The following description of Humberstone Township and its villages is quoted from The History of the County of Welland, Ontario, Its Past and Present. Welland Tribune Printing House, 1887.

Humberstone Township is bounded on the north by the township of Crowland on the east by the Township of Bertie, on the south by Lake Erie, and on the west by the Township of Wainfleet. Humberstone’s geographical position is an advantageous one, and its fertile soil which is more or less alluvial, and varies in quality from black muck to clay loam, ranks the township among the best agricultural districts in Ontario. It is about seven and a half miles long and six miles wide and contains about thirty thousand acres. The surface of the central and northern portion is mainly flat. A ridge of high land on the southern side of the township runs nearly east and west, parallel to the shore of Lake Erie, and within a mile or two of the lake. The lands on one side of the ridge slope to the north, on the other south towards the lake, until the picturesque hills which border on the lake shore are reached. These hills are well timbered, and are fringed with forest trees at their base, comprising oak, ash, hemlock, cedar, linden, butternut, walnut, beech and whole groves of sugar maple. In summer these hills ring with the melodies of the song birds, with whom they are a favorite haunt. They are also tenanted with various kinds of game, such as woodcock, partridge, quail, wild pigeons, snipe, squirrels and rabbits. Foxes, raccoons, and other fur-bearing animals in limited quantities also find shelter here, but in decreasing number. The lake abounds in fish of nearly all varieties found in fresh water. Many of the inhabitants of the cities and large towns spend the summer vacation camping out along the lake shore among these beautiful hills, enjoying the pure lake air and the fishing and hunting.

The Fort Erie Stonebridge road runs along the top of the ridge. This highway is macadamized and gravelled nearly its entire length, and it is the direct route to the city of Buffalo it always presents an animated appearance. A drive along it in summer is always enjoyable; even in the hottest days a cool and refreshing breeze from the lake generally prevails. Comfortable houses, barns and other farm buildings are everywhere to be seen. Numerous fine orchards border it on either side, and shade trees adorn both sides of the road in many places. Horses, herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, grazing in the fields in quiet security, give an air of prosperity, plenty, and comfort, that is unsurpassed in many other countries.

A beautiful ridge of land runs in a northeasterly direction from the village of Humberstone. This ridge is traversed by what is known as the Chippawa road, an excellent thoroughfare. A drive along this road takes us past first-class farms, on which are comfortable buildings. Herds of fine cattle and flocks of good sheep pasturing in the adjacent fields, present a picture of prosperity and domestic comfort. There is also an undulating strip of land extending along the eastern side of the township, which is very fertile and productive, being well adapted to agriculture and horticulture; and evidences of thrift and prosperity exist among all the farmers of this locality. In the southwestern corner of the township there are some very fine farms, well adapted to raising grain and fruits. There is a lofty conical hill situated in this part of the township, called “Sugar Loaf,” upwards of one hundred feet in height, having an observatory built on the summit, from which a fine view of the lake and surrounding country may be obtained. It has lately become a popular summer resort. In addition to camping parties and those living in cottages, a great many boarders are accommodated at the neighboring farm houses during the summer months, and it is a favorite resort for picnic parties.

The north-western portion of the township is considerably lower than the remainder, and contain extensive marshes. These marshes form the source of Lyon’s Creek, described in our historical sketch of Crowland. This marsh, of which the township contains about three thousand acres, produces huge quantities of whortleberries and cranberries. About eight hundred acres of the tract are valuable for peat, which will probably some day be converted into fuel. Having described the physical features of Humberstone from information obtained from recently published description, it will now be well to say something concerning the condition of the township a century ago, and particularly to record the names of some of

The Pioneers

It is to their industry, and the bravery with which they struggled with the many hardships incident to life in the woods, that the present generation of Humberstonians is largely indebted for the many broad acres of productive land and other blessings. Some of the people now living may not realize the importance of a local history, but it will be well to preserve for their children and the children’s children a record of the past. The generations yet to come will better appreciate the many advantages incident to the ages in which they will live, if they fully understand the difference between the lot of those who live in the prosperous Township of Humberstone during the latter part of the nineteenth century, and the hard struggle for existence of their ancestors who settled in the primeval forests of a hundred years ago. Historians have asserted that the first settlement of the township took place in 1785. We have, however, the best authority for stating that at least four years prior to that date Humberstone had commenced to receive settlers. As early as 1781, Christian Stoner removed his family from his home along the banks of the Susquehanna, in Pennsylvania, to Humberstone, where they settled on parts of lots 29, 30, 31 and 32, in the 3rd concession. Mr. Stoner had first come to Canada alone in 1778, and when he brought his family in 1781, they were accompanied by Abraham Neff and Christian Knisley, who with their families settled in the same neighborhood. In 1783, Wm. Steele settled in the township. Among the other U. E. Loyalists, who came in about the time of the close of the American Revolution, were John Near, the father of Daniel Near, Esq., the present Clerk of the township, who settled on lot No. 2, in the 1st concession, Daniel Knisley, Michael Sherk and George Zavitz. The numerous progeny of the above mentioned pioneers still own and occupy a large portion of the lands of the township. A description of the township and history of its early days, containing a recital of the interesting anecdotes that could be related concerning the pioneers and their life in the woods, would alone fill a volume. The stories of the journeys of the various families from their homes in other lands through the woods to their destination, descriptions of the crossing of the Niagara River in Indian canoes, or on the backs of horses whose swimming qualities governed their price in those days, as their speed does now, accounts of the various hair-breadth escapes of early settlers in their encounters with wild bears that had for ages held domination over the land, would all be of great interest to the present and future generations, but we must content ourself with a brief general account of life in Humberstone a hundred years ago. Provisions had sometimes to be carried on the back from Niagara, along the Indian trails. Food was occasionally so scarce—particularly during 1789, the year of the famine—that beech boughs and leaves had to be cooked for food. These were cases of such terrible destitution that a family would be obliged to live for days on two or three ears of corn. In the spring following the famine people dug up pumpkin seeds after they were planted in order to stay the ravages of hunger. The homes of the pioneers possessed slight claims to elegance or architectural beauty. Shanties or small log house of the most primitive construction, usually consisting of a single apartment, suffice for the majority of settlers of Humberstone at that time. Window glass was, except to those who were able to bring it from a great distance, an unattainable luxury; yet some of them were not contented, when their doors were closed upon the outer world, to see their home circle enveloped in semi-darkness. Therefore, those of them who could do so, procured paper, which they oiled and used as a substitute for glass. Failing to obtain paper, the carefully removed the thin membrane from the lard of hogs, and cutting it into squares as large as possible, secured it to the rude sashes they had made. Thus did they admit the cheerful and health-giving light of the sun to their humble habitations. For light at night a good maple fire, with an occasional pine knot when a particularly brilliant light was desired, answered admirably in the absence of candles or lamps.

Many of the settlers were without teams. These were obliged to work for their more fortunate neighbours in exchange for the use of their teams. Sometimes a team was the common property of three persons, each using it in turn or as suited mutual convenience; and instances have been known of a horse and cow being trained to work together; but some were unable to obtain a team in any way, and were, consequently, obliged to put their crops in altogether by hand. The agricultural implements among them were such as would be regarded as curious by our farmers’ lads of the present day. One of them, called the “shovel plough,” consisted of a horizontal beam, into which was inserted at nearly right angles a wooden shaft, having upon its lower extremity an iron plate. The single handle was placed at one end of the beam, and to the other end the team was attached. As it was drawn along, the iron-plated shaft tore up the earth. So fertile was the soil that with even such husbandry it yielded rich returns. Pitchforks and other implements were manufactured out of wood by the settlers themselves, and families made their own cloth and garments of flax and wool.

In 1817 the township contained seventy-five inhabited houses and one grist and one saw mill. Land at this time was valued at two and one-half dollars per acre; when the settlement of the township began, it could be purchased for ten cents an acre. The construction of the Lake Erie extension of the Welland Canal, which runs through the entire length of the township from south to north, assisted in the drainage of a part of the lands, and aided materially in the settlement of the township. It also was the means of establishing two villages—Port Colborne1 and Stonebridge. The former ceased to be a part of the township in 1870, at which date it became an incorporated village. Humberstone has kept pace with the other townships of Welland County ever since the time of its settlement. It now contains a population of two thousand seven hundred, exclusive of the incorporated village of Port Colborne. With the exception of the undrained portion of the marsh, the land is all tillable save about six thousand acres of woodland. This is pretty evenly distributed over the township, and consists of maple, oak, ash, birch, linden, whitewood, beech, wild cherry, poplar, red and white cedar, hemlock, hickory, butternut, walnut, pine, tamarack, elms and spruce.

The principal products of the farm are wheat, rye, oats, barley, maize, flax, beans, peas, buckwheat, timothy, various kinds of clover, potatoes, beets, turnips, carrots, all kinds of garden produce, beef, pork, mutton, all kinds of poultry, butter, cheese, eggs, apples, pears, peaches, plums, quinces, cherries, grapes, currants, strawberries, and other small fruits. Much of this produce finds a market in Buffalo, N. Y. which city is only about a dozen miles distant. There is also a demand in Buffalo for building sand from the hills along the lakeshore in Humberstone. It is shipped by the lake in canal boats and is sold on the Buffalo market from one to two-and-a-half dollars per cubic yard. Shipping of sand promises soon to become an important industry.

Humberstone has three limestone quarries. One is situated about one mile west of Port Colbone, another about one mile east, and the third at the eastern end of the township. These quarries are capable of furnishing an almost inexhaustible supply of white lime of the very best quality, and building stone of any dimensions required.

The facilities for travelling and shipping freight are excellent in Humberstone. There is through the western portion the Welland Division of the Grant Trunk Railway, with three stations. The Canada Southern or Michigan Central extends through the north-eastern portion, and has one station in Humberstone. The Loop Line of the Great Western Railway, now amalgamated with the Grand Trunk, extends through the northern portion of the township, with two stations within the municipality. The Buffalo and Lake Huron branch of the Grand Trunk traverses the southern side of the township, with two stations within its limits. The Welland Canal passing through the western portion of the township affords every facility for shipment.

The schools in Humberstone Township are good. The ratepayers have cheerfully contributed the funds necessary for the construction of good school-houses, and the trustees have, as a rule, realized the importance of educating the young by employing efficient teachers. This state of excellence has been attained, not only through the workings of our present excellent school system, but the influence of those who were active educationalists in the township in years gone by has left its impress upon the efficient schools of today. From the time of the final separation of the counties until the end of 1865, the office of Local Superintendant was filled by Dr. M. F. Haney. Dr. O. W. Fares was Superintendent for the year 1866, and for the remaining four years that the office existed its duties were performed by the Rev. W. E. Cooper.

Village of Stonebridge

This place, officially known as “Petersburgh,” with “Humberstone” as the name of the postoffice, is probably better known as Stonebridge than by either of the other names. Before the construction of the canal a creek passed through the site of this village, and the settlers, to effect a crossing, sank stones in the water. The place was called Stonebridge in consequence, and immediately after the canal was built, quite a considerable village sprang up at this point. The first building erected here was the large stone structure still standing near the west end of the canal bridge. It was built during the time of the construction of the canal, and was used as an hotel or boarding house. The village is situated about one mile north of Port Colborne. Both of these places were started in consequence of the building of the canal. Stonebridge, or Petersburgh, was the more important place of the two in the earlier days; but the enlargement of the harbor at Port Colborne about the year 1850, and its better railway facilities, gave the village an impetus that made it outrival the sister village down the canal. Both have grown, however, until it seems like one continuous village all the way from Stonebridge to the lake. The village of Stonebridge now has a population of about seven hundred. It has a station on the Welland Division of the Grand Trunk Railway, and contains three churches, one public school, one Lutheran school, one township hall, a temperance hall, five hotels, a machine shop, a foundry, a saw mill, a planing mill and sash and door factory, two cabinet shops, three wagon and carriage factories, eight shops, one organ factory, two harness manufactories, four blacksmith shops. The surrounding country being a good farming district, the various business establishments of the village are in prosperous condition.

The churches consist of a Methodist Church, of which the Rev. Mr. Duff is the present pastor; and two Lutheran Churches. One was built about the year 1875. It belongs to the Missouri Synod, and the Rev. F. Bente is the pastor. There is a school in connection with this church, in which the pupils are taught in both German and English. Mr. F. Hoffmeyer was the teacher for several years; he has been recently succeeded by Mr. Ernest Riddel. The other Lutheran Church belongs to the Canadian Synod. The original church was erected a number of years ago, but was rebuilt in 1884. The Rev. Prof. Snyder is the present pastor. There is in Humberstone a Division of the Sons of Temperance, with about sixty members, who meet every Saturday evening, and many citizens of the place are also connected with the several fraternal and beneficiary societies, whose lodges are situated between the two villages and known as Union Lodges.

Humberstone Circle, O. C. H. C., was instituted in the Good Templars’ Hall on the 14th October, 1885, with twenty-one charter members. It now has a membership of forty-four and meets in the Union Hall. T. I. Stone is Leader, and I. R. Snider, Secretary.

There are two worthy practitioners of the healing art resident in the village—Dr. Knisley and Dr. Haney, the latter one of the oldest physicians in the county.

The township hall being situated in the village, the place may be called the capital of the township. Here are held the meetings of the Township Council, and here is the place of holding the annual fair of the Township Agricultural Society.