• Surveyors of The Past
— — ------BY CHARLES FAIRHALL------
V. B. WADSWORTH Front and Wellington Streets, Toronto. Sound, which, if he found to be the best Colonization roads were to be developed navigable harbour for the Georgian Bay The narrative of a teen-aged surveying into Muskoka, Parry Sound and Nipis trade, was to be adopted as the terminal student on a survey party in Muskoka in sing he said. The only settlements there point for that road, and the lake-port 1860 and 1861 — V. B. Wadsworth, in 1860 were the very small ones at for the district. for whom Lake Vernon is named. Severn Bridge and Parry Sound. He said: “Thereafter a line was to be run Lake Vernon, near Huntsville, was “The Muskoka Road at that time from the north end of Lake Rosseau to named in 1860 for a teenager, Vernon was extended 12 miles from the crossing the mouth of the South River, falling Bayley Wadsworth, who as a surveying of the Severn River to where Gravenhurst into Lake Nipissing. This line was estima student, came to Muskoka with John is now situated. At Parry Sound three or ted at 80 miles in length and was to be a Stoughton Dennis, P.L.S., to assist in gov four small houses and a small sawmill theodolite line with explorations on each ernment surveys of importance to the were located, but no road thereto, nor mile extending for a distance of three later settlement of this part of Ontario. were there any farms or settlers in or four miles east and west of the main that vicinity. Nor indeed was there any survey line, and to locate by diversions The family of Vernon Wadsworth settlement from the Georgian Bay and the the site of the future colonization road still are remembered in Muskoka as Severn River northward to Lake Nipis where the main line was unsuitable. summer residents on Lake Rosseau. He sing, and northward beyond, excepting lived to be 96 years of age, and died in “These surveying operations were the Hudson Bay Company’s posts and very extensive, and required a more in 1940. He had a distinguished career in these are few and far between. surveying and business. timate knowledge of the district and the “To develop this large forested lakes therein than the Government maps As a pupil, Vernon Wadsworth was country, the Commissioner of Crown of that time disclosed. evidently highly regarded by J. S. Dennis, Lands of that time instructed J. S. Dennis “Mr. Dennis organized his surveying for when the latter retired from private to make exploration surveys throughout party about July 1st, 1860, hiring the practice and became Surveyor General the districts, and if the exploration sur axe-men, cook and packers at Penetan- for the Dominion of Canada (later Dep veys reached a country suitable for farm guishene, Indians and half-breeds—the uty Minister of the Interior), he handed ing settlement, then roads were to be best of men for such work. The staff over his business to Vernon Wadsworth opened to be based on those survey lines associated with J. S. Dennis were John “without compensation.” Mr. Wadsworth with outlets on suitable Georgian Bay L. Oliver; Milner Hart, student; V. B. formed a partnership with B. W. Gossage, harbors. Wadsworth, student, and MacDonald and later with Charles Unwin, who had to be store camp keeper, and he was suc done the original survey of the Muskoka “The instructions to J. S. Dennis ceeded by Mr. Gentle who overlooked Colonization Road up to Muskoka Falls. comprised the location and extension of and guarded the provisions etc. The men This partnership conducted many of the the Muskoka Road northeastward to the were to meet us at Orillia supplied with surveys of importance in Toronto and north branch of the Muskoka River with their axes, blankets, clothes and other Ontario for the
14 THE ONTARIO LAND SURVEYOR, SUMMER 1980 outlets of the Severn River from Lake (In this remark it is again seen how “Mr. Dennis with three men and a Couchiching. the accurate maps prepared in 1847 by birch bark canoe now commenced his David Thompson were then overlooked canoe traverse of the lakes and rivers in “We camped near the saw-mill, or buried deep in government files). that district, and passing up the Muskoka owned and operated by the late Quetton River he reached Mary’s Lake, Fairy St. George, and waited there for one “We had no canoes with us, and Lake and Peninsula Lake and discovered Harvey who with his team was to trans expected to obtain them from the Indian Vernon Lake and Vernon River, (named port our provisions and camp equipment, Village, which was about 25 miles north after the writer) and the tributary, East etc., to Lake Muskoka, distant about 12 ward (now Port Carling). Fortunately Sand River. He did not go to the Lake miles northward. our men found an old birch bark canoe of Bays, or Trading Lake as the Indians concealed by the Indians in one of the “The then travelled road, known as called it from the fact that an Indian, one bays, and having duly repaired same and Bigwin from Snake Island in Lake Sim- the Muskoka Road, terminated there, and made paddles, Mr. Dennis and two men the road was so unfinished that a loaded coe, traded somewhat with those Indians proceeded to the Indian Village of Obo- in that Lake. team could only haul about 800 pounds jawanung (now Port Carling) and re of provisions, etc. and consequently to turned in a couple of days with sufficient “On returning to our base store supply our party, Harvey had to do a lot canoes to transport the party and supplies camp at the Falls, Mr. Dennis then made of teaming to forward our supplies to across Lake Muskoka to the mouth of a canoe traverse of the shores of the con Lake Muskoka. the Muskoka River and thence up the necting lakes, Muskoka, Rosseau and Jos “We spent the day at St. George’s river to the first falls thereon, where eph, which latter lake he discovered and mills amidst the rattlesnakes which at Bracebridge is situated today. named after his father, at that time re siding at Buttonwood near Weston. He that time abounded there, some exhibited “The lake was calm and beautiful, in cages. The next day we walked along also traversed the Muskoka River from many rocky islands on our course, cloth its outlet in Lake Muskoka to the Georg the Muskoka Road, crossing the main ed with pine and hemlock, making al Severn River and then entered the Laur- ian Bay where a sawmill was there in together a charming prospect. As we pass operation. Having thus obtained the loca entian Rocky Country of Muskoka. High ed from the south bay into the main rocks barred the way and presented a tion of the lakes and rivers in the district Muskoka Lake at the narrows, we saw to which our surveys were confined, and poor prospect for the settler accustomed the first encampment of Indians, namely to the fertile lands of Southern Ontario. with Bayfield’s Chart of the Georgian Menominee, his wife and two grown-up Bay Coast, we were fully equipped for “At this crossing of the Severn daughters. Menominee was clad in In the surveying operations required. River there were two or three houses, dian style with shirt breech-cloth leggings and a store kept by one Jackson, and I and moccasins, no hat and long black “We now proceeded southward there met my friend, W. A. Browne, hair reaching to his waist—a wild-looking about four miles to the falls about 100 whose father was surveying the Township Indian. His permanent camp and home feet high on the south branch of the of Morrison. was on Mary’s Lake and there is now a Muskoka River where the existing Mus post-office named after him near that koka Road terminated, and after select “From this point northward the road lake. ing the bridge site crossing on the north passed through a very rocky, sandy coun branch of the Muskoka River, where try, timbered principally with pine, “We reached the mouth of the Mus Bracebridge is now situated, we there hemlock, birch, etc. We followed Har koka River after a paddle across the lake found the Muskoka Road cut out to this vey’s team on foot through an unsettled of some ten miles, and passed up the south falls and the necessary timbers country, and in the afternoon reached river to the first falls, where Bracebridge collected to construct the bridge, but the termination of the travelled road (now now stands. Near the mouth of the river otherwise not a sign of civilization. Gravenhurst). No one was there. Even we saw a log house with a small potato the men who had been constructing: the garden around it, and found that it was “These falls were very beautiful, the road had left for their homes at Orillia the trading post of Alexander Bailey who river passing through a rocky gorge with and other outside points. There was no was then at his permanent home in Pene- high precipitous banks— a wild and beau roadway fit for a team or even a pathway tanguishene, passing en route the mouth tiful scene clothed with pine and ever to the south bay of Lake Muskoka where of the south branch of the Muskoka greens. we intended to camp and obtain canoes River flowing from Lake of Bays. We for travelling across Lake Muskoka to soon reached the basin at the foot of the “Our surveying operations now com where our surveys commenced, on the falls, a beautiful circular basin of several menced and we located by compass lines south branch of the Muskoka River. acres in extent and the fall itself is up the road line between the two falls on the However, our men quickly cut out a wards of 50 feet in height— an impressive north and south branches of the Muskoka roadway to the bay shore, about a mile sight. Mr. Dennis arranged for a perman River and thence ran northerly for sever distant, and suitable for a wagon to pass ent store camp at the foot of the falls al miles along the old District Line, the over and we then camped there. on the south side of the basin and at the west boundary of the then surveyed base of a high perpendicular rocky hill Township of Macaulay, to Falgenburg “Harvey, day after dav, brought in there situate, with MacDonald as store village of this day, and thence north our required sunplies from Orillia, till we keeper. easterly, locating the road en route and were fully supplied for the season’s opera keeping north of the Muskoka River un tions. Our food was principally flour, and “There were no white settlers in all til we reached Vernon River, the outlet Chicago mess pork in barrels, and tea the route we had travelled excepting at of Vernon Lake, where the Town of and at first some beans. the Severn Bridge. It was a virgin wild Huntsville is now situated, and thence erness. The rivers and lakes teemed with proceeded eastward north of Fairy and “Mr. Dennis’s desire was now to fish, bass, salmon trout, speckled trout, Peninsula Lakes until we reached the obtain a birch bark canoe to make a pickerel, etc., and the woods with red surveyed line of the Bobcaygeon Road. canoe traverse of the lakes connected with deer, partridge and many beaver and The country passed through was well the Muskoka Rivers, as there was no oiier fur animals. Moose were not seen timbered with pine, hemlock and hard surveyed record of the lakes and rivers there in those days. They were confined woods with not much rocky land and well in the district we were to survey.” to the Ottawa River region. suited for settlement.
THE ONTARIO LAND SURVEYOR, SUMMER 1980 15 “On completion of this work the the Parry Sound Bay and by Christmas miles. We reached Parry Sound in due party then returned to a point on our Day had completed some 30 miles of course, much to the delight of the few located Muskoka Road Line at about survey. The whole party then returned to people who lived there, as the construc five miles north of the bridge site on the Parry Sound for a fresh supply of pro tion of the road would enable them to north branch of the Muskoka River and visions and to obtain our snowshoes as get out to civilization in winter by land commenced the survey of an exploration the snow was getting quite deep, and instead of by travelling on the ice of the line passing westerly between Lakes the men made toboggans to help in the Georgian Bay to Penetanguishene. Muskoka and Rosseau to near the Indian transportation of our supplies for the re Village now Port Carling, and crossing mainder of the survey. This line when “We passed through a rough rocky the Indian River thence westerly and completed passed at about what is now country on this line and came to many southerly north of Lake Muskoka to a the village of Scotia Junction on the Can lakes, which we crossed on rafts. The crossing on the Moon River, a branch of adian National Railway, and we reached timber was principally pine, hemlock and the Muskosh below the site of now Bala the surveyed line of the Bobcaygeon hardwood, in places of good quality. Road in due course. village and eventually reaching the “Returning on our surveyed line to Georgian Bay at the mouth of the Mus our store camp at the north end of Lake kosh River where the sawmill was situ “The country passed through was well suited for settlement, rocky in parts Rosseau, we commenced from that point ated. but well timbered. There were not many the survey of an exploration line which “We found the country for upwards lakes and as the consequence of this re would intersect our Muskoka Road line of 20 miles northward of the Georgian port the Government decided to adopt herebefore run north of Muskoka Falls, Bay very rocky and swampy and totally Parry Sound Harbour as the lake port now Bracebridge, being at the point unfit for settlement and, therefore, the on the Georgian Bay for an outlet for the where we ran the line to the Indian Gar mouth of the Muskosh River was aband settlers in that district, and the Govern dens. On this line we discovered Three oned as a shipping port for the Muskoka ment decided then to extend the road Mile Lake and several other lakes and District. from the Muskoka Road near Brace passed through a rough country. The bridge to Parry Sound passing northward surveyor in charge was A rthur “Our next operation was to com from Lakes Rosseau and Joseph. After for a short time, and thereafter Frederick mence an exploration line at Parry Sound, completing in February this 50 miles of Baldwin, Provincial Land Surveyor, took and to carry this out Mr. Dennis instruct exploration line, the party returned to charge of the party. ed the party to disband and we hired a Parry Sound and then started on the ice sail-boat at the Muskosh mills and sailed of Georgian Bay for Penetanguishene. “After completing this surveyed across the Georgian Bay to Penetan- line we proceeded to the North Falls, now guishene—a lovely moonlight night and “Although the cold and exposure Bracebridge, and obtained provisions pleasant sail of about 20 miles. The men experienced was intense, with no heating there. We found the bridge (now in the were discharged and the surveying staff of tents by sheet-iron stoves as is custom centre of Bracebridge) across the river returned to Toronto via stage to Barrie ary now, all kept well and the party partly constructed and three families and thence by rail to Toronto. reached Penetanguishene in perfect settled there and the Muskoka Road con health after their arduous journey. The structed four or five miles. That was in “A new party was organized by Mr. staff then proceeded by stage and rail December, 1861. Dennis about the 1st of November, 1860, to Toronto and the men were discharged for the survey of an exploration line from at Penetanguishene. “We then proceeded to survey a line Parry Sound extending 50 miles eastward from the Muskoka Road Line east at a to the Bobcaygeon Road survey line. The “Immediately on arriving at Toronto point where Huntsville is now situated staff selected for this survey were J. L. I was called upon by Mr. Dennis to assist on Vernon River out to the Bobcav^eon Oliver, H. J. Cambie, Milner Hart and in surveying into farm lots the northern Surveyed Line and north of Mary, Fairy V. B. Wadsworth. We proceeded as usual part of Rama Township, which fronts and Peninsula Lakes. by rail and stage to Penetanguishene and on Lake Couchiching and the east branch found our men, who had been hired by of the Severn River. “On completing this work we re Alfred Thompson, ready to accompany turned to the Skeleton Lake region and “In July, 1861, Mr. Dennis organ us. They were picked men and experts started a survey line from the Parry ized a survey party to carry on surveys in all kinds of bush life. Mr. Dennis did Sound Road Line to connect with the of the colonization roads in the Muskoka not accompany us on this survey. surveyed Muskoka Road line at Vernon and Parry Sound districts and according River, now Huntsville. This was in Janu “There were no steamers in those ly the survey party, the staff consisting ary, 1862. Before completing this con days so we hired a sailing bateau, large of J. S. Dennis, Arthur Bristow, William necting survey line, Mr. Dennis appeared enough to carry our whole party, pro Oliver and V. B. Wadsworth, met at one morning in January, 1862, at our visions, etc. and started off on our 50- Gravenhurst—the axe-man and packers camp near Skeleton Lake with two Pene mile lake trip, making Moose Point the having been hired in Penetanguishene— tanguishene packmen and informed Mr. first n;ght and there camped. The next and proceeded thence by canoe and sail Baldwin that the surveys in the Muskoka evening we reached Parry Sound, passing boat (the first sail boat on those lakes, District by our party would be abandoned by the inner channel, and found the brought from Kingston, Ont.) to the head for the present as he was then surveying place consisted of three houses and a of Lake Rosseau, now known as Rosseau ten townships for the Canadian Land and sawmill and a few people there. The saw Village, passing through the Indian Emigration Company in the Minden- mill was closed down for the season. The Village now Port Carling and thence to Haliburton District and our party was to mill and whole establishment was owned the head of Lake Rosseau where a store survey into farm lots the Township of by the Gibsons of Willowdale, York camp was established on the site where Guilford. This was situated east of the Township, one of whom was the father Pratt’s Hotel was afterwards located, and Bobcaygeon Road and fronted on the of the late Peter Gibson, a well-known we cleared about one acre of land there. Peterson Road and about 20 miles dis Provincial Land Surveyor. We then proceeded to survey an explora tant from Minden Post Office. We ac tion line westward to Parry Sound passing cordingly packed up and broke camp and “We settled on the starting point of north of Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph. passed over Three Mile Lake and down this exploration line on the east side of The length of this line was about 25 Lake Rosseau on the ice through the
16 THE ONTARIO LAND SURVEYOR, SUMMER 1980 Indian Village on through Muskoka of that section of the country since the to Parry Sound I returned to see how Lake to the site of Bracebridge and time when I passed through it as a virgin Oliver was getting on and found he had thence to the falls on the south branch of forest. The Ontario Government had sur moved out of a bell tent, which he had Muskoka River and thence by the Peter veyed the country into Townships up to previously used as living quarters, into son Road eastward to the Bobcaygeon Lake Nipissing and these townships were a log cabin. He explained that a few Road and thence still eastward along the fairly well settled and by a thrifty lot of nights before he had been disturbed by Peterson Road to Guilford Township, people. Steamboat routes had been estab some animal entering his tent. His dog having travelled on foot about 80 miles to lished by A. P. Cockburn on Lakes Mus attacked the animal which proved to be reach our destination. The Peterson Road koka and Joseph and Rosseau and on the a bear in search of food. The dog and for most of the distance was cut out but Magnetawan River and canals construct the bear fought and Oliver made for the not travelled by teams excepting by tim ed at Port Carling and at Magnetawan boat which was anchored nearby and ber teams in the winter and there were Village, and at Huntsville on the Vernon stayed on board all night and moved his not more than a dozen settlers on our River, and a steamer passage cut at Port quarters next day to his new habitation. whole route of travel. Sandfield, and very good passenger The dog had followed the bear and re steamers were plying on those lakes and turned in a couple of days quite lame “I was then engaged in other sur intervening rivers. Parry Sound had from his conflict. veys for a time and having served my grown to be a town of 5,000 people and term of apprenticeship, I passed my Bracebridge and Gravenhurst and Hunts “As winter approached, the housing final examination and became a licensed ville considerable centres of population of the boat became a problem as there surveyor in April, 1864.” and several lines of railway were in opera was no dock on Lake Rosseau nor suit tion. able building at the time, so at the first “In November, 1864, I was instruct snowfall I was instructed to take the ed by Mr. Dennis to survey the Rosseau “The lumbermen who established boat on shore at some point near the and Nipissing Road Line commencing sawmills on the Georgian Bay and inter head of Lake Rosseau. at Cameron’s Bay at the north end of ior lakes were also responsible in a great Lake Rosseau and terminating at the “With one man, and an Indian who measure for the development of these was camped there, on a site opposite mouth of South River on Lake Nipissing. districts in building roads and improving I proceeded to Penetanguishene and hired where the Monteith Inn now stands, we water courses and employing a large num proceeded along the east shore of Lake the necessary axe-men, cook and packers ber of men.” for this survey and crossing in canoes Rosseau to what is now called Lawra- over the Georgian Bay, we proceeded up Muskoka’s first boat son’s Bay, now Sunnyside, and found a the Muskosh River to Lake Muskoka and It is worthwhile to add a few further suitable place at the end of the bay near joined Mr. Dennis and staff at South Bay. notes written by Mr. Wadsworth separate the mouth of a small creek. We hauled The staff associated with Mr. Dennis from the above narrative. Of historic the boat out of the water and covered it were V. B. Wadsworth, O.L.S., in charge importance is his statement as to the with balsam brush and placed sail and of survey, Milner Hart, O.L.S., Archibald first commercially built boat on the Mus equipment on a platform made from McNabb, O.L.S., and Charles Mackenzie, koka Lakes in 1861, a boat brought to trees. explorer, and 12 men. We proceeded up the District for use in the early surveys. “The surveying operations were Lakes Muskoka and Rosseau to Camer The author was given this account in transferred in 1862 to Haliburton Dis on’s Bay and there built a store camp 1953 by the late Horace Prowse, of Beau trict and although I returned in 1864 to and commenced the work. We reached maris, and we believe it had been given the head of Lake Rosseau to survey the the crossing of the Magnetawan River on in a letter by Mr. Wadsworth to Mr. Nipissing Road line I did not hear of the Christmas Day and then returned to our Prowse, as follows: boat then, but she was the first wooden store camp for supplies for the next link boat of any description to navigate the “Mr. Dennis carried on the surveys in our survey from the Magnetawan Muskoka Lakes, excepting, of course, in the District during the year 1861 and River to South Bay, Lake Nipissing, a birch bark canoes. Now there are thous distance of about 35 miles. Thereafter it became apparent that a boat was absol ands of boats on these waters.” the line was carried through to South Bay, utely necessary to carry on the work and Lake Nipissing, and we completed same to freight supplies of food for the survey Indians at Port Carling and returned to the store camp on Lake party. Mr. Dennis purchased a good sub We also include other notes ex Rosseau where our canoes were located, stantial sailing boat from the Gormans, tracted from reminiscences of Vernon after walking back on our surveyed line who were boat-builders in the city of Wadsworth of his years as a surveyor: about 80 miles, and then proceeded down Kingston. The boat was about twenty “I met the Indian Medicine Man of L akes Rosseau and Muskoka to where feet in length with iron centre board; was Bala is now situated, and thence down well equipped with mainsail and foresail the Ojibway Tribe, named Musquedo, at Obogawanung Village, now Port Carling. the Muskosh River to the Georgian Bay and suitable for the purpose. He was then 80 years of age but strong and thence across the Bay to Penetan “Harvey, a freighter of Orillia, de guishene where the men were discharged and vigorous. He had a flag pole in front livered the boat on the shore of South of his hut with an emblem on top to de and the rest of the party returned to Bay, Lake Muskoka, as there was no note his vocation. He invited me to a Toronto via stage to Barrie and the rail wharf there at that time. The boat was White Dog Feast and other pagan cere way to Toronto. sailed up the waters of Lake Muskoka monies when Mr. Hart and I were camp Later years and on to Lake Rosseau and moved ed at the end of the Indian River on Lake “I had the opportunity afterwards of across the portage at Port Carling on Muskoka. He had a large silver medal passing through the above named dis rollers and used that summer on Lake conferred upon him for bravery at the tricts on the completed road lines which Rosseau for transport work. It was battle of Queenstown Heights in 1812, in I had been eneaged in surveying, namely usually moored at the mouth of Shadow which he participated on the British side the Parry Sound road to Parry Sound, the river where we had a store camp and the with other Indians of the Georgian Bay Rosseau and Nipissing Road to Ma 18 THE ONTARIO LAND SURVEYOR, SUMMER 1980 Portage Bay, Lake Rosseau. I feel sure were very plentiful. When Mr. Hart and vey at Distress River but could not find Lake Muskoka was named after old I were encamped there, Musquedo any trace of their belongings, or even the Musquedo, although other residents of brought us potatoes and corn. We gave cuttings marking where they had aband that section say that it was named after him pork and tobacco in return.” In oned the survey line. A bay on the west an Indian from Lake Simcoe. Lake Ros company with J. J. Francis, Provincial side of Lake Simcoe, near Hawkestone, seau, in my opinion, was named after Land Surveyor, we discovered the corner is named Carthew Bay after Lieutenant an Indian interpreter named Rosseau post indicating the starting point of the Carthew, and I understand the dwelling who was employed by Governor Simcoe Carthew survey. It was a cedar post about on Yonge Street near Mount Pleasant in his treaties and interviews with Indian ten inches square on top and a foot above Cemetery, owned by the Fiskin estate, tribes on Lake Ontario and with the the average snow line and well and clear was erected by the Carthew family.” Indians of Georgian Bay and Lake Sim ly cut with a penknife were the following coe districts. Rosseau’s home was at the words and figures: “Exploration Line to Skeleton Lake mouth of the Humber River on Lake Lake Nipissing conducted by Lieutenant “William King and his Band at Port Ontario, near Toronto, and on the In Carthew, Royal Engineers, A.D. 1835.” Carling were removed by orders of the dian portage leading from Humber Bay At various points in the Muskoka and Indian Department from their Village to Lake Simcoe. William King, the son Nipissing region, I afterwards traced this there to the reserve at Parry Island. I of Musquedo and Indian Chief of the exploration line, namely near Brace inquired of him why Skeleton Lake was Port Carling band, was always dressed bridge, and it crossed Skeleton Lake and so named. He stated that they called it in black broadcloth clothes when at finally reached the Magnetawan River Spirit Lake (Paukuk Lake in Indian) for Penetanguishene or other outside village at the mouth of a small river named Dis the reason that ghosts and spirits were centres and also wore a high black hat.” tress River on which I have paddled my there. They did not encamp there on this canoe, and it was rightly named for the account, fearing to do so. Three Mile “I met another Indian and his wife Carthew party reached there with no pro Lake was called by the Indians Dirty and family, named Abram Asey. He was visions, expecting to receive them from Water Lake in their Ojibway language. encamped on the Rosseau Village Bay in the Georgian Bay, 60 miles distant, by I named the creek at the head of Lake a wigwam near the present Rosseau canoes passing up the Magnetawan Rosseau “White Oak Creek” from the steamboat wharf, and Asey was then the River. The provisions never arrived and prevalence of white oak trees that lined only individual camped or settled on Lake the sureying party abandoned their be its banks. Tourists have since named the Rosseau, excepting Indians. His birch longings and camp equipment and sur creek Shadow River and indeed the shad bark wigwam was warm and comfortable eying instruments and travelled through ows displayed are wonderful. At its and the floor covered with beaver and the forest to try to reach the Georgian mouth good bass fishing and even speck other valuable furs, and I envied him for Bay, as they supposed they would meet led trout could be obtained and also at possessing such a comfortable lodging with Indians there who would rescue its head lakes to this day. at this winter camp. Asey’s permanent them from starvation. I later met an In home was on Beausoleil Island in the dian at Nascoutaing named Hucakadezick “When the survey party camped at Georgian Bay. When our survey party and he informed me that the Carthew the portage near the present village of was at the Bridge site on the Muskoka party, nearly dead from starvation and Windermere leading from Portage Bay, River (now Bracebridge) the only settler fatigue, had reached the Georgian Bay Lake Rosseau, to Three Mile Lake, one there, named Cooper, entertained our near their Village and by a great chance evening after our dinner when the men survey party men and staff and had a they were discovered and brought to the were singing their French songs, our dogs dance at his log house. Cooper was un Village where they fed them carefully commenced to growl and their hair brist married and was a fiddler, so he cleaned with soup from deer meat at first and led up and we all said there were wolves out the one room of his house to permit then with stronger food until they were or bears near. Presently, however, the of a dance and Asey, the Indian, was one well enough to be taken by canoe to dogs gave tongue and we heard a rust of the party and was requested to give an Penetanguishene where at that time ling of snowshoes on the portage path exhibition of an Indian war dance. To there was a small British garrison. The and instead of animals a small Indian this he agreed and, as he was concluding Carthew party rested there and recovered boy appeared in the fire-light. Our men it. he gave loud war-whoop, pulled out sufficiency to go to their respective could speak Indian and questioned him his scalping knife and quick as lightning homes. The Indians were well rewarded as to where he came from and at such a seized me by the waist and threw me to and then returned home to their village. late hour in the woods and in the depth the floor on my back, and with knee on I have often wondered if Mr. Hawkins of winter. He stated that he had been my breast and his knife brandished, pre left a record of this misadventure. visiting Menomenee and family at Mary’s tended to cut my throat, much to the Lake and was going to his home at Obog- amusement of the assembled party all Old survey line awanung (Port Carling). He had travelled but myself. Asey let me get up with no Another interesting occurrence took all alone about 12 miles to our camp bodily hurt, but I felt much humiliated place when I was surveying the Town through the wild woods and then would and naturally so, being only a boy of 16 ship of Rama. It was found necessary to cross Lake Rosseau to his home. The boy years of age. cut out and reblaze the trees on the east had a fine little Indian pup, carrying it ern boundary of the Township, being a in his bosom— a present from his Mary “The Indian Village of Obogawan- line surveyed in 1835 under the direction Lake friends. We soon gave him some ung, now Port Carling, consisted of some of Lieutenant Carthew of the Royal En food and tea and he spent the night at 20 log huts, beautifully situated on the gineers then stationed in Canada, and our camp and then started for home the Indian River and Silver Lake with a good Mr. Hawkins, a Provincial Land Surveyor next morning, well fed and in good spir deal of cleared land about it used as of Canada, his assistant. This survey line its. garden plots, and the Indians grew pota started at the south-east angle of Rama toes, Indian corn, and other vegetable and was intended on a course of about “In visiting that Indian Village of products. They had no domestic animals north sixteen degrees west magnetic to Obogawanung, I was informed that many but dogs and no boats but numerous of the Indian men had two wives, which reach French River or Lake Nipissing. I birch bark canoes. The fall on the river was the custom of those pagan Indians, there, being the outlet of Lake Rosseau, looked very carefully at the point where but not of those Indians professing Chris was about eight feet, and fish and game I supposed they had abandoned their sur tianity. The men who were employed in THE ONTARIO LAND SURVEYOR, SUMMER 1980 19 our surveying operations were great axe Canada, I arranged a partnership with me that Graham Bell had offered him a men, packmen and canoe-men and prided Mr. Dennis’ partner, B. W. Gossage, half interest in his telephone for $4,000 themselves on their walking powers. I with an office in Toronto on Adelaide which he required then to take out pat have known them to walk or run between street opposite the Court House of that ents to assist in developing the invention. daylight and dark on their journeys on day. Surveying then was at a very low ebb Mr. Brown considered the proposition the ice of the Georgian Bay, 60 to 80 and little work could be obtained, but but decided to decline the investment.” miles, and then dance all night, and if at that time I made a survey and com occasion required they could do without pleted drainage work for the Honourable Summer home, Rosseau food for long periods and travel with George Brown, the owner of Bow Park “I purchased a summer home in heavy loads. I have seen two men I often Farm, containing 1,200 acres fronting Rosseau Village on the shores of Lake had on those surveys, William Parling on the Grand River adjoining the City of Rosseau about the year 1910. It was a and Cozac Cote, each carry 200 pounds Brantford. While on that survey I board delightful spot with a good house with of flour or bacon a measured mile on ed in the same house in Brantford as the acetylene gas light and good spring water snowshoes breaking their tracks and Honourable George Brown and we spent service, and boats. When there I am con without resting, and on journeys our men our evenings together when he was there, stantly reminded of my surveying exper made ten measured miles a day packing much to my advantage and information iences in that locality. Immediately oppo one hundred pounds and their blankets regarding political and other events in Mr. site our house is the Government light and dunnage, axes, etc. As canoe-men Brown’s life. A more important thing house at the entrance of Rosseau Bay they were most expert. William Parling happened while I was there which was and when our surveying party arrived carried, in my view, four hundred pounds the experiments for the discovery of the there in 1861, the site of the lighthouse across the Portage at Port Carling about Bell Telephone. Graham Bell, young man was a small rocky islet on which in a one hundred yards, and partly up-hill. of twenty-one years of age or so, was cleft of the rock was buried an Indian He was a half-breed with an English living with his father who had a farm with all his implements of hunting and father and was the best axe-man, pack adjoining Brantford, and in conducting chase, including his gun for his susten man, and canoe-man I ever met. He his experiments for inventing the tele ance during his sojourn in the Happy could run rapids with great safety and phone he arranged with some young Hunting Grounds. The erection of the was the acknowledged leader of the men ladies that I knew there, living on an ad dam at Port Carling for canal purposes on all occasions.” joining farm, to assist him in his experi caused a considerable rise in the waters ments and he strung a wire from their of Lake Rosseau and the islet was there Declined phone investment house to his own and they assisted him by nearly entirely submerged and the “After completing the various bush by receiving messages, or attempts at Indian Grave and articles therein was surveys in Muskoka and Haliburton, and messages, and this led eventually to the washed away. The lighthouse is erected as Mr. Dennis had retired from his sur great discovery of the Bell Telephone. on cribs very solidly and cannot be much veying practice and entered the Govern But the most remarkable thing was that affected by storms. It should be called ment Service as Surveyor General of the Honourable George Brown informed now The Indian Lighthouse.”