Descendants of David LYON & Mary HEMBROFF

David LYON and his brother-in-law Thomas HEMBROFF learned of the excellent prospects for settlers in Elderslie Township, Bruce County, through a brother of the last named, who had been engaged with the survey party under Mr. McPHILIPS. These two men lost no time after the survey was completed in selecting a point at which to settle. They were at that time residing at Chatsworth, in the neighboring county. One morning in October, 1851, saw them leaving home loaded with necessaries for a stay in the bush. Travelling south they at length reached the north branch of the Saugeen River ; following it, partly on foot and partly by canoe, they arrived at the county line. Owing to the amount of driftwood met with there they had to pursue the rest of their journey altogether on foot, following the course of the river. Being satisfied with the location where the sixth concession crosses the north branch of the Saugeen River , they, after doing enough work to secure for themselves a squatter's claim, returned home, to return in the following month with necessary supplies. This location would eventually be called Lockerby. The families and effects of these men were brought into the bush in May of the following year. The first stage was by team from Chatsworth to Hanover . There a raft, 12x30 feet, was constructed, and on it the families and their belongings were placed. It took two days to complete the voyage. A shanty, about sixteen feet square, was put u p on that summer, in which both families lived. About a year and a half later Mr. LYONS again placed his family on a raft and floated down to Southampton , where he engaged in saw-milling. Unfortunately he was burned out, when he then returned to Elderslie. The first shanty these men erected was utilized as a schoolhouse, the first in the township, the teacher being Mrs. Thomas PEARCE, a sister of the present township clerk, J. C. McINTYRE.
The preceeeding historical account was condensed from a narrative published in the Paisley Advocate in 1896 and republished in The History of Bruce County by Norman Robertson, published in 1906.

Cathy MILLER, a direct descendant of the captioned couple, is a Canadian quilter and folksinger from Victoria British Columbia. Since September 2000 she and her musician husband John have toured a program of songs, stories and quilts to guilds and quilting events across North America, Australia and New Zealand, the UK and Germany.
See Cathy's web site The Singing Quilter.
Cathy's mother was Irene Isabel LYON, see her Pedigree Chart. Other Ancestral Families connected to Irene LYON are; HEMBROFF; LLOYD; McINTYRE; CRERAR & McTAVISH.

Alexander Lyon THORNBURN, Alex was born and raised on the 10th of Bruce, west of Paisley. He is a direct descendant of the captioned couple, see his Pedigree Chart. Other Ancestral Families connected to Alex are; BONNER; McTAVISH; BROWN; LYON; HEMBROFF; LLOYD; CORMACK & SEILER.

Descendants of David LYON & Mary HEMBROFF

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