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Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Kent, Ontario
Joseph Hornal


JOSEPH HORNAL, commissioner of the County of Kent, resides on Lot 22, Concession 9, of Orford township, owning and operating a fine farm of 100 acres.  He came to his present place in 1890, from the old homestead across the road, and built his present brick dwelling in 1900, fitting it with all modern improvements, including a hot air heating system.

Mr. Hornal was born in Duart, Orford township, March 5, 1861, son of Robert and Margaret (Corson) Hornal, of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and grandson of Samuel and Mary (Henderson) Hornal, of the same county, where they passed all of their lives.  Samuel Hornal was a weaver by occupation.  William and Margaret (Dinkell) Corson, the maternal grandparents of Joseph Hornal, were also of Dumfriesshire; William Corson was a shepherd.  Robert Hornal was born April 20th, 1825, and died in April 1900, while his wife was born in February, 1830, and died in May, 1900:  they both are buied in the Duart cemetery. They died in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Hornal served long as an elder.  They were married in 1852, and came to Canada in 1853, living in Toronto for a year and thence coming to the County of Kent.  They lived at Duart for seven years and then moved to the old homestead in Orford township, where their son Robert now resides.  Children as follows were born to their union:  Margaret married James Fleming, a farmer of the County of Elgin; William is a farmer of the County of Elgin; Samuel is deceased; Mary married Andrew Allen, a farmer in County of Elgin; Joseph is mentioned below; John died young; Nellis married Rev. J. Barnett, and her twin brother, Robert, is a farmer on the old homestead; Sarah is a milliner in London.  In politics the father of this family was a Reformer, and he was township councilor for some years.

On January 20th, 1890, in Orford township, Joseph Harnal married Anna Lee, and one child, Shirlie, has come to them.  Mrs.Hornal was born in Orford township September 9th, 1866, a daughter of Thomas Lee, a pioneer farmer of that township.  Joseph Hornal remained with his parents until his marriage, when he located on his present farm, which is regarded as one of the best in the township, and which yields an excellent income.

A Liberal in politics, Mr. Hornal has taken a very active part in local affairs, serving for two years as a member of the township council; two years as deputy reeve; two years as reeve; and in January, 1900, was elected county commissioner.  For two years he served under the old county system, when he retired and was again elected.  He and his wife are consistent church members, Mr. Hornal belonging to the Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Hornal to the Methodist.  Throughout the community Mr. and Mrs. Hornal are highly esteemed, and socially and in their church work they are leaders by reason of their pleasing manners, courteous treatment of all, and their many sterling traits of character. 


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