The Athens Reporter- excerpts have been taken from this newspaper for the year – 1926. The original newspapers are in the archives of the Heritage House Museum, Athens, Ontario
Redan , Jan 25th, 1926
Miss Laura Loucks spent the week-end at home in Smiths Falls.
Mrs. Mildred Pritchard has returned after having visited relatives in Westport
Elgin Mott spend Tuesday last in Smiths Falls, a guest of Mrs. George Foster.
Miss C. Young, of Glen Buell, spent Sunday at Horton Young’s.
The farmers in this vicinity are busy getting in their supply of wood.
Linden Bank was founded by United Empire Loyalists in 1798, 14 years after the initial UEL drive into Leeds and Grenville in 1784. The community did not receive its name until 135 years ago.
Col. John Butler Checkley, an Irish militiaman, came to Canada in the 1890’s to settle on the front half of Lot Number 6 in the Seventh Concession of Elizabethtown. His estate faces the Brockville-North Augusta Road about 10 miles out of Brockville and four miles southwest of North Augusta.
The Checkleys called their farm “Linden Bank” from the Linden trees growing along the bank of the creek flowing past their dwelling. (Linden trees are also known as basswood trees).
In time the entire community around the Checkley Farm became known as “Linden Bank”, and there was a post office by that name located on Gosford Road.
The area was settled by Loyalists. There were no roads, only wagon trails connecting the various farms of the region. The loyalists made their landings at Buell’s Bay on the Brockville waterfront, and then trekked by foot or wagon through 18 miles of bush to reach their future home sites.
Following an old Indian Trail, the newcomers took two to three days to make the arduous trip. The area had been newly surveyed, but the only way to reach the future Linden Bank was to follow an Indian Trail from Brockville to Lamb’s Pond (New Dublin) then east through Bellamy’s to reach Linden Bank. The direct route from Brockville to North Augusta was established after the community developed.
The settlers cut a wagon road through the hardwood forest from Lamb’s Pond to their homesteads. En route they had to traverse the high rise of land known as “the mountain” on Lot No 5, using a pass known to the Indians. The original road crossed a swamp on the other side of the rise. In subsequent years a road composed of logs was laid across the swamp. Traces of this road could still be seen in the early 1900’s.
Clearing their land, the pioneers grew wheat, Indian corn and vegetables, ran cattle and sheep and lived off the plentiful game on the mountain and in the woods. In the spring they tapped maple trees for sap and boiled it down to syrup and sugar for their tables.
Most had huts of log cabins built on their cleared land or in clearings near their homesteads. Some of these huts were located as dots on an 1861 map of Leeds County.
As the community developed, a business centre grew up. There was a tannery, mills, black-smithy and store. When the Brockville and Ottawa Railway was built, Bellamy’s Station became a forwarding point for goods. There was also a post office that was burned around 1920. The post office was never re-opened after the fire
By 1890 a carriage and buggy shop was operating at Linden Bank. By this time Col. Checkley had arrived and put the name “Linden Bank” on the map.
The first children of the area went to school in a crude log building, but in 1869 the farmers of the area constructed what became to be known as Marshall School. (Gosford School)
The school was built out of stone on a low knoll on Gosford Road probably 100 yards off the North Augusta Road. After serving generations pf Linden Bank children the school was phased out by the school consolidation of the 1960’s.
The school itself was built on land donated by the Marshall Family. Several families of Marshalls lived in the area, running their farms and contributing to community life. The school had rough wooden benches and desks. It had only one room, in which all the grades were taught. It was designated as Elizabethtown SS No. 17. A plague over the doorway gave the date of construction as 1869. (Recorder and Times, Darling collection Book No3)
Checkley Estate c1985Emma McBratney Home 1862-1924 photo c1985Current Township map of 2016 shows location of Linden Bank
Jellyby was named for the pioneer Jelly’s who settled these fertile fields back in the 1820’s, but just how and where the letters “by” were added is unknown. John Jelly didn’t know but pointed out that early cartographers sometimes added a letter or two to place names to make them more distinctive. As far as anyone knows the post office called it Jellby, before that it was known as Jelly’s Crossing from the fact that the road crosses the railway tracks here.
Prior to 1860 local folk got their mail at North Augusta. In 1859 the Brockville and Ottawa railway line was completed from Brockville to Arnprior with a spur line from Smiths Falls to Perth. Railway stations and subsequently post offices sprang up along the line. Jellyby’s post office flourished for a century before being phased out around 1965. The railway station disappeared around the same time.
The first money any settler made on his newly acquired land in the dim distant days of this community’s past came from the sale of potash, old records of the John Jelly family indicate.
Settlers, who had to clear their land of scrub timber and bush before they could grow crops, produced tons of ashes from burning the wood. Settlers hauled their ashes to the potash factories along the St. Lawrence or to the small communities nearby. By 1820, ash potteries were running in Phillipsville operated by Patrick Burns; at Spencerville, where blacksmith John Miller ran the mill; at Addison, run by Harry Lewis; at Seeleys Bay at the Hartley Mill; at Escott operated by partners Joe Dowsley and Andrew Todd; in Brockville, conducted by Henry Jones. In the years 1820 to 1850 tons of Potash went down to Brockville from the Jellyby area. The industry in Leeds collapsed between 1860 and 1870 following discovery of huge potash mines in Europe. Although farmers found ready cash for their potash, housewives also put ashes to good use making soap.
The Jelly farm was bought by the Jelly Family in 1827, but the land on which the farm is located is older than that, the original deed shows that the first grant of land was made in 1802. The original John Jelly came here from Ireland in 1820, living first in the United States, then coming to Canada in 1826 and settling here the following year. He was accompanied by a brother William and a sister Anne. The first house was a single room log cabin built on the farm. As his family kept growing he kept adding rooms until the original home was the centre of a rambling structure housing up to 11 children. Of the 11 children only one son Robert would remain to carry on the 200 acre farm. In 1885 Robert Jelly constructed a two story brick house, tearing down the original homestead.
(Recorder and Times, Darling Collection Book 3)
In 1830 the first church in Jellby was erected and it was a Methodist Church. Most of the area residents were Anglican and they had to travel to Brockville where the closest Anglican Church was located. In 1864, St. James Anglican Church was opened to worshippers in Jellby. A pioneer Anglican missionary, Rev. John Stanhage, who was then in charge of mission development in the northern sections of Augusta and Elizabethtown became the first minister of this new church. The stain glass window came from England and was a gift from Rev. John Stanhage . The hands on the painted clock above the doorway read 10:29, people are not sure if this is in reference to a bible verse, or the time that services started (Toledo Library Archives)
Jellyby or Jellby- In researching this hamlet we have come across both spellings, and a sentence by someone that they never knew which was the correct spelling as Jellby was used by the old timers in the area.
1-Early map showing the railroad and Jelly’s Station
2-Ruins of Methodist Church c19853-Original Jelly Home c1985
4-Jelly’s Crossing at the foot of Joseph Pritchard’s garden
7-St. James Church 20165-St James Anglican Church photo 20166-Painted hands on clock above the door- photo 2016
9-125th Anniversary Service, St. James Church8-Stained Glass window at the front of the church11-St. James Anglican Church interior12-St. James Church Interior
13-Mrs. William Jelly Birthday – 195515-Mrs. William Jelly’s 90th Birthday14-Mrs. William Jelly’s 90th Birthday
16-Pritchard Home on the Jellyby Road17-J. Pritchard Home on the Jellyby Road18-Joseph Prichard
Edna’s Scrapbook”
is a paperback book written by Edna B. Chant and was published in 1998. Edna Chant was a reported with the “Athens Reporter” for 23 years and she is the author of four books.
Her book, which is made up of news clippings from various sources, from which we have taken excerpts, gives us a glimpse into life in our area for over a hundred year period ending with stories from 1975.
While her book covers many areas of Leeds and Grenville we have only focused on the area within Elizabethtown-Kitley Township.
Jellyby
In Feb 1888 a post office was opened at Jellyby with Joseph Pritchard as postmaster. The community had been formerly known as Jelly’s Crossing.
July 31, 1933, during a very severe electrical storm Henry Barns at Jellby had eight cows killed and Harry Cooper, Rocksprings lost three horses. The lightning was the worst seen in some years.
On December 1, 1940 the Orchard Cheese Factory at Jellby was totally destroyed by fire with all contents.
The farm home of Lawrence McManus at Jellyby was burned on February 14, 1963. The family of three escaped in their night attire and bare feet and nothing was saved. Mr.McManus woke up coughing about 1:30 am and he woke his wife and called his 15 year old son they just barely escaped with their lives. The wind was blowing away from the cattle filled barns. The stone house known as the Tackaberry place was 103 years old.
On May 9, 1968 a garage and car owned by Alfred Adams at Jellyby burned. The owners son Hugh Adams received serious burns in the fire.
The Athens Reporter and County of Leeds Advertiser
Excerpts have been taken from this paper referencing the following hamlet for the years 1889, 1894 and 1895
Nov 18, 1894 issue-
Glossville, Nov. 10-
Mrs. Henry Davis, of Jellyby, is a guest at Mrs. R. Barlow’s
Tuesday April 30, 1895 issue–
Alfred Pepper moved to Jellyby, having leased Orchard Valley cheese factory for this season.
This old community, lying in both Elizabethtown and Augusta Townships is reached by the Gosford Road which leads off the Brockville-North Augusta road eight miles northeast of Brockville.
The early history of this old Elizabethtown township community has been lost in the mists of time, but it is known that settlers were living here by the year 1800.
Old Gosford Cemetery was established by these pioneers but first burials have not been recorded. In fact the cemetery itself was not registered with the Land Registry Office in Brockville until 1865, some 65 years after the first internment took place.
The name of Gosford is probably taken from the village of Gosford in Ireland. The Champan family, long prominent in Gosford affairs, first appears in the records in 1812. In that year Irish emigrant, William Chapman, took possession of Lot 3, Seventh Concession of Elizabethtown. Chapman received a grant of 200 acres of Crown Land, located on the south side of the Eighth Concession Road. Chapman built a log cabin and cleared his land. Other settlers in the area were also clearing their acres of brush, and building homes.
The homes were connected by wagon trails, since there was at that time no recognizable road in the area. The wagon trails branched off from the Brockville-North Augusta Trail. In time, Concession Road Eight was constructed, and a log bridge replaced the ford which the inhabitants used to cross the creek running through Gosford.
The little Methodist Church in Gosford was built by Nicholas Burns in 1865. Nicholas Burns was born in Dublin, Ireland and as a lad of 19 migrated to Canada in 1820. He settled at Lamb’s Pond in Elizabethtown Township and when a community was developed there he was instrumental in renaming the hamlet “New Dublin”, obviously in honour of his own birthplace. Burns did not remain long in New Dublin, for history records that he established his permanent home on Gosford Road, east of the community know as Gosford about 1822.
Burns built up a prosperous homestead and was a highly respected citizen of the community until his death in 1884.
The Methodist Church he built occupies part of Lot 3 in the Seventh Concession of Elizabethtown. The church was built of stone quarried in the vicinity and then covered with rough cast. Land for the church and cemetery was donated by Aaron Healy and his wife Martha, the Healy’s were paid one dollar for the land. During the war years, the church went through rough times. Soldiers stationed at the nearby Landon Farm caused considerable destruction to the old house of worship. They damaged the organ beyond repair, broke windows and roughed up the furniture. The church deteriorated, the roof leaked, birds built nests in the rafters and grass in the cemetery grew into hay. In 1973 repairs were made to the church and the cemetery was cleaned up by willing volunteers.
Gosford’s old post office was located at the intersection of the North Augusta and Gosford Roads. It was known as Linden Bank Post Office, being located about a mile from the community of the same name.
Gosford Methodist Church photo July 2016Gosford Church erected AD 1865Interior of Church July 2016Interior of Church July 2016Gosford Church next to the cemetery July 2016
Chapman House Built 1900Gosford-Marshall School SS 17, photo July 2016Nicholas Burns Home built c1862 photo c1985
Location of Hawke’s School in Glossville on a map from 1861-62
The motorist passes through the former hamlet of Glossville so fast that they don’t realize that they just passed through a bit of Elizabethtown history.
Probably 100 to 125 years ago, Glossville was in its glory. But when the oldest residents of the area were in their childhood, the name of Glossville was already beginning to fade. Just what caused Glossville to be forgotten is unknown.
Perhaps it was because the cheese factory was the only thing that the community had going for it. The first factory burned down and was replaced by another on the same spot that was eventually turned into a home. When the factory fell on evil days and business started going down the drain, Glossville began to lose its glamour. When the factory closed probably 100 years ago, this hamlet died with it. The last cheese maker was a Ben Scott and it’s probable that he made his last cheese in the factory during the years of the First Great War 1914-18. Afterwards he was cheese maker at the Addison plant which later closed in 1942.
The Halls moved into the old cheese factory and set up a small confectionery and grocery store in one of the front rooms.
It may be hard to believe, but this tiny lost hamlet once boasted a newspaper. Oldtimers say stories handed down by their families tell of a weekly newspaper, the Glossford Review, which was once printed here.
There was a school in Glossville called “Hawke’s School. The school was so named because there were two group of Hawke’s children who attended the school in it’s early years. One Hawke farm was located north of the school the other farm to the south of the school. The school was sandwiched between the two farm families and filled with Hawke children. It was here that Glossville children were educated. The community sent its children to the old brick school long after people stopped using the name Glossville. After Hawke’s closed the children were bussed to Frankville or to Addison. Land for the school was donated to the area school board in 1857 by John Hawke, and it is probable that the stone building was erected within the following three years. Hawke’s School closed in 1962. The school was located at the junction of Hwy 29 and the Lake Eloida Road.
Around 1850, a tavern was reputed to have done a thriving business at the junction of the Rocksprings Road and Hwy 29, but today there is no trace of a building there.
Glossville was located north of Addison on Hwy 29 between the intersection of the Rocksprings Rd. and the dirt road leading to LakeEloida. (Recorder and Times c1980, Darling Scrapbook No 3)
Glossville Cheese FactoryAbandoned home on the way to Glossville, photo Recorder and Times c1980Former Glossville Cheese Factory, now Hall Residence (Photo Recorder and Times c1980)Hawke’s School c1950Rhea Peterson Home built c1870 (photo Recorder and Times c1980)
The Athens Reporter and County of Leeds Advertiser
Excerpts have been taken from this paper referencing the following hamlet for the years 1889, 1894 and 1895
Glossville Jan 8, 1889, reporter writes:
December- On Tuesday, the 11th, Miss Hattie Mott, near Frankville was married to Mr. Richard Latimer, near Elbe Mills, at the residence of the bride’s mother, Mrs. Mott. There were about 60 guests present at the nuptial ceremony. The presents were valuable and numerous. The happy pair departed for Toronto and the west to spend a few days.
There are some score of other marriages under way, which will come off in rapid and happy succession, for there never was a time when there were so many strangers wandering about enquiring there way home, bewildered by the charms of the girls who adorn this neighbourhood
The Athens Reporter and County of Leeds Advertiser
Nov 18, 1894 issue-
Addison, Saturday Nov.10-
Mr. Robert Barlow of Glossville has leased his farm to a very extensive farmer of Kitley and will live a retired life for a few years to come.
Dr. Brown of Mt. Pleasant has disposed of his celebrated bay, Boston, to Mr. Richard Cardiff of Glossville who intends fitting it up for spring races.
Nov 18, 1894 issue-
Glossville, Nov. 10-
The butter factory has commenced operations again under the management of Messrs. McKee and Elliott.
Mrs. Henry Davis, of Jellyby, is a guest at Mrs. R. Barlow’s
Grey horses were son numerous last week that if such is to be continued we advise the construction of a new bridge at their headquarters or accept the sage [sic] suggestion- i.e., take the ditch for it
Mr. Levi Church spent Sunday with his parents.
Mrs. R. Barlow is slowly recovering from her severe illness
Mrs. Giles of Montreal is a guest at her daughter’s, Mrs. Sheldon Holmes of Sunny View.
Mr. Madden Hewitt will soon move to his winter residence in the west end. Miss. Anna and Adella Scott spent Sunday at their home in Valleyville.
Suggestion: “Ships that pass in the night” should employ better pilots.
Tuesday Nov 20, 1894 issue- (date show is the date on the paper, not the correct date)
Glen Buell, Nov 26-
Some time ago Ethiopean John, while rusticating in the woods back of Glossville, came across a very large black bear. Having no weapon and lacking sufficient courage to attack him single handed, he retreated to the house of his host, the well known steam threshing machine man, where be succeeded in getting a gun and the assistance of ‘Forgie’ to help slay the dangerous animal. Throwing off the governor belt they soon arrived at the scene of his bearship, but, lo ! to their amazement, the bear turned out to be a large black cat. Score one for John who says that his eyes must have magnified that cat.
Tuesday Dec. 4, 1894 issue-
Glossville– Friday, Nov. 30-
Mr. and Mrs. J. Best have returned from their honey moon trip to Ottawa and have settled in our midst.
Miss. Davis of Fairfield and Mr. Ed. Lyons of Smith’s Falls spent Sunday at Barlowville.
Glossville was represented at all the surrounding entertainments on Friday night, some at Athens, Saginaw and Glen Buell. All report a very enjoyable time.
Mr. C. Hawks has returned from the north where he held an agency for the Rochester nurseries.
Mr. and Mrs. G. Booth of Browntown are visiting friends in Carleton Place.
Mr. R. Love who has been suffering for some time from effects of a cancer is slowly recovering under the treatment of Dr. Dixon of Frankville.
Tuesday Nov 20, 1894 issue- (date show is the date on the paper, not the correct date)
Addison, Saturday Nov. 24-
Wedding bells have again pealed forth their melodies in our midst’s, it being the marriage of Mr. John Best, of Glossville to Hanna, daughter of Mr. James Brown of the same place on the 21st inst. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Knox in the presence of about 100 invited guests, after which all partook of a sumptuous repast provided for the occasion. The presents were costly and numerous, showing the very high esteem in which the young couple were held in the community. The orchestra from Addison and vicinity assembled about 10:45 o’clock and discoursed some excellent music. The bride and groom left on the 2 p.m. train for Ottawa on a short honeymoon trip, taking with them the best wishes of all that theirs may be a long and happy life.
Tuesday Jan. 8, 1895 issue-
Mr. Peter Baker of Cornwall, is spending a few days with friends in Glossville and vicinity.
Tuesday March 5, 1895 issue–
Mrs. James Brown of Glossville is on the sick list. We hope it will not prove serious.
Tuesday March 19, 1895 issue–
Mr. Franklin Wiltse and son of Silver Brook, champion sawers of this section, cut nearly 100 cords of stove wood in one day recently for Mr. Selah Hawks of Glossville. Any one wanting wood cut on short notice should give them a call.
Mr. A. Church of Mt. Pleasant has moved to Glossville which leaves a first class blacksmith stand to lease for the present.
Tuesday Oct 8, 1895 issue
Addison, Saturday, Oct. 5, –
Wedding bells will soon ring out at Glossville
Tuesday Oct 15, 1895 issue
Addison, Monday Oct. 7, –
Mr. James Hall of Glossville met with quite a serious accident last week by getting struck on the hand as he was moving the thresher in the barn, which dislocated his thumb and bruised his hand to quite an extent. Mr. Thomas Whitford is engaged as foreman for the present.
Tuesday Oct 29, 1895 issue
Glossville Floral Wedding
The happy event which excited so much pleased interest at Glossville has come and gone, namely the marriage of Miss Addie Barlow to Mr John M. Percival of Forthton. The ceremony took place at the residence of the bride’s father, Robert Barlow, Esq., Glossville, on the 23rd inst. The house was beautifully fitted for the occasion, being tastefully decorated throughout with evergreens, flowers, and mottoes the whole suitably trimmed white. The decorating and illuminating were more than a success.
The bride wore a lovely cream satin beautifully trimmed with white, and was assisted by six of her cousins who acted as maids of honor. At eight o’clock p.m. when every person was quite, unexpectedly the six maids of honor in a procession two deep, in a tandem satin belt, advanced into the large and well filled parlor of the fine residence. The bride and her father followed to the tune of the wedding march which was played by Miss Davis of Brockville. The happy couple were joined together by the Rev Rural Dean Grout of Lyn under a beautifully executed flora design. The congratulations being over the dining room was next of interest and thither the over one hundred guests wended their way. It was magnificently laid out with a substantial and elegant repast. After the tempting ???? had received all due attention and many entertaining remarks, conversation and friendly greetings, the happy couple left for Montreal and other eastern points. The presents were pronounced ‘lovely’ as well as being numerous and valuable. Our best wishes go with them (this article was blurred and difficult to read, there may be some mistakes)
Tuesday Dec 10, 1895 issue
Glossville, Monday Dec 8, –
The milk meeting was held last Wednesday evening in Glossville school house was largely attended.
Mr.Levi Church lost a valuable horse last week
Glossville butter factory is running full blast. We are sure people are pleased with the returns as milk is drawn from Easton’s Corners and other distant points.
Miss Elva Pepper who has been in ill health for the last two years, is gradually sinking. Slight hopes are entertained of her recovery.
The young people of this section are making great preparations for the concert which is to be held in Ashwood Hall, Addison, on the evening of Dec. 20th. As no pains are being spared, it will doubtlessly be the event of the season.
Rumor says wedding bells are soon to ring again.
Mrs. Oliver Bishop of Oswego is visiting friends in Glossville and vicinity for a few weeks.
The hamlet of Shiloh is located at the intersection of Shiloh Road and the road to Rocksprings.
The old Bolton School once stool on the property of Henry White. The school once stood near the Bolton Cemetery on Lot 5 of the Tenth Concession in Elizabethtown.
A Methodist church was built here in 1882. It was built by three Methodists congregations, Hill’s Chapel in the 9th Concession; a congregation that worshipped in the Bell’s Schoolhouse and another congregation that worshipped at Bolton’s School house. The beautiful red brick structure served the community well. It is located on the tenth concession of Elizabethtown at the intersection of the Shiloh Road with the Rocksprings Road. When the church was built in 1882 its’ postal address was Whitehurst, a nearby community which at that time had a post office. Whitehurst was used as a postal address until 1911 when rural mail delivery came into effect. Then the postal address was changed to Jellby. Nearby Boulton Cemetery was the actual burying ground for the Shiloh Church.
(Recorder and Times, Darling Collection Book 3)
Shiloh Church- photo July 2016Shiloh Church c1980 from the Recorder and Times
100th Anniversary Commemorative Plate for the Shilo United Church 1882-1982
Remains of old Cosgrove Home c1980
The Athens Reporter and County of Leeds Advertiser
Excerpts have been taken from this paper referencing the following hamlet for the years 1889, 1894 and 1895
Tuesday June 25, 1895 issue–
Visitors – Mrs. M. Kendrick and little daughter of Shilo is visiting friends here this week. (at New Dublin)
the letters “by” were added is unknown. John Jelly didn’t know but pointed out that early cartographers sometimes added a letter or two to place names to make them more distinctive. As far as anyone knows the post office called it Jellby, before that it was known as Jelly’s Crossing from the fact that the road crosses the railway tracks here.
leads off the Brockville-North Augusta road eight miles northeast of Brockville.
