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William Center

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William Center

Birth	:	1815 Quebec, Canada
Death	:	15 Nov 1895 Ontario, Canada
Burial	:	Evergreen Cemetery, Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate	:	43.5131187, -79.8732758
Description	:	William was born in County of Arguentile Parrman, Quebec [Lower Canada] Also buried in this family plot is Brother - Socrates Center. ------------------------ Center Brothers In 1855, William and Socrates Center, brothers from Quebec, each bought 29½ acres of land on Lot 3, Con. 1, Esquesing (on the west side of Peru Road just north of the village). These were small farming lots and may not have been sufficient to feed William’s growing family (Socrates did not have a wife or children, but William had a wife and 5 children). This may have been the reason why the brothers diversified into other... Read More	William was born in County of Arguentile Parrman, Quebec [Lower Canada] Also buried in this family plot is Brother - Socrates Center. ------------------------ Center Brothers In 1855, William and Socrates Center, brothers from Quebec, each bought 29½ acres of land on Lot 3, Con. 1, Esquesing (on the west side of Peru Road just north of the village). These were small farming lots and may not have been sufficient to feed William’s growing family (Socrates did not have a wife or children, but William had a wife and 5 children). This may have been the reason why the brothers diversified into other industries. They ran an ashery that was used to produce charcoal, soap and potash. There would have been a plentiful supply of tree stumps in the area because of the steady clearing of trees to provide good farming land. In addition, William ran a tannery. By 1879, they had made sufficient money for William and his son Judah to buy 2 farming lots (50 and 48 acres each) on the east side of the village of Peru. It is after this, in 1881, that the original 1855 lots that the Center brothers owned were sold. Socrates did, however, retain a smaller 8 acre lot that was part of his original farming lot: This is where his house was situated and is likely to have been where his industrial business was located. The Center brothers’ businesses would have employed a number of people and would also have attracted people to the area to both deliver supplies and purchase their finished industrial goods. It is unclear when or why the brothers ceased their industrial operations. It may have been because of their age (they both died in the 1890’s when they were 69 and 78 years old), a reduced supply of tree stumps (due to local farms becoming well established and no longer needing clearing), or the opening of the railway in 1879. The Center brothers were important local businessmen and employers. Socrates, in particular, was a man of some local standing. He was a local magistrate and a Councillor in Milton during the 1860-1881 period. Socrates had a fine house built for himself just north of Peru in the 1870’s. This is now known as 94 Peru Road. The brothers also owned a number of other smaller houses in the village over the years. The heritage houses that exist at 42, 45 & 49 Peru Road may all have been built by members of the Center family for either their own use or the use of their employees. The importance of the Center brothers to the history of Peru is their contribution to the industrial character and development of the village. The village of Peru may not have existed without the industries developed by these brothers. What is unusual about Peru is the fact that it developed in this location in the first place. Historically, villages generally grow and develop because of their location at a prominent intersection that would benefit from passing trade. In contrast, the village of Peru was not located at an intersection of two roads, nor on a direct road to an established destination. It, therefore, did not grow service uses, such as a church, post office, hotel, blacksmith shop or a school, that are normally found in village communities. Its close proximity to Milton also meant that such service uses were within walking distance. While the sawmill may have initially attracted some people into this area in the early half of the nineteenth century, this use had ceased operations by the 1870’s. With few reasons for people to congregate here, there has to be another reason why Peru developed into a village. This must have been because there was an alternative source of employment in the area. This employment would have initially been provided by the Hill family sawmill, then the Center brothers at their soap, potash and tannery works and later by the local brick yards and quarries/lime kilns. The industrial heritage of the Peru village is, thus, the reason for its existence. Unlike Milton’s other old villages, this is a traditional industrial community, not a farming one, and this it makes it unique within Milton. The age and range of heritage houses within the village reflect the range and longevity of industry in the village. From: Esquesing Historical Society Newsletter – November 1995 --------------------------

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Center's memorial?
William Center's memorial is located at: Evergreen Cemetery, Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada.
When did William Center death?
William Center death on 15 Nov 1895 in Ontario, Canada
Where are the coordinates of the William Center's memorial?
Latitude: 43.5131187
Longitude: -79.8732758

Family Members:

Spouse

Charlotte Robertson Center

(1830 - 1889)

Children

Judah Center

(unknow - 1906)

Socrates Center

(unknow - 1855)

Ruth Ann Center

(unknow - 1859)

Agnes May Center Alexander

(1856 - 1916)

Erastus Hall Center

(1867 - 1933)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Evergreen Cemetery
Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5131187, -79.8732758

2. Bronte Pioneer Cemetery
Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5118840, -79.8923800

3. Bowes United Church Cemetery
Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.4948400, -79.8450700

4. Omagh Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.4948000, -79.8266400

5. Omagh Church of Christ Cemetery
Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5046690, -79.8147220

6. Mansewood United Presbyterian Cemetery
Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5497820, -79.9117390

7. Boston Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Halton Hills, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5538000, -79.9154000

8. Bloomfield Pioneer Cemetery
Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5538360, -79.8297180

9. Neilson Family Farm Cemetery
Halton Hills, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5731240, -79.8564860

10. Holy Family Catholic Cemetery
Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.4614040, -79.8215250

11. DeForest Pioneer Cemetery
Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.4574356, -79.9168701

12. Brownridge Family Cemetery
Halton Hills, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5782990, -79.8647790

13. Redhill Church Cemetery
Milton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5391655, -79.7866745

14. Campbell-Davidson Pioneer Cemetery
Burlington, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.4421700, -79.8695110

15. Hornby Wesleyan Methodist Cemetery
Halton Hills, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5783000, -79.8310000

16. Hornby Presbyterian Cemetery
Halton Hills, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5786500, -79.8305650

17. Saint George's Anglican Church Cemetery
Lowville, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.4486504, -79.9280624

18. Pickard Family Farm Cemetery
Halton, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5889367, -79.8377190

19. Saint Stephen's Anglican Cemetery
Halton Hills, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5871440, -79.8198800

20. Campbellville Burying Ground
Campbellville, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.4853363, -79.9819031

21. Saint Davids Church Cemetery
Campbellville, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.4895859, -79.9862671

22. Lowville United Church Cemetery
Lowville, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.4268800, -79.9006000

23. Colling Pioneer Cemetery
Burlington, Halton Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.4235200, -79.8922800

24. Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Cemetery
Mississauga, Peel Regional Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 43.5560300, -79.7623300