Excerpt from Fergus, of the Fergusson-Webster Settlement, with an Extensive 
History of Northeast Nichol, by A. E. Byerly, DO, Elora Express, Elora, 
Ontario 1932-34

Pg. 130 Alexander Barnet came to Fergus in 1839. His reminiscences are 
interesting.

One of the best known men in the Fergus district for many years was Alexander 
Barnet who came to the village in 1838. He was born at Kilspindie, Scotland, 
March 14, 1824, and left Perthshire in 1837 with James Webster. They sailed 
from Liverpool Dec. 26, arriving at Fergus, February 19, 1838. Barnet w
then only fourteen years of age but the spirit of adventure in the New World 
called and he entered heartily in the life of the infant settlement. The 
Websters were real friends to the young men who came from Scotland and young 
Barnet found employment with them. He continued in James Webster's empl
until 1850 when he married Ann Davidson, a daughter of James Davidson who had 
come to Fergus in 1834. 

Mr. Barnet and his wife moved to Lot 16, Concession 3, of West Garafraxa 
where they cleared a farm which became one of the best in the district. In 
1883 they retired to Fergus where Mr. Barnet died in 1904. He was survived by 
his wife and five children: William, Mrs. Thos. Wansbrough, Mrs. John Ewen, 
Mrs. (Dr.) James Nairn, and Mrs. W.A. Richardson.

William Barnet, the son, married Margaret, daughter of the late John Templin, 
and they continued to live on the home place in Garafraxa where their 
children were born.

Reminiscences 

Over thirty years ago the Guelph Mercury recorded some of the recollections 
of Mr. Barnet and it will be worth while to place them in this permanent 
form. The writer edits them as follows:

Leaving Liverpool in December on the sailing vessel, Pennsylvania, the party 
of immigrants, in whose company young Barnet came, reached New York in 
February 4th, forty days out from port.

At New York the party of five, Mr. Webster, two Harveys, Captain Dalton and 
Mr. Barnet set out for Canada. Mr. Webster had gone back to Scotland in the 
summer of 1837 and was now returning to Fergus. One of the Harveys, Ale
Purchased the Webster home, the stone house at Kinnettles, opposite the 
Ketchen farm, as it is now known. The first ninety miles was by rail and the 
rest by sleighs, except about 29 miles of travelling near Rochester when they 
were again going by rail. That part of the trip was by the lightning express, 
a horse car going four miles an hour. From Rochester to Buffalo was the next 
jaunt and across Niagara near Black Rock, in a horse boat, so called because 
it was propelled by horses tied on it and walking, as a dog runs a churn or 
tread mill.

On Feb. 19th, the party arrived at Kinnettles where the people met Mr. 
Webster, took the horses from the sleigh and themselves drew him into t
city of Fergus. 

Describes Fergus

The procession halted at Black's Hotel, in front of which, on a stump or box, 
sat a barrel of whiskey, to which, all helped themselves in the great days of 
yore. The author has sometimes heard that is one reason the Scotch came to 
Fergus. They got as far as the free whiskey and could go no further. (My 
father, Robert Powrie, always scolded us if we said Scotch people. "Scotch is 
a liquid, and Scots are solid….ly next to the liquid!") 

Fergus had then, one store, Mr. Watt's, on the corner, and the same building, 
which was burned down only a few years ago; one church, a rough cast 
building, where St. Andrew's Church now stands; an old log school, dwelling 
house and post office in one building, all kept and managed by one man, Mr. 
James McQueen, who was also township clerk, and who still lives and carries 
fairly actively the nearly 90 years of life. There were then only some twelve 
or thirteen houses in the village altogether, and Jimmie Allan's blacksmith 
shop was the only building on the north side of the creek, where now stands 
our most useful fountain. The woods were chopped up to the present bank 
corner, but not cleared, and Mr. Marshall's corner could then have been 
bought for about 30 dollars, now worth in the direction of that many 
thousands. The flourmill, which must have been built about 1835, had be
burned and was again erected and the Fergus soldiers had returned home, the 
Mackenzie Rebellion being over. (I have copy of a pay sheet showing my Robert 
Powrie served in that militia)

In 1838, Mr. Patterson, Mr. C. Kay's father-in-law, built by Mr. Webster the 
old frame store in which the late Egg Wilson lived, and which now belongs to 
Mr. Alpaugh's marble works. In 1838, there were three teams of horses in 
Fergus, and they belonged to Messrs. Black, Watt and Webster. Cattle we
almost as scarce and money even more so. Business was nearly all done by 
trade up to the year '45 (1845) and later. There was by little grain for sale 
and the prices in trade very low. Oats ruled at sixpence, mill seeds three 
coppers more, and wheat two shillings and three pence, and nine pence f
fall. No sale for potatoes. There was not butcher and little meat. 

Wolf Hunt

Mr. Gardiner was the first settled preacher, coming in 1837. In 1838 he gave 
out a wolf hunt from the pulpit, an invitation all accepted, some came with 
guns, others with pans, cowbells, etc. but no wolf was found.  In 1842, Mr. 
Webster moved in Mr. James Wilson's present house at Monklands. 

Notes from Alex. Barnet's Reminiscences

1842 was the year of the great snow, coming November 1st and lying until 
April 14th. In Fergus, about 1844, the upper part of the village where Mr. 
Marshall's house now stands was logged also up at Mr. R. Steele's house. In 
1845 Morrow's hotel was commenced. In these days the road to Guelph was by 
Allardice's and Elora or by Eramosa.

In 1854 where ran up to $2.00 and $2.50 a bushel. Mr. A.L. Argo first paid 
cash for wheat. A store bill of '58 has a photograph of Mr. Argo's old 
granary store, and the items of the bill are largely whiskey, pork and 
tobacco.

Mr. Barnet compares the Fergus of 1838 with the 90s

Progress and prosperity in agriculture; the cradle and the flail have been 
thrown away for the self-binder and steam thresher, and are scarcely 
remembered as historical relics. Stumps and trees are replaced by well kept 
lawns and orchards, the shanties of our fathers by the palatial residences of 
their sons.

Fergus instead of the backwoods' hamlet of '38, is toady almost a town, with 
a splendid, large mercantile tread conducted by some twenty and more 
merchants of good standing and respectability. Now four well qualified 
lawyers; six churches, with five highly educated pastors; a fine school and 
thoroughly qualified teachers, instead of one. Old Dr. Mutch is replaced by 
four medical men. Banks, post office, telegraph telephone, electric, light, 
railway stations and all the requirements of a city. Even to the marble 
works, undertaker, and cemetery, the last resting place of many of the 
pioneers whose names are known only by the marble slabs in the dead city. Old 
families once familiar, as the Fergussons, Watts, Ferriers, all gone or 
removed, are evidence of the realities of life, with its trials, labors and 
anxieties of mind and body necessarily arising during all these years of 
mingled, engrafted and grown the happiness of success, prosperity, progress 
and the true friendships of more humble days. 