canada Surveyor, Lewis Grant, laid out the lines of Kitley Township in 1797. It consisted of approximately 100 square miles of dense forest. For some reason, probably because its northern end was closer to the Rideau Canal than to the St. Lawrence, for shipping purposes, the concessions ran from north to south rather than from south to north as in Elizabethtown and Augusta Townships.

But Grant and his helpers laid out the township from the south starting with Concession 10. When they reached the Northern end they discovered that Concession 1 was only half as wide as the other nine. That’s why Concession One is narrower than the others and has fewer lots.

Marking off the Lots, the surveyors started at no. 30 in the west and worked their way eastward, then discovered another major error; they actually ran out of room! As a result, this mistake by the surveyors robbed Kitley of the first three lots in every concession. Starting in the west with Lot No. 30, Lot No. 4 is the most easterly. Lots numbers 1, 2 and 3 do not exist!

Later surveys show No. 22 to be a reserve lot. James Finch who had already cleared five acres on Lot No.22 moved over to Lot No. 21. (Possibly before anything was officially signed.)

Both lots lie along the road which became the main street of Toledo. Although Mr. Finch erected a log cabin, dug a well, and cleared 16 acres on Lot No. 21, his claim to the land was disputed by the government.

The Kitley census of 1800 lists James Finch as a settler, but he is missing from the count in 1804. Historians believe that he got fed up with government delays in approving his claim and left the area in disgust.

Irishmen formed the backbone of old Kitley Township 150 years ago, and this tiny farming community boasted a fair sampling of sons of Erin (Ireland) along with UEL folk, some of whom came from the deep south of the United States.

In the 1820’s, Irish, English and Scottish settlers flooded into Kitley, helped by free passage over the Atlantic, guaranteed by the government and an offer of 100 acres of free land per family.

After the great Irish migration of the 1830’s and 1840’s to Canada, when the Irish fled their homeland to escape the ravages of droughts and famine, Kitley folk numbered 3,565 souls. There were 962 citizens from Ireland or of Irish extraction as well as 67 Scots, 61 Englishmen, 93 Yankees, 24 Quebecois, 15 Maritimer’s, one German and one East Indian. As well, over 2,000 of these residents were native Indians who still hunted in the hills and valleys and along the lakes and creeks.

Kitley Township was named after Kitley, Devonshire, England, home of a British M.P. John Bastard and the township of Bastard was named after the M.P. himself.

Abel Stevens, the Baptist elder who colonized Bastard and parts of Kitley, listed 39 families in Kitley in 1798.He didn’t mention James Finch but listed two sons, Richard and Henry Finch.

Toldeo researchers found that James Finch had been granted 200 acres on Lot No. 22 on May 22, 1801, but Finch sold the property the next year to Hugh McIlmoyl, who then sold to Eben Estes the same year. After several more transactions the lot came into possession of Wyatt Chamberlain, the founder of the village.

Wyatt Chamberland, a retired preacher, called this settlement Camberlain’s Corners. He opened the first store in a log cabin. Rev. Chamberland also built the first frame dwelling in the area, was the first postmaster and became a justice of the peace. His first wife was Catherine Halleck, daughter of pioneer missionary Rev. William Halleck, for whom Halleck’s Road, west of Brockville was named.

Chamberland’s Corners officially became Toledo in 1856. The village was named after Toledo in Spain, scene of a British victory over a French army in the Spanish Campaign of 1813.

In 1851, Kitley boasted 3,525 souls, men outnumbering women by only 25. There were 962 residents Irish or of Irish extraction and only 24 French speaking citizens. 91 were from the United States and 128 from England, Scotland and Wales.

The township listed 540 families living in 529 homes. The dwellings were said to consist of 32 in stone, 81 frame, 300 log cabin style and 110 shanties.

The Township of Kitley, in Leeds and Grenville County, Ontario, was incorporated effective January 1, 1850 under the terms of the Baldwin Act, Chapter 81, Canada Statutes, 1849.

James Graham was elected the first Reeve. Hiram McCrea took over the reeve ship in 1861. He lost to William Bell in 1862-63 but regained the position in 1864-66.

Kitley has grown and waned over the years and remains today a busy township, with a number of enterprising communities contributing to the well-being of Eastern Ontario.

^{(Recorder and Times c1985, Darling Collection Book 5)}

Absentee Land Owners Plagues Early Kitley

Absentee land-lords were the plague of Kitley’s early days and were in a large measure responsible for the delayed development on the township.

Hon. William D. Powell chief justice of Upper Canada, already a wealthy man, became even richer with the grant of 1,200 acres in Kitley in 1797. He never saw an acre but simply held on to the land until the time was ripe for an enormous profit. Then he sold his 1,200 acres in parcels. He also got 1,200 acres for his wife, and sold those lots as well.

Another man who never saw his land was Major Hazelton Spencer, who lived in Niagara but was granted 1,200 acres of Kitley land. He sold at a good profit without ever visiting the site.

There were many large grants of land which eventually were sold to give the owners a good profit.

^{(Recorder and Times c1985, Darling Collection Book 5)}

The First Mill

Joseph Haskins, the first miller in these parts, settled on the future site of Jasper in 1802. At that time, Irish Lake was a muddy swamp or marsh, drained by Irish Creek which turned into the Rideau River, north of Haskins’ Mill.

Mr. Haskins dammed the creek near his homestead then used the dam water to run a grist mill he erected. A sawmill followed and pretty soon a hamlet grew up around the homestead.

Damming of the creek backed up water to form a lake where the marsh land had existed. The name Irish Lake was given to this body of water.

Haskins’ Dam created such a body of water that when Col. John By’s surveyors were laying out the route of the proposed Rideau Canal in 1825, they seriously considered running the new waterway down Irish Creek, through Irish Lake and thence westward to Bellamy’s Mills, now Toledo. However the prospect of having to cut through high ground west from Toledo, deterred the surveyors and further tests on Irish Lake indicated some six feet of mud would have to be excavated over the entire length of the lake to make a channel feasible.

The Irish Creek – Irish Lake idea was abandoned and the surveyors laid out the canal route past the estuary of Irish Creek on to Smith’s Falls, eventually cresting the height of land at Newboro and then going downhill along the Cataraqui River to Kingston.

First called Irish Creek, the village became Jasper when postal service was inaugurated in the late 1830’s.

The Livingston’s were also millers and among the first to provide their neighbours with milled flour. Later the Bellamy Brothers put up grist mills and sawmills on Bellamy Pond. ^{(Recorder and Times c1985, Darling Collection Book 5)}

Early Religion

The ‘old time’ Methodist circuit riders brought religion to Kitley’s pioneers by horseback. In 1818 the good folks of Kitley organized their first Methodist congregation.

Up until that point, these circuit riders had been holding Sunday services in various homesteads. Records show that Reverend Ezra Healey conducted worship in 1818 at the home of Alex McClure.

Four families formed the first Methodist Society. They were the families of Duncan Livingston, Jonathon Lyman, Horace Tupper and Ephraim Koyl.

Kitley’s first Methodist Church was erected in 1839 in Toledo by Alex McLean and George Marshall, the builders.

The Presbyterian congregation was organized in 1843 and a church was built shortly thereafter.

In 1830, the Roman Catholics built a church at Belamy Mills. (Kitley). Irish settlers contributed their labour in the construction and formed the largest segment of the parish. ^{(Recorder and Times c1985, Darling Collection Book 5)}

Cheese Factories

When there was a surplus of milk in the early days, it was used for making butter. The surplus butter was packed in wooden tubs or boxes and taken to market in the autumn or early winter.

About a century ago, in response to a demand in the British market, there was a shift from butter making to cheese making.

To make Cheddar Cheese it was necessary to have a factory, with considerable equipment, to which the farmer could deliver milk daily. The first item of equipment was a steam boiler to provide heat to the vat in which the cheese making took place. Therefore the factory had to be located where there was a reliable source of water.

There have been ten factories in Kitley or on its boundaries, although they were not all in operation at the same time.

The Ross Factory was later removed to Newbliss and McAndrew’s Factory was located at the intersection of the Bastard Town Line and the Fourth Concession before Donovan’s was established. Bellamy’s Cheese Factory was first located under the hill, and later beside the pond. Cameron’s Factory was located at Shane’s and Moore’s was near Eloida and Frankville, Crystal and Jasper.

When Robert T. Beckett came to Kitley in the late 1890’s, he helped to organize what was known as Donovan’s Factory. About 1900 he left Johnnie Donovan in charge there and came to Newbliss. He was a man who tried to lead the way to brighter things.

The Newbliss Factory consisted of three frame buildings. The factory proper is still in use as a store. The curing room has been moved across the road and made into a garage and dwelling. Directly behind the main building was the boiler room.

The weighing-in stand was under a canopy facing the highway. The cans of milk were raised by a hand operated hoist, which was later replaced by one run by steam power. The milk cans were of the thirty gallon size, which held up to three hundred pounds, or the forty gallon size which had a capacity of four hundred pounds.

From the scales, the milk passed through a conductor pipe and a strainer, made from several piles of cotton, into a vat. When the vat was filled to a certain level and heated to a prescribed temperature, rennet was added, and also colouring, in the case of coloured cheese. The additives were thoroughly mixed with the milk and then the vat was covered and allowed to set.

In due time the curd was cut and the whey drained off. Next, the curd was washed, salted and placed in the press. Enough curd was put into the press to yield a cheese weighing between ninety and one hundred pounds after the air and moisture had been squeezed out. The cylindrical block of cheese had a skin made of cotton gauze known as a cheese cloth.

The blocks of cheese were placed on tables in the curing room, where they were kept at a constant temperature for a period of some weeks. When ready for shipment they were placed in cylindrical wooden containers, known as cheese boxes. Protected by a thin coat of paraffin wax, the cheese could withstand the moderate changes of temperature but would be damaged by freezing.

Usually the factory patrons took turns hauling the cheese to the railway station, from where it was shipped to the Brockville Cheese Board.

When Wilfred Bruce was running the factory he lacked only a few cents of having a thousand dollars for making cheese in the month of June. He was being paid about four cents a pound, so he must have produced about 25,000 pounds of cheese. ^{(Recorder and Times article dated March 15, 1967)}^{(Recorder and Times c1985, Darling Collection Book 5)}

Excerpts from “Leeds Grenville: their first two hundred years” by Ruth McKenzie pub. 1967

We come to Kitley bounded by Wolford on the east and South Elmsley on the north. Kitley is an inland township watered by tributaries of the Rideau (Irish Creek and Hutton Creek), but not extending as far north as the main Rideau River.

Most of the early settlers in Kitley drew their land on the seventh, eighth or ninth concession, the three lines nearest to Elizabethtown to the south. Some of these early settlers were Baptists who came to Canada with Able Stevens, founder of Bastard Township. Among the names of the pioneers who arrived before 1800 were Read, Livingston and Soper.

The first of the Read family (also spelled Reed) was Major William Read, a Loyalist who settled in New Brunswick after the American Revolution and then came up the St. Lawrence to Upper Canada towards the end of the century. He drew 400 acres of land in Kitley, a 200 acre lot on the eighth concession, where he lived and another on the seventh. Major Reed became a leader in the community and, in the years preceding the War of 1812, he trained a band of some sixty volunteers for the war he feared was coming. Among the volunteers were his three sons, one of whom, William Junior, became a Captain in the War of 1812.

When Major Read died in 1828 at 79 years of age, he was buried on his farm in what is now an abandoned cemetery “small, dilapidated and overgrown with prickly ash”, as it was described recently.

October 19 2016

Providence Chapel

John Kitley Township Kitley Township Ontario, Leeds and Grenville County Ontario, Methodist Religion, Providence Chapel 0

Providence Chapel at Crystal

Methodists worshipped anywhere they could find shelter, a barn being used on more than one occasion but in 1834, the congregation built a log chapel on the eastern edge of Kitley Township in the community known as Crystal and the church subsequently bore the name “Providence Chapel”.

The church was used until church union in 1935 when it was sold to a local resident who in turn donated it in 1960 to Upper Canada Village.

In October 2016, Upper Canada Village allowed us access to the chapel for photographs. They told us that the only original feature on the inside of the building is the pulpit and railing. The pews were added but reflected the pews in use at the time.

providence-chapel-2 — Front Door of the Providence Chapel (2016)

providence-chapel-7 — Side View Providence Chapel at Upper Canada Village, October 2016

providence-chapel-8 — Rear view of Providence Chapel

providence-chapel-9 — Side View of the Providence Chapel October 2016

providence-chapel-20 — Inside the Providence Chapel

providence-chapel-15 — Looking to the front of the Chapel and the original pulpit

providence-chapel-16 — The original pulpit

providence-chapel-1 — Looking from the pulpit to the back of the chapel

providence-chapel-18 — Interior of the Providence Chapel at Upper Canada Village October 2016

October 19 2016

Montgomery House

John Kitley Township Kitley Township Ontario, Leeds and Grenville County Ontario, Montgomery House 2

The Montgomery Log House

The Montgomery House was moved to a site on Highway 29 just north of the main Frankville intersection where it remained for many years. A popular misconception was that this was the original home of Louise Crummy McKinney, her home still exists on the Lake Eloida Road.

The Montgomery Cabin was originally on the 188 Line 8 Frankville property originally owned by Joseph Montgomery. Joseph and his wife are buried on this property in the late 1800’s.

The log house was moved to Upper Canada Village where it has been refurbished on the inside into a very comfortable and modern cabin. It is used to house students who spend time at the village during the summer months, it can also be rented out to families who want to spend extra time experiencing life at Upper Canada Village.

We appreciate Upper Canada Village allowing us access to the building and allowing us the opportunity of sharing these photos.

montgomery-cabin-frankville-c1985-2 — The log house in Frankville c1985

montgomery-house-3 — Upper Canada Village October 2016

montgomery-house-4 — Upper Canada Village October 2016

montgomery-house-5 — Washrooms and showers have been added in the addition to the right

montgomery-house-10 — Downstairs interior kitchen area October 2016

montgomery-house-9 — Downstairs area October 2016

montgomery-house-8 — Downstairs Area October 2016

montgomery-house-12 — Upstairs Sleeping area October 2016

montgomery-house-14 — Upstairs sleeping area 2016

montgomery-house-1 — Upstairs sleeping area 2016

The log Cabin originally stool on the Montgomery property on Kitley Line 8

The Montgomery’s are buried in a private grave on their original farm.

Joseph Montgomery Sr Dec 23 1883 @ 93yrs

Margaret Montgomery Mar 20 1869 @ 82yrs

Obituary for William Henry Montgomery, son of Joseph Montgomery

Frankville- Feb 26, 1925

Kitley Mourns the Loss of William Henry Montgomery. Was a School Teacher after leaving Athens High School

The death occurred at Frankville, on Tuesday, February 24, of a highly respected and widely known citizen in the person of William Henry Montgomery. The deceased had been strickened with paralysis only a few days before and had failed to show any improvement during the time up to his death. On Tuesday morning about 3:30 the end came. The whole community and surrounding country were in mourning. The one who had passed way was the great helper and advisor of the community. He was a man slow to criticize, of weighty judgment and of a charitable nature and the district has lost one of its greatest intellects. The deceased was much interested in public and political life. Being a staunch Conservative, he took and active part in politics.

The latter part of Mr. Montgomery’s life was spent at Frankville, where he was born in 1856, the son of the late Joseph Montgomery. He attended the Farmersville (Athens) High School and after graduating from that institution taught school in several parts of the district. Then he accepted a position as Customs Officer at Brockville, and spent some years in the service of the government. He returned to the home of his boyhood to spend the remainder of his life in the service of the people with whom he began his days.

The funeral left the home at 1 p.m. on Thursday and the service was conducted by the Rev. T.F. Townshend of the Toledo Union Church and internment made in the cemetery there.

Some years ago the only daughter, Mrs. W.J. Plunkett, Perth, Ont., passed away. A sorrowing wife, one grandson, E. Cleon Plunkett, and family, Ottawa; four brothers, J.W. Montgomery, Frankville; Stewart Montgomery, Frankville; Rev. Edgar Montgomery, Tauton, Mass; Herman Montgomery, Almonte and one sister, Mrs. H. Pierce, Smiths Falls remain to morn the great loss.

The pallbearers were the cousins of the deceased, Manford Montgomery. James Robb, George Robb, Edgar Robb, I.E. Lockwood and Morty E. Montgomery.

Among the floral offerings were sprays from Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Stewart, Brockville; Dr. W.H. Bourns and Mrs. Edgers, Frankville; and Dr. H.A. Clark, MPP, Brockville.

Much sympathy is extended to the bereaved wife and sorrowing friends.

Confusion about the connection between Louise Crummy and the Montgomery Cabin

The Plaque Reads as Follows: Louise C. McKinney (1868-1931) Born on a nearby farm Louise Crummy taught school in Leeds County and in 19896 married James McKinney. In 1903 they settled in Claresholm Alberta. A leader in the temperance movement and strong advocate of female suffrage she was elected as an Independent member of the Alberta legislature in 1907. She thus became the first woman in the British Empire to gain a parliamentary seat.

In 1967 a plaque was erected in front of the Montgomery House to honour Louise Crummy McKinney, who was born in the Frankville area. Unfortunately the placement of this plaque in front of the Mongtomery Cabin, led many to believe that this cabin was the birthplace of Louise Crummy.

This cabin was not her birthplace.