Hiram Capron
Encyclopedia
Hiram Capron was the founder of the town of Paris
in Ontario
, Canada
, which was incorporated in 1849. An immigrant from the United States, he purchased large plots of land by the Grand River
and Nith River which he settled and developed.
in 1796 to a family of farmers. Upon reaching adulthood, he briefly worked at an instructor at a ladies' academy before moving to New York to work for an iron-founder named Theophilus Short. Short owned a number of iron blast furnaces
in the area of Shortsville, and he employed Capron as a bookkeeper. Some time later, about 1821, Capron began investigating establishing his own blast furnace and, with a few business associates, he purchased a plot of land in Norfolk County
by Lake Erie
and erected a new blast furnace in 1822. By 1823 the furnace was operational and Capron was traveling the province selling ironware. At this time he revoked his American citizenship in order to swear an oath to the crown of England.
In 1823, Capron passed through the area then known as The Forks of the Grand River where he met a man named William Holme. At this time, most of the land which now makes up Paris belonged to Holme; the region was mostly undeveloped, but included a small plaster mill which likely indicated to Capron the area's economic value. While the two men conducted no business on this occasion, Capron was eventually able to buy the land from Holme and in 1829 prepared to move to his new home.
highway, in order to permit trade and further enhance the growth of the village. When the village had grown enough to sustain industry, Capron began developing his land along the Nith and Grand Rivers into raceways
to supply water power, which would eventually form the basis of the town's manufacturing industry.
as a village in 1849, with a population of 1000, and its formal political structure was established at the beginning of 1850. As the head of the founding members, Capron was elected the first reeve, and would serve another term in 1854; he also served a number of early terms as a councillor. However, he did not pursue a career in politics and spent the rest of his life farming, and managing the land and water-ways that he owned and rented.
He died in Paris on September 10, 1872, after a period of ill health.
Paris, Ontario
Paris, Ontario is a community on the Grand River in Ontario, Canada. The town was established in 1850. In 1999, its town government was amalgamated into that of the County of Brant, Ontario, thus ending about 149 years as a separate incorporated municipality.-History:The town was first settled in...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, which was incorporated in 1849. An immigrant from the United States, he purchased large plots of land by the Grand River
Grand River (Ontario)
The Grand River is a large river in southwestern Ontario, Canada. From its source, it flows south through Grand Valley, Fergus, Elora, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford, Caledonia, and Cayuga before emptying into the north shore of Lake Erie south of Dunnville at Port Maitland...
and Nith River which he settled and developed.
Early life
Capron was born and raised in the town of Leicester, VermontLeicester, Vermont
Leicester is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 974 at the 2000 census.Satans Kingdom is an unincorporated community located in Leicester.-Geography:...
in 1796 to a family of farmers. Upon reaching adulthood, he briefly worked at an instructor at a ladies' academy before moving to New York to work for an iron-founder named Theophilus Short. Short owned a number of iron blast furnaces
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
in the area of Shortsville, and he employed Capron as a bookkeeper. Some time later, about 1821, Capron began investigating establishing his own blast furnace and, with a few business associates, he purchased a plot of land in Norfolk County
Norfolk County
Norfolk County may refer to one of several counties:*Norfolk, a county in England*Norfolk County, Massachusetts*Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada*Norfolk County, Virginia,...
by Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
and erected a new blast furnace in 1822. By 1823 the furnace was operational and Capron was traveling the province selling ironware. At this time he revoked his American citizenship in order to swear an oath to the crown of England.
In 1823, Capron passed through the area then known as The Forks of the Grand River where he met a man named William Holme. At this time, most of the land which now makes up Paris belonged to Holme; the region was mostly undeveloped, but included a small plaster mill which likely indicated to Capron the area's economic value. While the two men conducted no business on this occasion, Capron was eventually able to buy the land from Holme and in 1829 prepared to move to his new home.
Paris
Once he had moved to the Forks of the Grand River, Capron set about clearing the land and dividing it into lots. He began leasing it to settlers in order to encourage the growth of a community. He also undertook the development of Governor's Road, the Paris branch of the Dundas StreetDundas Street (Toronto)
Dundas Street, also known as Highway 5 west of Toronto, is a major arterial road connecting the centre of that city with its western suburbs and southwestern Ontario beyond...
highway, in order to permit trade and further enhance the growth of the village. When the village had grown enough to sustain industry, Capron began developing his land along the Nith and Grand Rivers into raceways
Mill race
A mill race, raceway or mill lade is the current or channel of a stream, especially one for conducting water to or from a water wheel or other device for utilizing its energy...
to supply water power, which would eventually form the basis of the town's manufacturing industry.
Incorporation and later life
Paris was officially incorporatedMunicipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
as a village in 1849, with a population of 1000, and its formal political structure was established at the beginning of 1850. As the head of the founding members, Capron was elected the first reeve, and would serve another term in 1854; he also served a number of early terms as a councillor. However, he did not pursue a career in politics and spent the rest of his life farming, and managing the land and water-ways that he owned and rented.
He died in Paris on September 10, 1872, after a period of ill health.