One of the pioneers of the township of Richmond, died, April 15^th, in his ninetieth year. In the passing away of Mr. Storr, one of the last links in the chain connecting the present generation with the pioneers of our county has been severed. Full of years, ripe in wisdom and beloved by all, he passed to his reward. Deceased was born at Selby, Yorkshire, England, in 1817, and spent his early years in that land. The village of Selby, where he died, was, when the post office was opened there, named after Mr. Storr’s native town. The Storr family, parents and four sons and a daughter, came to Canada in 1830. They first located in York county, then Toronto, later in Prince Edward County, and finally in the township of Richmond. Elijah and his parents found their way to the vicinity of Lime Lake in 1840 and settled on a new farm west of “Hog’s Back,” in view of where the village of Marlbank now stands. Most of that section was then a wilderness. The main road had been partly cleared through the woods as far back as Wheeler’s Mills, now Tamworth, but it was scarcely deserving the name of road. When Mr. Storr located there was a small tavern at Parks’ place, in the sixth concession of Richmond; the next was John Windover’s some distance back on Salmon river, which could only be crossed at Forest Mills. A man named Sedore kept a tavern at Davis’ Corners. The road was scarcely passable for horses and waggon at that time and the settlers had no horses, nothing but oxen and hand-made wooden sleds, which they used summer and winter.

There were no shops, or stores in the vicinity and everything in that line had to be brought from Napanee, which was a full day’s journey away, nor was there a post office any nearer.

Mr. Storr delighted to tell of the early experience and hardships which he and his neighbours were called upon to endure. The settlers, or but a very few of them, were for some years unable to raise enough grain on their clearings for their own bread, let alone any to sell. Some made potash, which was the only staple on which they could realize money. Notwithstanding all the privations and hardships these early settlers raised large and healthy families, who are now the bone and sinew of our county.

In the early days, wolves and bears were a constant dread and danger to the settlers. In many instances it was not safe for the men to be out during the night. Deceased informed the writer that the first night after his arrival, when he and his man had not been able as yet to provide a shelter for themselves, they cooked a supper of pork and as soon as the odor of this was scented by the wolves, it seemed as if the whole vicinity became alive with them and their howlings and barking were kept up for hours during the night. A bright fire kept burning all night kept the wolves away.

One of the hardships felt by the early settlers was the lack of religious services. In 1834, two Methodist preachers on the Napanee circuit were Revs. Robert Corson and William Hall. Their circuit extended from Adolphustown on the west to Camden East and up as far north as Wheeler’s Mills – Tamworth. Once when Mr. Corson was on his lonely horse-back ride from Wheeler’s South, he was met by Mr. Storr, who informed him of their needs at Lime Lake, where a few devout persons met for prayer and praise in one of the log houses. This resulted in Mr. Corson making an appointment to meet with them on his next trip, a year hence. Then the first class was inaugurated and the Methodist church in that section organized. For some time thereafter, the regular preachings were alternately at the residences of William and Elijah Storr.

A few years later, Mr. Storr exchanged his farm for one at Leinster, not far from Forest Mills. He married Miss Benson, of prince Edward, a sister of the late Mrs. John Gibbard, of Napanee. The them were born six children. After her decease he married Miss McBride, of Richmond, who with one daughter, Mrs. Angus McQuaig, survive him. Those living of the first family are William, David, John, of Richmond; Mrs. George Bradshaw, Napanee, and Mrs. J.S. Sexsmith, Glencoe, Ont.

Mr. Storr had a long and interesting municipal experience. For about twenty years he was a member of the Richmond township council and during the earlier years of that time Napanee constituted a part of the township. His contemporaries at that time were David Roblin, James Wilson, Amos Schermehorn, John Stevenson, George Davy, Gilbert Clapp, William Caton and George W. Madole, all of whom are deceased.

Mr. Storr was a member of the old united counties council, when Frontenac was a part of the municipality, and Kingston was the place of meeting. He was also, for nine years, a member of the Lennox and Addington county council and for one term filled the warden’s chair. He was for years an acting and active justice of the peace, when the prerogatives, duties and honors of a “squire” represented a good deal more than they do today.

A few years ago, Mr. Storr left his farm and retired to a home near Selby, where his declining years were spent with friends and he was able to be near his beloved church, which he had wrought so faithfully for and which he had lived to see reach the great proportions to which the Methodist church in Canada has now attained.