FELIX HANLON

Although the Hanlon homestead was included in the lands annexed by Guelph, when Felix selected his lot (now the site of the Edinburgh Plaza), Catherine and he planted their first crop, and their roots in Puslinch Township.

The following glimpse into the lives of Felix and Catherine Hanlon was written by their great grand-daughter Helen Forestell’s (nee Hanlon) and appeared in the Puslinch Pioneer.

“The story is told that one day while walking in the woods, Felix discovered a clear, running stream. Following it upstream for about half a mile, he came upon a very strong spring. He decided on this location as a permanent home for his family.

In February of 1833, he purchased the land from the Crown. The present house was built in 1879 as a home for Felix’s son Patrick, and his bride. This is the third dwelling on the farm, the first home was a shanty, then a log house, and finally a log house, which was built by Scottish stone masons. The barn was built in 1873 by Mr. McLean whose brother was killed while hewing the timber for it.

The stone milk house was built about the same time as the rest of the buildings. The spring water flows through the ducts in its stonework all year round. Through the years , each generation of the family has considered itself most fortunate to have such an ideal place to keep food during warm weather.

Some years later, Felix visited his native Ireland. On his return, he brought some hawthorn twigs and a slip of willow from his home. The stump of the willow, which grew from that slip, still stands at the gate. The black hawthorn thrived so well that they became “ a thorn in the side” of his descendents.

It’s interesting to note that Mrs. Helen Hanlon and some members of her family visited the original home in Ireland a few years ago. They discovered that Felix had used the layout of the buildings in Ireland as a patern for his Canadian homestead. The black hawthorn trees were growing around the buildings in Ireland too.

To grow their crops, the North American Indians cleared land by burning. They remained in this spot until the fertility of the clearing was exhausted and then moved on. A large open area , which local historians say is the result of the Indian’s farming customs is located on the Hanlon farm near the creek. Arrowheads were frequently found throughout the area. No doubt many were packed away in children’s dusty collections over the past one hundred and fifty years.

At one time, a family of freed slaves, who worked for Felix lived on this Indian clearing. The remains of a corduroy road through the woods to the Indian clearing is still visible.

Felix Hanlon sold two township lots to a Mr. Ramsay who built a sawmill by the creek. The remains of the sawyer’s house surrounded by lilacs and honeysuckle are still evident. During Hurricane Hazel, squared timbers from the dam at the sawmill were uncovered by the swollen stream.

Hanlon Heights subdivision is comprised of three farms which belonged to early settlers, namely the Stefflers, Hanlons, and Carrols. The centre portion of the subdivision belonged to Felix who purchased it for his son John.

The most southern portion of the farm, formerly known as Shadybrook Farm was settled by Bryan Carrol in the late 1820’s. He married Margaret Kennedy, a Scottish girl from from Edinburgh. Margaret and her family were members of the LaGuayron group of settlers. These were Scottish settlers who had been sent to settle in Venezuela. Unable to make a living in that country, they found their way to Canada and settled near Marden. Their daughter Isabella Carrol married Patrick Hanlon.

Felix and Catherine raised a family of seven children in the log house. His son Patrick and his wife Isabella had only three children, one of whom died at an early age. This left two children, Catherine and Harry to grow up in the large stone house. Catherine, granddaughter of Felix Hanlon and Bryan Carrol, ( at the time Helen wrote this ) was living at St. Joseph’s home. Three years ago, she celebrated her one hundredth birthday with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Helen Hanlon (Harry’s wife)”

ARTICLE IN THE GUELPH MERCURY

On November 27,1831, Felix appeared as a sponsor for Catherine Keough, daughter of Christopher and his wife Ann Green.

Patrick Lynch (Linch), born Feb.13,1836 to Martin and his wife Anne Cullen (Calhan), and baptized Mar. 2, 1837 was sponsored by Robert Hanlon and Catherine Williams.

The Dumphries Reformer reported the death of Catherine wife of Felix Hanlon at the age of 41 on March 24,1854 making her date of birth about 1813.

On the 28^th day of July 1836, Mary Hanlon, born July 27^th was baptized by Father Cassidy. Her parents are shown as Felix and Catherine Ca_hen.The sponsors were Michael Caraher? and Rose Gilmore.

Hanlon Family homepage

1851 Puslinch Census