EARLY HISTORY OF SETTLERS. 15. 
Col. James Black, Postmaster. It was opened soon after the war 
of 1812. The mail was brought from Kingston to York, oncé a 
week, on mule-back, or when travelling was good, during winter, 
in a sleigh. Wm. McMullen was mail carrier. His mule, it is 
said, on good authority, died about twelve years ago in Markham. 
A Post Office was established at Darlington Mills, in 1829, the 
late Mr. Robert Fairbairn, then in charge of the Bowman busi- 
ness, being appointed Postmaster. His house was situated on the 
east bank of the millpond, where an old orchard may now be 
seen. This orchard he planted soon after his arrival in Darling- 
ton. The first mail that came to this place was opened by John 
Simpson, (the present Hon.) a young man, who was then clerk 
for Mr. Fairbairn. The mail was carried in an open wagon, with 
passengers, the passengers usually sittmmg in the wagon while the 
mail was changed, it being passed through an open window for 
that purpose. On one occasion, it is said, the mail came through 
without the ceremony of hzeving the windows opened, taking the 
glass and some of the sash along with it. I do not know the pre- 
cise time that this occurred, but the late Mr. Wm. Glover was 
then mail carrier. The first person who contracted to deliver the 
mails at Darlington Mills, was a Mr. Odgen, of Clarke. About 
this time, Mr. Simpson took the census of Darlington, which 
amounted to 118 persons ; only one house was then erected north 
of the main road. 
Mr. Fairbairn, after retiring from the Bowman business, was 
succeeded by Mr. John Lester, who conducted the affairs of the 
firm for five or six years, and then went into Business for himself, 
on the hill, west of the creek. : 
Mr. Geo. Smart next took charge of the Bowman Estate, and 
business, and about a year afterwards was accidently thrown from 
a horse and killed. After Mr. Smart’s death, Mr. John Simpson, 
then a young man eighteen years of age, took upon himself the re- 
sponsibility of transacting the business of the firm. The business 
of Bowman & Co., now extended in proportion to the increase 
of the population, and from the generous system adopted by them 
in their business relation towards farmers generally, but more 
especially to those, who, with limited means, had lately arrived to 
settle in the country. To such as these, the Co. extended an al- 
