Here's where you can learn a little Ontario history

The Founder of Elora

Photo by contributor David Brown - June, 2004

Plaque Location

The County of Wellington
The Township of Centre Wellington
In Elora, on the southwest corner of
Geddes Street and Colborne Street

Coordinates: N 43 41.004 W 80 25.838

Plaque Text

Captain William Gilkison (1777-1833) was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and emigrated to North America in 1796. He served with the British forces in the War of 1812 as an assistant quartermaster-general, and in 1832 purchased some 5660 ha acres of land in Nichol Township. He selected this area at the falls of the Grand River as a town site for his proposed settlement and named it Elora. It was laid out by Lewis Burwell, deputy provincial land surveyor, late in 1832, and the following year Gilkison established a sawmill and a general store. The founder of Elora died in April 1833, before the full results of his foresight and enterprise were achieved.

More
Information

More
Settlements

Here are the comments for this page.

(none yet)

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).