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195910 19th Line, Kintore, Ontario N0M 2C0

Ontario Tourism Region : Southwestern

From: https://webresources.oxfordcounty.ca

THE EARLY HISTORY OF KINTORE Mr. A. F. Thornton

In the year 1826, Mr. Benjamin Swayzie came from the Niagara district and purchased 2,000 acres in the township of East Nissouri.

To his eldest daughter, Lydia, who married Henry Campbell, he gave 100 acres, and it was on this farm, now occupied by Charles Phillips, that some of the finest buildings in this vicinity were erected. The first school house was erected on this farm just west of the creek in 1835, and was built of logs.

An important meeting was held in this building about the year 1837, to determine what action the residents of the township would take in regard to the rebellion then in progress. The early meetings of the township council were also held in this school house. The old Methodist cemetery is located on this same property.

A son of Henry and Lydia Campbell was buried here in 1836, and the pioneer, Mr, Benjamin Swayzie, in 1850. In 1861, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell deeded the cemetery to the Methodist Episcopal Church which was erected just east of the cemetery, about the year 1872, after the farm had become the property of Mr. John Phillips.

The Wesleyan Methodist Church was built about the year 1860, and was situated a short distance to the east of the four corners, on the Groves Farm, now occupied by George Sims. In 1871, the Presbyterians built a church one mile east of Kintore near the corner of the 11th Concession line.

Wm. Murray was the first post master and the post office was located in a hotel about a half a mile north of the corner on the farm now occupied by Don Calder.

Mr. Murray came from Kintore, Scotland, thus the post office officials chose this name for the new post office. I have been unable to find just when this took place but Mr. Murray died and was buried in the Methodist cemetery in 1867.* *The name Kintore is first shown in a list of post offices dated October 1, 1862, given in the Canadian Almanac for 1863.

About this time, Mr. Wm. Easson, a pensioner of the Crimean War, put up a building on the corner of .the Phillips farm and was appointed post master while his wife kept a small store in the same building.

In 1870, Mr. Robert Eldon built a store at the northeast corner of Kintore, on the Pearson farm, and on the death of Mr, Easson became post master.

The first cheese factory was built by Mr. George Furse, in 1874, or 1875, on the north side of the road. The present cheese factory is situated on the same Property.

Ed Flynn was the first blacksmith and he sold out to Andrew Murray. His shop was west of the corner on the north side of the road and Mr. George Weston started a blacksmith-shop a short distance south of the corner on the east side of the road. Mr. Wm. Straitch, who came from West Missouri, built a store near the corner on the. same side of the road.

In later years, at a date which cannot be established, there was a shoemaker, Mr. Dunster; a flour and chopping mill conducted by Mr. Cade; and a.saw mill built by John Grant.

Address of this page: http://www.ruralroutes.com/kintore