MF – 1864.05.26 – Johnville Setlement – #108 – F12249

A Correspondent of the Carleton Sentinel wrote some weeks ago of the Settlement at Johnville: –

The first settler located himself in the fall of 1860; and in the fall of 1683 there were resident 70 families, exclusive of unmarried men who were engaged at intervals upon their lots numbering about 70 men of this class. The quantity of oats produced in 1863 was 15,000 bus; wheat 5,000 do.; potatoes 12,000 do.; turnips 10,000 do.; buckwheat 5,000 do.; hay 30 tons; straw 800 tons; cows 40; oxen 30; horses 12; sheep 20; pigs 180.

The house of the settlers are all of the description called log houses, except four that are framed. The barns are constructed of the same material as the dwellings, except some four that are framed. The roads altho’ far from being so good as would be desired, or needed, are still for so young a settlement above the average; a horse and waggon may in the dry season travel through most of the first section settled. There is a very neat and commodious church, erected in 1863, and capable of [accomodating] the larger portion of the population; this building will eventually form the vestry and chancel of the larger building contemplated to be erected at a future time. The church occupies a beautiful elevation in the midst of he older section of the settlement, and viewed from several distant points forms a most charming feature in the summer scenery of the forest the burial ground, too, occupies a part of this elevated piece of land, and nowhere in the world is there a lovelier site for a Parish Church and the last resting place of the Christian dead; already one school is in active work, and a second school house is in course of erection, and may be in operation the coming summer; a regular weekly mail and a post office are established. The extent of land already laid under the axe is very considerable, but very much less than it would be at this date, if all the [setlers] had means to support themselves till the lands furnished crops sufficient for that purpose, but many of the settlers have been compelled, at regular intervals, to seek employment among the river settlers; this circumstance has in it a very satisfactory feature, for the poor working man desiring to settle, for at any time during the year he can find abundance of remunerative employment along the river, thus enabling many men to keep their families on their lots, while the work of improving the land and supporting themselves are carried on together.

Among the most encouraging features of this settlement is the steady attention of the Pastor whose labour, in behalf of the settler, has not abated since the first hour of its satisfactory history, and when the faithful and honest sons of toil, with their numerous families, attend the call to the service of the Most High, on the silent forest Sunday, their hearts are assisted in their devotions, by the sweet harmony of youthful voices, in unison with the softened tones of the melodeon, performed upon by the young lady who conducts the first and yet the only school of this new settlement.