The Founder of Elora
Text from the plaque
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.
Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.
Find the place
The County of Wellington
The Township of Centre Wellington
In Elora, on the southwest corner of
Geddes Street and Colborne Street
Also recorded for this place: The County of Wellington
N 43 41.004 W 80 25.838
Recorded June 2004. Check current access before visiting.
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