Sebringville, Perth County, Ontario1834 - 1902 |
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Origin and Names
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Sebringville, Ontario partly in Ellice and partly in Downie, four miles west of Stratford, is a station on the Buffalo & Lake Huron Railway, and has several excellent business places. Here are located one large general store, a drug store, tin, stove and hardware store, three hotels, flour mill, chopping and planing mills, two cider mills, one flax and two sawmills, furniture and undertaking establishment, two blacksmith and one waggon shop, jewelry store, harness shop, and two shoe stores. Sebringville was named in honor of John Sebring, an American, who located here in 1834, and by erecting a sawmill thus became its founder. His son David was first storekeeper and postmaster, his place of business being erected on lot 18, con. I, Ellice. The first hotel still stands, now known as the "Arlington," and was built by a Mr. Kinnaird. Another old settler, and prominent man in Sebringville, was Mr. Henry Scarth, now deceased. Actual settlement first began in this neighborhood on lot 19, con. I, now, and for many years, the property of Andrew Goetz, J.P. Other pioneer settlers were Michael Stoskopf, Anthony Goettler, Joseph Ackersvlller and John Schweitzer. Of those old business men, only two are now remaining, Andrew Goetz and Ernest Schmidt. In 1843, a school was erected on lot 12, con. I, Downie. This, as will be found elsewhere, was organized by J. C. W. Daly, in 1842, and was for several years the most westerly in Perth County. Its history is somewhat unique, having had two teachers, whose united period of service was 47 years. First of these was Hugh Hamilton, from 1843 till 1865, and Mr. George Hamilton, now county treasurer, who was incumbent from 1875 to 1900. Mr. Hugh Hamilton, now deceased, was a worthy man, and greatly respected during his long tenure of office. Link: Anglicans in 19th Century Sebringville, Ontario |