From the Archives
Smith family
The City of Vaughan’s archives house more than 600 collections dating from the early 1700s to the present day. Within these files are the stories of how Vaughan evolved from the traditional territories of the First Peoples of Turtle Island to the bustling city it is today.
Let’s take a look back at our history and share the stories of the people, places and moments that helped shape the city we know today. This month’s feature is on the Smith family.
John Smith, also known by his birth name Johanna Schmidt, moved to Vaughan from Pennsylvania in 1799. He was a Mennonite Protestant and, like many Mennonite families, came to Upper Canada between 1790 and the early 1800s to escape religious and political persecution.
In 1801, John received a land grant under Governor John Graves Simcoe’s settlement program for Lot 7, Concession 4, near present-day Keele Street and Highway 7. He never married, and his property was later passed down to his brother, Jacob Smith.
Jacob Smith married his wife Fanny Weber in 1761. Together they had eight children: Annie, John, Barbara, Jacob Jr., Joseph, Samuel, Magdalena and Daniel. In 1815, Jacob and his family joined John in Vaughan. When they arrived, they had two pounds, about $7,000 today, to begin their new life.
The family homestead was first farmed by Jacob, then by his son Jacob Jr., and later by his grandsons Abraham and Samuel, sons of Jacob Jr. Eventually, the northern part of the property was sold. After 165 years of family ownership, the Canadian National Railway took over the property in 1966 as part of its train-sorting yard in Concord.
As the family grew, they purchased additional farms and became closely connected to the Village of Edgeley, now part of the Concord area in Vaughan. Over the years, members of the Smith family owned several local businesses, including a shingle and chopping mill, a casket manufacturing business, a slaughterhouse and a construction company. Beyond their economic role in the community, they also sold their land for important public uses, including a Mennonite meeting house in 1823, a schoolhouse in 1843 and a Methodist minister’s residence in 1919.
Although many of their homes and businesses are no longer standing, parts of their legacy remain. The log church was later moved to Black Creek Pioneer Village at 1000 Murray Ross Pkwy., and the family graveyard located at 7981 Jane St. in Concord, now known as Edgeley Cemetery, still contains many Smith family tombstones.
Through their faith, hard work and commitment to community, the Smith family helped lay the foundation for what would become the modern City of Vaughan, a legacy that continues to shape the city today.
VIEW VAUGHAN'S ARCHIVES ONLINE!
Looking for more information about the history of Vaughan? The City's Archival Collection is on digital display for all to explore! The below galleries are available in the City's online gallery on Flickr:
From Township to City: The Evolution of Vaughan
Historical Families of Vaughan
Historical Photography
Past Mayors of Vaughan
Prohibition in Vaughan
Recollections of Rural Vaughan
The Great Depression in Vaughan
The Mary Wood Collection
The Way We Were: Representations of Vaughan's Past
Vaughan’s Forgotten Heroes
Vaughan Lodge Fonds
Vaughan Working Environments
Vaughan Through the Ages: Medicine, Music and Sports and Recreation
and more!
A personal Flickr account is not required to access the City's online gallery, which contains only a small selection of the full archives collection. If you are looking for a particular image, original file, primary source record or more, please visit the Archival Database or contact the City by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing archives@vaughan.ca.
By managing and preserving both City and community records, the City’s Enterprise Information Management Services team ensures that Vaughan's rich and varied history will continue to be available for future generations. Learn more at vaughan.ca/archives.
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