Branchton

A Post village and station of the Harrisburgh and Guelph branch of the Great Western Railway, situated in the township of North Dumfries, 6 miles from Harrisburgh, and 20 miles from Guelph. It contains a Wesleyan Methodist church, a stone building seated for four hundred persons and a good school. The post office was established in 1850. The village contains a grist and a saw mill, shingle and lath mills, woolen mill, carriage factory, 2 blacksmith shops, 2 general stores and a good hotel, kept by Mr. A Jenkins. The Jenkins improved new hay fork, is manufactured here and is an article well worthy the attention of all farmers. The flour, saw, shingle and lath mills are owned and carried on by Mr. William Rosebrugh, steam power is used, and above 15 hands are employed. The flour mills contains three run of stones, and is a frame building, 40 by 60 feet, three stories high. The saw mill is 40 by 30 feet. Messr. George Fady & Co., carry on the woolen mills, a 14 horse power engine is used and about 15 hands employed. The factory was established in 1863, and is a frame building with stone basement, two and one half stories high, and 40 by 60 feet. Tweeds, flannels, blankets, and yarn, are here manufactured. This firm enjoys a large custom trade.

   Galt

An important incorporated town in the township of North Dumfries, situated on the line of the Hamilton and Guelph branch of the Great Western Railway. It is the most important station on the branch. The Grand River runs through the town, and affords immense hydraulic power for driving the machinery of the many manufacturing establishments for which the town is celebrated. Among the manufacturing establishments we notice that of Messrs. Goldie, McCulloch & Co.'s, Dumfries Foundry and Steam Engine Works. Their buildings are of stone, and cover an area of two acres. This firm has been established a number of years, an have no ordinary reputation as engine builders and manufacturers of every description of mill machinery. Some of the largest castings made in Canada have been turned of by Messr. Goldie, McCulloch & Co. They employ one hundred and fifty hands. Wool machinery and burr mill stones are here manufactured. Annual sales amount to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

Dickson Mills - Mr. Richard Blain carries on the Dickson mills, a large four story stone building, 75 by 45 feet. It was erected in 1843. Mr. Blain manufacturers about 30 thousand barrels of flour annually, beside doing a large gristing business. Five hands are kept employed. In this cooperage and stave factory about twenty hands are employed.

Soap and Candle works- Mr. Simon Oliver established himself in this branch of industry in 1840. The premises are built of stone, two stories high, and 30 by 70 feet. Five or six hands are kept employed manufacturing soap, candles and pot ash.

The town of Galt contains seven churches viz- Church of England, Presbyterian (Church of Scotland), Knox Church Canada Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, Primitive and New Connexion Methodists.

Its schools are well conducted and you towns possess the many advantages Galt enjoys.

     Princeton

A flourishing post village, and station of the Great western Railway, is situated principally in the township of Blenheim, county of Oxford, and a portion lies in the township of Burford, county of Brant, at the distance of 12 miles from Woodstock, 7 from Paris, and 36 from Hamilton. It enjoys a good local trade, being in the midst of an excellent agricultural district, and the chief outlet for the large amount of lumber and shingles manufactured in that section of the country.

there are four churches, viz-: the Episcopalian, (St. Paul's Church) a very handsome brick building, erected in 1867, having capacity to seat two hundred and fifty persons, Rev. Henry Bartlett, incumbent. The Canada Presbyterian church of brick, costing $ 3,900, Rev H McQuarrie, minister. The Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church is a substantial frame building of similar capacity erected in 1857, and costs $ 1,200, Rev J McLean, minister. The Lutheran church originally belonged to the Episcopalians, but was purchased by the present congregation in 1867, Rev Mr. Eule, pastor. The Princeton Transcript, a very handsome 32 column weekly newspaper, having a large circulation in Brant and Oxford, was established here in 1867 by its advertising editor and proprietor, Mr. R Patterson, who has, in connection with it, a good book and job printing office.

Among the public buildings may be noticed a large town home used for municipal purposes. There are in the village and its immediate vicinity a large shingle factory and a turning mill, two saw mills and a tannery. The mechanical trades consist of two wagon and carriage shops, two blacksmith's shops, several shoe shops, one cabinet factory, two tailors, one tinsmith, and a harness maker. The carriage factory of Mr. William Brrgan is worthy of notice. The factory is a frame building, two stories high and 30 by 40 feet.

Mr. J G Mosher, is engaged in the manufacture of pumps, horse rakes, and has in complete order a planning mill and wood turning factory. The building is two story frame, 40 by 50 feet. An engine of 15 horse power is used, and about ten hands employed.

Cigar making - Messrs W Kelly & Sons, employ from seven to ten hands manufacturing cigars.

Mr. G S Henderson, employs about ten hands, and an engine of 12 horse are in the manufacture of shingles, staves and building materials of all kinds. The factory is a frame to stories high, and 30 by 40 feet.

General Blacksmithing - Mr. William Davis, employs about four hands in this trade. The shop is a frame building, 30 by 50 feet, and contains three forges.

The Mercantile business is well represented by the firms of Messrs. Mann & Travers, Scott, Brother; T Galbraith, Mathews and others.

Mr. A Gissing, druggist, does a large business in medicines, dyestuffs, oils, paints and fancy goods.

Their are four good hotels viz : 'The Railway Hotel' kept by Mr. Joseph Loney; 'The Railroad House' by Mr. J Dake, 'The Union' by Mr. John Strode, and 'The Black Horse', by Mr. Benjamin Johnston.

The 2nd Division Court of Oxford, is held here, W H Landon Esq, Clerk.

Loyal Orange Lodge No 438, hold its regular meetings on the 2nd Thursday of each month, at its Hall over the Division Court office.

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