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 Three Continued: Family Burdens

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

After burying her husband, the government of Upper Canada seized all the "Colonel's" possessions, with the exception of the home and cleared acres, which had been put in the name of Susanne and her children.

In a patriarchal society the eldest son is generally the heir to all property, but in the case of Constant Louis, the eldest son of Anthony, he was forced to become a surety, assuming his father's massive debts*.

But Susanne had learned to accept the highs and lows of a grifter's life, and was determined not to let this setback ruin the prestige their name, or at least someones name; had lent to the region. With eight grown children, all able-bodied, she put everyone to work. Their family clung to the story that the "Colonel" had been wronged and they were working to honour him in death by restoring his reputation. Susanne insisted that everyone call her 'Madam'; a self-appointed, not inherited, title.

In 1845, Constant officially registered the hamlet of Egmondville and in 1847, built a large brick house on his property, which still stands today, and is open to the public as a museum. Claiming that the reason Tucker-Smith was so slow to develop, was because the Canada Company had fallen behind in its obligation to build roads and bridges, churches and schools; he made a pledge to change that.
In 1849, he donated land for a church and burial ground. The church was built entirely by volunteer labour and with donated materials, and was open for business on July 21, 1850. He then had his father's body moved to the adjoining cemetery. (1)

When the Heffler family arrived in 1851, the area was bustling with activity, much of it guided by the Van Egmond family, under the direction of the family matriarch.

Ironically, Susanna and Sophia Heffler would have a lot in common; yet they would spend their remaining years in near solitude. "Madam", who had moved into her son's new home, had become increasingly paranoid, and in fact would spend the last fifteen years of her life in bed. The burden of the "secret" had overwhelmed her.**

Sophia's solitude on the other hand, would not be self inflicted, but the result of having to raise her children in the backwoods, where she too drove her family, out of necessity, to work hard and make the most of their unplanned circumstances. Arriving with nothing, they no doubt had accumulated debts that had to be paid off.

Her first home was probably little more than a log shanty, built from the trees her family had to fell themselves. At the time, there was very little assistance offered from the government of Upper Canada. They believed that their only duty was to make sure that roads were built that would enable settlements in the vast wilderness. The rest was to be handled by the private enterprise of the Canada Company, and since their only motivation was profit, most families were left to their own devices.

Also the barrier of distance, aggravated by the condition of most of the roads at the time, did not make it easy for a social life. But two communities would grow up around them: Egmondville and Seaforth, and the Aberhart name would be linked to both.

Continue to Chapter Four: William of Mecklenburg

Footnotes:

* Estate of Anthony Jacob William Gilbert Van Egmond, Huron County, File 290, MFNO: 1156, March 20, 1838.

** In 2009, a well known psychic, Annette Sullivan, visited the Egmond home, and confirmed that it was haunted. “Egmondville is a storehouse for psychic energy - you’ve got generations connected to the Van Egmond House and a family that was done wrong by the Canadian government. They never got paid - that’s why they’re still there.”

Of course they were not wronged by the government, but had perpetrated a hoax. However, this confirms that Susanne and her children did an excellent job of continuing a lie that began with Antonij's fake identity. Sullivan also states: “This lady will not rest until the items that belong to the family are tagged with the Van Egmond crest...” If Susanna is having trouble resting in the after life, it has nothing to do with a crest that did not belong to her, but a fabricated life and a "lie" that she thought she took to her grave.

Sources:

Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, 1836-1850 (Volume VII), By: W. J. Van Veen

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

The Canada Company and The Huron Tract, 1826-1853, By: Robert C. Lee, Natural Heritage Books, 2004, ISBN: 1-896219-94-2