| This village is
between 60 and 70 years old. The men who first settled in its immediate
vicinty were Joseph Lawson, Frederick Sovereen, Henry Sovereen, and the
Browns. Henry Sovereen is still living in the village. Jacob has devoted
much of his life to the public welfare, having been in the Township
Council 27 years, Reeve of Middleton 13 years, and Warden of the County of
Norfolk three years, besides acting as Magistrate for over 20 years. He
has also attained the rank of Captain in the militia. Frederick Sovereen
kept a hotel for many years, what is now known as the Union Hotel; it was
first licensed in 1834, and was kept for several years by Roger Crysler,
who was well known throughout all Norfolk, and very highly esteemed on
account of his natural abilities and his many virtues. Roger Crysler died
about three years ago, leaving a numerous family. Mr. Stoddard, his
son-in-law, now carries on the hotel.
Since the Canada Air Line Railway
was built the prospects of the village have become brighter. A great deal
of lumber, shingles, &c., is shipped here. The village now contains a
population of 750.
Big Creek flows through the west
part of the village, and affords excellent mill sites. From this the
village extends east to the town line of Windham, and lies partly in that
township. There are now in it 3 hotels, 6 stores, 3 cartridge factories
and blacksmith shops, 1 English church, 1 Methodist church, 1 Baptist
church, 1 school, 1 woolen factory and carding mill, 2 grist mills, 2 saw
mills, 2 tanneries, 2 foundries, 2 tin and stove shops, 1 pump factory, 1
produce dealer, 2 dry goods stores, 2 physicians, 1 jeweller, 1 barber, 1
butcher, 1 billiard saloon, 1 Orange hall, 1 public hall, 1 Masonic hall,
2 conveyancers.
Fredericksburg received its name
from Frederick Sovereen, who laid it out, but the post office is known by
the name of Delhi.
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