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- Peter Culver
(as written by Mrs. Hilliard Culver) 1978
Peter Culver was born in 1785 in Massachusetts where he obtained a fair English education. In 1805 he enlisted in the American Army in which he served until 1815 when he was discharged. He fought with the Americans in the War of 1812-14. At the Battle of Queenston Heights in 1812 he was taken prisoner of war by the British, and was conveyed to Kingston and Montreal. From there he was taken to Boston and released on parole. Upon being discharged from the American Army he was offered a pension with several years' accumulations, amounting to several hundred dollars. However, coupled with the offer was a condition that he should take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States government. He flatly declined to accept the money on those terms. Sixty-four years later the restriction was removed and at the age of ninety-four he received his entire pension. The American Government refused to give him land on his discharge, as he was led to believe they would when he enlisted. This so incensed him that he immediately forsook his allegiance to the American Government. He came to Canada and became a steadfast and loyal subject of the Crown of Great Britain.
He first settled on a small lot in Walpole, but after a short residence there, he bought land in Rainham Township on Concession 1, Lot 14, where he spent the remainder of his long life. In 1817 he married Sarah Miller, whose father was the ancestor of the Millers of Rainham. Ten children were born to them. His son Guye remained with him on the home farm.
When Mr. Culver settled in Rainham in 1816, the nearest Post Office was Niagara. The only other settlers in the township were the Hoovers, with property in Concession 1, Benjamin Stewart, Mr. Shank, a Mennonite minister, Jacob Fite, below Miller's Point, and Richard Sprangle. There were no settlers between these and Port Maitland. The whole country, before it was improved, was wet and swampy, which discouraged early settlers from locating in the interior as they couldn't get out for necessary supplies until roads were hewn out. A small water-powered grist and sawmill had been built on Stoney Creek (Selkirk Creek) in 1802, by Chris Hoover. Also in Selkirk in 1834, David Evans opened the first store between Port Dover and Dunnville.
He was active in many civic affairs being the Commissioner of the Court of Requests, an office dissolved after the County Judges were appointed. He was for many years a member of the Rainham Township Council.
Peter Culver lived to the ripe old age of 95. He led a busy and useful life, possessing good health and a cheerful and amicable disposition up to the end. A marble stone in the Baptist Cemetery at Rainham Centre marks the spot where he was buried.
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Rainham Builders
1784 - 1880 (96 years)