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Halton's first sheriff was also a successful farmer Continued from page 28 29 · Friday, June 8, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com The original two-storey home once occupied a 200-acre lot purchased by Levi's parents, Hugh and Anna Willson on March 20, 1828. And, as Tomosky pointed out, that's an interesting piece of history in itself because the Willson family was forced to leave America after the American Revolution since they were United Empire Loyalists. Was it any wonder then that Levi Willson would go on to become the holder of the law as the County's first sheriff, added Tomosky. Levi's father, Hugh Willson was a Justice of the Peace for the Wentworth County Court, while his Uncle John was a politician, justice of the peace, judge and Speaker of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada. In 1828, Levi moved to the property and built the house. In 1830 Levi married Anna (Lewis, of the Lewis family in Saltfleet Township) and they built the addition to the front of the house in 1835. Just four years later, historical records show Anna died at 34 years old, leaving four young children. In 1841, Levi married the widow Mary Morris and they had five children. Levi was appointed the first Sheriff of Halton County in 1856, a year before the Milton jail (now part of the Old Town Hall) was constructed. He served as sheriff until he resigned in 1859. Tomosky's research found Levi was known in Halton County for being a very good and successful livestock farmer. Evidence of this is the fact that he won first prize for his cattle at the Milton Fair on October 12, 1864 and in a Halton County Provincial show June 18, 1862, according to The Milton Canadian Champion, The Oakville Beaver's sister paper in Milton. The house, the ruins of the cattle and sheep barns, the pig shed and the chicken coop have been designated by the Town of Milton under the Ontario Heritage Act because of the historical/ cultural heritage value and interest. It was the first house in Milton to be given heritage designation in August 7, 1984. Tomosky said she's grateful for the designation, and as a lover of all things historic, she has managed to make some incredible finds on the property -- dating much further back than the Willson prisoner cell days. hunt for deer, elk, caribou and other animals. They were able to take advantage of wild fruit and nut trees and berry bushes as well as growing their own vegetables before they moved to the longhouses at nearby Crawford Lake for the winter months. Tomosky said her mother Amelia, who died in 1988, also tended to a hen house with freerange chickens and had Muskovy ducks on the large spring-fed pond. The plentiful fresh chicken eggs, enormous duck eggs and duck meat kept her family well fed. "A single egg could be an omelet for the entire family," she laughed, adding she found a completely intact egg when she cleaned out the hen house last fall. Levi Willson died in 1879 and Tomosky said she hopes to ensure his memory and that of the home he raised his children in, isn't forgotten and remains a vibrant part of Milton's history. GRAHAM PAINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog The sheriff's stark, black-andwhite portrait, placed on the wall back in time: Karin Tomosky lives in a designated historical home once owned by the first sheriff of just inside the front door, is a Halton -- Levi Willson. Here, Tomosky in the front lobby of her home, with its ornate wooden trim, holds a reminder to her and to everyone of copy of an old photo of the sheriff. the home's significance. In fact, archeologists from the University of Western Ontario spent time at the property in 1981 and 1982. Tomosky's mother had located several arrowheads and tools as she toiled in the garden, where she produced marvelous flower and vegetable gardens in an extremely rich and fertile soil, according to Tomosky. Further study by the archeologists revealed the Neutrals, an aboriginal group called Attawandaron by the Hurons, which meant, "people whose speech is awry or a little different," lived on the property and fished in a hearty stream that runs through the rear of the property sometime during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Tomosky surmised they likely summered on the property, where they could fish for trout and cu.ft. 13 32" HD $ $ 368 LCD TV · 60Hz · 2HDMI #904765 BLU-RAY PLAYER LIMITED QUANTITIES FREE WITH THE PURCHASE OF THIS TV! 398 UPRIGHT FREEZER #054662