The village of KETTLEBY, Ontario
We Came To Kettleby
Whoever comes to Kettleby, is one who lost his way
Forgot to read his road map, or let his fancy stray
And followed as it led him past a deserted mill,
Whose pond is full of grasses, whose wooden wheel is still,
Where clinging to the hillside a few old houses stand,
Looking down into a valley that cuts across the land.
They are gossiping together, and their canny country lore,
Echoes decades of the talking and the shopping at the store,
As it figures-- fretwork figures-- were set against a screen
And the houses were still climbing to see what might be seen,
Across that lustrous valley brimful of summer light,
And we looked too, and waited, and fell in love at sight
The day we came to Kettleby, the day we lost our way
Forgot to read our road map, and let our fancy stray!
Kettleby Hills
by E.Robeson
The pleasant hills of Kettleby,
Aglow in sunset light,
And verdant valleys, harvest clad,
Speak forth in glad delight;
The praise in Him whose wise design,
and mighty works are seen,
And who in love has spread abroad,
The rippling hills between.
Such were the thoughts that filled our minds,
When we had gladly found,
The goal we sought, which seemed indeed,
To us like holy ground,
For though as strangers many met,
Like as a holy pall,
The love and peace of God there spread,
A mantle over all.
The Village of Kettleby
(from Places in Ontario; Their Name Origins and History, Part II, F-M, by Nick and Helma Mika, Mika Publishing Company, Belleville, Ontario, 1981, pgs. 417-418)
"Kettleby, a small community a few miles west of Aurora, was named after the native Welsh village of Samuel Tyrwhitt, owner of the local mill in 1842. In 1803, John Bogart from Pennsylvania bought the land granted in 1801 to Dorothy Burger, a United Empire Loyalist. He sold part of this land to Jacob Tool who built a sawmill in 1825. This mill was bought in 1842 by Samuel Tyrwhitt, who also erected a woollen mill, oatmeal mill, cooperage, and distillery. These services attracted many new settlers and in 1851, the post office of Kettleby Mills was established, with James Tipping as postmaster. The name became Kettleby in 1859.
Kettleby in its heyday, was the hub of the surrounding area. It was the business and shopping centre and supplied lumber to the entire township. Twenty coopers were kept busy making barrels to export flour from Kettleby's mills. A felt hat manufacturer, shoemakers, a wagon-making shop, and a farm implement factory were among the businesses established in the mid-nineteenth century. Brooks W. Walton from Kettleby invented a combined cultivator and seed drill that was later used by the Massey-Harris Company, noted manufacturers of farm machinery.
The coming of the railway to King Township in 1853 marked the beginning of Kettleby's decline. The timber trade diminished, flour exports decreased, and new factories aided by the railway put many of the local mechanics out of business. Five serious floods, between 1885 and 1934, destroyed many of Kettleby's mill dams. The population decreased until the once bustling village became the small community it is today."
Kettleby Post Office
In the first years, the mail was carried by the stage that ran from Lloydtown to Aurora. It called at Kettleby at 6:30 in the morning to pick up outgoing mail, and returned with the post-bags daily about noon. From 1902 until 1927, the mail was carried by the Schomberg and Aurora Railway; a local courier took the mail-bags from the post office to Hambleton's Crossing on the fifth concession, where the train took them aboard. After the railway ceased operations in 1927, the mail was picked up by truck at Aurora for delivery to Kettleby. The Kettleby Post Office served its last customer on February 16, 2001 after 150 years.
Christ Church, Anglican
The clergy who served the Parish of Lloydtown since its founding in 1842.The effort to have an Anglican Church in the hamlet began in the 1860's. It wasn't until a young clergyman by the name of Ebenezer Sibbald directed his energy toward the project in 1891 however, that the structure became a reality. Prior to the church being built, Rev. Sibbald held services for the community's Anglican parishioners in the Temperance Hall. The site on the east side of the village, was purchased from Garton Pottage in April of that year and the church constructed for the sum of $3,000.
The Trees that grow in Kettleby
In memory of Amy Spragg
In memory of Bessie Walton
In memory of Frank Beatty
In memory of Harold Murray
In memory of Howard Black
In memory of Jack MacDonald
A PLAQUE STANDING AT THE ENTRANCE TO KETTLEBY
In 1825, Jacob Tool purchased 100 acres and in 1840 built a sawmill in the river valley. On this site, in 1843,an enterprising Englishman, Septimus Tyrwhitt constructed a large flour mill which operated continuously until destroyed by fire in 1950. By the mid 1800's a growing industrial community developed with woollen, oat and grist mills, a distillery, and cooperage. In 1851, the Kettleby Post Office opened. Jacob Walton, a prominent businessman, started a Blacksmith shop in 1845, operated a general store, and was postmaster from 1853-1891. A chapter of the Sons of Temperance was organized by 1855, and remained active throughout the century. By 1870, Kettleby's population was 100, but with local timber exhausted and the Ontario Simcoe and Huron Railway by-passing the village, Kettleby declined as an industrial centre to become a rural hamlet.
The Village Tradesmen, 1840 onwards:
(from the Aurora Banner, September 2, 1938, by J.M.Walton).
Among the tradesmen and mechanics of the village for the early days of 1840 and after are the following names: This list not correct or complete is made up from my recollections and I have had the benefit of conferring with various old residents, notably Luke Gibbons (92), Lavilla Proctor Howard (89) and John T. Elliott (80).
HOTEL KEEPERS
Mr. Eapys, Hannah Ramsden, Jack Hardy, Paul Wardell, Johnsons, Joseph Butler, Thomas Butt, Elwood Lloyd, John Collings, Harry Isaacs, William Wiley, Albert J. Love, William Heath, Peter Flanagan, Thomas Neiles. (I have myself seen three hotels burned down. Heath's Hotel which stood opposite Walton's store - Johnson's, and also Lowe's hotels, located at the foot of the hill, were burned under very suspicious circumstances).
BLACKSMITHS
Jacob Walton, William Knight, Robert Tilson, Brooks W. Walton, Richard Burling, George Munshaw, Jas. M. Campbell, Thos. Wilson, John Barradell, John Hughey, William Coombs, Harry Clift, Isaac Hollingshead, J. J. Cull, John Bull, Thomas Nelson, Rankin Hughey, John Maloney.
When Brooks Walton invented and manufactured his famous combined cultivator and seed drill, which was afterwards adopted by the Massey-Harris Company as one of their best products, he had stencilled on the implements, "Manufactured by Brooks W. Walton, Main St., Kettleby, Canada West." He imployed blacksmiths and woodworkers on his works.
SHOEMAKERS
Pat Lovely, Richard Wilkinson, Jas. McClement, Dick Cheshire, Lawson, Campbell, John Crawford, James Sheppard, Andrew Wann
TAILORS
William George, Mary Reynolds, Mary Jack, Mrs. J. T. Elliott, J. M. Walton, Ida Elliott, Henry Harman
COOPERS
Asa Buck, Alex Brodie, Mr. Eapys
POTASH BOILERS
David Danbrook, Jacob Walton, Asa Buck
PAINTERS
Mr. Moody, M.W. Robinson, Chas. Lawder
HARNESS MAKERS
Anthony Devlin, Wm. Wiley, William J. Rogers, Jas. Archibald, James Campbell
CARRIAGE MAKERS
John H. Smith, David Dixon, Will Rogers, Wakefield J. Proctor, Martin Lockhart
WHISKEY DISTILLERS
Alan Snider, Herbert Snider, T. Hopkins, Lawsons, Septimus Tyrwhitt
PIANO SALESMEN
Thomas M. Hulse, John Micks
MASONS
Thos. B. Longbottom, Chas. B. Longbottom, E. Burling, Jos. Spragg
CARPENTERS
Adam Kaake, James Rae, T. A. Creighton, Charles Shropshire, Oliver St. J. Smith, Aaron Hughes
WELL DIGGERS
John Green, John Boadwin
SCHOOL TEACHERS
Thos. Butler, W. L. Matthews, David Lloyd, Thos. Cumming, John M. Heacock, M. A. Hall, Andrew Brodie, Jas. Jenkins,, Pringle Shaw, Robt. F. Seymour, Susan Hill, W. L. Bond, Malcolm Smith, Benj. Bond, S. H. Lundy, Moridica Davis and a score of others.
Out of this class emanated more distinguished careers than from any other. The teaching profession was the stepping stone to success to many. An article could be written on the lives of teachers achieving high places in life.
DOCTORS
Dr. Brown, Dr. Connell, Dr. A. J. Gilmour, Dr. Howe, Richard Bentley
DRESS MAKERS
Charlotte Lloyd, Mrs. Lukes, Minnie Kennedy, Rachel Hollingshead, Agnes Seymour, Jessie Elliott
WEAVERS
James Seymour, Mrs. Melville Stevens
FELT HAT MANUFACTURERS
The Fuller Family
GRIST MILL PROPRIETORS
AND MILLERS
Septimus Tyrwhitt, Dan Gregory,William S. Stokes, Chas. E. Eaton, Isaac VanHorne, Jos. Elvindge, Wm.Lukes, John Maw, Samuel Waldock, Enoch W. Love, F. J. Curtis, Ernest Brillinger, Jas. Spink
STORE KEEPERS
Silas Snider, Maybee, John H. Hughes, Mrs. Wm. Lukes, Isaac McBride, Simeion Carey,
Isaac Webb,Wilford Heacock, L.S. Mount, Frank Boadwin, W. C. Bogart, Harold Murray, J. Blatchford, Jacob Walton, Jesse M.Walton
A recent picture of the Kettleby Wesleyan Methodist Church
"The new Wesleyan Methodist Church at Kettleby, Lloydtown circuit, will be opened on the 19th of October".(Christian Guardian, October 8, 1873)
Reverend Peter Addison, who was in charge of the Methodist Lloydtown circuit, initiated the drive to have the church erected in 1872. Prior to that, services were conducted out of the Temperance Hall. The land had been purchased from Joseph and Charlotte Butler for the sum of $60.
The WM Church became the United Church of Canada, and then sold, when a new church was built in the 1960's. It has been a private home and antique shoppe.
Link below to read the list of individuals who reported Wesleyan Methodist as their religion in the 1871 census.
Wesleyan Methodists
Ministers who served the pastoral charge of the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Kettleby, Lloydtown Circuit.
1853-1857 Rev. George McRichie
1857-1860 Rev. Joseph Saunders
1860-1863 Rev. Nathan Swann
1863-1866 Rev. R. A. Campbell
1866-1868 Rev. William Hay
1868-1869 Rev. I. W. Sparling
1869-1871 Rev. George Brown
1871-1874 Rev. Peter Addison
1874-1877 Rev. Wm. G. Howson
1877-1878 Rev. Robert Clark
1878-1800 Rev. Ausitn Potter
1880-1883 Rev. Robert McCullough
1883-1886 Rev. George Walker
1886-1887 Rev. William Richardson
1887-1889 Rev. N. E. Scott
1889-1890 Rev. C. E. Perry
1890-1892 Rev. W. P. Brown
1892-1895 Rev. R. B. Strangway
1895-1897 Rev. George W. Robinson
1897-1901 Rev. R. J. Stillwell
1901-1904 Rev. J. B. Freebury
1904-1907 Rev. W. H. Laidlaw
1907-1911 Rev. Thomas Leonard
1911-1915 Rev. W. J. Tribble
1915-1919 Rev. J. W. Fox
1919-1923 Rev. C.C. Otton
1923-1927 Rev. J. W. Holmes
1927-1932 Rev. J. S. Stevenson
1932-1938 Rev. H. W. Strapp
1938-1945 Rev. W. J. Burton
1945-1949 Rev. C.E. Cragg
1949-1951 Rev. Donald G. Day
1951-1952 Mr. Hummel
1952-1963 Rev. Robert Graham
1963-1969? Rev. Harold W. Kemp
(information provided by the United Church Archives, at Victoria University at the University of Toronto.)
Exciting Discovery:
Names of some inhabitants of Kettleby during the early 1900's.
Archibald, Baker, Benfield, Blatchford, Boadwin, Brodie, Brown, Burling, Burton, Campbell, Cull, Cutting, Dutcher, Enright, Hambleton, Heacock, Hilborn, Hollingshead, Hughey, Hunt, Jarvis, Lepard, Lewis, Lloyd, Love, McGill, Mount, Murray, Pottage, Pratt, Proctor, Rae, Robinson, Rogers, Seymore, Storey, Sweets, Tatton, Tice, Waldock, Wallas, Walton, Weaver,Williams, Wilson.
1901 Kettleby Census
Here are some interesting little tidbits taken from The Toronto Star Newspaper about local residents.Archibald, Baker, Benfield, Blatchford, Boadwin, Brodie, Brown, Burling, Burton, Campbell, Cull, Cutting, Dutcher, Enright, Hambleton, Heacock, Hilborn, Hollingshead, Hughey, Hunt, Jarvis, Lepard, Lewis, Lloyd, Love, McGill, Mount, Murray, Pottage, Pratt, Proctor, Rae, Robinson, Rogers, Seymore, Storey, Sweets, Tatton, Tice, Waldock, Wallas, Walton, Weaver,Williams, Wilson.
Tasty Tidbits
by J. M. Walton, the Aurora Banner, October 21, 1938
Kettleby United Church
The Methodist people held services in the Temperance Hall for several years, but in 1872, when the Rev. Peter Addison was the minister in charge of the Lloydtown circuit, of which Kettleby became one of the preaching stations, land was purchased as the site of the Church from Joseph Butler, who conveyed the land for a consideration of $60.00. The Church is still standing on the original site. The Deed was granted to the Wesleyan Methodist Church (in connection with the English conference.) The Rev. Peter Addison witnessed the signature of the grantor and his wife Charlotte.The original trustees were: Robert Tilson, Isaac Gordon, Simeon Lemon, Robert Cook, James J. Spink, Oliver Smith, Charles Lloyd, Isaac Hollingshead, John H. Smith, John Lloyd, Benjamin Hollingshead, and Richard Burling.
The new church started with much enthusiasm, and they built up a large and ardent membership, and conducted a very active and efficient Sunday School. At one time, a junior Minister was stationed at Kettleby, and the Lloydtown circuit had more appointments and members than could be ministered to by one. Lloydtown Church was built in 1844. It was a frame structure to seat 250. Some years later it was replaced by a brick church on the same site.
Superintendent: John Lukes
Assist.-Supt: John H. Smith
Teachers- Boys class: Ann I. Smith, Richard Wilkinson, John Green, Wilford Heacock, Richard Burling, Robert Tilson, Joseph Tilson.
Teachers- Girls class: Mary Smith, Mary J. Collins, Emaline Heacock, Ellen Heacock, Catherine Lemon, Martha J. Smith, Charlotte Smith.
Kettleby Cemetery
The Kettleby Cemetery Company was organized on the 4th of October, 1809. The first officers were: Jacob Walton, President; Joseph Rogers, Secretary; William H. Proctor, Treasurer; Directors: Wiliam Fox, Simeon Lemon, Artimus Hamilton, William D. White, William Watson.
The location of the site was a long time in consideration. The President visited cemeteries in all parts of the County and in other parts, viewing sites and studying plans and management. Finally the present site was decided on and five acres was considered sufficient, but later a larger plot was decided on, and the purchase of seven acres was authorized. The land ws bought from James Hunter, who was executor of the Tool Estate. The land had been in that family's ownership for many years. The survey and plan was completed by Peter Gibson, D.L.S. and the plot contains 6 and 6-10 acres. It was purchased at the cost of $528.00. The surveyor was a public spirited man. His survey and plan cost only $15.00.
The cemetery was originally fenced all around with wooden picket fence. This was later replaced in front by an iron fence and ornamental gate, and sides with wire fencing. The fence posts for the plot were bought at the outset from W. C. Bogart at the cost of 11cents each, delivered. The lumber for the picket fence was bought from the Mills of Henry Marsh at Mt. Mellick at a cost of $117.75. Cost for both material and labour professional and otherwise, were remarkably low in those days.
In 1897 there were sixty-five shareholders. At the end of the third year there had been seventy interments. To date 402 have been buried here. An endowment fund was started in 1898 when Elizabeth F. Fox of New York, widow of the late Vincent Fox made a voluntary gift of $100.00 for the maintenance of the burial plot of her deceased husband. The Company now has an endowment system for all lots, and a very substantial endowment fund. The cemetery is well maintained and a great credit to the community and particularly to the founders. The Kettleby Cemetery was one of the earliest to be established after those at Newmarket and Aurora, and has filled a great need for the community.