Settler of township lots: Lots 5 & 6, Conc. 13 McClintock Twp

Location: map location is approximate within Lot 6, Conc. 13 on the west side of Oxtongue Lake south of Hwy 60.

Land acquisition: 1914 from Alexander Robertson for $700. Ontario Land Parcel Register - McClintock (Click here and go to Images 150 & 155).

Other Land:

• Gent's Island, Oxtongue Lake -1915 form The Crown. 1918 to Paul E Bishop (son); 1924 to J L Coles; 1954 to Mansfield Adams
• Lot 5, Conc. 12: 1934 1 acre from John Robertson. Ontario Land Parcel Register - McClintock (Click here and go to Image 72).

Dates of residency: 1914 - 1952

Interesting facts: From Blue Spruce Inn. Submitted by Joan Hayden, as quoted in Facts and Fables of Oxtongue Lake (2000), Blue Spruce Inn, Pg. 151:

These lots were originally homesteaded by Peter and Margaret Robertson, and their three sons, Alexander, John and Jim.  "For a few years Charles and Annie Bishop from Toronto would come up in the summers to board with the Robertsons. Charlie Bishop was Secretary-Treasurer of the T. Eaton Company, and Annie was sister-in-law to Timothy Eaton.  Finally in 1914 the Bishops bought the property for $700.00.  A very determined Annie had the buildings painted white - over solignum - no mean task.

In the early years of Bishop's ownership the trip from Toronto was very onerous, beginning with a train trip to Huntsville, proceeding by boat to the Portage Railway, by steamship to Dwight, and thence by cart over a very rough, rocky and sometimes corduroy road.  To travel thus, and then to come upon a well-kept lawn with ladies in long dresses and dangly earrings playing croquet, was quite unbelievable.  With the new improved road completed around 1933, car travel became possible, and the trip was much less difficult.  

Charlie Bishop thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors and landscaping, and had an obvious love of trees, planting many blue spruce and thousands of pines.  He cared little for indoor amenities, and the house was still without running water in the 1950s.  He employed a year-round caretaker who was rarely allowed to make repairs to the house, and was expected to devote all his time and energy to the gardens and trees.  Many trips from Toronto were difficult for Annie with the trunk and back seats of the car filled with sacks of manure.

Tom Parris well recalled guiding for Charlie Bishop, Jim Elliott (who succeeded Charlie as Secretary-Treasurer of Eaton's) and a third, whose name we don't know.  He often spoke of tramping the trails all day, coming back and getting dinner, and then having to play cards with these mathematicians.  He found it necessary to keep his high boots on during the game to absorb the kicks from Charlie when his playing was not appropriate.

In 1952, Charlie sold the property to his son, Paul Bishop, and two years later Paul sold to the Haydens family, who still own the property.

Read the whole story BLUE SPRUCE INN Submitted by Joan Hayden. Facts and Fables of Oxtongue Lake, 2000 pg. 151

Preceding landowner: Alexander Robertson 1913 From The Crown

Succeeding landowners: Parts of Lot 6, Conc. 13

• 1932 Paul Eldridge Bishop, his son
• 1954 Marion Olivia Bishop
• 1959 John Clifford & Joan Hayden
• 1961 William Swift & David Wainman, operating as Algonquin Outfitters. Read the story of ALGONQUIN OUTFITTERS. Source: Facts and Fables of Oxtongue Lake, 2000 pg. 150.

Link to Settlers of Algonquin Highlands family tree Charles Peter Bishop 1867-1959

Information source: Census of Canada, 1911; and Brethour, Marnie and Fran Gower.  Facts and Fables of Oxtongue Lake; 2000; pg. 151.

Images: Source: Facts and Fables of Oxtongue Lake, 2000 pg. 151