Greener Fields - Muskoka District

The following article was taken from the Muskoka
Parry Sound Genealogy GroupWebsite.
Click on the title above to see the original.

History of Muskoka District

This article first appeared in the November 1985 newsletter,
Volume 1 - Number 2
Beginning in the late 1840's, the Ontario government gradually
implemented a policy of northern expansion in Canada West.
As part of this policy, Muskoka was surveyed and made accessible
during the next two decades.

In 1850, a treaty was signed between the Honorable B. Robinson
and 36 chiefs of the Ojibway Nation ceding to the government
the parcel of land northwest of Penetanguishine to Sault Saint
Marie and eastward to the Ottawa River. In 1852 a resolution
was introduced urging implementation of a free land grant policy.
Despite opposition and reports that "the country was unfit as a
whole for agricultural purposes" in 1857 Muskoka and Macaulay
Townships were surveyed. The following year the first Muskoka
road was surveyed from Washago to Muskoka Falls and
settlement was underway.

Settlement was slow prior to the passing of the Free Grant and
Homestead Act of 1868. The obligations of the settlers in this act
were "to clear and have under cultivation at least 15 acres, two acres
of which were to be cleared annually during the 5 years following the
date of location; to build a house at least 16'x20' and to have actually
and continually resided upon the land for 5 years after date of location."
Each settler over 18 years of age could receive 100 acres or with a
family, 200 acres. (The act also applied to the townships of Parry Sound
District). All applications were to made to Charles W. Lount, Crown
Land Agent in Bracebridge.

A strong campaign was carried out to attract settlers. In the late
1860's posters and pamphlets were distributed in Canada, Britain
and several European countries. By 1871 the population of Muskoka
was 6,000. By 1881 the population increased to 13,000.