Winston Cosgrove's
Wolfe Island Past and Present

Excerpts from:

Chapter Two: Early Settlers

Used with the kind permission of Mrs. W.M.
(Phyllis) Cosgrove October 10, 2001

For the purpose of brevity, only portions have been extracted
from the full text. For a genuine appreciation of Mr. Cosgrove’s
writings please read the entire work. The book is available
from the Kingston Public Library.

After the War of 1812, and particularly during the 1820’s and 1830’s settlement of the Island increased. The MacDonald Clan from County Glengarry founded “The Scotch Settlement” with the major occupation of lumbering.

After 1823 land could be bought at from $5 to $6 per acre, or leased for one shilling an acre per annum.

Many of the early settlers were of United Empire Loyalist stock with names such as: Bennett, Davis, Mosier, Spoor, Hitchcock, Martin, Staley, Wilson and Hinckley.

In 1837, the Ridge was settled, the first settler in this part being Daniel Cook.

When a new settler arrived the others gathered round and helped him build his log house and stable. The typical house at this time was a log cabin, 20 feet long, 16 feet wide, six logs high, with a shanty or sloping roof. Some had glass, but more often the windows were only holes in the wall, which could be covered in winter.

When the Island was first seriously settled in 1823, only 15 families made up the entire population. In 1826 the population was 276 and it grew steadily until it reached its peak in 1861, with a population of 3,601. After 1861 the population dwindled. In 1870 the population was 2,737, in 1911, 1612 and in 1940, 1242. Today (1973) the population is 1,200.

Greenwood is a well-known family name on Wolfe Island. Maxim Greenwood (died 1904) came to Wolfe Island from Three Rivers, Quebec in the 1830’s. He married and Island girl Elizabeth Yott.

One of the causes for the de-population of the Island was the passing of the timber industry when the land was cleared. On nearby Garden Island, D.D. Calvin had leased the property and started a thriving ship-building industry. This was of great benefit to the timber business. The Calvin firm built, owned, or chartered around 60 steamers, barges, and schooners. Many Wolfe Island natives such as Morey Spoor and John Smithers became expert boat-builders in an era which ended about 1910.

Thereafter many young Islanders left to seek jobs in such places as Rochester and Buffalo, New York. In addition 99 year leases on farmland began to lapse and the new landowners continually raised the rent on leases. By the 1940’s many old homesteads were abandoned by younger generations in favour of “bright city lights” and higher paying employment.

An influx of Dutch immigrants after WWII contributed a good deal to the way of farm life on the Island. In June 1948 Ben Vollering became the first Dutch settler.

RANDOLPH HORNE (1842-1938)
Early Settlers
W.M. Cosgrove, Wolfe Island Past and Present, 1973, p. 10.

JOHN DAVIS (1852-1932)
Early Settlers
W.M. Cosgrove, Wolfe Island Past and Present, 1973, p. 10.

Abandoned Homesteads

John A. MacDonald
From "Early Settlers"
Cosgrove, W.M., Wolfe Island Past & Present, 1973, p. 10.

John Spoor
From "Early Settlers"
Cosgrove, W.M. Wolfe Island Past & Present, p. 10.

PHOTOS IN BOOK BUT NOT SHOWN ONLINE:
The Greenwood Family page 9
Antoine LaRush in front of the Islands oldest building
New North Shore Cottage page 11
Ben Vollering Family page 11

The Islands: Books: Winston Cosgroves Wolfe Island Past and Present: Early Settlers

Winston Cosgrove's Wolfe Island Past and Present

Chapter Two: Early Settlers

Abandoned Homesteads

Winston Cosgrove's
Wolfe Island Past and Present