he township of Hibbert was named in honor of William Hibbert, Esq., a director of the Canada Company. Its soil is of good quality, road-building material is plentiful in every section. There is excellent drainage, and facilities for transportation are convenient to all. The first concession was surveyed in 1829, concessions 2 and 3 in 1832, and in 1835 a survey of the whole was completed by John McDonald. Excepting South Easthope and Fullarton, Hibbert ranks smallest in Perth County, containing about 42,300 acres. This is all, or nearly all, available for agriculture. Its topographical aspect is undulating, and in some sections hills rise to a considerable height. In its northwest corner is a section of level country, a portion of which at one time was considered swampy. Northeast it is undulating, while passing through between Staffa and Cromarty a range of hills rise to quite an altitude. Cultivation is carried on with skill, and has been remunerative, a system of mixed farming having been adopted. The Scotch element predominate in several sections, who carry out their predilections for stock raising in a marked degree. Their success in this department has encouraged others to adopt their system, which is now carried on throughout. About 1867, when cooperative dairying was introduced into Ontario, a cheese factory was established by Mr. George Hamilton, of Cromarty. This was not a success, and not encouraging for further development. Since creameries were introduced, a factory was established at Staffa, which, unfortunately, was destroyed by fire, and, so far, has not been rebuilt. Dairying, therefore, In this township has had very little influence in making wealth, and those agencies which have produced such marked results must be looked for in other departments of farm husbandry. Wherever a soil obtains of the description found in Hibbert we believe that a system of mixed husbandry will be found the most productive of material prosperity. Specialism in agriculture is never desirable where soil is of such a character as to admit of mixed farming. Transportation is always an important question with farmers, and lies next to production; in fact, it may be considered a part of it. Whatever can be saved in cost of transporting goods from one point to another lowers that of production, and profits arising from farm operations are enhanced in a corresponding degree. The B. & L. H. Ry. has created markets at Dublin, Seaforth and Mitchell, all convenient for delivering farm products. Within easy distance on its west side is the L , H. & B. Ry., affording excellent market facilities to the southwest portions. These railroads, all easy of access, have contributed largely in developing this township. The centre gravel road, leading through Cromarty, Staffa, and north to Dublin, is a most important highway, and was opened at an early day. In 1854 this road received a small grant from the county road improvement fund, and was supplemented by further grant later on. The improvement followed the pioneer in Hibbert more rapidly than in some municipalities having priority of settlement. A wealth of road material, distributed over so wide an area, was a great boon in road construction, rendering development in highways easy and rapid.

Settlement in this township did not take place to any extent for a number of years after a survey was made. This did not arise from natural disadvantages in soil, but to one of those circumstances which accelerate or retard settlement in new countries. Pioneers, on their onward march, are not unlike grasshoppers in movement, each one, as he comes onward, passes those already located, who have immediately preceded him. In this manner settlements were planted along the Huron road (at long intervals in some places) to Goderich. At this point it was more rapid than further east, nearer civilization, simply because Lake Huron formed a barrier beyond, which they could not pass. A road had also been opened from London to Goodrich, through Exeter, Brucefield and Clinton. Settlers thus came from the south into Tuckersmith, from the east along the Huron road into Downie, Fullarton and Blanshard. Hibbert, therefore, being east of Tuckersmith, and far west on the Huron road, was comparatively isolated, and not settled till these municipalities were all taken up.

Mr. Robert Donkin was probably the first settler in Hibbert. He erected a log tavern on lot 16, first concession. Between Mitchell and this point was level land. having no streams. Carronbrook was the first watercourse from Mitchell westward, and on that account would be at once selected as a place for settlement. A short distance west is Irishtown, or St. Columban, founded by Father Schneider, which formed the first real settlement in Hibbert. Ten years subsequent to this period, in 1842, the total assessment was only £314, or $1,256. This sum was assessed, as taxpayers, to: Thomas Fox, £54; Michael Guppin, £33; Daniel Kennan and Peter McCann, who had, so far. no Improvements; Miles McCann, £67 ; Hugh McLaughlin, £30; John Borillion, £20; James Mollineaux, £20; Edward Downie, £26, and Arthur McCann, £64. These were all settled near St. Columban. In 1844 it contained 321 inhabitants, and in 1845, 789 acres were under cultivation. In 1850 its population had increased to 695, and 1,808 acres were under cultivation, producing, in 1849, 7,000 bush. wheat, 5,900 bush. oats, 2,000 bush. peas, 5,500 bush. potatoes, 9,600 lbs. maple sugar, 1,500 lbs. wool, and 2,300 lbs. butter.

In 1841 Hibbert and McKillop were set apart as one municipal district. A meeting was called under a warrant signed by Daniel Lizars and Henry Hindman, Justices of the Peace, and held on January 4th, at John Cameron's house. Adolphus Meyers was elected chairman; John Govenlock, clerk; James Young, assessor; Dennis Downie, collector; William Lee and James Cluff, pound keepers. Three overseers of highways were appointed – Alexander Cameron, Robert Watt, and Adolphus Meyers. Rules and by-laws were also passed.

Progress hitherto had been slow, and fifteen years subsequent to the survey of 1829, apart from a few settlers near Irishtown, there were few people in Hibbert. Robert Donkin, who afterwards become prominent in municipal affairs, located prior to 1840; Thomas Fox, Thomas McGoey, David Oughton, and William Maughan were early settlers. In 1848 a few people had located near Spring Hill, as Staffa was formerly called. Thomas Shillinglaw, Charles Tuffin, John Drake, William Worden, Richard Hotham, and Daniel Weese were old pioneers. In other sections were Martin Feeney, James Norris, Arthur Colquhoun, John Miller, Daniel Wood and Charles Fox. Subsequent to 1851 settlement became rapid, and Concessions 10, 11, 12, and 13 were located, and so great an influx had now taken place that in 1857 this township may be said to have been all settled.

Pioneers in this municipality were nearly all of British origin. In the northwest, Irish; southwest, Scotch and English; southeast, nearly all Scotch; northeast, a mixed population of British and German.. Like all new sections, early settlers in Hibbert experienced all the hardships and difficulties inseparable from poverty in a new country. In early days, obtaining flour for family use was a problem too difficult to solve. Many an old settler has plodded for miles, through a trackless forest, with a quantity of flour on his back to relieve the pressing necessities of his famishing children. No doubt, in looking back over these trials, everyone thinks his own individual faculties were unequaled by all others. Wherever there is poverty there must be hardship. Where hopeless poverty exists, distress is greater still. It was a glorious feature in pioneer life that there was always hope. A repast of cow cabbage and turnips was more nourishing when eaten with hope. Almost superhuman efforts were made by pioneers to obtain food for those under his roof, for as Burns has well said:

Thae moving things ca'd wife and weans
Wad move the very heart o' stanes,

Manufacturing potash and black. salts afforded some relief, and was the only commodity for which money could be obtained, and usually sold for about $25 per barrel. Those settlers who located around Cromarty, comprising the families of Hogarth, Moon, Taylor, Ferguson, McLarens (Duncan and Alexander), Butler, Chapel, White, and George Hamilton, had great hardships to contend with. Although the Gardners were further back still, their location was preferable, being in closer proximity to the Thames road, which had been opened in 1844. At Francistown malls had been erected at an early day, affording conveniences to this section unattainable elsewhere.

Since 1857, when settlement was completed, Hibbert has become a wealthy municipality. A fertile soil skillfully cultivated, combined with thrift and industry, and excellent transportation facilities, has given an impetus to prosperity not excelled in Perth County.