the following is a excerpt — from the 1910 book- on the history of Ontario County– it includes some events up to 1910.
Posted by: lucy on Oct 23, 2008 – 05:43 PM
t4–Mara Politics
Information concerning Mara & Rama Townships
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TOWNSHIP OF MARA
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This township like Thorah was surveyed in parts. The first part was surveyed by J. G. Chewitt in 1821.
North Mara was largely settled by Highlanders from the Western Islands of Scotland and from Glengarry iin Eastern Ontario. The majority of the settlers were Roman Catholics.
Murdock Johnston and George Thompson, elders of the Kirk, rendered most important service to their co-religionists by holding services in Gwelic and English and improving their part of the Township in the matter of education as well as morals. They received much assistance also from the Rev. Dr. McTavish of Beaverton.
The first settler was Patrick Corrigan, 1823. The second settler was Arthur Kelly, 1827. He died at the age of 106.
By 1839 the population was 112.
Amongst the householders were included the Bruces, Hugh and Robert, the Gilchrists, Donald and William; Michael, John and James Graham, Angus Kennedy, Angus P. and several other McDonalds. Donald, John and Finlay McRae, James Ritchie, William and C. Simpson. Robert Waddle, whose daughter, Jeanette, was the first white child born in the township. David Morrow and Alex. McGregor, Duncan Campbell, John McNab and Peter McMillan.
There followed a large influx of Irish and Scotch Roman Catholics including the families of McDonagh, McDermott, Doyle, O’Boyle, Flinn, Harahay, Duffy, McNulty, McGrath, McLennan and Foley.
The Township of Mara and Rama were united until 1869. They were represented in the First Home District Council by A. McRae.
Michael McDonagh, of Point Mara for several years succeeded him in that office riding on horseback all the way to Toronto. He was an intelligent, warm-hearted whole-souled Irishman.
Thomas McDermot represented the united townships in the first County Council of Ontario and opposed the railway through the County.
D. G. Hewet for many years was his successor. He was warden in 1858.
Alex. Kennedy, another Atherley man followed him. He built the steam grist mill at Atherley.
Philip McRae a descendant of one of the early settlers was warden 111 1874.
J. P. Foley, J.P. was a leading man in the township for many years. He was a member of the County Council and left valuable bequests for the church and Separate School of Brechin.
F. J. Gillespie, Timothy O’Leary and William Broomfield, leading men of a later date, each have filled various offices of public trust in the township. Each of them has been warden.
What was supposed to be the poor Township of Mara has by the perseverance and skill of its people been converted into one of the most thriving and prosperous townships in the Province, with good roads, good fences, well tilled farms and good railway communication.
The Townships of Thorah, Mara, and Rama, formed the seventeenth “Court of Requests” Division in the Home District. William Gibbs, L. McLean, Cameron, Major Kenneth Cameron, Francis Osborne and Michael McDonagh, Esquires, were the commissioners in 1838, and discharged about the same duties as to the collection of small debts as the Division Court Judges now perform.
The pioneers of Mara were strong and hardy people–many of them lived to great age. Mrs. Christina Campbell, widow of Duncan Campbell, was one of a group of Mara’s centenarians. She came from Isla, Scotland, in 1847, a widow, and brought a large family. The late Rev. Dr. McTavish on coming to Canada sought out his old friends, the Campbells.
Duncan Graham, a descendant of one of the early settlers has failed the office of warden and represented North Ontario in the Dominion House of Parliament.
Peter Thompson, who frequently represented the Township in the County Council, is one of the worthy descendants of a sturdy pioneer family.
D. G. Hewit formerly warden of the county and for many years Reeve of the Townships of Mara and Rama, was an early settler. He lived near Atherley.
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TOWNSHIP OF RAMA
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Population, 1850, 8 whites, 500 Indians
Assessment, 1904, $190,936.
Population, 1904, !,239
This is the most northern of the townships of the county. The Laurentian range of rocks, the oldest known range of rocks, passes through the northern part of this township.
Its settlement began in 1836 when Capt. Garnet settled there. His daughter married James McPherson, son of Capt. Allan McPherson, the second settler in the township. Capt. Garnet had served as a lieutenant in the 82nd Regiment in Spain under Wellington. He died 1866, aged 80 years. About the same time Capts. Allan McPherson, of His Majesty’s Sicilian Regiment; Capts. Pass, Rooke, Cottinger and Yarnold, and Mr. John McKinnon settled in the front range near Longford, which was the centre of the first settlement.
In 1839, Capt. Allan McPherson petitioned the Government to open a road to Orillia. He was successful. A post office was opened between 1840 and 1847 and was known as the Rama post office.
This township is bounded on the west by Lake Couchiching, the Indian name meaning “The lake of many winds.”
The first white male child born in the township was Mr. Allan McPherson, the energetic and prosperous miller and quarryman.
The first female child born in the township was his sister, Mrs. Jane Adams. The father was James McPherson, Esq., for many years Reeve of the Township and was Warden of the County in 1880.
There was formerly an Indian village, where Orillia now stands. The Indians were removed to Rama in 1838. They are Chippewas and Potawotamies.
The first church was the Indian mission church on the Indian Reserve, a log building which is still standing but not now in use. The first store in the township was kept by Peter Jacobs, an Indian, near the site of the Indian church. This Peter Jacobs was a fairly well educated man and possessed much ability, particularly as an interpreter and public speaker. He acted as interpreter for the missionaries both here and in other parts of Canada. He was presented to the Queen in London and addressed the Methodist annual mission meeting at Exeter Hall in London on two occasions.
The first mill in the township was Trenouth’s Saw Mill, established about the year 1867, upon the Black River. The Longford Lumber Co.’s large mills were started about 1870. John Thompson, and afterwards his sons, George and William Thompson carried on these mills with great success.
The manufacture of lime and chemical products is one of Rama’s largest interests.
Rama was formerly united to Mara and while so united Squire James McPherson was Reeve of the united townships for fourteen years. Mr. Allan McPherson now carries on a large business in quarrying and cutting limestone blocks for building.
In 1837 the Indians volunteered to aid in the suppression of the rebellion and Squire McPherson was one of those in command of them. His father-in-law, Captain Garnet, an able officer, represented the townships of Mara and Rama in the Home District Council. Capt. Allan McPherson was an officer in the 78th Highlanders and received his commission for special bravery at the battle of Maidar. He served in the army for 20 years. He died at Orillia in 1858, aged 86 years.
When the Indians were removed from Orillia to ram the McPhersons and the Garnets were the only white families living in the township.
The first township meeting in the township after the passing of the Municipal Act, was held in 1869. It was held at Thomas Lawrence’s Inn on Lot 12, Front Range. It records the election of Thomas McDermott, Reeve; Messrs. Jno. M. Trenouth, Patrick Mahoney, James Tahaney and William McDonald as Councilman. Dennis O’Brien was appointed as Clerk, Duncan McKinnon, Assessor and Michael McNulty, Collector and Edward Lawrence as Treasurer.
The second meeting of the council was held at the Rama school house, but the record shows that it adjourned at noon for one hour to meet afterwards at the Traveller’s Rest. The clerk parenthetically remarks that the “old boys found the school a dry sort of a place.”
The Reeves since have been James McDermott, James McPherson, W. J. Trenouth, George Cleaveley, John Carrie, and John Adams, a son-in-law of Squire McPherson, to whose energy and tact the building of some of the largest bridges in the township is due. The township is traversed by large streams which render road making difficult. These difficulties are aggravated by the fact that the best land of the townships belongs to the Indian reservation and is not liable for taxes. The removal of the pine timber led to a decrease of the population and the people liable to assist in road building.
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VETERANS OF 1812
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John Simcoe, Rama
William R. Dafoe, Rathburn
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WARDENS
OF THE
COUNTY OF ONTARIO
From Its Inception in the Year 1854, to the Year
1906, Both Inclusive.
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1858. D. G. HEWEIT, Esq., Reeve of Mara and Rama
1874. PHILIP McRAE, Esq., Reeve of Mara
1880. JAMES MCPHERSON, Esq., Reeve of Rama
1888. TIMOTHY O’LEARY, Reeve of Mara
1894. F. J. GILLESPIE, Esq., Reeve of Mara
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ASSESSOR’S RETURN FROM THE SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES
FOR THE YEAR 1857
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Mara & Rama
No. of Acres Resident- 301
Value- $28, 332 L
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ASSESSMENT ROLLS OF THE COUNTY OF ONTARIO-1907
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Mara
No. of Acres-49, 291
Assessed Value of Real Property- 1,633,630
Assessed Value of Personal Property & Taxable Income- 16,181
Population-3329
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1854
T. N. GIBBS, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Thomas McDermott-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
Mr. Hewett
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1855
T. N. GIBBS, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama D. G. Hewett-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
D. G. Hewett
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1856
JOHN HALL THOMPSON, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama D. G. Hewett-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
D. G. Hewett
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1857
JOHN HALL THOMPSON , Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama D. G. Hewett-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
D. G. Hewett
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1858
DANIEL G. HEWETT, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Daniel G. Hewett-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
D. G. Hewett
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1859
CHARLES ROBINSON, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Daniel G. Hewett-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
D. G. Hewett
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1860
JOHN HALL THOMPSON, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama D. G. Hewett-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
Rev. Mr. Dougall
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1861
TRUMAN P. WHITE, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Alexander Kennedy-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
D. G. Hewett
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1862
WILLIAM SMITH, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama D. G. Hewett-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
D. G. Hewett
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1863
JOHN RATCLIFF, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Alexander Kennedy-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
Rev. J. Michell
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1864
JOHN HALL THOMPSON, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Alexander Kennedy-Reeve
Philip McRae-Deputy Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
Rev. J. Michell
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1865
JOHN HALL THOMPSON, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Alexander Kennedy-Reeve
Thomas Neilis-Deputy Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
Rev. J. Michell
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1866
CALVIN CAMPBELL, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Alexander Kennedy-Reeve
Philip McRae-Deputy Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
Rev. J. Michell
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1867
JOHN HAM PERRY, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Alexander Kennedy-Reeve
Philip McRae-Deputy Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
Rev. K. A. Campbell
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1868
JAMES B. BICKELL, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Philip McRae-Reeve
William McPhee-Deputy Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
Rev. K. A. Campbell
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1869
JOSHUA WRIGHT, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
Rama Thomas McDermott-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
Rev. K. A. Campbell
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1870
WILLIAM S. SEXTON, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
Rama Thomas McDermott-Reeve
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
Rev. K. A. Campbell
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1871
GEORGE WHELER, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
William McPhee-Deputy Reeve
Rama Thomas McDermott
Local Superintendents of Common Schools for Mara & Rama-
Rev. K. A. Campbell
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1872
W. H. GIBBS, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
F. Warren-Deputy Reeve
Rama Thomas McDermott
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1873
JAMES O. GUY, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
J. P. Foley-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McDermott
COUNTY COUNCIL 0F 1874
PHILIP MCRAE, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
J. P. Foley-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McDermott
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1875
GEORGE SMITH, Esq., Warden
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Mara James P. Foley-Reeve
John H. Seager-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McPherson-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1876
JOHN MILLER, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
John H. Seager-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McPherson-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1878
MALCOLM GILLESPIE, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
Timothy O’Leary-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McPherson-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1879
JAMES GRAHAM, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
Timothy O’Leary-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McPherson-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1879
JAMES GRAHAM, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
Timothy O’Leary-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McPherson-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1880
JAMES MCPHERSON, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
Timothy O’Leary-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McPherson-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1881
PETER CHRISTIE, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
Timothy O’Leary-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McPherson
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1882
GEORGE F. BRUCE, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
Timothy O’Leary-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McPherson
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1883
ISAAC J. GOULD, Esq., Warden
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Mara Philip McRae-Reeve
Timothy O’Leary-Deputy Reeve
Rama Jas. McPherson
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1885
HENRY GORDON, Esq., Warden
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Mara Timothy O’Leary-Reeve
Peter Thompson-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McPherson-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1886
CHARLES GOULD, Esq., Warden
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Mara Timothy O’Leary-Reeve
Peter Thompson-Deputy Reeve
Rama James McPherson-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1887
JOSEPH MONKHOUSE, Esq., Warden
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Mara Timothy O’Leary-Reeve
Peter Thompson-Deputy Reeve
Rama William J. Trenouth-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1889
JOHN SHORT LARKE, Esq., Warden
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Mara Timothy O’Leary-Reeve
Duncan Graham-Deputy Reeve
Rama W. J. Trenouth-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1890
ALLAN GRAY, Esq., Warden
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Mara Duncan Graham-Reeve
F. J. Gillespie-Deputy Reeve
Rama W. J. Trenouth-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1891
S. H. GLASSFORD, Esq., Warden
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Mara Duncan Graham-Reeve
Francis J. Gillespie-Deputy Reeve
Rama William J. Trenouth-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1892
RICHARD MOTHERSILS, Esq., Warden
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Mara Duncan Graham-Reeve
F. J. Gillespie-Deputy Reeve
Rama William J. Trenouth-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1893
R. R. MOWBRAY, Esq., Warden
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Mara Duncan Graham-Reeve
F. J. Gillespie-Deputy Reeve
Rama W. J. Trenouth-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1894
F. J. GILLESPIE, Esq., Warden
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Mara F. F. Gillespie-Reeve
Wm. Broomfield-Deputy Reeve
Rama George Cleavely-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1895
HARVEY J. GOULD, Esq., Warden
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Mara F. J. Gillespie-Reeve
Wm. Broomfield-Deputy Reeve
Rama George Cleavely-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1896
DUNCAN GRAHAM, Esq., Warden
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Mara Duncan Graham-Reeve
Duncan J. McPhee-Deputy Reeve
Rama George Cleavely-Reeve
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1897
CHARLES KING, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Wm. Broomfield Post Office-Brechin
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1898
JAMES CARNEGIE, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama F. J. Gillespie Post Office-Uptergrove
Wm. Broomfield Post Office-Brechin
Special Commissioner of Roads-F. J. Gillespie, Uptergrove
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1899
WALTER COULTHARD, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama James Doyle Post Office-Uptergrove
Wm. Broomfield Post Office-Brechin
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1900
JAMES GRAHAM UMPHREY, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama James Doyle Post Office-Uptergrove
Wm. Broomfield Post Office-Brechin
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1901
R. S. WEBSTER, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Wm. Broomfield Post Office-Brechin
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1902
GEORGE GEROW, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Wm. Broomfield Post Office-Brechin
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1903
WILLIAM BLOOMFIELD, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Wm. Broomfield Post Office-Brechin
Officers appointed by the Council-Wm. Broomfield, Brechin-Warden
Special Commissioner of Roads & Bridges-Wm. Broomfield-Brechin
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1904
JOHN VIPOND, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Wm. Broomfield Post Office-Brechin
Special Commissioner of Roads & Bridges-Wm. Broomfield-Brechin
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1905
WILLIAM J. GIBBS, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Wm. Broomfield Post Office-Brechin
Special Commissioner of Roads & Bridges-Wm. Broomfield-Brechin
COUNTY COUNCIL OF 1906
A. E. HENRY, Esq., Warden
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Mara & Rama Wm. Broomfield Post Office-Brechin
COUNTY OF ONTARIO
Members of Council
1910
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Mara Geo. Read, Uptergrove- Reeve
Franklin Thompson, Brechin-Deputy Reeve
W. R. McPhee, Brechin-Clerk
John Fox, Millington-Treasurer
Robert Calderwood, Atherley-Commissioner- Narrows Bridge
Rama John Hayes, Rathburn-Reeve
W. M. Shields, O’Connell-Clerk
George L. O’Connell, O’Connell-Treasurer
Robert Genno, Cooper’s Falls-Commissioner- Black River Bridge
John Hayes, Rathburn, Special Commissioner
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