Colonel Samuel Strickland 1804-1867

Photo by Alan L Brown - May 10, 2004

Photo by Alan L Brown - March 24, 2007

Plaque Location

The County of Peterborough
The Township of Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield
In Lakefield on the west side of Queen Street, north of Reid Street

Plaque Text

This church was built in 1853 principally through the efforts of Samuel Strickland. A member of an English family which included several successful authors, he emigrated to Upper Canada (now Ontario) in 1825. After farming in Otonabee Township he served with the Canada Company 1823-31 as a superintendent of settlement. In 1831 he became one of Douro's earliest settlers, and later established a school there for the training of persons interested in pioneer farming. His book "Twenty-seven Years in Canada West" is of unique value, since it is an educated person's record of a lifetime spent on the agricultural frontier. Col. Strickland is buried in this churchyard.