535-03 Page 91Early Culloden
1 ^„A 4 Promise
W.I. Tweedsmu_ ,fists
Valuable Items Of Historic Interest;
Church Built In 1857 For $1,200
By Roy A. Darrow
(The information in the .his-
torical sketch below has been
taken largely from the Tweeds-
muir Book of the Culloden Wom-
en's Institute, compiled after con-
siderable research by Mrs. Ross
McClintock—R.A.D.).
• • •
It was the day of beginnings.
Forests stood in comparatively
unbroken splendor. The few
small clearings were prophetic
of the fertile farms of today.
Humble hand-hewn homes pres-
aged the fine residences that
were to replace them, To some
the early years were a time of
opportunity; to others, a time of
hardship. But out of It all grew
today's progressive communities.
In years gone by the village of
Culloden gave promise of be-
coming one of the principal cen-
tres of Oxford County. It was
a self-contained community. On
one of its busy thoroughfares in
the 1800's could be found hotels,
butcher shops, shoe stores, tailor
shops, cabinet matters, jewelry
stores, wagon shops, sawmills,
blacksmiths and several general
stores.
In their strenuous struggle the
residents did not neglect the
higher spiritual interests. There
were three churches in the rich
farming community at one time.
These were the days of the
Esseltines, Rocketts, Empeys,
Bighams, Fosters, Stansells,
Falkins, Dillons, Allisons, Wil-
sons, Agars, Thomsons and many
others. These were the days
when the pioneers, who thought
nothing of a 10-mile trek into
Tillsonburg a couple of times a
week.
The health of the community
was ably cared for by two resi-
dent doctors, Dr. S. McDonald
and Dr. S. Leeder,
News of the week was recorded
in Culloden's own newspaper,
The Lively Times, run In con-
junction with a general store
owned by Hugh Mann,
Andrew Smart and his family
were among the early settlers
in the community. They built a
log cabin in 1847 on property now
owned by CharlesDaniels. Mr.
Smart, a tax collector, is said to
have driven oxen to Hamilton,
a two -week journey, to market
his farm produce.
In the 19th century, Culloden
started to grow and prosper. In
the old land its settlers had been
imbued with the principles of
Presbyterianism and at an early
date in the history of the settle-
ment they sought to establish a
cause which would be a centre
of religious Influence and level
the life of the community.
In 1857 the Culloden Presby-
terian Church was erected at a
cost of $1,200. It was capable of
seating 400. The Culloden con-
gregation was ministered to by
the Rev. Robert Rodgers, of Till-
sonburg, a young man fresh from
college.
At that time the district cov-
ered by the charge was a large
one, embracing Culloden, Tiil-
sonburg and Norwich.
This seems to have been an
era of prosperity for the minis-
ter's salary was boosted to $600
a year.
In 1894 Tillsonburg and Cullo-
den congregations separated. The
Rev. Malcolm McGregor was
minister at the time.
The separation marked an
epoch in the history of the Cul-
loden and Tillsonburg Presby-
terian churches, For more than
40 years they bad been united
In one charge, listened to the
same ministers and been ruled
by the same Kirk session.
In 1861 the Wesleyan Metho-
dist Church was built in Cul-
loden at a cost of $950 and was
ministered to by the Rev. Mr,
Reed.
Another early organisation was
the Culloden Loyal Orange As. 3
sociatlon, No. 648, ,organized c
September 22, 1855. Their meet- 'E
ings were held on the first Fri- IN
day on or after the full mooat
n. ❑!
Officers in the organization
were Richard Bolton, Charles
Caudal, Abraham S. Harris and
William Lothian.
According to the Oxford
County, Gazetteer and General
Directory of 1852-53, the village
had a population of 200. The
Gazetteer also disclosed that the
Culloden Post Office, over which s
Malory McKenzie presided, re-
ceived mail each Monday, Wed- j6
nesday and Friday at 2 p.m.
In 1873, Andrew Smart was
appointed postmaster and 20
years later; following Mr. Smart's
death, his wife took over his
duties.