| Middleton lies to the
north of Walsingham and Charlotteville, having Houghton and Bayham on the
west, Dereham and Norwich on the north, and Windham on the east. The
Little Otter runs through the western part, Big Creek through the eastern
part, and the Venison Creek takes its rise in the south. It is therefore
well watered, and abounds in excellent mill privileges. Its main artery of
travel has been for more than half a century the famous Talbot Street,
which was planned by Col. Talbot in 1806, and was opened by local effort
in 1824. It runs from Fredericksburg at the east end of the Township to
Courtland (Middlesex Centre), then deviates to the southwest, and crossing
the apex of Houghton enters the County of Elgin. Col. Thomas Talbot was
born in the ancient Baronial Castle of Malahide, in the County of Dublin,
Ireland, in the year 1771. He entered the army, was at Quebec in 1790, and
in 1791 became attached to the staff of General John Graves Simcoe, the
first Lieut.-Governor of Upper Canada. While in this position Col. Talbot
conceived the plan of founding an extensive settlement in the western
wilds, and asked the aid of Governor Simcoe. Through his recommendation
large grants of land were made for Talbot.
Col. Talbot lived for many years
after this in the neighboring county of Elgin, and endeared himself to a
very large number of the settlers whom he had been the means of directing
to comfortable homes.
At Middleton Centre a road runs
west to the fertile region known at Upper and Lower Goshen. The land in
this part of the township is mostly a clay loam. In other parts the soil
is a sandy loam, and is admirably adapted for all kinds of crops, both
root and cereals. In illustration of this it may be mentioned that the
Township Shows of Middleton are of a very superior character, and cannot
be excelled in the County. A great deal of pine timber has been removed
from Middleton, and even yet the lumberman is actively employed in some
parts of it. Bog iron ore has been found in large quantities.
The principal villages are
Fredericksburg and Middleton Centre. The former is also called Delhi and
the latter Courtland.
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