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i. Canada Company Early Settlement ii. Municipal Notes Officers 1851-1899 iii. Social Conditions iv. Villages Education Churches v. Meetings and Amusements xvi. St Marys  |
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Links: Biographical Sketches of David Brethour Reeve in 1873-74 David Cathcart Reeve in 1856-59, 1869-71 James Dinsmore Reeve in 1868, 1877-78, 1885-86 W. F. Sanderson Reeve in 1881-82, 84 |
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Lutzen Riedstra,
Stratford-Perth Archives wrote on page 10 of  |
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William Johnston, author of Pioneers of Blanshard was Clerk of Blanshard Township 1873-1881 and again in 1887-88. He was reeve in 1883 |
Blanshard Municipal Officers 1851-1899
In compliance, therefore, with the new Municipal Act, the first meeting of the first Council of the township of Blanshard met for the transaction of business at William Guest's, Blanshard Hotel, on January 20th, 1851, at the hour of ten o'clock a.m., we may say nearly fifty years ago. The gentlemen who composed the Board on that important occasion would appear to have been fully aware of the dignity and of the respect which was due in the presence of such an august body as the Council of Blanshard. From the present Council back during the last half-century, the representatives of the township have been quite exacting of that observance which is due, and which should always be accorded, to those who have been invested with authority and power. In the statement subjoined will be found the names of the various officers of the township, from the period of the introduction of the Act of 1850 to the present time. (see sidebar for 1850 council) Previous to the year 1867 the reeves were elected by the Board; subsequent to 1867 they were elected by the people.
The Council of 1851 was an important one. The new Act had come into operation, and the whole machinery of the proper administration of the law had to be put in motion. A set of officers had to be appointed, who of necessity must have had no experience in the work they had to perform. In the records of their meetings in 1851 many things occur that would lead to grave consequences with any representative pursuing the same policy now, but which were thought to be quite legitimate at that time. It does not appear, however, that any of them were over-paid for their services. The clerk received £12 10s., collector £12, assessor £16 10s., councillors each 6s. 3d. per day auditors £1 each, returning officers 12s. 6d. The treasurer was to receive 2 1/2 per cent for all moneys passing through his hands. In July of 1851 it was ordered that 6/8 of a penny in the pound be levied on all the property in the township, to build a bridge over the Thames, near the village. This was the old frame structure that stood on the site of the present stone bridge on Queen Street, St Marys. The contract was let by tender to William Noble for £150, not including the approaches. The filling was a separate contract, and on the east end extended as far (or nearly so) as where Water Street crosses Queen. In this year was also organized the London and Proof Line Gravel Road Co., which built the first gravel road west of St. Marys. The Council, recognizing the utility of such an undertaking borrowed the sum of £2,000 to assist in its construction. In February 1853, the Council met at James McKay's hotel, and fixed the rate for tavern licenses at £5 10s. for the town, and £3 10s. for the township. The tavern inspectors, of which there were five, received each £1 10s. for their work. The inspectors appointed were J. K. Clendening, Reuban Switzer, Rody Hanley, William McCoy, and Thomas Anderson. In the year 1856 the salary of the several officers had been advanced, and an allowance was made to the clerk of £20, assessor £13, collector £15, auditor each £1 10s., councillors each per day 10s., inspectors of licenses each £1 10s., returning officers 15s. From this date the Board held its meetings at Skinner's Corners, which, since 1856, has been the seat of Government for Blanshard. The allowance of 2 1/2 percent to the treasurer was still recognized as the proper mode of paying that officer, and continued to be so till the year 1870, when the Council withdrew the percentage and allowed a salary per annum instead.
In 1888 was organized the first Board of Health under the provisions of the Hea1th Act of Ontario, and was composed of William F. Sanderson, David Brethour, and Thomas Epplett, with the reeve and clerk ex-officio. With the Board was associated William Irving, M.D., of Kirkton, as Medical Health Officer. The members of the present Board are David Brethour, Robert Bilyea, William F. Sanderson, with the reeve and clerk, and Dr. Ferguson, of Kirkton, as Medical Health Officer. In 1897 was introduced the Act relating to county councils. This act was intended to reduce the number of county councillors. In many of the counties of Ontario the councils had become cumbersome and unwieldy. It had the important effect of destroying to some extent the voting power of the smaller villages, who contributed but little to the county funds, and thus gave greater sequence to the representatives from the township. The county was divided into districts, each district electing two representatives. Blanshard and Downie form one district, and have elected, since the inauguration of the new system, William F. Sanderson and Nelson Monteith, M.P.P., as their Commissioners to the County Board.
In compliance, therefore, with the new Municipal Act, the first meeting of the first Council of the township of Blanshard met for the transaction of business at William Guest's, Blanshard Hotel, on January 20th, 1851, at the hour of ten o'clock a.m., we may say nearly fifty years ago. The gentlemen who composed the Board on that important occasion would appear to have been fully aware of the dignity and of the respect which was due in the presence of such an august body as the Council of Blanshard. From the present Council back during the last half-century, the representatives of the township have been quite exacting of that observance which is due, and which should always be accorded, to those who have been invested with authority and power. In the statement subjoined will be found the names of the various officers of the township, from the period of the introduction of the Act of 1850 to the present time. (see sidebar for 1850 council) Previous to the year 1867 the reeves were elected by the Board; subsequent to 1867 they were elected by the people.
| Year | Reeve | Deputy Reeve | Councillors | Clerk | Assessors | Treasurers | Collectors | Auditors |
| 1851 | Thomas Boy Guest | A.Hill, H.Willis, G.Adaire, W.Chambers | T.Ingersol | J.K.Clendening | T.Christie | W.Sparrow | J.Ingersol, W.P.Smith | |
| 1852 | J. Robinson | G. Adare | H.Willis, M.Sinclair, T.B.Guest | T.Ingersol | J.K.Clendening | T.Christie | W.Sparrow | J.Ingersol, W.P.Smith |
| 1853 | Thomas Boy Guest | A. Hill | H.Willis, D.Cathcart, W.Beatty | T.Ingersol | G.Adare | T.Christie | W.Sparrow | J.K.Clendening, R.Hanley |
| 1854 | A. Hill | G. McIntosh | D.Cathcart, S.McDonald, R.Tims | T.Christie | G.Adare | T.Christie | W.Sparrow | W.Barron, J.R.Burrit |
| 1855 | A. Hill | D. Cathcart | A.Doupe, J.Dinsmore, A.McDonald | W.Wilson | G.Adare | J.Armstrong | W.Sparrow | W.Miller, W.Woods |
| 1856 | David Cathcart | A. Doupe | J.Dinmore, J.Dunnell, J.R.Burrit | W.Wilson | W.N.Ford | W.Miller | R.Hanley | T.Williams, W.Woods |
| 1857 | David Cathcart | A. Doupe | J.Dinsmore, T.Williams, J.Dunnell | W.Wilson | W.N.Ford | W.Miller | R.Hanley | John Dalzell, W.Woods |
| 1858 | David Cathcart | J.Dunnell | J.Dinsmore, C.Swizer, T.Williams | W.Wilson | A.Doupe | W.Miller | R.Hanley | A.Hill, W.Woods |
| 1859 | David Cathcart | J.Dunnell | J.Dinsmore, T.Williams, R.Switzer | W.Wilson | A.Doupe | W.Miller | R.Hanley | A.Hill, T.Wilson |
| 1860 | J.Dunnell | D. Cathcart | J.Dinsmore, T.D.Hamilton, F.Anderson | W.Wilson | W.Raymond | W.Miller | G.Adare | Hugh Patterson, T.Wilson |
| 1861 | J.Dunnell | F.Anderson | A.Shier, R.Hanley, B.Stanley | W.Calhoun | A.Doupe | W.Miller | C.D.Sparling | Capt. Campbell, W.Woods |
| 1862 | B.Stanley | E.R.Gooding | A.Shier, J.Dunnell, F.Anderson | W.Wilson | J.Livingston | W.Miller | D.Cathcart | David Dinsmore, W.Woods |
| 1863 | B.Stanley | F.Anderson | J.Whimster, W.Sparrow, E.R.Gooding | W.Wilson | Capt. Campbell | W.Miller | D.Cathcart | M.Rooney, D.Dinsmore |
| 1864 | B.Stanley | E.R.Gooding | W.J.Sparrow, T.Lennox, F.Anderson | W.Wilson | E.Delmage | W.Miller | D.Cathcart | W.Woods, R.Somerville |
| 1865 | B.Stanley | E.R.Gooding | J.Gould, H.Thompson, F.Anderson | W.Wilson | E.Delmage | W.Miller | D.Cathcart | W.Woods, R.Somerville |
| 1866 | J.Gould | H.Thompson | F.Anderson, E.R.Gooding, B.Stanley | W.Wilson | E.Delmage | W.Miller | D.Cathcart | W.Woods, R.Somerville |
| 1867 | E.R.Gooding | J.Dinsmore | D.McDougal, A.Shier, G.Huston | W.Wilson | E.Delmage | W.Miller | D.Cathcart | M.Rooney, R.Somerville |
| 1868 | James Dinsmore | G.Huston | A.St.John, A.M.Driver, D.McDougal | W.Wilson | J.Livingstone | W.Miller | D.Brethour | Capt.Campbell, J.Stephens |
| 1869 | David Cathcart | A.M.Driver | A.St.John, D.McDougal, A.Jamieson | W.Wilson | E.Delmage | W.Miller | D.Brethour | Capt.Campbell, W.Robinson |
| 1870 | David Cathcart | G.Huston | A.Jamieson, G.D.Lowrie, W.Johnston | W.Wilson | J.Livingstone | W.Miller | D.Brethour | Capt.Campbell, W.Robinson |
| 1871 | David Cathcart | G.Huston | A.Jamieson, G.D.Lowrie, W.Johnston | W.Wilson | J.Livingstone | W.Miller | D.Brethour | Capt.Campbell, W.Robinson |
| 1872 | A.M.Driver | D.Brethour | J.Dinsmore, R.Beatty, W.Stirritt | W.Wilson | W.McCullough | G.Huston | W.Graham | Capt.Campbell, T.O.Robson |
| 1873 | David Brethour | R.Beatty | J.Dinsmore, W.McCullough, P.McVannell | W.Johnston | G.White | J.Stephens | W.Graham | Capt.Campbell, T.O.Robson |
| 1874 | David Brethour | R.Beatty | W.McCullough, J.Dinsmore, P.McVannell | W.Johnston | J.Morris | J.Stephens | W.Graham | Capt.Campbell, E.Delmage |
| 1875 | R.Beatty | John Dinsmore | P.McVannell, W.McCullough, A.Sawyer | W.Johnston | E.Delmage | J.Stephens | W.Graham | Capt.Campbell, Philip Kerr |
| 1876 | R.Beatty | John Dinsmore | P.McVannell, W.McCullough, A.Sawyer | W.Johnston | E.Delmage | J.Stephens | W.Graham | Capt.Campbell, Philip Kerr |
| 1877 | James Dinsmore | W.McCullough | A.Sawyer, A.St.John, James Spearin | W.Johnston | A.M.Driver | D.Cathcart | W.Graham | Capt.Campbell, Philip Kerr |
| 1878 | James Dinsmore | W.McCullough | A.Sawyer, James Spearin, W.F.Sanderson | W.Johnston | R.Beatty | D.Cathcart | W.Graham | Capt.Campbell, Philip Kerr |
| 1879 | A.M.Driver | W.F.Sanderson | A.Sawyer, James Spearin, W.Roger | W.Johnston | R.Beatty | D.Cathcart | W.Graham | Capt.Campbell, G.D.Lowrie |
| 1880 | A.M.Driver | W.F.Sanderson | T.Lawton, James Spearin, W.Hutchings | W.Johnston | R.Beatty | D.Cathcart | W.Graham | Capt.Campbell, G.D.Lowrie |
| 1881 | William F. Sanderson | James Spearin | W.Roger, Thomas Lawton, W.Hutchings | W.Johnston | R.Beatty | G.D.Lowrie | W.Graham | Capt.Campbell, Thomas Pearin |
| 1882 | William F. Sanderson | James Spearin | W.Hutchings, Thomas Lawton, W.Roger | A.M.Driver | R.Beatty | G.D.Lowrie | W.Graham | Capt.Campbell, Thomas Pearin |
| 1883 | William Johnston | T.Lawton | W.Hutchings, W.Roger, W.Graham | S.Clark | R.Beatty | G.D.Lowrie | J.Anderson | J.Campbell, W.Ford |
| 1884 | William F. Sanderson | W.Hutchings | W.Graham, T.Pearin, G.Hudson | S.Clark | R.Beatty | J.Anderson | A.Driver | J.Campbell, R.Somerville |
| 1885 | James Dinsmore | T.Lawton | W.Graham, G.Hudson, G.Spearin | S.Clark | R.Beatty | J.Anderson | A.Driver | J.Campbell, W.Ford |
| 1886 | James Dinsmore | T.Lawton | W.Graham, G.Spearin, G.Hudson | S.Clark | R.Beatty | J.Anderson | A.Driver | W.Ford, W.Johnston |
| 1887 | T.Lawton | G.Hudson | D.Johnson, J.Dickinson, P.McVannell | S.Clark | R.Beatty | J.Anderson | A.Driver | W.Ford, W.Roger |
| 1888 | T.Lawton | G.Hudson | D.Johnson, P.McVannell, J.Dickinson | S.Clark | R.Beatty | J.Anderson | A.Driver | T.Armstrong, W.Roger |
| 1889 | R.Beatty | W.Hutchings | R.Berry, D.Sinclair, D.Johnson | S.Clark | R.Beatty | J.Anderson | A.Driver | T.Armstrong, W.Roger |
| 1890 | R.Beatty | W.Hutchings | Robert Berry, D.Sinclair, D.Johnson | S.Clark | R.Beatty | J.Anderson | A.Driver | W.Roger, J.Campbell |
| 1891 | W.Hutchings | D.Johnson | R.Berry, R.St.John, D.Sinclair | S.Clark | R.Beatty | J.Anderson | A.Driver | J.Campbell, W.Roger |
| 1892 | W.Hutchings | D.Johnson | R.Berry, R.St.John, D.Sinclair | J.Jamieson | E.Kennedy | P.S.Armstrong | G.Lowrie | J.Campbell, W.Roger |
| 1893 | D.Johnson | R.Berry | R.St.John, W.Robinson, G.Ullyott | J.Jamieson | E.Kennedy | A.Brethour | G.Lowrie | J.Burns, J.Campbell |
| 1894 | D.Sinclair | R.St.John | W.Robinson, J.Fotheringham, G.Ullyott | J.Jamieson | E.Kennedy | P.S.Armstrong | R.Beatty | W.F.Sanderson, J.Campbell |
| 1895 | D.Sinclair | R.Berry | R.Ullyott, J.Fotheringham, W.Dinsmore | J.Jamieson | E.Kennedy | W.Cade | R.Beatty | W.F.Sanderson, J.Campbell |
| 1896 | R.Berry | G.Ullyott | J.Fotheringham, W.Dinsmore, A.Marriott | J.Jamieson | E.Kennedy | W.Cade | R.Beatty | W.F.Sanderson, J.Burns |
| 1897 | R.Berry | G.Ullyott | J.Fotheringham, W.Dinsmore, A.Marriott | J.Jamieson | E.Kennedy | W.Cade | R.Beatty | W.Johnston, J.Burns |
| 1898 | R.Berry | G.Ullyot, J.Fotheringham, W.Dinsmore, A.Marriott | J.Jamieson | E.Kennedy | A.Brethour | R.Beatty | W.Johnston, J.Burns | |
| 1899 | G.Ullyott | A.Marriott, E.McDonald, David Bowers, Chas.Robinson | J.Jamieson | E.Kennedy | A.Brethour | R.Beatty | Jas.Morrison, M.Irving |
The Council of 1851 was an important one. The new Act had come into operation, and the whole machinery of the proper administration of the law had to be put in motion. A set of officers had to be appointed, who of necessity must have had no experience in the work they had to perform. In the records of their meetings in 1851 many things occur that would lead to grave consequences with any representative pursuing the same policy now, but which were thought to be quite legitimate at that time. It does not appear, however, that any of them were over-paid for their services. The clerk received £12 10s., collector £12, assessor £16 10s., councillors each 6s. 3d. per day auditors £1 each, returning officers 12s. 6d. The treasurer was to receive 2 1/2 per cent for all moneys passing through his hands. In July of 1851 it was ordered that 6/8 of a penny in the pound be levied on all the property in the township, to build a bridge over the Thames, near the village. This was the old frame structure that stood on the site of the present stone bridge on Queen Street, St Marys. The contract was let by tender to William Noble for £150, not including the approaches. The filling was a separate contract, and on the east end extended as far (or nearly so) as where Water Street crosses Queen. In this year was also organized the London and Proof Line Gravel Road Co., which built the first gravel road west of St. Marys. The Council, recognizing the utility of such an undertaking borrowed the sum of £2,000 to assist in its construction. In February 1853, the Council met at James McKay's hotel, and fixed the rate for tavern licenses at £5 10s. for the town, and £3 10s. for the township. The tavern inspectors, of which there were five, received each £1 10s. for their work. The inspectors appointed were J. K. Clendening, Reuban Switzer, Rody Hanley, William McCoy, and Thomas Anderson. In the year 1856 the salary of the several officers had been advanced, and an allowance was made to the clerk of £20, assessor £13, collector £15, auditor each £1 10s., councillors each per day 10s., inspectors of licenses each £1 10s., returning officers 15s. From this date the Board held its meetings at Skinner's Corners, which, since 1856, has been the seat of Government for Blanshard. The allowance of 2 1/2 percent to the treasurer was still recognized as the proper mode of paying that officer, and continued to be so till the year 1870, when the Council withdrew the percentage and allowed a salary per annum instead.
In 1888 was organized the first Board of Health under the provisions of the Hea1th Act of Ontario, and was composed of William F. Sanderson, David Brethour, and Thomas Epplett, with the reeve and clerk ex-officio. With the Board was associated William Irving, M.D., of Kirkton, as Medical Health Officer. The members of the present Board are David Brethour, Robert Bilyea, William F. Sanderson, with the reeve and clerk, and Dr. Ferguson, of Kirkton, as Medical Health Officer. In 1897 was introduced the Act relating to county councils. This act was intended to reduce the number of county councillors. In many of the counties of Ontario the councils had become cumbersome and unwieldy. It had the important effect of destroying to some extent the voting power of the smaller villages, who contributed but little to the county funds, and thus gave greater sequence to the representatives from the township. The county was divided into districts, each district electing two representatives. Blanshard and Downie form one district, and have elected, since the inauguration of the new system, William F. Sanderson and Nelson Monteith, M.P.P., as their Commissioners to the County Board.
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