1867 described in 1927

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Marmora 1867 

In 1867 the population of Marmora and Lake townships was jointly about 1500,   Lake township contained about 200, leaving about 1300 in Marmora township.  In 1865 there were forty-nine householders residing In the village and this number would be practically unchanged for several years afterwards.

Also living at this time on part of Lot 11, of the 7th Con., was Marmora's only  centenarian, as far as known, Royal Keys, at the time of Confederation, 103 years old, dying four years later at the great age of 107 years, 1 month and 26 days.

As will be noticed by the list of householders,  Marmora,  in the year 1865, had no resident physician. The nearest was Dr. T. F. English, of Stirling.  The one existing church at that time was the old Roman Catholic Church spoken of in these days as "the church across the river."  Father E.P. Talor is remembered as the ministering priest of that time. Other services were held in the old Town Hall by Rev. B. H. M. Baker, rector of Stirling;   Rev. J. A. Dowler, Wesleyan Methodist;  Rev. N.Howard, Episcopal Methodist; and Rev.  M McGilvray, Presbyterian.

At the time of Confederation, Marmora folk travelled to market by horseback or lumber-wagon in the main, and an odd person or so did not seem to mind an occasional walk. The actual day of Confederation was locally observed by about one third of the residents joining in a big celebration and picnic held on grounds on the Kingston road, Belleville.  About 500 of the military are said to have been in attendance and among other speakers were Hon. E. Murney, member of the Legislative Council for Trent Division and Gore Dickson, Barrister of Belleville. Included in those attending from Marmora was our highly esteemed resident Wm. Bonter, J.P.

Though to many the remembrance of Confederation day has become faded,  Mr. Bonter thrills yet in recalling the joy over its dawn. It may interest many readers to know that Sir John A. MacDonald, who has been described as the great spirit of Confederation,  unseated**  Anthony Manahan in 1844, who from 1825 to 1830 managed the Marmora Iron Works, when such were the property of  Mr. Hayes. This is on the authority of Nicholas Flood Davin, an historian who in 1877 wrote "The Irishman in Canada."

** "defeated" would be more accurate

Marmora Herald 1927

The householders were:

  • W. W. Armstrong, Land agent and township Clerk, Simon Armstrong, blacksmith;

  • Benjamin Beddome, Division Court Clerk;

  • David Bentley, bailiff;

  • Julian Bissounette, agent for Gilmour & Co.,

  • G. W. Bleecker, Manor House;

  • D. G. Bowen, J.P., postmaster;

  • Ezekiel Boyd, yeoman;

  • Margaret Brady, widow, inn keeper;

  • Wm. Norman Brady;

  • Baptiste Bruneau, laborer;

  • Felix Carpenter, miner;

  • Charles Clairmont, blacksmith;

  • Eli Clairmont, blacksmith;

  • Patrick Crawford, mer chant;

  • George Daraha (or Darrah), yeoman;

  • Nelson Deline, laborer;

  • John Devlin, shoemaker;

  • Rec. J. Dowler, Wesleyan Methodist minister;

  • Robert Fitzpatrick, laborer;

  • G. L. Houston, carpenter;

  • Mrs, Mary Hughes, widow;

  • Wm. Jenkinson, laborer;

  • Benjamin Johnson, J. P., merchant and hotel keeper;

  • Catherine Leggett;

  • William Leonard, driver;

  • Joseph McCloskey, laborer;

  • George McMillan, laborer;

  • Nelson McWilliams, hotel keeper;

  • Wellington McWilliams;

  • James O'Hara, yeoman;

  • D. N. Powell, flour mill;

  • Thomas Price, shoemaker;

  • Minerva Pringle, widow;

  • James Ranney, contractor;

  • Francis Revois, shingle maker;

  • Levi Rose, cooper;

  • Dennis Shannon, tailor;

  • Patrick Shea, shoemaker;

  • William Simmons, yeoman;

  • John Sloan, miller;

  • Lewis Tallion, cabinetmaker;

  • Jerome Tallion, cabinet

  • J. Vincent, clerk;

  • Robert Wadsworth, tinsmith

  • Thomas Warren, carriage maker;

  • Nathaniel Weese;

  • Henry Weese,shoemaker.