October 14, 2015
1593
Sylvia Hasbury has just released her new book about the life and times of one of Kincardine's notable characters, John Gentles.
The child of Huron County pioneers who ran the Huron House Hotel in 1840s Goderich, Gentles is credited with building one of the first houses on Durham Market North, Kincardine, in 1868, says Hasbury. "He was also the nephew of Huron County sheriff Robert Gibbons who served as warden of Huron County for many years as well as mayor and reeve of Goderich.
As a Kincardinite, Gentles played a large part in establishing harness-racing in town at Landsdown Park and later at Connaught Park, Hasbury says. The Kincardine Golf Club originated on property owned by Gentles, and he was one of the first directors of the Kincardine Hospital. He was known throughout North America as a prize-winning harness racer and “a competent and honourable dealer in horseflesh.”
The size of his estate made headlines in both of Kincardine’s newspapers at the time of his death in 1910.
"John Gentles in Kincardine: The History of a Town through the Eyes of a Gentleman," is the second book written by Hasbury. Her first is entitled, "Bruce County Black Pioneers."
Both books grew from Hasbury's passion for genealogy and history - she is a member and a volunteer of the Bruce County Genealogy Society.
The "Black Pioneers" book was prompted by a request to find someone's great-grandmother who started life in Proton Township, Grey County.
"She and her husband were black," says Hasbury. "She and her family farmed near the village of Nenaugh, Normanby Township. They moved on to Colpoy's Bay, Albemarle Township. I suppose because it interested me so much I talked to other genealogists. Then, from time to time, they would bring me articles, pictures and tell me old stories they heard as a kid about the black man who ..."
Hasbury attended the Black History event at the Grey Roots Museum in Owen Sound where she met other people who were researching their black history. She bought and read old and new books on the underground railway and Canadian Black History, going back to 1830.
"One of these days, I will have to write a second edition because my file folder for Bruce's Black Pioneers is filling up with new-to-me stories."
The book about Gentles took two to three years to research and write, says Hasbury. "He was one of 'those people' who keep popping up as I do genealogical queries. My theory is if I research them and write about them, they will stop bugging me! I have written a few of these people for the Bruce County Historical Year Book. The first person was Otto McClevis who was the first and only OPP officer in Bruce County for many years. As well as a judge and a local legend, he is in the OPP Hall of Fame in Orillia."
Hasbury and her husband came to Bruce County 25 years ago with their three children to a farm in Kincardine Township. "I was invited to join the Bervie Women's Institute and have held various offices at the Branch, District and Area levels of this organization, as well as meeting more people who told me more stories. I keep learning how versatile and resourceful rural men and women are."
Both of Hasbury's books are available at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre gift shop in Southampton, and at Fincher's in downtown Kincardine and Goderich; or by contacting her by E-mail at sylviahas@bmts.com, on Facebook, or by phone at 519-396-5508.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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