MILTON   FALLS

CREATED

MANY TIMBER BARONS

 

1. SIMEON PERKINS (He started it, others followed).

2. ELISHA FREEMAN (His sons did very well).

3. JOSEPH BURNABY

4.BENJAMIN COLE

5. JOHN COOPS

6. THEODIUS FORD

7. ROBERT HARLOW

8. RICHARD KEMPTON

9. THOMAS KNOWLES

10. SILVANUS MORTON

11. NATHAN TUPPER

12. WILLIAM MURRAY

 

Our lumber giants grew from these families.  It started in 1760 when many New England families re-established in this river valley, called Liverpool Township.

This was a period when there was almost continuous wars, Nova Scotia, a colony of Great Britain, was fighting the pesky French, on behalf of the King.

A revolution broke out in the other colonies along the Atlantic coast, in 1776 the USA was created. The French sided with the USA, and Nova Scotia became the target of pirates on the high seas.

Never mind that our local people all had brothers and cousins back in New England, the pesky yanks did maraud and stole from our shipping.

The answer to these attacks on the high seas by Americans, French, and other enemies, was to arm some of our ships with cannon and return the favour.

Our population had learned how to make ships and they had the materials to do that. Letters of Marque were issued to adventurers who would fight to protect their homes and way of life.

They became very successful in this game; plunder was established and brought back to native ports, sold at auction and booty divided. Many local businessmen got a start from their adventures. Many were killed, and lost lives caused many widows to become destitute.

Life continued to evolve. An industry became established, the power from Milton Falls alone provided power for at least five sawmills at one time to operate. Ships were built downstream at tidewater to transport the much demanded lumber to markets around the world.

Markets included the West Indies where sugar, molasses and rum could be traded for.

The expanding USA(at times of non-war), also was a great market for building supplies. Interruptions of this occurred when the war of 1812-14  cooled things down. Later the American Civil War created markets again, unbelievable in magnitude.

Other markets were in England, our sailors were at home in Havana, or Boston or Liverpool England. The wiley and cautious British would buy deals, which is a log with the sides squared off. The British would refinish the sawing from the rough timber, and make finished items.

It took many years for our business men to realize that the wealth from lumbering operations was occurring after the rough product arrived at market. It took years to have lumber planed locally to finish size; or moldings to be machined here, or balusters or stair rails, and stair steps etc. to be done here where the raw product occurred.

It took years to learn that scraps of lumber could make shingles, or headings for replacing and reusing barrels. Barrels were later manufactured here, rather than shipping the raw material for others to do.

The merchants, mill owners, the ship builders all needed labour, men to cut the trees for logging operations, river drivers to get the logs to the mills, carpenters to build ships and houses to provide homes for this imported labour.

This river valley became known for hiring workers; the workers found the area very useful for cash money to augment their own livelihood back on the farm.

Lunenburg proved to be a great source of labour. This German community produced many children who grew up to be great workers. Family names like Whynot, Wambolt, Oickle, etc. originate in those Foreign Immigrants from France, Switzerland and Germany.

One family, the Starrett’s,  came from Annapolis County. They were carpenters and ship builders there, Nova Scotia, being surrounded with ocean, had shipyards elsewhere than Queens County.

The ultimate mix; forest, river, power, entrepreneurs, labour, markets, ships, sailors, need for food supplies, merchants, etc. all provided the essentials for a vibrant community.

 

SKETCHES OF THE BARONS.

 

SIMEON PERKINS.

 

Liverpool Township was created in 1760. Many proprietors (142) joined together, each with land grants. The township was 10 miles wide, and ran from East of Port Medway, to approx. Hunts Point. Its depth was 14 miles from Western Head to almost today’s Greenfield.

Simeon Perkins was not an original immigrant, yet appeared in about 1762. He was a merchant and soon established himself as that. We today are fortunate to be able to read his diary, and know of life in this period.

The first sawmill on the river was at Milton Falls - then called “The Falls”. It had been built by others, including the Freeman’s, but unfortunately was destroyed by fire before realizing its potential.

Simeon Perkins stepped in and purchased the “Irons” and the rights to the site. He gathered together suitable partners, rebuilt a proper sawmill, as well as establishing his own home nearby. He personally oversaw everything himself to make sure it was done right. His diary reveals the methods he used and his accumulation of land to support the timber operations.

He was shrewd, he carefully selected strong workmen with “know-how”, and his sawmill operation was a success.

He acquired land by purchases, many early proprietors became disillusioned and sold out their grants and holdings very cheaply, so they could return “home”.

Simeon continued to be an influence in this province for the next fifty years. His ownership of properties grew and grew.

His shipyard built many ships. He early relocated from near his sawmill at “Milton Falls”; he built the new home, now known as Simeon Perkins Museum in Liverpool.

His ships cruised the seven seas. They docked at his own wharves on Liverpool’s waterfront. They brought merchandise from around the world and filled his warehouses nearby. He showed others the way.

His diaries are fascinating reading. He was a magistrate, a justice of the peace and Colonel in the Militia. He was deep in the organization of the religious life of the community.

He had come to Liverpool as a widower, and had children. He later married a widow and they had more children. These life experiences are also revealed in the diary.

Privateering was a reluctant enterprise followed by Perkins as it was by others who found it necessary to defend themselves from pesky invaders and pirates on the High Seas. Marauders would attack our fishing vessels, they would invade local coastal villages, and capture our merchant ships approaching land fall. Perkins was a leader, he showed other Privateers, “How-To”.

                       

      ELISHA FREEMAN                 

 

SONS OF PROPRIETER AND FIRST TOWN CLERK ELISHA FREEMAN HAVE FILLED THIS VALLEY.

Elisha Freeman was a widower in Rochester Mass. who had knowledge of the capabilities of this new colony.

 He had many grown sons who were knowledgeable in his trade, sawmilling. Some of those sons had married and brought their own families to this river valley, which was ridged on both banks by giant pines, spruces and hemlocks as well as hardwoods like birch, beech, oak etc.

Precedent had been set in New England for sawmill builders to get access to prime land near any river. This was in appreciation for supplying a service, that of providing building materials in a growth area. The lots were laid out at ½ mile depths along the banks of the Mersey River. Mill sites were located near waterfalls or other power sources.

Elisha’s oldest son, Simeon (1), was given the eastside Mill Site at “The Falls”, which was a triangular piece of land with its apex on Milton Falls. One leg of the triangle was Bridge Street and ran ½ mile east from the river. The other leg ran ½ mile in a northeasterly direction. Here on the hill away from the river Simeon built his home and raised the first new group of Freeman Entrepreneurs. Their mill was built at the apex of the triangle.

The other brothers of Simeon (1) all built homes nearby. They can be found from Salmon Island Bridge to Halls Hill near Potanoc Street in Milton. These brothers had children, who also had more Freeman children that built practically all the existing houses on Highway #8.

Early Freeman names were; Barnabus, Nathaniel, Lothrop, Elisha, Zoheth, (1) &(2), Samuel, Jabish 1 &2, James, 1,2,3, William Henry, James Morton, James Augustus, Snow, etc. At least four mills became Freeman mills, with each mill often having up to twenty Freeman shareholders.

These Freemans also acquired land from others as well as receiving grants of land for development from “The Crown”.

They also became experienced in shipbuilding. Again the timber producers and sawmillers were able to mill their own materials for their own shipyards, which were easy to arrange on the banks of the Mersey River. It was navigatable and tidal within 1 mile of the Falls.

The Freemans were so family people that soon they supplied their own labourers to do all the different tasks. Some were house carpenters and framers, others into ship carpentry, others into the many occupations of a sawmill, like Sawyers, edgermen, scalers, etc.

Much of the work was seasonal, cutting timber in winter months, next in the spring river driving logs to the mills, next the spring sawing season to start, with air-drying and piling and moving the lumber to great drying areas along the streets and fields.

 

JOSEPH BURNABY

 

An excellent hard covered book exists at the Queens County Museum on this family .It is assembled by Harding Burnaby of Toronto whose father, Ralph, had done “well” in Toronto as a business man, in insurance and real estate.

Ralph was always a “homesick boy”, he loved to write rhymes for the Liverpool Advance, of his boyhood here in Milton. His poems in verse form are well worth seeking out.

Ralph was the youngest of eight boys; his high school education was accomplished by travelling three miles each day to Liverpool High School, often by “bone-rattling” early bicycle on rutted gravel roads.

Another brother gained reputation in Milton as catcher for pitcher George Foster in Milton's baseball team. That battery once had the reputation of striking out 27 batters in one game. One batter did reach first base.

The early Burnabys were “Privateers”, Capt. Burnaby got his start on the high sea. Descendants included a blacksmith who learned his trade in Saint John, NB, and practised in Milton with Joseph Knowles. He married into the Nelson Freeman family and built a blacksmith shop on Glenwood St., halfway between Alta Roblee’s and Doris Wentzell’s houses.

One of the Burnaby brothers built a mansion where Enos and later John Legge lived. Another lived on the corner of Highway #8 and Glenwood St. They acquired great tracts of land, and had a small sawmill on the brook from Seven Mile Lake to Burnabys Lake, which was named for them.

Later they operated a sawmill in Mill Village, and an even larger one in Milton at Potanoc Falls. They were early into Steam saw mills, one was located behind their “Klondike Store”, which mill was located where the Senior Citizen Apartments are now.

This family became very much in debt when the double jeopardy clause trapped them when the Morton Banks went broke.

There were a large number of boys who slowly went off to the USA; all did well.

 

BENJAMIN COLE

 

This family early established itself here in this valley. Their early history is as ship owners and fishermen of the deep- sea type. They early established themselves as Ship-Builders and built many seagoing craft, along the riverbanks at tide level.

A descendant of Benjamin's was Frank Cole whose home was purchased by Charles and Erna Legge about 1942, when Charlie was overseas in the World War II. This property is believed to be the original Benjamin Cole property. James Ford built in 1848 the house next door, be built on property known as “Coles Field”.

The history of the Cole family in Queens County is considerable, many migrated to the “Northern District”, and many stayed at home, reulting in the name being well known

Queens County Museum files have much data on this family.

 

JOHN COOPS

 

It was in the 1780's that Guy Carleton established a new colony at nearby Port Mouton. Members of this group were Loyalist from Carolina, as well as retired soldiers of the British side of the American Revolution.

It was 1787 that John Coops of this colony married a daughter of an early Liverpool family, Hannah Gorham. He bought a river lot from Simeon Perkins and built his home there, now 121 Highway #8, halfway between Milton Falls and Liverpool on the East side of the river where the river was navigable for sailing vessels.   

This family was soon involved in lumbering and shipping; sons and grandchildren followed who lumbered in the Herring Cove Lake area, and had mills in Brooklyn where the stream from that lake meets the sea.

The fortunes of the Coops family followed those of other early entrepreneurs, much wealth, merchandising and shipping, and sawmills producing huge quantities of lumber for export.

The depression that hit this area in 1870's wiped out most persons of industrial background. The younger members of the family left the area, and some went as far as California.

These Milton educated and well trained in hard work family members went far. Manufacture of pianos became the mode of wealth for one member. Others involved in retailing, all are good advertisement for Milton trained persons.

Recently a considerable bequest has been made to Milton’s United Baptist Church, in memory of their youth.                                                                                                                 THEODOSIUS FORD

 

Most new residents of Liverpool arrived here by Theod. Ford's Packet, “Polly”.  This stout little vessel would carry the family members and everything they owned, as they were building a new life.

Many early settlers brought the frames and boards to build their first home. Others also brought farm animals to supply milk, and meat. Fowl would be easily transported, and of great value in the wilderness.

Theodosius Ford made many trips, his house was well supplied. His family grew and soon were part of the growing lumber industry for which this colony became known for.

He carried on his shipping for many years, but eventually all of the old “salts” want to find a place on dry land. He purchased the estate of Jabish Freeman, which was located on lot 2- Letter B, just northeast of the Falls.

There were several areas in Milton where future Ford families appeared to group. East of the river on today's Morton Street and towards the Falls contained several younger Fords, like James M. Ford, and Edward Ford.

Another area of younger Fords appeared just north and west of the falls. Joseph Ford, Billy Ford, Ellis Ford and others had homes there.

Several others built on Forest Street, they were sons in law of Zoeth Freeman whose land they used,

It was during this period that the Northern Section of Queens County was being developed.  Younger members of these several Ford families were quick to acquire grants of land to produce farms in this new found area of good soil.

 

ROBERT HARLOW

 

The Harlow family is one that made Milton the industrial center it was to become.

Robert and his wife Susannah (Cole) Harlow came from Plymouth, New England; he was a descendant of Sgt. William Harlow of Plymouth fame. This family fitted in well with the work ethic of the new colony, and soon were well-established as land owners, and lumbermen.

Many Harlow names are on the honour roll of community builders. It was the Harlows and the Kemptons who housed the west side of Milton, from bridge to bridge.

One son Abner had a grown family when his wife died. A disaster at sea in 1815 caused the drowning of a friend, John Minard, whose young family needed a new dad. He married the widow Hetty Minard, and her sons became trained into lumbering by the new father figure.

Abner's first family was strong in lumbering, owned much timberland, and operated sawmills and had ships at sea.

His second family of stepsons also created lumber industries on their own. They were Wm. Sutclifff Minard, Nathaniel Minard, John Minard and Levi Minard. The uncles of these boys had settled the land near the Potamoc Falls, and on the Westside. Stepsons of Abner housed the area east of the Potanoc Falls. Levi Minard, the youngest son later gained fame as an M.D. and Liniment Maker.

Meanwhile Abners own sons had prospered well. They were shipbuilders, lumbermen, and merchants. They built a great store on the location now occupied by the “Milton Falls Restaurant”.

Many of this family also helped develop the farms of North Queens County.

Queens County Museum has in its files a wonderful diary of one Maurice Harlow. How that area was developed is revealed in this diary, and relates a lifetime of an early pioneer. He was a lumberman, farmer, storkeeper, father of wartime nurses and a son killed in WW 1.

The large majestic house of Charles Harlow exists in Milton's westside. Next door is the home built by Charles's father, Abner Harlow.

A son of Charles Harlow was John Henry Harlow, who became so well known for great wealth and for benevolence.

He studied business and Land surveying in St. John, N.B. He acquired great tracts of land. His partnership with Philson Kempton created a lumbering and sawmill operation, as well as a woodworking factory. Their shipyard near Tupper and West Streets built their many vessels that cruised the seven seas.

John Henry Harlow was married to Alice Kempton, daughter of James Kempton. He was a restless financier, and was a justice of the peace, Warden of Queens County, an Elder and strong leader of the Milton Christian Church and was responsible for this church having a strong leadership place in the community. Alice and John Henry donated the first and still existing pipe organ of the church.

This couple had no children so the bulk of the estate was willed to their church. The large home was left to friend Simon Merry who was a blind musical professor. (The furniture in this home was willed to widow friend Jennie Ford) Bachelor Merry and widow Ford later became man and wife.

 

RICHARD KEMPTON

 

Sawmilling and lumbering have been the passion of the Kempton family since the first Kempton’s arrived from New England with those first settlers of 1760.

Richard and his wife Fear (Curtis) Kempton moved as proprietors to Liverpool in 1760.Their children were Richard (1762-1763); Mary (1764-1846); Thomas (1767-1832); Rebecca(1770-1840); Jacob Curtis(1772-1859); John Winslow(1775); Francis(1778); and Francis’ twin sister Fear who died 1778.

Existing today are three Kempton homes of this generation; Jacob C. [390 West St.]; John W. [385 West St.] both these are Gambrel roofed, thought to have some framing originating in N.E. The third original is [380 West] and was built by Francis. The next generation of Kemptons built in the near community, other future generations built north and south between Milton's two bridges.

Many of this Kempton family could be classed as entrepreneurs; Thomas and Jacob Curtis became tremendous landowners and merchants.  Francis was a Privateer and profited from that. John W. built a tannery near the river on his property, and manufactured leather for this community.

Mary married three times, was an early pioneer of Greenfield as wife of Ephraim Hunt, and Cap’t Peleg Atkins, and Peleg Freeman.

Rebecca marr. Levi Minard, the proprieter of the first sawmill at Potanoc Falls, and their home was nearby.

Practically every home at one time from Oliver Street to Potanoc was of Kempton origin, those of sons and daughters of the above.

A daughter of Thomas’, Hannah marr. Wm. Ashley whose ministry in Milton is well known, and whose home was near the others. An older sister, Elizabeth, marr. Lodowick Smith, a seaman lost in the Wesst Indies, and whose dau. Letitia planted an oak tree and on which a bronze plaque exists, the house was located here, since lost. Another, Deborah, had a school where Miltons Christian Church parking lot is today.  She had trained in Boston, was Miltons first Lady School teacher.  Sister Catherine marr. George Freeman, Caroline marr. John Cameron who later drowned on the Mersey River. The Cameron house is that at 430 West St.

Another who left many genealogy records was Cap’t Samuel Kempton, whose Packet made many trips, in excess of 200, from Liverpool to Boston. A diary of second mate Samuel K. exists at the Queens Co. Museum, where it may be read. It gives a fine insight into life at sea and the trading of lumber and fish to the West Indies. It also gives insight into life here in Milton as he reports on his life ashore, between trips. He was a brother of Harvey Kempton who was so well known for the Milton Aerated Waterworks. His home is now 408 West Street.

Several other Kempton houses are 458 West St. and 450 West St. John Dexter, a lunberman from Brooklyn married a daughter of Jacob Curis Jr., their home exists as 485 West St. Several nearby Dexter homes result from the Dexter/Kempton marriage, and subsequent children and grandchildren.

 

THOMAS KNOWLES

 

The Knowles name is seldom heard in Milton these days. The early Liverpool Township had several generations of this family. They were known mainly for their seamanship, and early members lived near Fort Point in town. An island just north of the Liverpool bridge, off Lanes Motel, is called Knowles Island by old-timers.

The Knowles who made his mark in Milton was a blacksmith, a trade so useful in those pioneer days. All tools were hand made by blacksmiths in those days, as was ironwork for shipbuilding, etc.

The Knowles property ran alongside of Milton’s School Street, and away from the river westerly and north. Roy Mansfield’s 2001 home at 364 West St. is built on the old location. Another Knowles house was reputed to be where Wm. McKnight now lives, 23 School St., Milton.

Over the years Knowles associated with many other blacksmiths. Names like Augustus Hemeon, who owned his own shop later. Or Joseph Burnaby, whose shop was on Beaverdam Lane.

Most blacksmith shops were centers where all business was discussed before anyone would take action. Therefore blacksmiths were usually share holders in new ventures. They would hold shares in new ships being built. They would purchase cut over land, and properties of those who were trying to raise money for passage to the USA, and the “Boston States”.

It was after the depression of 1875 that the great exodus of Milton’s youth took place. Girls and boys left in droves.

 

SILVANUS MORTON

 

The Morton family is that which caused the greatest stir in the economy of not only Milton but all of this county as well as the province.

The Morton’s from a very humble beginning grew to great wealth. They lost that wealth and suffered. They made a recovery and regained some of their lost empire again.

Early Mortons to this township were labourers and carpenters. The first Sylvanus Morton located near 389 Highway #8, and it is thought their house was that moved to West Green harbour some years ago by Mrs Priest.

James Morton was his son and located near Morton’s wharf and raised a family there. There was no highway #8 there then, all traffic followed Morton Street high on the ridge, and across Salmon Island Bridge to Milton.

One of the sons was Silvanus Morton (1805-1889). His wife was Ezelia Ford; her background was the Cole family through her mother and Theod. Ford through her father. Silvanus’ growth in wealth was phenominal. Some thought he had been with privateers in his early youth, he early owned part of a sawmill. His first store was built on the south west corner of Milton’s Bridge St. This is stated in John Morton’s diary in items written in 1911. John G. was reporting that the store belonging to Al. Kempton, that had recently burned, had been built sixty years before as father’s first store.

The deed books at the Queens County Registry are full of Silvanus Morton transactions. He owned several shares in several sawmills, his lumbering operations were large his shipbuilding became very successful, and he owned a blacksmith shop near his shipyard and the riverbank near Bo. Boutliers. He was quick to import and encourage workers from Lunenburg County, his diaries often grieved about the mistake of bringing the Wambolts and Whynots to work here.

They, his sons Charles and John G., with the father Silvanus expanded their empire during the 1840's and 50's. Their ships exported and imported much of the commerce of the time. Silvanus and Ezelia built a mansion on Morton Street from where one could see Milton Falls and the Morton Empire. It contained 14 rooms, was a full two-story structure. They built a new great store on Milton's main street, and sold the old one to Edward Kempton, who became Miltons first Post Master.

The new store was very modern. It contained on the second floor a great hall for community entertainment and civic affars.

Financing of these great achievments required outside help. Two banks were created, The Bank of Liverpool and the Acadia Bank. Now local money could be invested in future lumbering operations, and next years dry lumber for markets in the West Indies and the booming USA. The Civil War in the States caused a great market for lumber and also ships, and Mortons could supply.

This future shipping lumber, and ships still in stocks, existed when the Civil War came to a halt. Markets dried up overnight. Indebtedness of Mortons, and all others in commerce, had to be met. The banks failed; worse still, a banking law called “Double Jeopardy” required that all shareholders are responsible for an amount equal to their bank shares. Persons not in debt now were in debt. Most could not meet the requirement so large scale failures occurred. Many were ruined.

Mortons lost in excess of one million dollars.

 

NATHAN TUPPER

 

This year of 2002, 246 years after the founding fathers found Milton Falls,we honor two real life descendants of an original Tupper living here. One is Marion (Tupper) Gardner, whose modern home is on the sight of the original Nathan Tupper home site. It is located just south of Hollow Log Brook, a source of fresh water for sailors long before the 1760 sailors became landlubbers. The other is Christine Tupper, whose gr. gr. grandfather, the Honorable Freeman Tupper built his new home on land purchased from the estate of Simeon Perkins. This is the house where Marion (Tupper) Gardner spent her youth after her father, Freeman Tupper, had rebuilt his grandfathers house. Her brother Roger Tupper left the house to his daughter Christine, known best as our Milton Blacksmith Shop Curator. That is fitting, the Honorable Freeman Tupper and his sons operated that shop from 1812 onward.

The sawmill adjoining this site was also Tupper’s Mill, as was the sixty acres purchased from S.P. The west side road from Liverpool to Milton originally followed the river about half way, then went up over the cliff and followed what today is still Tupper Street. Where Wilson Whynot has a horse barn was then Tuppers Shipyard, many ships were built there.

Near Milton’s Memorial Hall the road continued straight to a bridge over the river. That carried the main road up Moose Hill (Milford Street). A long lost history of an army officer travelling by horseback from Shelburne to Halifax, described his trip over this bridge, up the hill and past Herringccove Lake to Mill Village and on towards Halifax.

It was in January, 1813, that a great inrush of water from the sea, caused the bridge to collapse. It was never rebuilt, the present location was the choice for its replacement.

The Tupper history is one that started with the first New England proprieters forming this new township. Medad, Nathan, and others were a part of the early history. Nathan was often referred to as Deacon, and Sheriff.  Freeman was one of Nathan’s son, was an early member of Nova Scotia’s assembly. He was a lumberman as well as deeply involved in shipbuilding and was a shareholder in privateers.

It was about 1813 when he and his sons (and daughter) bought out the Simeon Perkins operation here at Milton Falls. Much of those woodlands west of the river and down to Town Lake were Tupper woodlands. A new side street was cut through from Tupper Street to Milton Falls, and there the Hon.Freeman Tupper built his new home. His brother Allen built next door, both those houses exist in 2001.  His sister Experience had the original Perkins house on West street enlarged and operated an early millinery and ladies shop from there. (This is now owned by George Fraser, 2001).

Land was made available for the New Lights. A Congregational Church, “Church of the Puritans” was built on this new street, as was the parsonage, for that churches new minister.The church has been demolished, the parsonage exists, was the Leslie House, a museum for a period. The Freeman Tupper place and the Allen Tupper homes exist in 2001, Nos 182 and 186 Tupper Street in Milton, N.S.

 

WILLIAM MURRAY

 

Wm. Moray was a thorn in the side of Simeon Perkins, and several times S.P. has derogatory remarks in his diary. Perkins did not like persons to trespass on any of his properties, and Murrays lived near his Mill property at Milton Falls.

William Murray was a discharged soldier from the French wars. He had married a daughyer of Sheriff Nathan Tupper, Joanna Tupper.

The Murray families that evolved soon spread through Queens County, and many emegrated elsewhere. They, as most Milton families worked the lumber industry as lumbermen, sawmillers, and seamen to man the ships at sea.

One notable descendant was Rev. Howard Murray, an elder in the Milton Christian Church. The Murray family had been supporters of this church since its birth in 1834. He had begun his preaching career elsewhere, and started preaching in Milton about 1875, and was to contiue for thirty years, a much beloved man.

His daughter was married to Dr. Harley Ford, whose house exists in 2001, the home of Harry and Shirley Zwicker. The Murrays were cared for by the daughter in this home and in their old age. One of his sisters was married to Jabez Freeman, another supporting family of his church.

Rev. Howard Murray was best remembered as an evangelist; religious veal was ever present in those days in late 1800's.  Many revival meetings were supervised by this preacher. The Summerville Christian Church got much support from him, and was equally loved by Summerville folk at that time.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

There are many other families that deserve mention, the history of Milton as a manufacturing town is little known.

It was in the late 1800's that a great Pulp Industry was established at Milton. Its location was at Rapid Falls, two miles above Milton Falls. This was followed by another mill built at Cowie Falls, one mile south of Rapid Falls. This industry employed up to one thousand men, and carried on using forest product to make pulp for export. Other than export pulp, rolls of pulp were used for insulating materials, or one supply went to making tram tickets for London trams.

Pulp was transported to ships in Liverpool harbour, for transfer to market. In early days this was done by animal teams, oxen or horses. Early telephone installation was used to communicate from wharf to mill office.

The telephone installers suggested a railroad would transport the pulp more efficiently so a railway was built from mills to wharves. This greatly assisted the lumber industry. This continued until Isaac Killam built his Mersey Paper Company, and they bought out the old Acadia Pulp Company.

The railroad was used to develop a power system, several power dams and hydro electric plants were thrown across the river further inland. Great hordes of foreign labour appeared and the “Works” continued for several years. The Mersey Paper Company survived the great depression that struck North America in 1929.

Milton men joined other local areas to supply the labour for tis new industry. This continues into the Twenty-First Century.