Lewis married Mary Eizabeth MCKENNEY on 16 Aug 1873 in Hampton, Bay Co., Michigan. Mary was born on 16 Aug 1873 in Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary is the daughter of Susan & Dennis Mckenny.

Notes:

1850 Director of the Farmers & Mechanics Institute.

[Grandfather]
. McDONALD, Alexander , (d.), b. in Catlodge, in the parish of Laggan, Inverness-shire, Scotland, in the year 1815. He was one of a family of 7, & the youngest of 5 sons, all of whom emigrated to Canada but one. Mr. McDonald was a carpenter by trade. In 1839, he m., Margaret Gowan, who was private teacher & nurse in the family of Rev. Donald Cameron, then the Presbyterian minister of the parish of Laggan. She was a native of Nairnshire, Scotland, from the village of Cadder. After her marriage, for some years, she taught the young children of the village, there being no other school at that time.

. 1855, they came to Canada with a family of eight, & settled in Erin Township. He owned 75 acres of land, & followed his trade to some extent. In religion he was a Presbyterian, but affiliated with the Methodist Church in Erin, not being in reach of his original denomination. About the year 1874 he moved to Orangeville, where he took a great interest in church matters, being class leader & Sabbath School Superintendent for many ears. He died there, at the age of 68.
5 sons & 1 daughter survive him; Hugh, the eldest; Donald, m. Ellen Carrol of Orangeville; Christina C. m. Colin Campbell, who owns a farm in East Garafraxa; Duncan, m. Elizabeth I. Couse of Valley City, Dakota; Alexander m. Nora Orchard, from Salt Lake; Utta, settled in Ballard, Seattle, W. T.;

JAMES, m. MARTHA FAULKNER of Caledon, settled in Orangeville. James's wife was
. Hugh, the eldest son, was b. May 15, 1840. For four years before leaving his native country, he engaged as a herder of cattle, the first year, at a salary of 6 shillings & board, & the last year, 20 shillings.
In the fall of 1855, on arriving in Canada, in the township of Erin, he worked for Alexander McLachlan of Caledon; The following year he hired for a year with Laughlan McLachlan of Caledon, a brother, in the township of Downie, near St. Mary's, then a year & 3 months with William & John Houston of Erin, after which he worked at home on the farm, & at carpenter work for some years. In 1833-23, he worked with Peter McLean of Badenoch, Puslinch, on the farm. Always preferring farming to the carpenter work, in 1865, he came to Garafraxa, & purchased 100 acres, Lot 15, Concession 9, which he still retains, & lived eight years on the farm. In Sept. 1868, he m. Mary Ann, youngest daughter of John Dobbin, who died, Dec. 25, 1869.
On June 13, 1872, he m. Anna Bella McLean, daughter of the late Alexander McLean of Puslinch. He removed to Belwood in 1873. The following year, with his brother Duncan, he erected a planing mill in the village, & carried on the business until 1879, when his brother decided to go west, leaving the business to Hugh, who carried it on successfully until 1901, when there was no more room for such a place. Mr. McDonald always takes a lively interest in public affairs, & was a member of the Garafraxa Council in 1887-8-9-90. In 1893, he was appointed Treasurer, & since has held the office. He was appointed Secretary-Treasurer for Garafraxa Agr. Society in 1884, & served until 1898.
He took much interest in organizing a public library in the village in 1892, & is now Secy.-Treas. of the large & well selected library of today. He has been an acting Magistrate for many years. In politics, Mr. Donald is a Liberal & he was an Elder in the Presbyterian church for many years. After a long & painful illness, Mrs. McDonald died on Sept. 5, 1899,
leaving 9 children, 5 boys, & 4 girls, namely: Maggie, (Mrs. Frank Vallery), Belwood; Tina, Mrs. Samuel Broadfoot), Garafraxa; Alexander, & Albert, with the Bell Telephone Co.: Anna Bella, a nurse in Buffalo General Hospital; Cameron, in Imperial Bank, (Fergus Branch); Willie, Norman, & Eva, at home in Belwood. - - -

Birth:
Alt Name: MacDonald

Died:
Age 53, D. Pneumonia, 4 days.

Alexander married Mirium Ann MARY FELKER on 19 Feb 1847 in Eramosa Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario. Mirium (daughter of Lewis FELKER, .2, SUE and Mary MEREDITH, , DUE) was born on 5 Dec 1838 in Belwood, Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; died on 22 Apr 1898 in Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mirium Ann is twin to Martha Ann Felker.

Children of Alexander & Mirium Ann Felker are:
. Wm. McDonald, 30 Cot 1848, Belwood, Wellington Co.- 22 Apr 1898, Hamilton, Ont.
. Lewis Alexander McDonnell, 4 Mar 1851, Hamilton, ON. - 22 Dec 1928, Hamilton.
. Mary Ann McDonnell, 1856 Hamilton - 12 Jul 1888, Hamilton
. Frederick E McDonnell.

. DEATH OF MRS. MACDONALD: April 22, 1898, Hamilton, Ontario
She was the first white child born in Garafraxa.*
Mrs. Miriam MacDonald, widow of the late Alex MacDonald, for many years a trusted employee of the hardware firm of Juson & Co., died yesterday in her 71st year. Mrs. MacDonald was born in Garafraxa Township, Wellington, & was the first white women born there. She had been a resident of Hamilton for 52 years, & notwithstanding her great age, retained her physical vigor until a short time before her last illness. She was well known & universally respected.

. She leaves 3 sons - William MacDonald of the Dog & Gun Hotel, York Street;
Lewis MacDonald, milk inspector &
Fred MacDonald of Detroit.
The funeral will make place tomorrow afternoon at 3:30.

Note: * Mirium is the twin to Martha Ann & had 2 older sisters born in Garafraxa Twp. However her two eldest brothers were born in Lincoln County, Ontario. - PJA 2010. - - -

Birth:
Alt Name: Mariam Ann Felker.

Notes:

Lewis Felker.2 is the son of Mary Mingle & Johann Frederick Völkel JOHN Felker, U.E. (United Empire Loyalist.)

. War of 1812, 4th Lincoln Reg't. Militia:
. 1813 Mar 25 - Jun 2 39 days
. 1813 Apr 25 - June 24 , Private Lewis Felker, 45 Days.
. 1813 Jul 20 to Jul 24, Private Lewis Felker, Jr, 5 Days.
. 1813 Jul 25 - 27th, Priv. Lewis Felker, Jr. Days 2, pd. 2s., 4th Reg. Lincoln Militia, Capt. Wm. Lyons.

. LOUTH MILLS, Account of Flour & Wiskey sent from this to St. David's by Capt. Askin & Ensign Applgarth:
. 1813 Dec 18th - Francis Harkisom, 4 (barrels), John Falker, 4, Joseph Falker, 4, Stephen Roy, 4, David Moyer, 4, Henry Hooh, 4, Isaac Osburn, 4, John Linderberry, 4, John Snyder, 4, David Battram, 4, John Ensly, 4, Isaiah Griffen, 3, Jacob Fisher, 4, Lewis Falker, 4,
Alexander Lane, 4, Gilbert Lane, 4, Jacob Houser, 4, A. Sheldon, 4, Joseph Ducher, 4, William Hutt, 4, Morris Canada, 4, Silas Hopkins, 5.

. 1813 Jul 20 to Jul 24, Private Joseph Felker, 5 Days.
. 1813 Jul 25 - 27th, Priv. Lewis Felker, Jr. Days 2, pd. 2s.
. 1814 Oct 18 - Nov 15, Lewis Felker, Days 15, paid 7s 6s. [together with:]
. 1814 Oct 18 - Nov 15, Fredric Felker, Days 15, paid 7s 6s. Counter Signed,
Lt. Col. Robt Nelles.,
. 1814 May 22 - 30th, Lewis Felker Jr. Days 9, pd. 4s 6s.

* 1814 May 22 -30th, Days 9, pd 4s 6p. 4th Lincoln Militia Commanded by Capt. Henry Nelles: Privates Lewis Felker, Jur., Joseph Felker, Lewis Felker, Sen., Adam Mingle.
Ref: War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls & Pay lists, t10386, p813. Archives of Canada.

. 1824 SETTLEMENT DUTY PERFORMED as attached & admitted.
Signed, York, 29 June 1824, T. Ridout, Survey General.
Note1: Thus Mary, Lewis Felker & her brother Jesse Meredtih & sister Anne Meredith were in the wilds of Garafraxa before 1824 to be able to earn their land, build a log cabin 16 X 20 feet. By March 1824 Lewis Felker had moved permanently to the Garafraxa wilderness. - PJ Ahlberg.

. 1826 Assessment & Census, Garafraxa Twp., Wellington Co.
Felker, Louis, Con 7, Lots 16 & 17W.
Uncultivated land: 75 Acres, Cultivated Land: 25 Acres
Oxen 4 Yrs+: 2 Milch Cows: 3 Young Cattle: One;
Males over 16: One (i.e. Lewis Felker); Males under 16: Three;
One Female over 16; Two Females under 16';
Farm Value: £69.

. 1833 Erin & Garafraxa Twps., Wellington Co., Gore District 7:
One male, 3 boys, 1 women, 2 girls.

. 1834 Feb 21 Assessment, Lot 16 & 17, Garafraxa Twp.:
Uncultivated land: 20 Acres; Cultivated Land: 30 Acres;
Oxen Milch Cows & Young Cattle: (same as above in 1826.)
One Male over 16; Three Males under 16;
One Female over 16: One; Four Females under 16;
Farm Value Lot 16: £52. & Lot 17, Value: £20.

Garafraxa-Owen Sound Road
. 1837-1850 Crown Lands, Letters to Survey Generals Office York, to Lieut. Governor, 400 sq. acres will take 1 year or more to survey best route for road through the woods. 1840, £3,000 Lieut. Gov calls township Syneham, i.e.. Owen Sound on Lake Huron Rd.
. 1829 Feb 29 Letter from John Telfter, local agent at Elora, A great dissatisfaction almost the settle, because more than 100 persons have come 100-200 miles away for a free grant. The people is crowding in to the settlement with their families before the sleighing goes off for the purpose of getting some cleaning done to put some spring crops in for the support of their families … Reply soon so the people can get some crips in or they will not be able to put in a crop in this year which will make it settlers no money to return home.
. 1842 Jan 12, Arthur. Road finished but for a few rods, Bridge over Saugreen R. 481 feet in 3 parts, must construct when ground frozen hard, oxen sink to their bellies, raid open in winter ]; in spring swamps will need a causeway. Joh Teller, 9 in family, Presbyterian.
Ref: Archives of Ontario RGI, A17, Box 15.

* A D Ferrier's Reminiscences, from lectures delivered to Farmers & Mechanics Institute, Fergus in 1864. Ferrier recalls his travels starting in 1830-1834.
. 1835 the of 1835 & the beginning of 1836 was very cold. The snow was between 3 & 4 feet deep in the woods, the thermometer was 30 degrees below zero.We used frequently to hear the wolves in pursuit of the deer; tow or 3 times got parts of the deer which they had been unable to devour. the sound of the wolves in pursuit is a good dal like that of a pack of foxhound, only more melancholy & more like a howl. they are very seldom seen. We often saw deer. They are easily tamed if taken young - but get very troublesome. We had several turtle feats. the porcupine is very good eating, very like a rabbit. Raccoon is not bad but rather rich & strong tasted. during the first interleaf bread was very scarce. although we had no bread, we had potatoes, oatmeal, salmon & lots of venison. Mr. Alpaugh, of Garafraxa, used to be a great hunter in those days & as he passed our house on the way to Fergus we got the first offer of his game. Stoves were hardly known. The big black pot & bake kettle were the chief culinary instruments.
Our first experience of (militia) state labor was realized in 1835. We busted together & marched to a pretty little stream. Our hands blistered nicely, but we just pricked the little blobs on the balsam trees & rubbed them with that. They healed wonderfully. Our dinner consisted of died deer fa]ham which old Mr Black provided, with bread , scones & crop.
Ref: Sketches of the Early Days of Fergus & vicinity, 1919.

. 1846 Smith's Canadian Gazetter, Province of Canada West:
Garafraxa, Wellington District, 1638 Acres under cultivation, land of excellent quality, 377055 acres of Crown land are open for sale at 8 shillings per acres. 1 grist & 2 saw mills. Population in 1841 is 322.

. 1851 Dec 2 - Places for Polling. Erin. Township Hall, Garafraxa, McKee's Barn.
Ref: Guelph Herald newspaper.

. 1854 Nov. 8 - 25 - Letter for Lewis Felker remaining in Garafraxa Post Office. Post Master Geo. S Keen.
Ref: Fergus Freeholder Newspaper.

. 1861 AGRICULTURAL CENSUS, Belwood, Wellington Co.
LEWIS FELKER, Con 7, Lot 16,
Under cultivation 70 Acres, Crops 1860 45A., Pasture 1860 25A, Wild woods 30A,Farm Value $3,000, implements $200, Spring Wheat 30A yields 200 bu., Peas 5A yields 200 bu., Oats 5A yields 250 bu., Potatoes 1A yields 50 bu., Turnip 4A yields 600 bu., Hay Bundles of 10,000 lbs. 6, Maple sugar 150 lbs, Wool 20 lbs., Full cloth 20 yards Flannel 25 yards, Cider nil, Bulls/Oxen over 3 years nil, Steers/Heifers 3, Milled Corn 2, Horses over 3 years old 2, Value of same $150, Colts/Filles 3 years, one, Sheep 7, Pigs 10, Value of a ll Livestock $600. Butter 200 lbs., Beef barrels 700 lbs., Pork barrels 200 lbs.
Census taker rears: In a good many places I find that the Farmers Complain hat the Spring Frost has injured the Peas & Spring Wheat. The Potatoes has also been injured by the Frost.

. 1861 Census Bellwood, Wellington Co., p 49
Lewis Felker, United, Age 63, Farmer. Mrs. Felker, age 63, Born Canada.
> Mary Fulker [Felker], Age 70 /1791, United States, Widow is crossed out. E. Methodist. [a vaguely located check mark in the last column MAY indicate she died in 1860-61.] VERIFY identity.
> W. Felker, Born Canada, age 10 [16?] single. VERIFY identity.
. Abram Felker, Farmer, b UC, Age 27, married & Mrs. Felker, b UC, age 25 / 1836.
Note2: Age of birth is slightly off, perhaps due to the actual census date.

Death Notices
"Felker, Lewis was born in Philadelphia, March 5, 1795,
came to Canada while young & settled near Smithville, Lincoln County.
In 1818, he married Mary Meredith.
In 1826, he moved to Garafraxa, where he died, June 20, 1861; predeceased by some of his children; survived by his wife & children.
Ref: Canada Christian Advocate, 1858-1872, published 17 July 1861, p. 4; p. 102.

METHODIST CHURCH, [ Life in pioneer Wellington County ]
. The Rev. Mr. Trerayne, who succeeded Mr. Pettit, writes :
Elora, May 1853, Dear Sir: Having now been for 6 months in the Mission,
I wish to submit to your Society some account of what has been done during that time.
Upon my entering on the Mission, I have in all 15 stations, through eight townships, viz, Egremont, Arthur, Garafraxa, Erin, Woolwich, Peel, Wellesley & Maryborough, all of which I have been enabled to visit monthly during the winter & to the station in Woolwich I have given a week-day service in addition to the Sunday. Have given up at present on account of the smallness of the congregations, & one other also I visit but once in 2 months, leaving me therefore at present but 16 monthly services.

The want of roads, & the difficulty of arranging stations within reasonable distances of each other, prevent the Missionary from doing as much as he would otherwise be able to perform. ' this want is particularly felt in Wellesley - in which place I am forced to walk through the woods, between the stations, a distance of ten miles in Summer, & in Winter have to go a round of six miles further. In the Spring & Fall the roads are almost impassible, being a heavy clay soil - a horse being unable to get along, on account of the very deep mud & loose crossways. But amid the difficulties at the worst seasons of the year, the Missionary must feel thankful that God has appointed him as an humble means of gathering together the scattered flock of Christ. He soon forgets his weariness in the warm welcome which is always given, & in the pleasure of seeing a godly congregation gathered round him, despite of mud, & rain, & darkness. & it is gratifying to find. ...

> In Garafraxa they have raised the means for building, & this week have advertised for tenders, & hope to have a church ready for worship by Winter. With the exception of two union churches & one court room, all the services are held in school or private houses.
I find a lamentable ignorance displayed with regard to the way in which the church in Canada is supported, - the most part think that all the lands called Clergy lands belong to the church, & that the proceeds of all go to the church. And continually the question is asked me - Why does not the government build us a church? Why is there not a stationed minister among us - have we not plenty of church lands for a Hector and to support him?

. Sadly Lewis Felker's monument was knocked over & lies in scattered pieces (2016). The clearly legible bottom reads, Died June 20, 1861, Aged 66 Years, 3mo. 15ds.
. Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Birth:
Alt Loc: either Oxford Twp./ Hardwick Twp., Sussex Co. NJ, now part Warren Co.

Died:
Aged 66y 3m 15d.

Buried:
Monument S14-14 (named on 14-15) is severely shattered.

Lewis married Mary MEREDITH, , DUE on 17 Apr 1819 in Grimsby, Lincoln Co., Ontario. Mary (daughter of Charles MEREDITH, U.E. and Miriam GRIFFIN) was born on 27 Feb 1798 in Grimsby, Lincoln Co., Ontario; died on 26 May 1869 in Belwood, Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary is the daughter of Miriam Griffin & Charles Meredith, U.E.

. UCLPetition 46, F Bundle 13, C1897, p589.
The Petition of Mary Felker of Grimsby*, That your petitioner is the daughter of the late Charles Meredith * of Grimsby & enrolled UE loyalist & is married to Lewis Felker of Grimsby, but is removed to Grainborough Twp. & has never had any lands. Therefore humbly prays that your Honor be pleased to grant her 200 acres of crown land.
Signed, Mary, HERXMARK Felker, 11 day April 1820. Court House of Niagara.
. I do Certify that Mary Felker, the above named petitioner is there person she described to be, & has never had any order for Crown lands.
Signed, Richard Meredith [i.e. her brother].
. Read 17 April, 1822, Recommended for 200 Acres. Ordered issued 26 Apr, 1822.

We, Wm. Dickson, Esq., Clerk of the Peace, certify the Mary Felker appeared at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace this day is recognized by the Magistrates to be the daughter of the late Charles Meredith who retained his loyal during the late war, without aiding or assisting the enemy & is married to Lewis Felker. Alexander Napier of York, Gentleman to her her agent to locate the same.
Date, at the Court House at Niagara, this 11 Day April, 1820.

. written at the bottom is: York, 27 March, 1820,
. I certify that Petitioner, Mary Falker was alive a few days ago & that she moved to Gainsborough near Grimsby. Signed, Daniel Clendenin.
Envelope: Petition 47 of Mary Felker for land. 11 April 1820, Entered in Land Book L (?) page 214, DUE. Govt. House, 17 Apr 1820, Referenced to the Inspector General for his Report for Council by Order.
Ref: Archives of Ontario, Microfilm C1897.
Note1: The younger Meredith children, including Mary Meredith were unable to read & write like their parents & brothers Richard & 1851 Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co.

. 1824 SETTLEMENT DUTY PERFORMED as attached & admitted.
Signed, York, 29 June 1824, T. Ridout, Survey General.
NOTE1: Thus Mary, Lewis Felker & her brother Jesse Meredith & sister Anne Meredith were in the wilds of Garafraxa before 1824 to be able to earn their land, build a log cabin 16 X 20 feet. By March 1824 Lewis Felker had moved permanently to the Garafraxa wilderness. - PJ Ahlberg.

. Upper Canada Land Book, Page 214, [C103, Archives of Canada]
Council Chambers at York, Wednesday, 1822 April 17, Present James Baby, Samuel Smith, Rev. Doctor John Strachan.
Mary Felker, F46, Praying for a grant of land as the Son of a U.E. Loyalist.
Granted 2 Acres as such.

. 1822 Garafraxa Twp. Location Ticket, Original is the Archives of Ontario & a copy can be found in the Wellington County Museum.

. During its lifetime Belwood used 3 names Skeneville & Douglas being the first two & in 1878 the hamlet was still known as Garafraxa Village & the post office there operated as Douglas. . Shand Dam was built during the early 1940's. Before some of its buildings were removed to higher ground, the village boasted a mill, post office, lime kilns, grain elevator, foundry, shoe shop, sash & door factory, hardware & drug store, shoe shop, tailor shop, grocery stores, jewellery store, barber shop & library, butcher shop, blacksmith shop, branch bank, hotel, churches, and town hall. And in 1869, Garafraxa divided into 2 townships–East and West.
. In 1837, there were only 3 teams of horses in Fergus, & they belonged to Messrs Black, Watt & Webster. Cattle were almost as scarce & money even more so. Business was nearly all done by trade up to the year '45 & later. There was but little grain for sale & the prices in trade very low. Oats ruled at six pence, mill seeds 3 coppers more, wheat 2 shillings & 3 pence & 9 pence for all. No sale for potatoes. There was no butcher and little meat.
. 1842 - There was no Belwood road - all going up the Owen Sound road to the Green settlement. The Belwood road was surveyed & under-brushed in '42, the directions to the surveyor being to keep on dry ground & thus a crooked road came to pass." 1842 was the year of the great snow, coming Nov. 1st and staying till April 14th.
Ref: Fergus Elora news Express, pub. 2002.4.3.

Ontario Land Registry Abstract, Book West Garafraxa, Book 71, p.141
Lot 16 & 17 SWHalf, 7 Con, 200 Acres:
. 1824 Sep 4, Patent, Crown to Mary Felker, 100 Acres SW half Con 7. Lot 16;
. 1845 Aug 4, Bargain&Sale, Lewis Felker & wife as to Dower, to John Watt, L16 W quarter, 50A
. 1849 Apr 28, B&S John Watt & Wife, to James Ferrier, Quarter, 50A
. 1856 Nov 20, Mary & Lewis Felker, to James Ferrier NW, 50A
. 1867 Mar 7, WILL, Mary Felker, to William Felker, West [1 seventh? Acre}
. 1870 Feb 24, Mtge. Abram Felker & Wife, to Alex Black xxA
. 1879 Feb 8, Release, Elizth, Wm., AXX, Abram Felker, to David Ferrier, NW Acres?
. 1883 Dec 14, Abty?, Abram Felker & Wife, to Alex. Barnet $900.
. 1906 Jun 25, Res. WILL, Abram Felker Decd. to George L Felker, S quarter 50A
. 1913 Apr 12, B&S, Geo L Filker & wife, To Robt. S Swift, 50A
. 1913 Apr 12, 2 Claim, James Felker, unmarried, to Geo Felker, 50A

Lot 17, Con 7 100 Acres
. 1860 Jun 18, B&S, Mary & Lewis Felker, to John Felker, SEHalf L17, 50 Acres
. 1867 Mar 7, WILL, Mary Felker, to Wm & Abraham Felker.
. 1870 Feb 24, Mgt. Abram Felker & Wife, to Alex Banet?, 500A.
. 1878 Nov 21, Mortg., John Felker& Wife, to Mary A Jeff,

. 1887 Dec 2, Quit Claim Henrietta Felker, widow & Annie Felker Spinster, to Francis E Felker, 50 Acres. $1.00 [Presumed to be Francis E Felker.3 junior, as his father died in 1859].
. 1906 Jan 25, Pro WILL, Abram Felker, decd, to James Felker W 50 A. subject to portage & legacy.
. 1909 May 29. Release of Estate. Mellissa McDonald, James Felker, W 20 A
. 1913 Apr 9, Disc. Mortg., Margaret Narin?, to James & G L Felker. [Last Felker entry].

. 1852 Census Bellwood, Wellington Co.
Falker, Lewis, Age 56 /1795, born US, Methodist, Farmer;
Mary, Age 54, 1797, born Canada West (Ontario), Methodist;
Mariah Age 23, 1828, born Canada West, Methodist;
Martha, Age 17, 1834, born Canada West, Methodist;
Elias, Age 20, 1831, born Canada West, Methodist;
Abraham Falker, Age 18, 1835/ born Canada West, Methodist.
Note2 from Census: Nearby "saw Mill reported that pine was very scarce; Post Office is much wanted here."
Note3: Nearby are sons John & William Felker with their families .

. Felker Family History, 1981 March 23, by Mrs. T J Hutchison:
Old Mrs. Felker was probably the first white woman to sleep in Garafraxa Township. This was a statement made by John Dobbin in a newspaper article in March 9, 1869 issue of Guelph Mercury. John Dobbin Sr. had come to the Carmel-Dracon area of Garafraxa Twp. in July 1826, with his family of 12 children, although some of the girls may not have come, for they married in Galt-Hespeler area.
But John Dobbin records that they were preceded by the Felker, Headley & Meredith families in March 1826. This was over a year before the first tree was cut in Guelph. They came by way of what is now 15 Sideroad, but there was no road then, only the original survey done in 1821. (There should be a copy of this letter in the Museum, along with several other letters that ran in the Guelph Mercury about that time. In the article John Dobbin continued, Mrs Felker is still living on W half Lot 16, Con 7, 6th line, where she moved 43 years ago (1826) (but the newspaper clipping itself was not dated.)
Family of Lewis & Mary Felker were: Abraham, William & John. Buried at Carmel. - - -

Birth:
Lot 7, Con 9, Smithville.

Died:
Aged. 71y 2m, 27d. Wife of Lewis.

Buried:
White marble recumbent monument, 2 blasting horns, bible & cover, is cracked into 3 pieces.