Ephraim Tisdale

The ancestors of Mr. Ephraim Tisdale were of Scotch origin, and his great grandfather settled in the then British Colony of Massachusetts in the early part of the last century, and it was in that Colony that the brothers, Ephraim (father of Mr. Ephraim Tisdale, of "Oak Hill"), Joseph, Lot, and William Tisdale born.  Their descendants are now scattered over the Counties of Norfolk and Brant.  The four brothers, on the breaking out of the American Revolutionary War, at once and unanimously chose the cause of loyalty and fought under the royal standard until the close of the war and the recognition of the independence of the revolted Colonies.  They then left the country which they could no longer regard as their own, and settled first in New Brunswick, from whence they afterwards removed to Upper Canada and settled in the Long Point Country.

Ephraim settled in Charlotteville, where, in 1801, the subject of this sketch, Mr. Ephraim Tisdale, of "Oak Hill," was born.  He was educated at the District School, taught by the late Judge Mitchell, and where he received a fair education for those days.

Before he was fourteen years of age he took part in the war of 1812-15, not, however, being regularly enlisted.

A party of American militia, about 150 strong, landed at Finch's Mills, at the place since known as Cross & Fisher's, for the purpose of plundering the settlers and burning their buildings.  Having burned Finch's Mill, they were proceeding to Turkey Point to destroy the District Court House, which was then standing on the bank near where the road now leads down Turkey Point Hill. On their march they were attacked when near Normandale by a small party of twenty-eight irregular volunteers armed with fowling pieces and rifles, and were driven back to their boats.  The volunteers, one of whom was Mr. Tisdale, ran through the woods to the bank of the lake to cut off their retreat; although too late, they fired on the enemy while embarking, and killed an officer and some men.  When the enemy reached their vessels they got under weigh for Turkey Point; but when about 200 yards from the shore, they discovered the red coats of a party of troops which had just arrived to re-inforce the volunteers, and probably thinking thinking discretion the better part of valor, they stood away for the end of Long Point and were seen no more.

In the Rebellion of 1837 Mr. Tisdale served for two years as Sergeant of a troop of Cavalry, commanded by the late Judge Wilson, of Simcoe, and during that period was at the Niagara frontier when the Steamer "Caroline" was cut out and burned.  He has always refused to state positively whether or not he took any part in that exploit, but admits that he was present when the party embarked for Navy Island.

Mr. Tisdale has been a member of the Municipal Council of the Township of Charlotteville, and has been a Justice of the Peace for the last twenty years.  Since 1837 he has been a Commissioned Officer in the Militia, and now holds a Captain's commission.

In 1820 he bought the farm which he still owns at "Oak Hill."  He has been married twice--first in 1821 to Mary Munro, by whom he had three sons.  In 1829 he married Hannah Price, a daughter of the last Thomas Price, a veteran of 1812, and has had eight children by his second marriage, of whom five are living.  Three of his sons are successful professional men-- Rev. W. L. Tisdale, Presiding Elder of the Episcopal Methodist Church at Potsdam, N.Y.; Thomas Tisdale, M.D. (who has lately removed from Elmyra, N.Y., where he had a large and lucrative practice, to California), and David Tisdale, Q.C., of Simcoe, who is well known as one of the most prominent members of the legal profession in Western Ontario.  Two of his sons are farmers, and one is a commercial traveller.  This brief sketch would be incomplete without a passing tribute to the worth of Mr. Tisdale's estimable wife.  The practical good sense she has displayed in the training and education of her sons will be remembered by them throughout life with gratitude, and the unostentations and unselfish kindness she has exercised toward all with whom she has come in contact, has won for her the respect and love of an unusually large circle of acquaintances.  The wish that she may long be spared to her family and friends will find an echo in the hearts of hundreds of our readers.