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Danson Kinsman
[Centennial August 27, 1967]
Danson Kinsman was born in the township of Cornwallis, Kings County, Nova Scotia on April 23, 1813. His parents were Benjamin Avery and Mary (English) Kinsman both natives of Nova Scotia. The father was a direct descendant of the English family of Kinsmans, who crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower.
Our subject received his education in his native province, and was married there on the 19th of Sept. 1839, to Elizabeth, a daughter of John and Abigail {Foster) Douglas.
In 1850, Mr. Kinsman, accompanied by his wife and 4 children, moved to this province and settled in Fonthill, where he engaged in mercantile business. He spent the remainder of his life there, with he exception of 4 years which he spent in the United States.
In 1864, he was appointed Postmaster at Fonthill, a position he held until his death.
His general store business was always conducted on an extensive scale, and his honour and uprightness together with his genial disposition, made him a popular man in the society in which he moved.
He was for many years a consistent member of the Baptist Church, was one of the pillars in the branch of that denomination in the Village that for so many years he made his home.
He was appointed a Justice of the Peace but always refused to take the oath of office.
Mr Kinsman had six children, five sons and one daughter. Fred, the youngest son succeeded his father in the mercantile business in Fonthill in 1884 and is the subject of our next sketch Fred Kinsman, merchant Fonthill was born on the 14th of Oct 1862 and was the youngest son of the forementioned Danson Kinsman. His father having been so long in business, our subject, had from his earliest days been associated with mercantile life.
He received a liberal education at Fonthill public school and Welland high school, and in addition to the business experience he acquired in his father’s store, had filled an engagement with a Toronto dry goods house, Mr Kinsman did an extensive business, always keeping large stocks of dry goods, groceries, boots, and shoes, hardware etc
Avery B. Kinsman Esq. was born in the village of Horton,Kings county Nova Scotia, on the 14th day of February 1824.
His parents, Avery B. & Mary (English) Kinsman, came to Canada about 1784 and settled in Nova Scotia; they were U.E. Loyalists, of English descent.
He attended the public schools of Horton, and afterwards the Acadia College of the same place.
He learned carriage building at an early age. He was in Australia from 1851 to 1858..
Returning to America , he spent the next three years in New York State, then coming to the county of Welland, he started a carriage building trade in Fonthill which he carried on very successfully for twenty years.
He was a member of the A.F. & A.M. society since 1863. He was also on the school board for various periods.
He was married first in 1849 to Ann Maria daughter of Isaac Whitman, a native of Nova Scotia. He had 4 children, two sons and 2 daughters. Albert W. & Ada M. born in Fonthill, Frank B., born in New York State and Flora born in Fonthill.
His first wife died in 1875, and he remarried, his second wife being Mrs. Jonathan Randall.
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