ELGIN SETTLEMENT BEGINNINGS

Some residents of Chatham and Raleigh Township were unhappy about the impending settlement, wild rumours were circulated, and threats were made to the members of the Elgin Association - especially at Rev. King. Edwin Larwill, a local politician and tavern owner, led the opposition to the settlement. A petition was written voicing their arguments against the settlement, which was signed by 300 people, and sent to the Parliament and the Presbyterian Church. King faced his accusers on several occasions and even commanded their respect for his courage and conviction. Despite opposition and personal threats, King proceeded to have the land surveyed and split into 50-acre lots.

William travelled to Ohio and brought his former slaves as the core to the newly established Elgin Settlement. They reached the settlement on November 28, 1849 and were met by several families eager to become pioneers of this planned community.

King purchased 100 acres from William White in December 1849, as he himself did not qualify to purchase settlement lands, in the centre of Buxton. William preached Sunday worship services from his barn to both black and white, due to the existing animosity and began the process of breaking down racial prejudices. Rev. King was not bound by narrow sectarianism, as long as the settlers were able to hear the Gospels and read it for themselves, he was pleased. King himself organized the "raising bee" to build The First Baptist Church in Buxton.

King formed and trained 'cabin raising crews'; with twelve men and a team of oxen a cabin could be essentially built in a day (7 a.m. - 7 p.m.). The cabin crew consisted of two men cut logs, one man haul logs in, four men to cut corners and saddle logs down, and five men stay on the ground to put logs in place.

A large log structure was built to act as school and church, on Kings property due to threats of violence if a black school opened. The settlers organized "chopping bees" to clear the main road to church and schools. In April 1850, the Mission School (SS #7) opened and was taught by John Rennie, a Presbyterian Knox College graduate (University of Toronto). The first day of school ten black and two white children were enrolled. William began a night school for adults, black adults learned to read the Bible for themselves and many local whites joined to learn the classics or the rudimentary knowledge required to pass a teaching exam.

Northern sympathizers in Boston sent boxes of clothing for the settlers, which King distributed and refused future donations of this kind. The settlers wanted to show that they needed only "fair field and no favour".