HomeMy WebLinkAbout799"Typewritten article, 2 pages, dated at Pickering, Ont., April 1957.
William H. Westney c. 1800-1900
Wm. H. Westney was born in Scarborough township in 1882 and came to the farm in lot
10 concession 3 in Pickering township with his parents, Stephen Westney and the former
Jane Heron, in 1892. They purchased the farm from James Elliot, the land having been
originally patented to Jacob Farrand, December 31st 1798. Stephen Westney died in
1901 and his wife in 1915. They were buried in St. Margaret's Cemetery Scarborough,
Ontario.
Wm. H. Westney's grandfather, Wm. Westney, came to Candad from Norfolk, England
in 1837 and was the original patentee to land in lot 12 con. 2 in Scarborough township in
1856. he was a bricklayer and stone mason by trade and did considerable work in
Toronto (Muddy York) and later built a number of houses in Scarborough.
He and Mr. Sonley built the fireplaces in the old military barracks in Toronto.
Mr. Sonley took up land in lot 27 concession 4 in Whitby township.
Wm. H. Westney and a younger brother Frank H. worked the farm together until
1910 when Wm. H. took the land in lot 10 and Frank H. took the part in lot 11.
Frank H. Westney was active in seed grain work and in 1956 was made a
Robertson Associate Member in connection with the Canadian Seed Growers
Association. He has been a director of the Maple Leaf Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance
Company for a number of years.
An uncle, Rev. W. S. Westney, was stationed at St. Georges's Anglican Church in
Pickering village in the 1880's and while there he planted the spruced trees that now
provide ample shade for the church and cemetery.
Wm. H. Westney married Janet Rae Glendenning in 1910. They had three children,
Muriel Jean, Margaret Rae, and Henry C. Westney. Mrs. Wm. H. Westney died suddenly
March 6th, 1957 this being the first break in the family
From: Files of Ajax LACAC"
"circle. Mrs. Wm. H. Westney's father was Thomas Glendenning of Scarborough and
his great aunt as Mary Glendenning, wife of David Thomson, and she was credited with
being the first white woman in Scarborough township.
Wm. H. Westney was also interested in good seed and in addition he specialized in
dairying and built up a herd of purebred Holsteins, using the name ""WESTGLEN"" as a
prefix name for the cattle pedigrees. It was one of the earlier herds to be Listed as a
Brucellosis-Free Herd and been T.B. Accredited since 1936.
When he came to Pickering in 1892 he well remembers the cattle being driven on foot
down the old Kingston road from Scarborough and his father paying toll on each animal
before going through the old toll gate, which stood half way up the west hill of the Rouge.
Wm. H. Westney took an active part in municipal politics serving in Pickering township
council from 1941 to 1952 and was Warden of Ontario County Council in 1949.
He considers one of his greatest municipal honors, when as a member of Ontario
County Council he was appointed chairman of the building committee of Fairview Lodge
at Whitby, Ontario. This building was opened in 1951 and provides a home for many of
the senior citizens of Ontario County..
He has been a Pickering township representative on the Rouge, Duffins, Highland and
Petticoat Creek Conservation Authority since its establishment on April 1st 1954.
He is still a Pickering township representative on the Metropolitan Torotnto and Region
Conservation Authority which replaces the Etobicoke-Mimico, Humber Valley,
Don Valley and the Rouge, Duffin, Highland and Petticoat Creek Conservation
Authorities as of February 1st 1957."