people & places

Meadow Bank Farm

There is a quiet elegance to this house as it stands stoic; the roof, the wood, the trimming is slowly disintegrating; but the walls are standing strong. The yard is overgrown with parts of cedar rail fences here and there. Spring flower bulbs are popping up now that the warmer sun has melted the snow.

The methods of construction and style used indicate that this home was built before 1850. Although most dwellings at that time were made of logs, the Munro’s made theirs of stone, being careful to leave an indentation in the wall for the Grandfather’s Clock, the works of which they brought with them. All wood work was hand wrought – floor 1 ½” pine, beams – long trees leveled smooth with a broad axe.

The Munro’s next door neighbour, Patrick Scanlon, who came in 1829, established the first lime kiln in the new settlement. Lime was necessary for the mortar required in building the huge stone fireplaces and chimneys of the era for chinking the log walls of the houses, for plastering, and whitewashing. Later, as stone houses replaced the original log buildings larger quantities of lime were in demand, so in 1842 he built a larger kiln on top of a small hill near the Guelph-Fergus road.

The Munro Family

JOHN MUNRO (1784-1866) was born in Banffshire, Scotland. He married ELIZABETH DUNBAR (1783-1870) on February 21, 1808. They had six children born in Scotland. John came to Canada in 1832 and purchased lots 9, 10 in Nichol Township and the family sailed on the ‘Molson of Dundee’ to Canada in 1833. Their children:

JOHN MUNRO JR. (1804-1876) married MARGARET MAITLAND (1815-1893). Their family included James, 1837; Mary, 1842; John, 1846; William, 1850 and David, 1853. John was a stone mason.

DAVID (1809-1851) married JANE BLACK (1805-1878) in Scotland on December 31, 1831. Their seven children were HELEN ‘ELLEN’ who was born in 1832 only a year ahead of immigration. The other children were born in Nichol: John, 1834; James, 1836; Elisabeth ‘Lizzie’, 1839; Ellen, 1841; Jane ‘Jean’, 1843 and David, 1845.

ALEXANDER ‘Sandy’ (1813-1902) stayed on the home farm until 1893 when he and his sister Margaret moved to Fergus.
ANN (1815-1887) married David Black (1820-1901). Their family included Jane, 1844; Hugh, 1846; Margaret, 1849; Elizabeth, 1852; Helen, 1854; John, 1854. They lived in West Garafraxa.

MARGARET (1820-1881) married Peter MCLAREN (1811-1884). Peter’s first wife was Ann Gerrie (1815-1851) and their children were John Fellows, 1841; and Andrew, 1842. Margaret and Peter had one daughter Elizabeth Munro (1843-1908). They lived in Fergus.

JEAN (1820-1881) married JOHN MARTIN SR. and the 10 children were Agnes, 1843; John Jr., 1845; Elizabeth, 1843; David, 1847; Thomas, 1851; William Mutch, 1851; Alexander, 1853; Jennett Jackson, 1856; Robert, 1858; and Donald McLean, 1860.

Fergus News-Record March 13, 1902
AN OLD PIONEER GONE

Another of Wellington’s pioneers has passed to the great beyond. We refer to the late ALEXANDER ‘SANDY’ MUNRO who departed this life on Friday morning last at the advanced age of 88 years and seven months. Born in Aberdeenshire Scotland, he was of the sturdy Scotch type, so characteristic of many of our first settlers.

On June 13, 1833 being then nineteen years of age, in company with a family of ten he left the land of his birth for the wilds of Canada. In that family of ten, there were four generations represented, the oldest, the late Mr. Munro’s grandfather, aged ninety and the youngest, the late Mrs. John Hind Broadfoot, who was then an infant of one year. The voyage across the ocean lasted seventeen weeks and took five weeks to travel from Montreal to Nichol. Two weeks were spent between that city and Toronto, then Little York, the boats on the river being towed by horses and when rapids were reached the passengers were obliged to get out and walk. They took the boat across to Hamilton. A path through the forest, over which they traveled on foot, was all that guided them to their new home, “Meadow Bank” farm.

Almost nine years ago (1893), when he and his sister Margaret, the only surviving member of the family, moved to Fergus and retired from the active cares of life. Always of a quiet and retiring spirit, he never took any prominent part in public life. In politics he was a life-long Reformer, and was a reader of the Globe ever since its first issue.

I think the following photos are special. I have never seen an old photo as stunning as this one of Margaret Munro (McLaren, Hanlin) She was born in 1820 and died in 1881. Hand-coloured photographs were most popular in the mid-to late-19th century before the invention of colour photography. Also, it must have been very unusual to have four generations in that time period.

MARGARET MUNRO (1820-1881), daughter of John and Elizabeth, married PETER MCLAREN (1811-1884). Peter’s 1st wife was Ann a (1815-1851) and their children were John Fellows, 1841 and Andrew, 1842. Margaret and Peter had one daughter Elizabeth Munro (1843-1908). They lived in Fergus.

From Fergus by A.E. Byerly – “Peter McLaren was one of the early and lest known settlers of Fergus who lived for many years in the substantial log house which stood in a little yard where Fairley’s drug store was. Mr. McLaren came to Fergus about 1836 and by trade was a distiller. He was employed in Webster’s Distillery. He married a Miss Gerrie and they had two sons, John and Andrew. The latter died in Western Canada where the father also passed away.”

ELIZABETH MUNRO MCLAREN married HUGH GERRIE HANLIN (1836-1923). He was born in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland and died in Fergus July 26, 1923. Hugh arrived in Canada in 1856.

His 1st wife was Margaret Balfour and they married in Grey County on Jan 4, 1861. Hugh was in Normanby working as a carpenter for the Episcopal church. Margaret died in December of that year when their daughter Margaret (1861-1870) was born in Mount forest.

On March 5, 1863 Hugh married Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Munro McLaren in Peel County. In 1871 he was working as a Machinist in Nichol and by 1881 an Engineer in Fergus. Their children were Elizabeth (1864-1946) died in Pasadena, California. John Simpson (1867-1943) died in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. Margaret (1870-1957) lived with her sister in Pasadena. They are both interred at Mountain View Cemetery Altadena, Los Angeles County. Alexander Munro (1872-1966) died in Miniota, Manitoba. Jean Jane (1875-1909) died in California. Hugh Gerrie Hanlin Jr. (1877-1882) died in Fergus, only 5 years old. Agnes Ann (1881-1905) died in Flushing, Queens, New York, she was only 24 years old. Lizzie Munro McLaren died on February 3, 1840 in Fergus of epileptic fits; she was ill for 8 days. She was only 48 years old.
Hugh Gerrie Hanlin married a 3rd wife, Ellen Elliott, on Jun 19, 1895 in York, Scarborough, Ontario. He was still in Fergus and was employed as a Stationary Engineer for Grand Trunk Railroad pumping station

Now the Munro to Broadfoot connection:

Lot 7, Concession 3 – BROADFOOT – RAVENSWOOD FARM

HELEN MUNRO (1832-1901) married JOHN HIND BROADFOOT SR. (1828-1901) at Hamilton on July 11, 1853. They farmed Ravenswood, lot 7, concession 3, in Nichol. Helen died at Ravenswood Farm on January 26, 1901. John Hind Broadfoot Sr. was one of the well-known family of Broadfoots in the Township. His father, Samuel, came to Canada in 1833, same as the Munro family, and settled on Lot 10, Concession 10.

MARGARET (1856-1944) married ALEXANDER MUNRO MARTIN (1852-1915). Their 8 children were Helen Munro, 1885; John Broadfoot, 1887; David Alexander, 1888; Thomas William, 1890; Robert Samuel, 1892; Jeanetta Annie, 1894; Donald Jamieson, 1896; Margaret Isabel, 1898.

ISABELLA (1858-1949) lived on the home farm until her father passed away and by 1901, she lived in Fergus, age 42 and single. At death she was 90 years.

DAVID MUNRO Broadfoot (1860-1916) married ELIZABETH BOYD JAMIESON (1865-1939) from Lot 9, concession 5, Nichol and her parents were William J. Jamieson and Hannah Glover. and their daughter was HELEN MUNRO “NELLIE” BROADFOOT (1902-1998).

SAMUEL BROADFOOT (1863-1916) married MARY GREEN (1877-1954) and purchased the Munro farm, lot 10, concession 4, on March 2, 1899, 100 acres for $5,000. They had a daughter, Mary, who married Harry Watson and a son, James. Also see Munro farm history.

JANET MARY (1865-1896) lived at the home farm and stayed single. She died of consumption when only 31 years old.

ELIZABETH (1867-1935) married JAMES ALEXANDER (1864-1940) on September 27, 1892. Their farm was in Garafraxa West (Belwood) and was known as “Maple Grange” at lot 14, concession 8, 7th line. Elizabeth had taught school at Belwood. They had two children, a daughter Helen Matilda (1894-1947) who married Alexander L. Park on September 22, 1921. A son, William (Bill) James (1895-1976) stayed on the home farm and married Mary McGregor on March 28, 1923. Their children were Robert died at birth 1924; Jean, Mrs. George Rogers of Elora; James RR2, Guelph; Betty, Mrs. Wm. Barclay at Guelph; William married Donna Hamilton; and Joan, Mrs. Glen Louttit.

HELEN JANE (1869-1958) married JAMES HAIG KILPATRICK (1865-1944) on June 16, 1897. They lived on lot 3, concession 4, in Nichol Township, previously the Christopher Wilson farm. Please see a separate post of this family.

JOHN HIND BROADFOOT JR. (1871-1953) married JANE “JENNIE” DAVIDSON (1875-1964) October 29, 1902 at Maple Lane Farm, lot 8, concession5. Her parents were Peter Davidson (1835-1919) and mother Janet Cormie (1840-1923). John Hind succeeded his father as owner of the farm. Their children were John Davidson “Jack” (1903-1987) married Dorothy Janet Aitchison (1905-1990); Munro “Roy” (1905-1990) married Grace Jeannette Carey (1905-1990); Janet Cormie (1907-1989) married A.E. Element (1907-1992); Eleanor (1910-2000) married Matthew James Wilson (1907-1989) and they had a son Matthew Munro (1938-2007).
JANE BLACK BROADFOOT (1874-1973) married REV. ROBERT BAYNE BLYTH (1872-1956) on July 30, 1902 at Ravenswood Farm. Jane and Robert moved to the US in 1905 to Burlington, Racine, Wisconsin; 1910 they were in Greene, Missouri; by 1920 they were in Cuyahoga, Ohio; 1930 in Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa; 1905 Burlington, Iowa. Jane died at Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio on August 19, 1973. Robert was born in East Garafraxa, Dufferin County and died in Cleveland on March 2, 1956. Their children were Helen Margaret (1903-1984); Robert Broadfoot (1905-1993); Marjorie Isabel (1906-1997); John William (1909-1997) and Elizabeth Jane (1914-1998).

JOHN ‘JACK’ DAVIDSON BROADFOOT who married Dorothy Janet Aitchison (1905-1974) became the next owner of the farm. Their son, JOHN A. BROADFOOT, who was the fourth generation of John Broadfoots to operate the farm. John A. married Helen Doughty and have three daughters Denise, Kimberly and Marney. David, brother of John A. owns a small acreage on the west corner of the farm where he lives with his wife, Vallery Tye. Their children are Janine and Dean.

The Broadfoot family in Lower Nichol began with the first family, Samuel and Jean Hastings 1st and Mary Haxton 2^nd arriving in 1833 and taking up lot 10, concession 10.
An impressive 187 years

DEATH OF A LOWER NICHOL PIONEER

JOHN HIND BROADFOOT Passed Away on Tuesday, December 2, 1901
There died on Tuesday morning at his late residence “Ravenswood” Lower Nichol, John Hind Broadfoot, aged seventy-three years all but seven days. He had not been ailing very long, and was at his brother William’s funeral on October 14th, but it was noticed by many of those present that he was then far from being well. He seemed to feel his brother’s death very keenly, as they had lived so long side by side, and their interests were always one and the same. However, he was able to be up and around after this, and his family had hopes that he would be spared, but some ten days ago he took worse and from that time no hopes were held out for his recovery.
The immediate cause of his death was an affection of the liver, aggravated by lung trouble, which his never hardy and rugged frame could not withstand, and to which he succumbed and passed peacefully away surrounded by all the surviving members of his family.
He was the second eldest son of the late Samuel Broadfoot, and was born at Drumness Parish of Carsephairn, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland on December 11th, 1828. Early in 1833 his parents and the other members of the family decided to emigrate to America – as this country was then only known by – and after a long and hazardous voyage they landed at Quebec in the summer of that year. Guelph seemed to be the objective point to which the father wanted to reach as soon as possible, as there were then others from his native land already located in the vicinity. No time was lost in reaching the then hamlet of Guelph, and in a few weeks the homestead in Lower Nichol was bought, and in a short time the family was settled down and making the best of the condition of affairs which they found they had to contend, and which was so different to what they had been accustomed to in Scotland. But hard work and perseverance soon had its reward, and in the course of a few years the father was able to secure more land for his sons, and the subject of this notice got the farm upon which he so long lived, and to which he afterwards added more broad and smiling acres. Though never in the sense of the word a rugged man, he did his share of pioneer work, and while his homestead required more than ordinary hard work to clear up he lived to enjoy and see it one of the best tilled and equipped farms in the section. He was a successful and progressive farmer in every sense of the work, and like his father before him he took a great interest in sheep, and for many years was a successful prize taker at the local agricultural shows, in which he always took a deep interest in all their departments.
For upwards of a quarter of a century he was identified with municipal affairs in connection with the Model Township, serving first as a Councilor, then as Deputy Reeve, and eventually as Reeve, and at the time of his death was Treasurer of the township, which office, like those previously held by him, he filled with much acceptance.
In politics an uncompromising Conservative, standing by his party through evil as well as good report and his name more than once was before the convention for Provincial parliamentary honors in Centre Wellington, but his retiring and unobtrusive disposition would have none of it, desiring rather to serve as a full private in the ranks – in which capacity few did more or better service in forwarding the interests of the nominee of his party.
In religion he was a Presbyterian, and was one of the oldest members of St. Andrew’s church, Fergus. While never taking or holding office in connection with his church he was a liberal contributor to all its schemes and was a very consistent and conscientious member in every way.
Mr. Broadfoot was married to Ellen Munro, a daughter of John Munro, one of the early settlers of Fergus, and her death last February, following closely that of their loving daughter, Janet, told its effects louder than spoken words upon the ever gentle and loving husband and father. Three sons and five daughters survive the loss of a kind and affectionate father: David M., Samuel, Lower Nichol; and John, on the homestead; Mrs. Alex. Martin, Mount Forest; Mrs. Jas. Alexander, West Garafraxa; Mrs. Jas. Kilpatrick, Lower Nichol, and Bella and Jean at home. Of a large family of brothers and siters death is, and has been recently, making serious inroads upon it, as it is not two months since the brother and eldest of the family, William, died, followed by the lamented death of his daughter, Mrs. L. Brown, nee Lizzie, not two weeks ago, and now another brothers has been called home. The surviving sisters and brothers are: Mrs. M. Anderson, Fergus; Mrs. a. McCready, Harriston; Mrs. Dr. Jas. Cowen, Portage La Prairie; James, Belwood; Thomas, near Fergus; George, Dauphin, Man.; and Samuel, of this city.
To the sorrowing family and relatives sincere sympathy is extended to them in the death of one whom to know was to love and respect and whose place in the community will be hard to fill.
Mr. Broadfoot was well and favorably known in this city and his many friends here will learn with sincere regret of his demise.
The funeral takes place tomorrow afternoon to Belsyde cemetery, Fergus, from his late residence.

Lot 10, concession 4 – Broadfoot

SAMUEL BROADFOOT, son of John Hind and Helen Munro, purchased Meadow Bank Farm in 1898 and married MARY GREEN a year later. They had two children, Mary Munro (Watson) and James John. Samuel died on Christmas day 1916. James was only 14 at the time. He and his Mother continued farming until 1940 when he enlisted in the military. Mary sold the farm in 1941 to Wesley L. Ham, Fergus. The next 10 years was the only time Meadow Bank wasn’t family owned.
Mary Broadfoot was interested in many things and with her drive and intelligence contributed much to her community. Perhaps her first love was the Ennotville Library, where she worked tirelessly for many years. She also had a passion for history and in her later years spent much time hunting over old documents, minute books and any other sources for clues to the history of Lower Nichol and wrote extensively for the papers. With the same foresight she saved and valued quite a few pieces of early Canadian Furniture and objects of historical interest. Her house was, in fact, a veritable treasure trove of pioneer relics.
James married Ruth Kernaghan Ewing on January 30, 1952 and they lived in Elora. They had three children, two boys and a girl. Their daughter Kathryn has carried on the tradition of recording history in the form of Genealogy.

Lot 5, concession 4, Nichol – Hastings – Bain – Broadfoot – Stewart – Litch

DAVID MUNRO BROADFOOT, eldest son of John Hind Broadfoot and Helen Munro, was born on December 10, 1860. He lived at home and farmed with his father for some years. In 1896 he joined the 30th Regiment as a private and after two terms at the Military School in London, Ontario, was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Elora Company, 30th Regiment. He purchased the Hastings farm, lot 5, concession 4 in 1898.
He was 42 when he married ELIZABETH BOYD JAMIESON (1865-1939) on February 26, 1902. She was raised on lot 9, concession 5, Nichol, daughter of William Jamieson and Hannah Glover. They had one daughter HELEN MUNRO “NELLIE” BROADFOOT who was born on December 3, 1902. David died on November 7, 1916, one month before his brother Samuel, who lived on Lot 10, conc 4.

This farm was called “The Model” due to the caretaking ability of its owner and was later owned by his grandson Harvey Stewart (1942-2004) from 1978-1989. Nellie Broadfoot married John Harvey Stewart on November 12, 1937 and they lived in Morriston, Puslinch Township.

Nellie wrote: “My father died when I was thirteen, so Mother and I lived in Fergus for a few years while I attended Fergus High School. A member of St. Andrew’s Church, Fergus and went to Ennotville Sunday School. Graduated from High School in 1922 and Toronto Normal (Teacher’s College) the next year. Taught at SS No. 8 in Nichol (lot 1, concession 4) for eleven years. Belonged to the Ennotville WI for a few years and took part in judging contests they sponsored, but their meetings were in the afternoon. Married in 1937 and have lived in Morriston ever since.

Nellie, like Mary Broadfoot, was very active in preserving local history through writing. She entered at least 4 essays over the years to the Wellington County Historical Society; also, the history of Duff’s Church and Puslinch Station to name a few.

OBIT – One of Puslinch’s oldest residents, Mrs. NELLIE STEWART (nee Broadfoot) of Morriston passed away on Monday, April 13, 1998, in her 96th year. Beloved wife of the late John H. Stewart (1980). Loved mother of Helen and husband Paul Rice of Fergus and Harvey Stewart of Morriston on the family farm. Loving grandmother of Lynda and Clive Russell of Ajax and Brian Rice of Toronto. Mrs. Stewart was a faithful member of Duff’s Presbyterian Church and was a life member of the Women’s Missionary Society and also of the Morriston Women’s Institute. She spent many years as a public-school teacher and her last school was SS #10 Corwhin. Nellie was interested in all activities of the area and her many friends will miss their enjoyable visits with her and always the cup of tea.

In 1951 Helen Broadfoot Stewart purchased the Munro farm, lot 10, conc 4, thus, retaining family ownership of the original Stone House. In 1981 she passed the property down to her daughter Margaret Elizabeth Helen Rice.

Margaret Elizabeth Helen Stewart married Paul Edward Rice and they had two children, Brian and Lynda. They lived and worked in Toronto for most of their life. They retired to Fergus and lived close to the Grand River for 25 years. Helen died September 29, 2014 and Paul in July 25, 2017.

“My mom had a love for the river and gardening so had an idyllic spot on Can Robert St. She had memories of dances at the current LCBO building in Elora and had volunteered or worked at the “Poor House” [now the Wellington County Museum] It was my mother’s wish that I inherit the farm as I always loved going there and had a strong desire for the property to stay in the family.”…Brian Rice

My story is complete! Meadow Brook Farm on the fourth concession of Nichol Township, the lovely place with the artistic, stone house overlooking the hills and valley of Swan Creek has a future. It sits there waiting and looking forward to sheltering the same family in future days to come.