Deseronto Archives

This description of Deseronto (or Mill Point, as it was then called) is taken from the Hastings County Directory, 1868-1869 which has been published online by Belleville Public Library.* At that time, the village had only been in existence as a settlement for twenty years. Of the 229 inhabitants listed in the directory, 192, more than 80%, worked for the Rathbun Company.

This enterprising Village is beautifully situated on the Bay of Quinté, at the north-eastern [sic] extremity of the County. It is seven miles from Napanee, eight from Shannonviile and seventeen from Belleville. Situated for the most part on a slope of ground, it commands a magnificent view of the Bay of Quinté, which at this point presents some of the finest views to be found on its waters. Stretching towards the south there is what is known as the “Long Reach,” a narrow part of the Bay, some miles long with high bluffs on either side; to the east the eye stretches far away up the Napanee River, which empties into the Bay not far from Mill Point; and to the west, looking up the Bay, there is a magnificent landscape, and as beautiful views as the eye could wish to rest upon.

Mill Point was first established during the season of 1849, by Thomes Y. Howe, Lewis E. Carpenter, and H. B. Rathbun, from Auburn, N. Y. At that time, there was but one building on the present site of the Village. The Mill was started in 1849, and it commenced sawing in 1850. During that year, the number of feet of lumber manufactured was probably half a million feet. Since that period, the capacity has gradually increased, last year’s returns showing over 13,000,000 feet of lumber manufactured besides 2,250,000 lath, 2,000,000 heading, and 750,000 shingles. The property some years since came wholly into the possession of H, B. Rathbun & Son, and evidences of their skill, enterprise and taste are everywhere visible, in the neat dwellings erected for themselves and their workmen, the ornamentation of their grounds and the general appearance of thrift and prosperity which are everywhere to be seen. The mill is a model of what a mill should be. It has about 250 saws, besides those in the manufacture of edging, butting, lath and heading. The saw logs used at the mill are chiefly brought down the Salmon and Moira Rivers, though a considerable portion comes down the Napanee and Trent Rivers. They are towed in rafts to the mill by steam tugs belonging to the firm. These logs are obtained at a distance of from 40 to 85 miles back. A large number of vessels are kept constantly employed in the transportation of lumber and supplies for their immense lumbering shanties, most of which are owned by the firm.

An extensive ship yard, is attached to the property, which during the last year or two has been greatly increased in capacity. Some of the largest and finest vessels that float on our lakes were built at Rathbun’s Ship Yard, and to give an idea of the extent of the business here we may mention that during the last season, not less than thirty vessels were on the ways. The yard has all the appurtenances for hauling out the largest ship that floats, and all the facilities for building and repairing vessels. In the extensive lumbering district owned by this firm, everything is obtainable for building a vessel from the keel up. The situation is excellent, and in the hands of such enterprising men as the Messrs. Rathbun, it is destined to become one of the largest ship yards in the Dominion.

The docks are well constructed, with a capacity of loading fifteen vessels at one time. A large quantity of grain is annually exported from this port. The population is about 800, the principal part of the adult male portion of which are employed by the Messrs. Rathbun. A number of new buildings have been erected during the past year, among which is a large frame Church, which is designed for the accommodation of different religious denominations, and there are other unmistakable signs that the place is going ahead.

Alexander, David, laborer with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Alexander, Samuel, laborer with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
All, Wm., laborer, with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Allor, Mitchel, laborer with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Anderson, George, ship carpenter with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Anderson James, ship carpenter with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Anderson, Obadiah, laborer with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Aylsworth, Peter, clerk with Rathbun & Son.
Aylsworth, W. R. Provincial Land Surveyor with H. B. Rathbun & Son.
Baggs, Thomas, captain with H. B. Rathbun & Son.
Bailey, John, ship carpenter with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Barry, Garrett, laborer with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Barry, Patrick, watchman with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Beat, Joseph, watchman with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Beat, Pascal, watchman with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Beaty, James, clerk shanty with H. B. Rathbun, & Son.
Beeman, Truman, deputy collector customs
Bennett, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Benson, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Benson, John B., foreman with Rathbun & Son.
Berry, John, sailor with Rathbun & Son.
Berry, Wm., grocer, with Rathbun & Son.
Blake, Robert, laborer, with Rathbun & Son.
Blake, Thomas, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Bloxon, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Bowes, Michael, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Bouchette, Eras, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Bowen, James, J. P., postmaster.
Bradbear, Joseph W., ship carpenter.
Brant, David J., teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Brerough, Jacob, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Brerougb, Michael, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Brerough, Robert, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Brisbin, Wm., waggon maker.
Brotherston, James, captain
Broulette, A., sawyer with Rathbun & Son.
Butler, Tobias, general manager of shanties.
Camfield, Patrick, ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Carscallen, Thomas, painter with Rathbun & Son.
Carter, Thomas, sen., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Carter, Thomas, jr., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Clarke, John, gardener with Rathbun & Son.
Clarke, S. B., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Clarke, Wm., shoemaker with Rathbun & Son.
Claus, John, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Claus, Michael, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Collins, W. H., gardener with Rathbun & Son.
Colp, Godfrey J., laborer, with Rathbun & Son.
Colp, Godfrey, sen., lumber piler with Rathbun & Son.
Colp, Jacob, farmer with Rathbun & Son.
Colp, Peter, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Conley, Robert, ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Culbertson, Alexander, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Culbertson, Archibald, yeoman.
Culbertson, Donald, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Davy, Leonard, carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Detlor, John, sen., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Donoughue, F. & C., general merchants
Donoghue, Timothy, foreman with Rathbun & Son.
Dorsey, Edward, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Dorsey, James, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Dorsey, Thomas, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Douglas, Joseph, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Downing, Wm., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Drewry, J. B., cashier with Rathbun & Son.
Driver, Edward, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Dryden, Charles, cattle buyer with Rathbun & Son.
Dryden, Thomas, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Edwards, John, ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Evans, Wm., ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Ewings, Wm., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Felson, David J., teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Felson, Hugh, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Finkle, George, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Finlayson, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Foote, John, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Fordham, A. H., yeoman.
Fordham, Gideon, yeoman.
Fretz, Edward, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Gault, John, mason with Rathbun & Son.
Gordonier, Lewis, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Gordonier, Robert, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Gossen, John, carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Gotono, Goby, engineer with Rathbun & Son.
Gracey, Edward, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Gracey, Ferris, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Gracey, Wm., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Graham, H. J.7 blacksmith with Rathbun & Son.
Graham, John, clerk at shanty with Rathbun & Son.
Grant, Edward, ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Grant, John, ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Grant, John, clerk with Rathbun & Son.
Grant, Peter, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Green, Alexander, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Green, Archibald, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Green, John laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Grooms, W. H., ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Hallet, Jeremiah, seaman
Ham, Charles, plasterer with Rathbun & Son.
Harburn, James, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Hatch, George, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Hatch, Patrick, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Hayes, Dennis, clerk shanty with Rathbun & Son.
Heath, Peter, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Herrington, J. W., mechanic with Rathbun & Son.
Horrigan, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Hull, Lyman, blacksmith.
Huott, Peter, clerk shanty with Rathbun & Son.
Hutehins, Eli, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Hymers, Adam, cook with Rathbun & Son.
Jacobs, Paul, sailor with Rathbun & Son.
Jamison, Hugh, ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Jamison, Wm., ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Jaques, Cassimere, shoemaker.
Jardreau, Baptiste, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Jardreau, Peter, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Johnson, Thomas, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Kelly, James, sailor with Rathbun & Son.
Kelly, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Keller, Adam, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Keller, Michael yeoman.
Kimerly, Adam, laborer with Rathbun & Son
Kimerly, Garrett, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Kimerly, Jacob, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Kimerly, Wm., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Larose, Joseph, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Larry, James, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Legrand, James, clerk shanty with Rathbun & Son.
Loft, Alexander, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Maracle, Abraham, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Maracle, Charles, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Maracle, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Maracle, Mrs. Sarah, widow.
Maracle, Seth, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Maracle, William, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Markle, Allan, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Markle, Jacob, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Markle, Robert, saw filer with Rathbun & Son.
Marigan, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Marseille, Alexander,laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Marseille, Alex., jun., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Marsh, Jacob, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Mattice, J. G., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Maize, Herman, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Maxwell, Alex., teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Monck, James, harnessmaker.
Morrison, D., telegraph operator.
Munns, E., ship carpenter, with Rathbun & Son.
Murphy, Timothy, foreman with Rathbun & Son.
McCaig, Duncan, engineer with Rathbun & Son.
McCready, John, clerk shanty with Rathbun & Son.
McCreary, Wm., millwright, with Rathbun & Son.
McCowan, D., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
McCowan, Patrick, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
McCollough, Hugh, captain Tug Jessie Abbey.
McGoTvan, Dennis, blacksmith.
McGrath, Philip, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
McGregor, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
McGregor, Matthew, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
McMahon, Wm., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Naylor, Mrs. widow.
Nodwell, Andrew, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Oliver, Andrew, carpenter.
Oliver, Cornelius, tavern keeper.
Parnham, Albert, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Parnham, Wm., sen., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Powless, David, yeoman.
Powless, Seth, yeoman.
Pile, Thomas G., accountant with Rathbun & Son.
Pullar, James, ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Quartz, Thomas, ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Rathbun, E. W., firm H. B. & Son, Mill Point.
RATHBUN, H. B. & SON, lumbermen, general merchants. &c
Rathbun, H. B., firm H. B. & Son.
Rayburn, Richard, clerk shanty with Rathbun & Son.
Redmond, Thomas, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Richardson, James, tailor with Rathbun & Son.
Rieter, H., laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Roach, John, teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Roach, Thomas, sawyer with Rathbun & Son.
Rogers, Francis, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Ryan, Wlliam, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Sager, Abraham, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Sager, Jacob, grocer.
Sager, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Scantlin, James, wood ranger with Rathbun & Son.
Scantlin, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Scott, Robert, farmer with Rathbun & Son.
Scrimshaw, Isaac, blacksmith.
Sharp, James, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Sherwood, H. B., superintendent with Rathbun & Son.
Simmons, Coon, blacksmith with Rathbun & Son.
Simon, Ferdinand, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Sova, Paul, laborer, with Rathbun & Son.
Stafford, Philip, carpenter.
Starling, John, waggonmaker,
St. Louis, Eli, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Steward, Mrs., tavern keeper.
Talent, James, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Tassier, Lewis, ship carpenter with Rathbun & Son.
Terryea, Edward, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Thomas, Patrick, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Tiesler, Frederick, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Trainor, Barney, boarding house keeper.
Trainor, Hugh, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Vanalstine, John R., sawfiler with Rathbun & Son.
Vanhorn, Charles, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Wager, Sylvester, carpenter.
Walker, Coon, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Walker, Robert A., teamster with Rathbun & Son.
Walker, W. H., blacksmith.
Welch, Edward, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Welch, John, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Welch, Lawrence, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Weldon, George R., hotel keeper.
Wells, G. H., saddler and harnessmaker.
Whitton, James, engineer with Rathbun & Son.
Williams, M. H., manager Rathbun’s store.
Wilson, Edward C., clerk shanty with Rathbun & Son.
Wilson, J. A., clerk with Rathbun & Son.
Wilson, R. S.
Woodcock, Alexander, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Woodcock, Marshall, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Woodcock, Mrs., tavern keeper.
Wrightman, John, blacksmith.
Yeomans, John, ship carpenter, with Rathbun & Son.
Yeomans, Wm., foreman ship yard keeper with Rathbun & Son.
Young, George, laborer with Rathbun & Son.
Young, John S., foreman lath mill with Rathbun & Son.
Youtoe, Lewis, laborer with Rathbun & Son.

*Belleville Public Library reference: R 929.3 DIR 1868-1869