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The Auld Kirk near Bradford By BRIAN BAKER BRADFORD There stands not far west of Bradford on the 5th Line of West Gwillimbury lonely little Presbyterian Chur ch the Auld Kirk that looks like thousands of other pioneer churches across Canada It is different however in that it stands as monument to group of Canadas innst color ful and courageous pioneer set tlers In what was to become known as the Scotch Settlement the area was settled by Scottish families in 131 after they had been harried from their place of original settlement in the Red River Valley of Manitoba by the northwest tur traders Briefly the saga of the Scot ch Settlers is best summed up by roadside plaque which reads In 1813 Highland Scots from Lord Selkirks Red River Settlement disheartened by crop failures and the opposition of the Northwest Company moved to Upper Canada Tran sported in the Nor Westers canoes they disembarkcd at Holland Landing in September 1818 They found temporary em ployment in the Yonge Street settlements in 181 many took up land in West Gwillimbury In 1823 Presbyterian ser vices were held in building dog on this site which was repIaCed by frame church in 1827 the present structure was completed in 186s According to material being compiled by Mrs Eleanor Reid of Lefroy who is president of the newly formed Scottish Set tlenieiit and District Historical Society which held one of its initial meetings recently the real story begins in the County of Sutherland birthplace of her great great grandfather tribute to the Scottish pioneers Robert Sutherland In 1800 the Countess of Sutherland married Maquis George GranvilleGore and decided to clear her land of peo ple and replace them with Cheviot sheep burning crops and buildings in the process The native people were left destitute and starving Ap palled by this the Fifth Duke of Selkirk in 1812 bought thousan ds of acres in Manitoba from the Hudsons Bay Co on which to resettle the Scots and few from County Sligo Ireland SAILEI FROM STROMNIZSS The settlers sailed from Stroiiiiiess for Canada on June 211 1813 aboard the sailing ship Prince of Wales in convoy with three other ships The journey to Hudsons Bay was long and hard and num ber of the settlers died from typhus and were buried at sea Distressed by the condition of the settlers the captain left the settlers at Fort Churchill in stead of at York Factory The settlers suffered extreme privation and had it not been for the kindness of local Indians who brought them fresh wild meat and gave them the secret of drinking the juice of boiled spruce leaves to prevent scur vy many more would have cer tainl died On the early spring trek by snowshoes to York Factory more hardships were met by half of the settlers who chose to go up the more tran uil Hayes River The group ha to put up tent when the 15yearold wife of Angus MacDonald had baby The other group later went by way of the Nelson River direct ly to Lake Winnipeg making many portages They reached the Selkirk Settlements just north of Winnipeg in the sum mer of 1814 The Promised Land to them proved to be anything but rich and gentle land They were beset by the work of breaking the land by hot dry summers and crop failures by windy bonechilling winters In addition the Northwest fur traders afraid that colonizar tion woul hurt their fur trade lot the local Indians that the settlers were out to take their hunting grounds away while warning the set tlers themselves that the Iii dians were planning to descend upon them and massacre them DISCOURAGEI Thus discouraged in 18121 left the Selkirk settlement and made the long and arduous thousandmile jouniey by pow tage and by boat to upper Canada and more hospitable climate The final journey was made down Lake Siiiicoe to Holland Landing Sir names of the Ho Red River Settlers who came down were Sutherland ltIchath McBeth McDoiiell McKay Bannerman Frazer Campbell Ross iunn Cameron Matliesoii Murray McLeod McKiiinon There wcre married couples widows and widowcis single young men and women children and babies In 1819 they crossed the treacherous Holland Marsh to the Southeast corner of West Gwillimliury where they took up lots in what was then forest wilderness Here they put up crude shelters often lean to of bows covered Wllll fir houglis and sheets of bark As soon as they became better organized log cabins were built It is interesting to note that 15yearold Jane oborii lived with her parents just south of Newton Robinson on one of Hon Carl Rowes farms where the log house now stands beside Highway 27 About dusk one evening the silence was broken by the eerie howling of passing pack of wolves Shortly after two men John Faris and his father came by and were invited in to take short refuge until the pack had gone Jane again met John when she was returning with her parents from Newmarket romance blossomed and they were shortly thereafter married despite the age dif ference in what became good and lasting marriage They took tip the farm on lot eight of the Sixth line and donated the site for the first Presbyterian church the Auld Kirk first church in the ounly of Simcoe It is also fitting that one of Canadas most colorful former prime ministers John Diefenbaker who is so strongly proCanadian aiid who speaks with conviction and will not back down from what he believes is in the best interest of Canada should be the descen dant of these hardy Scotch Set tlers the great grandson of leorge and Christina Han nerman lvo marble stones mark the resting places of the Han nermaiis To the memory of George tanncrman Native of Sutherlandshiie Scotland who departed this life Feb 10 185$ aged 10 years Mrs Han iiermaiis reads hristina Wife of George llanncrman Died Dec 17 187 Aged tlti years Native of Sutherlaii lshire Scotland They were married in 1813 in the River Settlement Here or iii the New Scotch Red Mrs Eleanor Reid president of newly formed Scotch Settle ment and District Historical Society admires silver com Developing food policy proving no easy task OTTAWA JP The 1970s have seen steady rise in food costs prompting politicians and interest groups to try to find culprit Marketing boards grocery chains rising energy and trans portation costs consumer dc inand for highly processed foods and government inter ference have all been blamed The suspicion the campaign has generated among producers and consumers and the array of middlemen bet ween them has done nothing to solve the price rise and may make the task of moulding national food policy more dif ficult panel of cabinet ministers from departments with foodrc lated tasks meets this week with representatives of nine as sociations of producers proc essors retailers and con sumcrs This meeting marks the start of the federal governments for ma consultation process of seeking views and ideas to leg velop food policy from strategy paper it released in June Peter Ilaniiam president of the Ontario Federation of Agri culture says farmers favor national food policy but are concerned that it is polite way to say cheap food policy Consumer groups wonder if the government is seeking na tional food policy primarily geared to improving the in comes of farmers and fish ermen while making consumer prices of secondary im portance Meanwhile the processors distributors and retailers Wlll try to erase lingering suspicions that their prices are excessive Prices remained stable in 1976 but they increased by 127 per cent for the first 10 months Of 1977 Next year does not look much better Beef and bread prices are expected to rise and there is growing pressure for increases in dairy product prices Meanwhile incomes of farm ers fell 125 per cent in 1976 af ter four years of increases in cluding 78perccnt jump in 1973 mainly the result of high international wheat prices Farm incomes declined again this year and economists pre dict thc downward trend will continue next year The June policy paper talks of the need to ensure the adequacy of safe and nutritious food supplies of stable and ade quate incomes for farmers and fishermen and of fair and of ficient food delivery system for consumers It says policies will be devel oped to help producers protect consumers give consumers representation on marketing boards and improve food safety Following this weeks public discussions with the interest groups the cabinet ministers will study other briefs from in terested groups and persons They will then meet provincial ministers in Winnipeg in January and then start preparations for national food conference in February RUNS FORKLIFT WINSTONSALEM NC AP 77 Linda Martin doesnt hesitate when shes asked to pick up 1050pound load of tobacco For three years she has been forklift operator for Reynolds Tobacco munion cup from the Auld Kirk Presbyterian hurch held by another Red River Settler dcscendent Reynolds Brian Baker Photo standing again lt= Mrs Muriel I9 The doctor game desire to advertise particularly in Houston By iIFIRIJNES Im not supposed to advertize my services If did Id be in front of the medical discipline committee tarred and feathered fined and told never never to do it But that burning desire to be bad boy just wont leave me So let me tell you the kind of ad Id like to place And why think its message Would be helpful to the Canadian medical consumer as Well as doctors Id put the first ad in the Houston Chronicle Ive always had desire to show Texans deal that is bigger and better than theirs And this one would really get their Iiiin boots clicking It would offer the GiffordJones Surgical Travel Tour for Texans about to have an operation It would give them variety of choices Some could spend week in the Canadian rockies Others could walk through picturesque Quebec or take scenic tour of the Maritimes They would end their trip in Niagara Falls where they could have their gallbladder hemorrhoids or uterus or whatever else removed Id offer this surgical package for the same price as they would pay just for the surgery in Houston And wouldnt lose any money They day they left the hospital they would cash in their last free coupon It would be for meal at the top of the skylon tower overlooking their great country The wine would give them warm glow and hopefully good feelings of their Canadian experience They would also wonder why the doctor didnt pack his bags and travel back to Texas with them Some Canadian doctors have already sensed that things are better south of the border Why spe nd the same amount of time and effort removing gallbladder here when the fee is three times greater in Texas and other parts of the United Sta tes GiffordJones and other Canadian doctors receive con tinually enticing letters from this state placement service tells us that Texas has great climate booming economy and will be the largest US state in the year 2000 Thev inform us that the cost of living is low there are no personal income taxes and little ducements make you feel like some llution Their in dy And to put the icing on the cake they imply well be rich rich rich This research firm that is making business out of Settlement may be found gréves of most of the original settlers The New Scotch Set tlement Church stands on the fifth concession due south And still in keeping with the stern old Scots the welcome sign reads Rev Heuson Minister West Gwillimbury Presbyterian Church Divine Worship am Sabbath School 11 am Come and Worship with us The Auld Kirk is not in use but is historic site Two other Scots Adam and John Goodfcllow and their mother from Roxboro Scotland were also involved in the life of the Auld Kirk Adam hosted at his house the Essa Tecumsth and Gwillimbury meeting of delegate at which he was ap pointed to make application for occasional preaching and resolution for construction of new church John was the witness to the marriage of John Bannerman and Christina McKay grand parents of Hon John Diefen baker in 184 The Gmdtcllows were noted as having rode on horseback to attend meetings and services at the Auld Kirk long after they moved up to or iiisfil First services in the church were held by the Rev Wm Jenkins The building also ser ved as the first school at which Iohn arruthers was appointed as teacher who later became travelling atechist visiting destitute settlers in Western lpper Canada According to an early session book of the Auld Kirk no stone was left unturned and even such matters as who became drunk and made fool of him self at local bani raising to inquiries as to which young lad was rcsponsbilc for getting one of their maiden lassics in the family way were discussed Andrew Rettig secretary treasurer of the Scotch Set tlcmciit Historical Society described how the Settlers petitioned the government to have corduroy road and chained floating bridge of taiiiarack logs built across Holland Marsh and the Yongc Street Settlements He also noted that LaSalle the explorer used the arrying Ilace por tage between what was to become Toronto and the west branch of Holland ltivcr Indians l11l11l111gil21l Sail and his band on the Third Line used great rock still to be Sttll on nearby Frazer reek as meet ing point IIRSI BlIIIEI Aiiiistrong lallacc lllSllr men and Algeo are three other names closely connected with the Scotch Settlement James Wallace was the first biitclici 111 the area and one morning he went out to find that wolf had crept into his barn and gorged himself so much that he could not squeeze through the hole by MARQLIIIHE Mich AI which he entered still loved him right up Lewis Algeo was famed for until shot him says the carrying all his money on belt second Michigan woman to go around lllS waist free in recent weeks after snaring disgruntled Canadian doctors knows how to hit the sensitive spots They warn us not to forget about Quebec which intends to abolish fee for service by 1980 The Texas firm insinuates most likely correctly that the other provinces will follow Thats why you shouldnt be surprised if your doctor sud dcnly crosses the border Record numbers are leaving and its usually the experienced ones that are convinced theyre jumping off sinking shi GiffordJones hasnt fi led out the application because Id rather stay and fight Maybe placing an ad in the Houston Chronicle would be the best starting salvo It would at least point out to Canadian patients the glaring discrepancy between the car ning power of these two groups of doctors Due to government health plan most patients now have no idea what the doctor receives for their are The plumber would be appalled if he was told how much the surgeon was sent for removin his prostatic obstruction Or digging stone out of his ki ney Losing top physicians to Texas is bad for the Canadian medical consumer The ones that are leaving are the rugged individualists who give some backbone to our profession The ones that remain will take anything the politicians will give them and theyll all live here unhappin ever after Possibly an ad in the Texas newspaper would get everyone thinking more about the problem The government might wonger about relegating physicians to the role of civil ser van Or maybe politicians would at least give doctors merit award for helping to bolster our sagging tourist trade and balance of payments deficit We dont have perfect system of health care in this coun try But neither does any other nation So lets try to keep some free enterprise in the practice of medicine In the long run Canadians would have better type of doctor and receive superior medical care Why not tell your rovincial minister of health if you agree with this attitu Id appreciate cop of this article to the Houston Chronicle It will at least them that theres one doctor who isnt moving south Letters can be sent to PO Box 55 Niagara Falls Ontario L2E 688 Enclose stamped selfaddressed envelope ii the 6th line of West Gwillimbury in the Scotch Settle ment just southwest of Bradford stands the Auld Kirk To the TXWQfl1 1n the cemetery of the Auld Kirk the majority of Sclkirks Red River Settlers who retreated to Upper anada in 1818 She still loved husband even when she shot him killing husband or former husband who beat her Sharon McNerney acquitted of seconddegree murder last week in the Feb slaying of her husband Icorge described him in an interview as man with toughguy reputation that he couldnt or wouldnt shake He hated life hated the heaviness of it she said He would have been completely happy living in the mountains by himself without the frustra tions of bills and jobs and people Marquette County circuit court judge said the state failed to prove that Mrs McNerney 42 was not acting in selfdc fence She has returned to work as secretary Last month Francine Hughes of Lansing was found innocent by reason of insanity in the arson death of her former husband who she testified beat her during their marriage and continued to do so after their divorce Mrs Hughes has been found mentally competent and was freed from custody Mrs McNerney said her hus band 45 when he died started beating her when she was 16 and engaged to him He apologized and cried and said hed never do it again forgave him because believed him she said in the interview with the Detroit Free Press But the beatings became more brutal and more frequent an average of one month Sometimes she said McNerney would go for one of their three children and Id in tervene and get the brunt of it Mrs NcNerney said her hus band 5foot9inch iron worker once fired gun at her when she said she was leaving him Police took him to jail but he sent word that he would kill her if she testified against him On the day she shot him she said McNerney slapped her around and warned her0K ypu bitch This time you wont able to tell the cops because Im going to kill you Mrs McNerney said she thought he meant it She got shotgun from their bedroom and fired twice Then she went to police and confessed Presbyterian Church site of the first church in Simcoe County outside of St Marie Midland Brian Baker Photo found their final resting place Here lie former Prime Minister John Diefenhakers great grandparents George and Chirstina Bannerman Brian Baker Photo Am Landers Newsletters not welcome Dear Readers Youve been asking for rerun of this col umn since 1968 Im rerunning it knowing full well that some of you are going to get mad at me all over again Dear Ann Landers Please tell me why normally in telligent people take leave of their senses at Christmas refer to individuals who compose interminable chronicles of the years activities have them mimeographed usually poor job and send the drivel to everyone whose last name they can spell What makes these people think anyone save special few is interested in wading through all that stuff For several years weve been receiving family newslet ters and Ive had it What galls me is the way they try to paint such glowing pictures of affluence and success have before me istful of chatty little Christmas letters from all over the country Im going to lift few sentences from each to illustrate the point the names of persons and organizations have been changed to protect the guilty Dear Friends What wonderful year weve had Jack was named vicepresident of the bank so we celebrated by buying Mercedes and taking trip to the Orient In ad dition to his Boy Scout work Jack was chairman of the United Fund drive He is still on the hospital board and president of Kiwanis Just for laughs he played the lead in Little Theatre production last June and everyone said he was better than the star who did it on Broadway His first love however is still conservation and he continues to work hard as chairman of the Committee to Fight Dutch Elm Disease After completing my term as Junior League president swore would take life easy but accepted the vicepresi dency of the garden club and am still active in the Daughters of the American Revolution also ran the rum mage sale for the Eastern Star this year and managed to squeeze in course on flowerarranging offered by Japanese exchange student Junior won his letters in football and basketball He placed second in the national oratory contest and has been accepted by Harvard We were surprised to read in the paper that our little Billy won $100 in the American Legion essay contest He was accepted by Eaglebrook Debbie was elected president of her class at Dobbs Ferry and now is taller than her mother Our wee Betsy is quite little hor sewomanwon blue ribbon in the show at Grosse Point And so it goes until you could throw up Next year Ann Landers Im going to send newsletter to everyone who has been sending me newsletters It will read something like this and hope they get the hint Dear Friends We had perfectly rotten year Hal was pgssed over for promotion again so he got mad and quit He snt lined up new job yet but he looks in the papeis every day Hal Jr was defeated for homeroom monitor He flunked French and will have to go to summer school Jim has not had haircut since August and had to hock his guitar to repair his motorcycle which he wrecked My motherin laws annual twoweek visit turned into two months and my migraines got so bad have to go back into therapy We hope next year is better It couldnt be worse Love to allvMary