Early Settlement

In the early history of the township the pioneers seem to have located themselves along or continguous to one or other of the streams which form the outlet for nearly the entire drainage of the municipality.   Blanshard may be said topographically to be composed of one great plain, passing through which are three distinct and well-defined valleys.   The surface being on the whole comparatively level, it contains but few springs.   The first and greatest of these valleys, that of the Thames, enters the township on the north side, flows southerly through the town of St. Marys, passing into Nissouri nearly at the extreme south-east corner of the municipality.   The second great valley, that of Fish Creek, enters the township on the west, near the village of Kirkton, flowing southerly till it reaches the rear of the 11th concession, when it trends easterly and parallel to the concession line, and falls into the River Thames a short distance from the south boundary.   The third valley, that of Flat Creek, enters the township on the north, flows south-easterly, and falls into the Thames about two miles north of St. Marys.   These three streams, with Otter Creek and Trout Creek, which enter the township from the east, form the great outlets for the surplus water on the 45,900 acres of farm land of which the township is composed.

In early settlements the first and greatest consideration was the water supply.   The pioneer, in making his selection of a spot for his future home, kept this constantly in view.   No matter what the quality of the soil may have been, without plenty of water it was useless.   Along these streams, therefore, the first settlers located themselves.   On the 1st concession a number of them cleared up the rear of the lots, and built their shanties on the banks of Flat Creek in order to be convenient to water.   Those who located in what is known as the "square township," and at some distance from any stream, had to content themselves with a hole dug in some marshy spot in the woods.   If the pioneer was tasteful and methodical in his habits, he would cut three or four feet from the end of a hollow tree, and placing this in the opening he scooped out, give an appearance of cleanliness to the spot from which he obtained a supply of water for his family.   In numerous instances, however, no such precautions were taken, and around many of these watering places was an accumulation of decayed matter to describe which would be a bonanza to the township Board of Health in making their annual report.   In too many instances these surface holes in the summer months contained a mixture composed of vegetable matter and of animal life altogether foreign to the component parts of spring water.   Frogs were constant visitors.   But little difficulty was experienced in dealing with such intruders in the family beverage.   They were as a rule big and fat, and the family of the settler paid little attention, therefore to the great innocent-looking fellows that sat complacently in the mud at the bottom of the hole, in the enjoyment apparently of solid comfort and happiness.   But another and greater difficulty was experienced with a smaller and more sportive intruder which existed in the water in millions; this was popularly known as the "wiggler."   The approved method of disposing of this part of the mixture was by using a piece of calico, through which the water was strained, thus separating effectively the "wigglers" and the larger portions of clay from the contents of the pail.   The fluid the operated upon was allowed to stand in a vessel for a short time to "settle," when it would be fit for use.