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KINSMANS
[History of the Village of Fonthill]
Two brothers, Avery and Danson Kinsman, came here from Nova Scotia in 1850. Avery, the elder, had a carriage shop, and a blacksmith shop on South Pelham Street, where in later years, James Misener, Frank Chappel, and still later Chris Schelter, carried on blacksmithing.
Avery Kinsman made wagons and buggies of all kinds to supply the countryside far and wide, before factory made vehicles were known. Mr Kinsman was a fine bass singer and figured prominently in musical activities of the early years. A mixed quartette composed of Avery Kinsman, bass; Edward Gore, tenor; Amanda Church, soprano, and Alice Church, alto, used to sing at concerts and garden parties for miles around, accompanied by Kate Gore later Mrs Dr. Emmett, on her melodeon, which they carried with them in a democrat wagon or sleigh, according to the season of the year.
Danson Kinsman also came from Nova Scotia via the same route mentioned by several of those early settlers, from Nova Scotia to New York, then down the Hudson River and Erie Canal on a canal boat drawn by mules. He started in the mercantile business in a building just west of where the Imperial Bank now stands, but in a short time moved to the Western States where he tried farming for a few years.
He and his family returned to Fonthill about 1862, when he again took up mercantile business, this time on the corner where Kinsman’s store now stands, where business had previously been carried on by Alfred Giles and Mr Swayze. Danson continued here until 1883 when his son Fred succeeded him: the building was remodelled in 1896, and Fred continued the business until 1925, when his son Ernest took it over, thus continuing the business through three generations of the same family. During the forty-two years Fred was merchant, the Post Office was in the store, the first Telephone Central was located there, also the Telegraph for many years.
The Kinsmans were strong Baptists. Danson, the head of the family, served as Superintendent of the Sunday School, also as Deacon for many years. His son Fred, following worthily in his father’s footsteps, was also a Deacon and served as Sunday School Superintendent for thirty years.
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