The Sorby
Line: A Very Fine Line |
The
pedigree of the Sorby family can be traced back to the reign of King Henry
VIII, and was derived from the town of Sowerby, Yorkshire. The late Walter Sorby was born in
Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, on August 7th 1804, and was there raised and
educated. On arriving at manhood’s
estate, he and his brother, Richard, entered into co-partnership and became
possessed of a colliery near Sheffield, which they ran successfully for some
years. In 1846, the late Walter Sorby
took a trip to the United States for the purpose of enjoying some recreation
from business, and whilst in Michigan, he met Mary S. Talbot, to whom he was
married in 1847. She was a descendent
of the English and Irish Talbot family.
In 1848, they returned to England and lived there for about ten years,
whereupon he sold out his interests in England and came to Canada, purchasing
the Puslinch farm in 1863. Here, he
lived until his death in 1890. The
late Walter Sorby was well educated and a man of refined taste, possessed of
means, and practically lived a retired life in Canada. He had the following issue: Walter D.,
Alfred T. (deceased), Harold, and Oswald. Son
Walter D. married Mary C. Howitt, daughter of the late Alfred Howitt. Their issue are Mary H. and Dorothy. He is retired and lives at his beautiful
home on the Waterloo Road in Guelph Township. He also owns an island in Muskoka, where he and his family
spend a portion of their time each year.
For some years before his retirement, he was connected with his
brother Oswald in the breeding of Clydesdale and Hackney horses. Son
Harold married Florence B. Bate and settled in the Canadian northwest. Son
Oswald married Agnes Evans, daughter of Smith Evans. Their issue are Gertrude, Walter, Phyllis,
and Muriel Talbot Sorby. Oswald
carries on the breeding of Clydesdale and Hackney horses on his farm in
Puslinch. Wellington County Historical Atlas 1906. |
Sorbys’
Fine Horses August 30th 1897. Messrs.
D. & O. Sorby are to make a large exhibit of their well-known horses at
Toronto and London this year, and today Mr. David Sallows is out at the farm
shoeing them. At the above shows they
will exhibit 14 horses. Among them
are their champion sweepstakes stallion, Grandeur, and a lot of choice
youngsters got by him, also the stylish young stallion, Lord Charming, bought
last winter from Colonel Robert Holloway of Alexis, Illinois, and several
fine mares. The exhibit of Hackneys
will include the prize-winner, Miss Baker, bought from the Hon. M. H.
Cochrane of Hillhurst, Quebec, and several youngsters. The Messrs. Sorby, as usual, will no doubt
carry off the majority of the honours in their classes. |
from the Guelph Mercury newspaper |
Douglas
Sorby Married September 15th 1898. On
Wednesday afternoon, at Wingfield Farm, the old Howitt homestead, near
Guelph, Mr. Douglas W. Sorby, of “The Woodlands”, the well-known horse
raiser, and Miss Howitt, the eldest daughter of the late Alfred Howitt, C.
E., were married. The bridesmaids
were Miss Maud Howitt and Miss Aggie Evans.
The bridegroom was assisted by Mr. Oswald Sorby and Mr. Fred
Anderson. The Rev. Prof. Wm. Howitt,
of Clarenceville Quebec, was the officiating clergyman, assisted by the Revs.
Mr. Terryberry and Mr. Henders. |
from the Guelph Mercury newspaper |
Sale of
Clyde Stallions December 25th 1902. Mr.
Oswald Sorby, of Woodlands, has sold to Messrs. Bean & Son of Ailsa Craig, the Clydesdale
stallion “Black Rod” (10509), a horse of strong individual merit in form and
action. Among his premium winnings in
Scotland was the third prize at the Highland Society show in Edinburgh in
1899. His foals are selling at higher
prices than have been got in the past seven or eight years. At the Western fair, London, last year, he
got the sweepstakes for the best Clydesdale horse on the grounds. Mr.
Sorby has also sold the Clydesdale stallion “Pedestrian” to Arthur Johnston
of Greenwood, the well-known Shorthorn importer. Pedestrian was sired by Black Rod and is a grandson of the
famous “Baron’s Pride”. Since being
imported, he won second prize at the western Fair, London, for two-year-old
stallion. |
from the Guelph Mercury newspaper |
Mr.
Sorby’s Clydes December 20th 1906. “An Exceptionally High Class Shipment Say Glasgow
Papers” Under
the heading “High Class Canadian Shipment”, “The Glasgow Farmer” of Glasgow
says, “Messrs. I. J. Turner, Calgary, Alberta, and Oswald Sorby, Guelph,
Ontario, sailed per the Donaldson liner Mavina for St. John, N.B., with an
exceptionally high class shipment of Clydesdale stallions and fillies. Of the Clydesdales, twenty-eight stallions
and fillies were bought in one deal from Messrs. A. & W. Montgomery,
Netherhall and Banks, Kirkcudbright.
During the past season, Mr. Turner won two of the Clydesdale Horse
Society’s gold medals at fairs in the Northwest, and he has the material for
repeating the performance in this shipment. There
are two horses in the shipment that are perhaps the best animals of their age
shipped this season. One, by Royal
Edward, is rising three years old, and another is a black colt of the same
age got by the noted Acme (10485), out of a mare by the Glasgow premium
horse, The Summit. Acme is now Mr.
Sorby’s stud horse. His thick, heavy
cart horse proportions will make him as big a favourite in Canada as he was
in this country, where he gained many district premiums, and was frequently
in the prize lists of the Highland and Agricultural Society shows. Another
very good colt is by the Dumfries premium horse Baron Romeo (11366). Rozelle
(10638), sire of the winning three year old at Peebles Highland Show this
year, is also represented by a half brother of the great young horse,
Dunnydeer. There
is a great colt by the unbeaten Everlasting out of a daughter of the $5,000
mare, Queen of the Roses. Other sires
represented are Prince Thomas (10262), Moncrieffe Marquis (9953), Rathillet
(11870), Pride of Blacon (10837), Argosy (11247), Drumflower (10537), Royal
Favourite (10630), Baron Lothian (12461), Enigma (10739), Lord Harry (11097),
Sir Harry (9411), Boreland Pride (10318), and finally, the champion breeding
horse of them all, Baron’s Pride (9122). Among
the fillies is a full sister to Pyrene, the champion mare of 1906. A Baron Romeo filly was second at New
Cumnock. Others by Baron Houdston,
King’s Crest, and Woodend Gartly, make up an exceptionally high-class lot of
fillies. Mr.
Turner has also a very promising prize filly, bred by Messrs. Walter and
Robert Scott, Boghead, Girvan, Ayrshire.
Altogether, this makes up one of the grandest shipments made during
this eventful year. Guelph Mercury newspaper. |
Stallions
for Service Clydesdale
Stallions Lord Charming (2284) King’s Seal (6733) Hackney
Stallions Warwick Model 304 Service fee to insure a foal, $15.00. These horses will stand at their own stables, Lot 7,
Concession 5, Puslinch Township. William Dugind, Manager. O. Sorby, Proprietor. |
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from the Guelph Mercury newspaper. |
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Big
Shipment of Horses Received October 26th 1910. Imported Clydesdales from the Old Country for Sorby
Bros. Of Puslinch Mr.
O. Sorby, the well-known horse breeder and importer of Puslinch Township
received a big shipment of 53 well-bred Clydesdale horses from Scotland this
morning. The animals were all
yearlings and mostly all stallions.
The total value of the shipment would be about $50,000, and they are
imported principally to be sold in the Canadian west. They will, however, be taken out to the Sorby
farm in Puslinch Township to be kept there for a time, and when in fine condition,
will be shipped west where there is great demand for good horses of this
kind. When
the horses are shipped west, they will likely be disposed of by Mr. Turner of
Calgary, who is a partner with Mr. Sorby in this particular deal. The
large shipment of fine animals was the object of much comment and a good deal
of admiration at the station where they were unloaded this morning. |
from the Guelph Mercury newspaper |
Valuable
Shipment of Horses October 27th 1910. One
of the finest shipments of horses ever imported into the Dominion of Canada
arrived at the C.P.R. Station, Guelph, at seven o’ clock on Wednesday
morning, consigned to Messrs. J. A. Turner of Calgary, Alberta, and O. Sorby
of Puslinch Township. The
consignment consisted of 63 horses, all of them Clydesdales of the finest
breeding that Scotland produces. They
are all stallions with the exception of eight, and arrived here in splendid
condition. Mr.
Sorby deserves a great deal of credit for the spirit that he has displayed in
assisting to build up such a fine horse stock as this country can now boast
of. He has been connected with the
importation of thoroughbred horses for the past 25 or 30 years and possesses
a splendid reputation among the horse dealers of the east and west for his
good judgement and fair dealing. The
horses were unloaded and taken out to Mr. Sorby’s farm where they will be
conditioned. The cost of the
consignment unloaded in Guelph after the payment of all expenses in
connection with the shipment and the value of the horses will be in the
neighbourhood of $60,000. |
from the Guelph Mercury newspaper |
Generous
Gift for Muskoka Consumptives October 22nd 1910. A
pleasant aftermath of the summer season at Muskoka is in evidence today in
the form of a cheque for $70 that has been contributed to the Muskoka Free
Hospital for Consumptives by the Methodist Church at Mortimer’s Point,
Muskoka. This church, being out of
debt, felt that it would like to help the needy consumptives in the Muskoka
Free Hospital for Consumptives, and through the action of the trustees,
supported by many visiting friends, a very delightful entertainment was held
at the forest home of the Sorby brothers of Guelph on Sky Island. Much sympathy and interest was expressed
in the work being done for the consumptives in Muskoka, and after the payment
of expenses, the sum of $70 was handed over to the Treasurer of the Hospital. The
night was a delightful one, and friends of the work were present from many
different parts of Muskoka. Much credit
is due to the trustees of the church for their generous action, and to Mrs.
Douglas Sorby, Mrs. Oswald Sorby, and other ladies who assisted. The church at Mortimer’s Point is in the
charge, during the summer season, of the Reverend C. O. Johnston, the
well-known pastor of Queen Street Methodist Church, Toronto. The trustees are James Fairhead, Oswald
Sorby, Douglas Sorby, Mr. Mackie of Buffalo, Mr. Howarth, Reverend Dr. Geo.
Armstrong, and Miss Annie Shaw of Toronto, and Principal Ferrier of the Mimico
Industrial School. Globe & Mail Newspaper |
Oswald
Sorby Farm Sold January 25th 1912. Famous Property Changes Hands – A Word About
Reciprocity Deal The
Oswald Sorby farm, which is partly in Puslinch and partly in Guelph Township,
and which contains 355 acres of some of the best land to be found in Ontario,
and which is known not only all over Canada but also in Great Britain, owing
to the reputation of Mr. O. Sorby as a horse exporter and breeder, has been
sold to Mr. Ralph Ballagh, who comes from near Port Huron, Michigan. The price paid was $30,000, which is
considered a fair sum, though the buildings on the farm are valuable ones, in
addition to the land. The
new purchaser formerly resided in Bruce County, leaving there some 35 or 40
years ago to farm in Michigan, where he has since resided, being known as one
of the best farmers in that state. He
desired to end his days on the land under the old flag, and with his family
will take up his residence here on the first of April. Mr.
O. Sorby will retire to the city, at least for a time, though he will spend
the summer in Muskoka, as usual. Mr.
Sorby gave as his reason for selling that he had found it practically
impossible to get domestic help and for this reason was giving up. He will sell his stock and effects in
March by public auction, these to include his famous Clydesdale brood mares. Real
estate men look for a considerable influx of American farmers to Ontario as
the land here is considerably less in price than in the United States, in some
places being only half as dear, while the price of farm produce is high. Mr. Sorby, when seen by the Mercury today,
stated that, in his opinion, if reciprocity had carried there would have been
a great influx of Americans, for the farmers there can sell their land for
twice as much as they can buy land, every bit as good, in Canada. |
from the Guelph Mercury newspaper |
Clearing
Auction Sale March 19th 1912. The
undersigned has received instructions from Oswald Sorby to sell by public
auction, on the premises, Lot 10, Concession 5, Township of Puslinch, two
miles from the end of the street car line on Waterloo Avenue, on Tuesday,
19th of March, at ten o’ clock sharp, the following: Horses:
Imported Clydesdale mare, __ years old, in foal to Lord Charming/ imported
Clydesdale mare, rising three years old, sire Silver Cup/registered
Clydesdale mare, ten years old, sire Lord Charming/ registered Clydesdale
mare, __ years old, sire Lord Charming/ registered Clydesdale mare, 4 years
old, sire Prince of London/ registered Clydesdale mare, 4 years old, in foal
to Lord Charming/ registered Clydesdale mare, rising three years old, sire
Moncrieffe Marquis/ registered Clydesdale mare, rising three years old, sire
Lord Charming/ registered Clydesdale mare, rising 1 year old, sire Lord
Charming/ registered Clydesdale mare, rising four years old, sire Prince of
London/ Clydesdale mare, not registered, 3 years old, sire Acme/ Imported
Hackney mare, 7 years old, in foal to Warwick model/ driving mare, sired by a
Hackney, perfectly quiet and suitable for a lady to drive/ Registered
Hackneys — 4 aged, registered brood mares, all in foal to a registered
Hackney stallion/ stallion, rising 4 years old/ 2 stallions, rising three
years old/ stallion rising two years old/ The above mares are all from
imported stock and are the dams of many prize winners in the United States
and Canada. The stallions are all
prize winners at Toronto, Ottawa, and Guelph. Pedigrees will be produced at the time of the sale. A catalogue
with full particulars of pedigree will be mailed upon application. Cattle — 13 cows in calf, or will have calves at
foot by sale day/ 13 head of young cattle/ registered Jersey bull, 2 years
old/ A number of cattle are fat and fit to kill. Pigs
— 11 pigs Poultry
— 100 hens Harness
— Set of double harness for show purposes, all nickel mounted, as good as
new/ set of brass mounted double harness, all English leather, nearly new/ 5
other sets of double harness/ single set carriage harness, silver mounted, as
good as new/ other sets of buggy harness. Implements
et cetera — Sawyer Massey traction engine in perfect repair and has not been
on the road at all/ Waterloo separator, with straw curriers, as good as new/
wagon with water tank on it/ rubber driving belt 8 inches wide, 120 feet
long/ 3 rubber belts, 35, 40, and 37 feet long, 6 inches wide/ mill rollers,
Goldie and McCullough make, size 24 inches by 8 inches, with elevator and
bagger mounted on low wheels, and with tongue to hitch to engine/ turning lathe
for wood with full set of chisels and tools, also emery wheel attached/ saw
table, Gourlay and MacGregor make, with 2 saws and countershaft/ Jardine iron
drilling machine with full set of bits/ Maple Leaf grinder, Brantford make/
straw cutter with 14-foot carriers, Massey-Harris make/ new cider press/
7-foot mower, Massey-Harris make/ 7-foot mower, McCormick make/ 5-foot mower,
Massey-Harris make/hay loader, Massey-Harris make/ side delivery rake,
Massey-Massey Harris make/ 12-foot sulky rake, Massey-Harris make/ 3-horse
broadcast drill and cultivator, Massey-Harris make/ press seed drill/ turnip
sower/ 2-horse broadcast drill and cultivator, Massey-Harris make/ low down
flat wagon/ 7-foot binder, with fore-truck and sheaf carrier, Massey-Carrier
make/ land roller/ horse cart for two horses/ horse cart for one horse and
harness for same/ 2 wagons wit boxes, Adams make/ 2 double-furrow riding
plows, Perrin make/ 3 Gowdy plows/ 2 Tolton centre draft plows/ double
mouldboard plow/ heavy set of harrows, 4 sections/ 2 bobsleighs, flat boxes/
bobsleighs with stock-rack/ light set of harrows, 4 sections/ 2 hay racks/ 2
turnip cutters and pulper/ stone-boat/ fanning mill/ 2 road scrapers/
platform scales/ cream separator, Mellotte No. 1/ galvanized feeding carts on
wheels/ feed cart with shafts/ open buggy/ top buggy/ 2-seated carriage,
rubber tyres/ road cart/ 2 cutters/ 2 buffalo robes/ circular saw for
cordwood/ No reserve, as the farm is
sold. Terms: $10 and under, cash/
over that amount, 12 months credit will be given on approved joint notes, 5
per cent off for cash Jas. McDonald, Auctioneer G. M. Crawley, Assistant |
from the Guelph Mercury newspaper |
Land for
Soldier Settlement February 8th 1923. An
important real estate transaction has recently been concluded by which, what
has been known for a great many years as the old Sorby farm, on the Waterloo
Road, passes into the hands of the Dominion Government for the purpose of
putting returned soldiers on the land.
This movement has been contemplated for some time past, and it has
been known in some circles that negotiations have been in progress for the
purchase of this property for several months. In addition to the Sorby farm, which was purchased a number of
years ago by Mr. Ballagh and which continued in his ownership until the
recent purchase, it is understood that options have been obtained on some 35
acres belonging to Mr. George McAllister, and which is situated on the
property adjoining the Sorby place, as well as a small section to the south
of it belonging to a gentleman at Hespeler.
There are some 329 acres in the Sorby or Ballagh farm, and it is
understood that the purchase price was close to $30,000. |
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from the Guelph Mercury newspaper |
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Major
Alice Sorby Receives Promotion June 24th 1944. Major
Alice Sorby, daughter-in-law of Mrs. O. Sorby of this city, has been promoted
to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, according to a recent announcement from
Canadian Military Headquarters in London. The
wife of Captain W. Sorby of the Royal Canadian Artillery, the two were
re-united in March of this year after three years separation, when Captain
Sorby was also posted to Canadian Military Headquarters. Lieut-Col. Sorby is the former Emma Alice
Higgins and taught at the Guelph Collegiate for a short time. A
graduate of the University of Toronto, Lieut-Col. Sorby enlisted in the
C.W.A.C. at the time of its inception in September 1941. She was given the rank of Junior
Commander, equivalent to captain. In
July 1942 she was promoted to the rank of major and proceeded overseas from
Winnipeg to make arrangements for the initial draft of C.W.A.C. in England. Since
her arrival overseas she has held a staff appointment at Canadian Military
Headquarters, first as Senior Officer, C.W.A.C., and then as Deputy Assistant
Adjutant General, C.W.A.C. Previous
to proceeding overseas, Col. Sorby held the appointment of C.W.A.C. Staff
Officer in Military District No. 10, with headquarters in Winnipeg. In
January 1944, the King awarded Col. Sorby the M.B.E., in the New Year’s
Honour List. Col.
Sorby’s promotion brings the total number of Lieutenant Colonels in the
C.W.A.C. to four, the other three being Lieut-Col. Isabel Cronyn of Toronto,
Lieut-Col. Joan Kennedy of Victoria, and Lieut-Col. Mary Dover of Calgary. Highest rank is held by Colonel Margaret
C. Eaton, who was recently appointed Director General of the Corps. |
from the Guelph Mercury newspaper |
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