Chapter Four Continued: Political Climate

A CULTURE OF DEFIANCE: History of the Reform-Conservative Party of Canada

Vote for no man whose conduct in private and public life is not above suspicion, and inquire with due diligence before you give your suffrages.* William Lyon Mackenzie

Before any European settlers arrived in Upper Canada, there was a well established governing body. In fact the Six Nations Confederacy, has been referred to as the oldest living participatory democracy on earth. Another claim to fame for this country.

Democratic government for the new settlers was a bit slower going, and did not come about without a fight. In 1841 Upper and Lower Canada united, in response to the 1837 Rebellion, with Ontario becoming Canada West and Quebec Canada East.

The Reform Party was established decades before and another protest party, the Clear Grits, under George Brown, also emerged to challenge the status quo. (Eventually becoming the Liberal Party** of Canada)

Over the next several years coalitions were formed and broken, until 1867 when Confederation** brought about the new Dominion of Canada, with Sir John A. MacDonald as it's first Prime Minister.

However, even with suffrage, democracy was not quite as democratic as it sounds, because voting for most people was difficult. Distance to polling stations and poor travel conditions kept many settlements out of the process.

Voting was also oral, resulting in intimidation, blackmail, and even violence. The law stipulated that if no one showed up at a polling station for an hour, they could simply close their doors, so candidates would use hired thugs to prevent would be voters from making it inside, and unlimited free alcohol, usually led to further violence.

One polling station reported the following in the early days:

Passions ran so high that a terrible fight broke out. Punches and every other offensive and defensive tactic were employed. In the blink of an eye table legs were turned into swords and the rest into shields. The combatants unceremoniously went for each other's nose, hair and other handy parts, pulling at them mercilessly ... The faces of many and the bodies of nearly all attested to the doggedness of the fighting.

In fact it was stated that the reason why women weren't given the right to vote, was because these events were far too dangerous. Before 1867, 20 deaths and countless injuries occurred at polling stations as a result of riots, so I guess I can understand the reasoning.

But women were not the only ones left out of the process, since the criteria for the right to vote in Upper Canada was pretty restrictive, and applied only to British subjects with often exclusive definitions of what that meant. You also had to be a land owner and have been paying taxes for at least a year, and many government employees were also barred.

The Heffler-Aberhart family did not appear to be involved in politics, at least not in running for office, though Christopher Heffler did make the voter list beginning in 1877. Whether he exercised his right to vote is not recorded.

However, several years later, his wife's biological grandson would certainly earn his place in Canada's political history, as he too started a protest movement that would culminate in a new Reform Party, eventually forming the federal government in 2006, under Stephen Harper.

Since the party of Sir John A. was disbanded in 2003, ending a 150 year tradition, this new party claimed the title: The Conservative Party of Canada with a neo-Conservative mandate.

Chapter Four Continued: William and Louisa

Footnotes:

*Address to the reformers of Upper Canada Toronto, September 1834

** In 1867, Nova Scotia was greatly apposed to joining Confederation, until a popular scholar and theologian, George Monro Grant stepped in. It is said that without his involvement, there may not have been a Dominion of Canada, at least not at that time. And as a matter of coincidence, his great, great grandson, Michael Ignatieff, is now leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (in opposition to Stephen Harper), though Grant at the time was non-partisan.

Sources:

Elections Canada: A History of the Vote in Canada, British North America, 1758–1866

Chapter Four: William of Mecklenburg

A CULTURE OF DEFIANCE: History of the Reform-Conservative Party of Canada

When William Eberhardt arrived in Upper Canada in 1851, he was just seven years old. After being shipwrecked, robbed and bounced along roads that surely must be leading to Hades, the family arrived at their final destination, which actually, would not have done much to convince the young lad that they hadn't indeed landed in Hades.

A settlement in the backwoods of Upper Canada in 1851, was a pretty intimidating place. But to the Heffler-Eberhardt family this would be home.

And that family then included his step-father Christopher Heffler (the original German spelling was Hoeffler) (1), his mother Sophia, brother Charles, who was close to William's age, and a half-brother Henry, who was just a baby; the first child of Sophia and her new husband. At least four more siblings would be born at Tuckersmith, all Hefflers: Loucina, Fresia, John (who appears to have died between 1861 and 1871) and Louis. (2)

Growing Up in Tuckersmith

In many ways the Heffler-Eberhardt family prospered in sync with the hamlet of Egmondville. They never enjoyed the riches of the Egmond family, but their evolution from penniless immigrants to contributing citizens was just as profound.

Most of their time would be spent at the homestead, clearing land, building, making furniture and furnishings, and struggling to survive. But trade and the acquiring of provisions would be done in Egmondville, which had become a thriving little community.

In 1852, Valentine Boehler had established a pottery on land purchased from the Van Egmond family for £20. In 1854, the youngest of Susanne's children, August; started the Van Egmond Woolen Mills and in 1866, two of August's sons, Leopold and William, upgraded the woolen Mill and constructed a three storey brick building.

There were two blacksmith shops, one across from Constant Van Egmond’s house. There was also a wagon and carriage shop, a brewery, a post office and a general store. All of this would have been the backdrop to William's formative years. (3)

There was a schoolhouse at the time as well, but I don't believe he ever attended, since he grew up never learning to read or write. Or at least not being able to read or write English. The family probably spoke only German, at least in the early years, which would have been an impediment in an English speaking school, where the teacher probably knew only that language. And of course, William's help would have been required at home, so schooling was a luxury they couldn't afford.

There was also a large Aboriginal population, members of the Six Nations, who played a significant role in the community. New settlers learned a lot about crop rotation, proper clothing and surviving the elements from people who had been doing it for centuries.

If there was time for play, games were probably based on those played in Prussia, which were not unlike those most children played everywhere. Verstecken (hide and seek) or Fangen (chase or catch). Aboriginal children also shared one of their favourites with young pioneers; follow the leader. This was part of their growing up, since it would always include the necessary skills for travel through the forests. Music and stories were also probably those learned by Sophia and Christopher when they were children.

William's parents may have been stern, since it was a trait passed on to future generations. But they were probably also very hard working, another trait passed on through the years.

Chapter Four Continued: Saving his Soul

Sources:

1. Christopher Heffler - Code: 1823.15 Primary Immigrant: Heffler, Christopher, National Archives of Canada in Ottawa, Index to the 1871 Census of Ontario: Huron. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society, By: Bruce S. Elliot, 1986, Page: 110

2. 1871 Census: Huron South, Tuckersmith, Division: 3 Microfilm Roll: C-9929 Page: 43

3. Egmondville and Van Egmond House, Heritage of Huron East, Virtual Tour

Chapter Two: Bolder Moves

A CULTURE OF DEFIANCE: History of the Reform-Conservative Party of Canada

Before 1871, the Duchy of Mecklenberg, was not part of Germany. For centuries it had operated under a system of "Inherited Serfdom", where nobles had complete authority and the only rights of the peasants was the right to pay taxes. They couldn't marry without permission and could even be bought and sold.

In 1806, when Napoleon conquered the area, many of the men of Mecklenberg were conscripted for military service, and almost 2000 lost their lives fighting in Russia for the emperor. During the seven years of French occupation, Mecklenberg suffered poverty and destruction; much of the destruction coming about as a result of the poverty.

In 1820 serfdom was abolished there, meaning that the peasants were freed from their obligations to land owners, but it also meant that land owners were freed from their obligations to the peasants, and many were forced into even greater poverty, hiring themselves out as day labourers, travelling the countryside, plowing, planting or harvesting crops. (1)

This was the Mecklenberg of Sophia's birth.

She would later marry William Eberhardt and in February of 1844, would give birth to a son, who would be given his father's name.

At the time, there were different classes of peasants, with some owning land, but it was still difficult for anyone not of noble birth, as the duchy had not yet caught up with the rest of Europe, where there was a growing middle class.

German Women and German Song

German women, German loyalty, German wine and German song
Shall retain in the world
Their old beautiful chime;
And inspire us to noble deeds
During all of our life.
German women, German loyalty,
German wine and German song!

By the time of William Jr.'s birth, there was a swelling grassroots movement across the German states against the tyranny of the noble landowners, and by 1848, many secret meetings of reform societies were being held, making plans for a political revolution.

Fuelling the passions was the promise of a new pan-German union to challenge the status quo. Tired of high taxes, censorship and the lack of basic human rights, the movement quickly gained momentum.

A banner was created with the colors that would eventually form the present German flag: black, red, and gold; and an official anthem written to the music of Joseph Haydn, was sung by the rebels as they protested in what has been called the March Revolution.

Forced to concede, the ruling elite drew up a new constitution on March 23, 1848, recognizing the need for reform. However, the victors were not fully prepared to share governing, and in Prussia the nobles sued for their 'rights' and the new constitution was annulled in September of 1850. (2)

By that time William Sr. was deceased, possibly killed during the revolution, and Sophia would remarry; a widower 20 years her senior, by the name of Christopher Heffler.

Not long after the hard fought for constitution was annulled, Sophia and Christopher would leave Mecklenberg, to become part of a mass emigration of what came to be known as the Forty-Eighters (3). Ranging from doctors, lawyers, musicians and painters; to tailors, farmers, cap makers and labourers; all gave up their fight to find their place in their homeland and would now just seek a new one.

In some cases, money was actually put up by noble landowners, believing that the best way to get rid of the peasant problem, was simply to get rid of the peasants.

Rough Seas and New Battles

This increase in emigration naturally brought about an increase in the need for emigrant ships, and for those not fortunate enough to be able to afford higher priced tickets, they were often left at the mercy of unscrupulous ship owners and agents.

There were constant complaints of overcrowding, poor food, abuse, and of course disease; prompting the cartoon above, showing children being stuffed into barrels (4).

We can only imagine the conditions for Sophia and her family. Obviously not part of the upper class, since her son William would grow up never being able to read or write, the voyage was probably spent in steerage, which wouldn't have not been much better than being stuffed into a barrel.

However, things would get worse when they became shipwrecked off the coast of Newfoundland, and before the crew would allow them into the lifeboats, they would have to hand over all of their money and possessions. (5)

Thus the Heffler family would arrive penniless as they made their way up the St. Lawrence to Hamilton. Given their circumstances, they were offered settlement in Tucker-Smith township, an area that had been very slow developing, mainly due to the horrendous travel conditions.

The family would then continue their journey, along those horrible roads in an oxcart, where a seven year old boy, who had seen enough adventure to last a lifetime, would no doubt wonder what life now had in store.

Continue to Chapter Three: Secret moves

Sources:

1. History of Mecklenberg, By: Ros Davies

2. Germans and the Revolution of 1848-1849, By: Justine D Randers-Pehrson , 1999, ISBN: 082044118X

3. German Corner, by Klaus Wurst and Norbert Muehlen, Davitt Publications, 1996

4. From Die Reform, Nr. 46, 1848, S. 184 (Hamburg)

5. Bible Bill: A Biography of William Aberhart, By: David R. Elliot and Iris Miller, Edmonton: Reidmore Books, 1987, Pg. 2