New Ontario Colonization Association R. A. Burriss, Secretary

Description

Advertisment card, not a postcard. Text reads: Free Homes for a Million in New Ontario. House pictured. Back: caption: Free Homes for a Million in New Ontario. www.canadiangreatwarproject.com : Rufus Allan Burriss .....a Disciples of Christ minister...an office holder, promoter of colonization, and politician. In the 1890's he conceived a colonization scheme in northwestern Ontario and he was hired on commission as dominion immigration agent for "New Ontario" in 1898, moving his family from Bowmanville to Port Arthur. His job was to promote agricultural settlement in cooperation with the Ontario government and its crown land agents. Each settler was to receive 160 acres of free grant land. During his time spent advertising, lecturing, delivering pamphlets, circulars, and notebooks, writing the press, giving souvenir postcards, all with missionary zeal, it is estimated that he attracted 3 000 settlers to northwestern Ontario up until December of 1911 when he was dismissed from the job. The township of Burriss near Fort Frances is named after him. While in Port Arthur he served on council from 1913-1915, turning to real estate to support the family. By 1920 Rufus and Hester were managing a home for the aged in East Aurora, Erie, New York.