Part VIII: The naming of Manitoulin’s townships
EDITOR’S NOTE: This week Shelley Pearen finishes her series on the 19th century Manitoulin surveys. Ms. Pearen has previously described the initial survey, the Anishinaabe reaction to the surveyors, and the surveyor’s descriptions of the townships. Today she explains the township’s names.
by Shelley Pearen
Immediately following the signing of the Manitoulin treaty on October 6, 1862, William McDougall, the commissioner of Crown Lands who achieved the treaty, ordered an exploratory survey of the Island. The exploration resulted in a promotional map of the Island. Mr. McDougall ordered more comprehensive surveys of eastern Manitoulin so that land sales could take place.
While the surveyors explored, the Anishinaabeg united and protested. The actual treaty came as a great surprise to most Island residents. Although rumours of treaty attempts had been circulating for several years, an attempt in 1861 had been firmly rejected, and it was well known that the Anishinaabe chiefs were firmly united in opposition to a surrender.
Despite the protests which were echoed by members of the press, the political opposition and many non-Natives, the surveys continued.
Francis Assiginack, responding to reports of the aggressive reaction of the Anishinaabeg to the treaty, suggested to his superiors in the Indian department that the Island’s townships receive Indian names. Assiginack was a clerk in the Indian department who had acted as an interpreter at the treaty. He was the son of Manitoulin’s Chief Jean-Baptiste Assiginack.
Despite Assiginack’s recommendation only Assiginack, Sheguiandah, and Tehkummah were named to reflect Manitoulin’s heritage. Most of the Island townships were named for male lawyer-politicians whose party was in power at the time of survey. The names were chosen or approved by senior men in the Indian department.
Assiginack, Bidwell, Billings, Howland, Sheguiandah and Tehkummah were the first to be named and surveyed, in 1863-64. Bidwell and Howland were Reform party politicians, like William McDougall, and Bidwell and Billings were lawyers, also like William McDougall.
Lawrence Vankoughnet, a career civil servant in the Indian department, probably had the greatest influence on the township’s names. Vankoughnet started as a junior clerk in the Indian department in 1861, while his brother Philip Vankoughnet was the commissioner of Crown Lands. Lawrence was promoted to chief clerk in 1873, and replaced William Spragge as deputy superintendent general of Indian Affairs in 1874. Lawrence Vankoughnet was widely recognized as a controlling manager who micro-managed his subordinates so it is highly likely he influenced the names of the townships.
There is a Vankoughnet Township on the north shore that was surveyed in 1867 though it was named for Philip Vankoughnet, the former commissioner of Crown Lands who initiated the first attempt of surrender of Manitoulin in 1861.
William McDougall had a township near Parry Sound named for him in 1866. Spragge Township on the North Shore was named for William’s Spragge’s brother John Godfrey Spragge, a chief justice of Ontario.
Allan Township was named about 1867 after George William Allan, (1822-1901) a lawyer, Conservative politician and patron of Canadian arts, education and horticulture. Allan was elected as a Toronto alderman at the age of 27, and became Toronto’s 11th mayor five years later. From 1858 to 1867 he was York’s representative on the Province of Canada’s Legislative Council. In 1867 he was appointed to the Senate. While representing York he commissioned 100 oil paintings from artist Paul Kane. Kane dedicated his book Wanderings of an Artist among the Indians of North America to Allan. While “wandering” Kane sketched an painted a number of Manitoulin Anishinaabeg and scenes including Jean-Baptiste Assiginack’s son E-dah-wah-skaush.
Assiginack Township was named about 1864 for Chief Jean-Baptiste Assiginack (c1770-1866). Assiginack was a famous war chief, interpreter, and orator. Though he was likely commemorated by the Indian department for his signature on the 1862 treaty, Assiginack was much more than a simple signatory. His exploits are detailed in Dr. Cecil King’s book ‘Balancing Two Worlds, Jean-Baptiste Assiginack and the Odawa Nation.’
Barrie Island was named for Capt. Robert Barrie by Capt. Henry Bayfield during his 1817-22 survey of Lake Huron. Barrie was a naval officer who was the senior British naval officer in Canada at the time of the water survey.
Bidwell Township was named about 1864 for Marshall Spring Bidwell (1799-1872) a lawyer and Reform politician whose family moved to Canada from the United States after his father accused of misappropriation of funds. Bidwell was elected to Upper Canada’s Parliament in 1824 for Lennox and Addington. His ability as a lawyer and politician was universally acknowledged. He was elected speaker of the assembly by the Reformers twice. He left politics in 1836 upon defeat and disagreements with Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head. He settled in New York where he had a very successful law practice by the time Bidwell Township was surveyed.
Billings Township was named about 1864 for Elkanah Billings (1820-1876), a lawyer and journalist with a serious interest in geology and paleontology. Billings was appointed as first paleontologist of the Geological Survey of Canada in 1856. Billings wrote extensively on animals, birds, fossils, paleontology and was highly respected internationally.
Burpee Township was named about 1878. The township appears to have been named for Isaac Burpee (1825-1885) a New Brunswick entrepreneur and politician who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for Saint John, New Brunswick in 1872. He was originally an independent who supported Sir John A. Macdonald’s government but he joined the Liberal opposition in October 1873 over the Pacific Scandal. He was immediately sworn in as minister of Customs in Alexander Mackenzie’s cabinet. Burpee served as minister of Customs 1874-1878. The District of Parry Sound also has a Burpee Township.
Campbell Township was named about 1867 for Alexander Campbell (1822-1892) who was the commissioner of Crown Lands and superintendent general of Indian affairs from 1864 to 1867. Campbell was a lawyer, successful businessman and Conservative politician. He articled with John A. Macdonald and became his partner in 1843. He was elected to Kingston city council and to the Legislative Council in1858. On 30 March 1864 he was appointed commissioner of Crown Lands in John A. Macdonald and Étienne-Paschal Taché’s government. He was called to the Senate in October 1867 and held a number of cabinet posts until 1887.
Carnarvon Township was named about 1867 for Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon (1831-1890). Carnarvon was a British politician and leading member of the Conservative Party. In 1866 Carnarvon was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies. The following year, 1867, he introduced the British North America act which conferred self-government on Canada.
Dawson Township appears to have been named about 1878 for Simon James Dawson (1818-1902), a surveyor, engineer and politician. In 1857 Dawson was appointed surveyor to the expedition surveying between Lake Superior and the Red River. He represented Algoma (then all of present day northern Ontario) in the provincial legislature 1875-78, and in the House of Commons, 1878-1891. Dawson was initially an Independent, who usually voted with Liberals provincially, but federally he supported John A. Macdonald. He was a strong advocate of the north and Indians.
Gordon Township was initially named Sherborne but renamed Gordon in 1871. Gordon appears to have been named for the James Gordon (1786-1865) of Toronto. Gordon represented Kent in Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada 1820-28, was appointed to the Legislative Council of Upper Canada in 1829 and to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada in 1845. He remained on the Council until his death in 1865.
Howland Township was named in about 1864 for William Pearce Howland (1811-1907), a wealthy businessman and Reform politician who was first elected in 1857. Between 1862 and 1868 he served as minister of finance, receiver general, postmaster general and finance minister again. Howland and William McDougall were rewarded for their support of confederation with appointments to the Privy Council. Upon his retirement in July 1868 Howland was appointed lieutenant governor of Ontario. Howland appears to have purchased land in Howland Township in May 1866, however when he enquired about the property in 1878 he was informed that his business partner had cancelled the purchases and accepted a refund of the money.
Mills Township was named about 1878 for David Mills, the minister of the Interior when the township was named and surveyed. David Mills (1831-1903) was a teacher, farmer, lawyer, politician, journalist and judge. He was elected for the Reform party for Bothwell in 1867. In October 1876 he was appointed minister of the Interior, the department responsible for responsible for settlement and Indian Affairs at that time. In May 1878 he applied for an Order in Council to have the remaining unsurveyed tract of Manitoulin land and Barrie and Cockburn Islands surveyed. The Parry Sound District also has a Mills Township. Presumably someone in the department decided David Mills deserved two commemorations.
Robinson Township was named in 1878 for John Beverly Robinson (1820-1896), lieutenant governor of Ontario 1880-87. Robinson was an army officer, lawyer, businessman, and Conservative politician. Robinson was very active in railways, and land sales. In 1878 he was representing Toronto. He was appointed lieutenant governor of Ontario in 1880.
Sandfield Township was named about 1867 for John Sandfield Macdonald (1812-1872) a lawyer and politician. Sandfield was first elected in 1841. He was joint premier of United Canada 1862-4 with L.V. Sicotte. Sandfield became the first premier of Ontario in 1867.
Sheguiandah is the only township to be given a Native place name, meaning home of the stork or Seguin, or bay of gray slate. Sheguiandah was named about 1864. This place name appears particularly appropriate because Sheguiandah has been the home of Anishinaabeg for thousands of years and was the home of a quarry and workshop between 10,000 and 7,500 BC.
Tehkummah was named about 1866 for treaty signatory Louis Tehkummah (c1805-88). Tehkummah, like the treaty he signed, was a controversial figure. Tehkummah (aka Tekamosimo) had moved from l’Arbre Croche Michigan to Wikwemikong. He was a vocal supporter of the government agent Capt. George Ironside. He was one of the chiefs selected by Ironside to attend a reception with the Prince of Wales in Sarnia in 1860. In 1861 chiefs Tehkummah and Mocotaishegun were deposed from office by the men of Wikwemikong for their reluctance to oppose a treaty. Following the treaty Louis Tehkummah was expelled from Wikwemikong. The Tehkummah and Assiginack families were settled on a small reserve at Sucker Lake in the post treaty resettlement.
Shelley Pearen is the author of ‘Four Voices The Great Manitoulin Island Treaty of 1862’ and ‘Exploring Manitoulin.’ She has been researching the history of Manitoulin for more than 40 years.
