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a”, . _ The first settlers were Indians. Over the years many artifacts have been unearthed to prove that the Indians lived on the shores of Grippen Lake. There is a perfectly round basin-shaped hole in a rather flat rock just a few yards from the four corners. It is about 20" in diameter and 10"deep. It is believed it was hollowed out so that corn could be ground and food cooked in it. The first white men were lumber- men who were attracted there by the large quantity of pine and other valuable timber found close to a waterway whose outlet is the Gananoque River and also close to the Rideau River. Nicholas Sliter, a German, came to Sweet's Corners in 1801. His name was VanSlaughter but it was changed to Sliter because it was so much like the English word "to kill". He settled where the Elementary School is now located. He was the only settler between Lyndhurst and what is now Highway 15. He owned several acres on both sides of the road to the corners. An Englishman, named Payne, was next and he located on the site of Donald Moorehead's farm. The surrounding country was all woods with only trails blazed through. RECOLLECTIONS 0F HIEL SLITER, SON OF NICHOLAS SLITER: (a) He and his father, a United Empire Loyalist, came by ox team from Vermont in five weeks and settled near Sweet's Corners in 1801-2. The nearest store was run by Daniel Jones inASnarlington (now the city of Brockville). (b) They used wintergreen sage tea and burned corn coffee. (c) The settlers had much diffic- ulty in grinding corn. (d) In 1802 there were 17 families between Furnace Falls (now Lyndhurst ‘and Seeley's Bay; then unbroken forest for 18 miles to Kingston Mills. (c) He attended school for one month at the age of 15 to learn to write. (f) School was held in the evenings and the settler with the greatest knowledge taught the others. (g) He recalls that there were three houses in Gananoque when he went there with his father in 1803. (h) The bull plough, heavy grub hoe, flail and hand fan were the chief instruments used on the farm at that time. (i) There were no school or religious services and very little observance of the Sabbath. The iron furnace ran seven days a week. The fire was extinguished only four times a year. (j) Trapping was very common â€" fisher, otters, muskrats and prime martens. Deer were plentiful and valuable for foo and clothing. Deer skin ' dresses were common and looked neat when dyed blue with the bark of the soft maple. (k) Mr. Sliter's first harness was made of hickory bark. The first vehicle in the township had wheels made of narrow cuts off the end of logs. (1) Manufactured articles were bought at Kingston - Cotton 40¢ a yard; print 60-70¢ and nails 25¢ a lb. (m) When the war of 1812 came, prices went up as money came into the country from England. 0xen $150.00; Flour $20.00 a barrel; Cows $40.00; Pork $40.00 a barrel and salt $50.00 a barrel or .53¢ a quart. The first Niblocks were from Ireland and settled at Brier Hill just north of Sweet's Corners in 1820. This was William Niblock. In 1828 William's son, John, was given a grant of land about half a mile north of Sweet's Corners, what was then known as Leeds Township. The name Leeds was named for the Fifth Duke of Leeds (England) Francis Colo- phin Osborne, who was Secretary of State for the Home Dept. in 1783. In 1847, according to a time- worn deed, now in the possession of John Niblock, in an indenture made at Gananoque, John Lewis Macdonald and his wife Charlotte, deeded 200 acres of land to John Niblock for 250 pounds Sterling (about $1,250.00 at that time). John and Alpha Sweet were both born in 1767. Being United Empire Loyalists, they left the United States and came to Leeds Township before the war of 1812. They had twelve children, some born in the United States and some in Canada. Their son, Allan, who was born in 1790, was the man who gave his name to this settlement and was one of the early activists for responsible government in Upper Canada. Since Allan served as a Corporal during the war of 1812, he was awarded 200 acres of land from the crown. This was the northeast corner where John Mainse now lives and he started clearing the land in 1814. Privations of the early settlers, such as shortages of food and adeâ€" quate housing, were further com? pounded by English Colonial policy which almost ignored the pioneers. page 3 Robert Gourlay spent his life fighting for Responsible Govern- ment. He organized a series of meetings beginning in 1818 in Leeds. From these meetings came a number of briefs to be taken to York (Toronto). Representatives were named to take these to the government. Allan Sweet was the delegate from this area, attending a meeting at Lansdowne June 23, 1818. Nathan Hicock, another pioneer was chairman and became the courier for the trip to York. Gourlay, whose aim was to have free elections was put in jail for his activities. The government took no notice of the complaints and it was not until after the rebellion of 1837 that Responsible Govern- ment came to Leeds County. Allan was a lay preacher of the Episcopal Methodist church and later was appointed Justice of the Peace. A sister, Lydia Sweet, married Robert Nuttall. They first lived on a small farm between Mrs. Iva Sweet and Ken Berrthhen they lived in the brick house now occuâ€" pied by Elswood Gamble. This house was a tavern at one time. continued on page 4 sm- FUND SALE inucvmw at swEEts CORNERJ SCHooL 5A1 001 w loâ€"Spmh Membcrs 04: +ke cammunfixj 0'2 asked +0 dona‘e arh'des {\unituv; unused Hth Names gnu flnWL H No men 100 GIG ofl. Too SMALL. heel for {ck up ca“ *he SC a’f paler 111‘! °" 91"1178 (Q‘ser hours as“ 918â€"1014) A“ unsdd Hem: wi“ be put on ef‘on buck 0* \jour «H11; I P.“- VROCEEOS tour 39 useD Tb Panama SEVEAHL sers 0F (“055.couNTQg SKIS FOR rue ScfloOL SWEET'S CORNER SCHOOL 1911 Front row Middle row Back row 1. Hugh Reman 1. Myrtle Earle l. Manfred Berry 2. Ivan Wiltse 2. Sarah Galway 2. Gerald Johnson 3. Willie Moorhead 3. Inez Hollister 3. Leola Tye 4. Arnold Mainse 4. Mary Berry 4. Zella Sweet 5. Joe Crossman 5. Gertie Berry 5. Howard Berry 6. Charlie Berry 6. Muriel Fair (Teacher) 6. Vera Moorhead 7. Giles Mustard 7. Stuart Mainse 7. Cornie Tye 8. Ernie Mainse 8. Nellie McCardle 8. Leonard Galway 9. Clifford Galway 9. Viola Tye ‘ 10. Wilfred White