Rev. James Dyer...I shall not be far wrong if I say he was of English parents, and possibly, born in England himself, but had lived in early life in one or more of the larger cities of Lower Canada.

His energetic organization had exposed him, while in an unregenerated state, to habits which placed him on the verge of ruin. But in one of those powerful revivals, for which Toronto was famous a good many years, he became the partaker of tranforming grace, and speedily threw his constitutional energies into efforts for the advancement of the cause of Christ.

He had a stong, clear, quick mind, and his rapid speaking was very forceful. His early opportunities may not have been very great, but after conversion, he assiduoudly improved his mind.

Rev. Richard Clarke had been appointed to Guelph, but for some reason, an exchange was made after the year was half gone, and he went to Elora, while Rev. Dyer was brought to Guelph.

Dyer's dark hair and skin, with his compact frame, gave augury of the large amount of labor and toil he was to undergo.

...from the minutes of the 1855 Wesleyan Methodist Conference in Toronto C.W.