Pioneers of Blanshard, published in 1899, begins with 5 chapters on the history of Blanshard Township, Ontario then has 10 biographical sketches and concludes with a chapter on St Marys. The biographical sketches are shown here. The histories of Blanshard and St Marys are at:   Pioneers of Blanshard.

William Johnston's more complete history of St Marys is at:
St Marys Ontario in the 19th Century

William Johnston in his introduction to the biographical sketches in his later book 'History of Perth County 1825-1902' wrote:

"We rejoice in these sketches of our pioneers to place before the reader of today and those of a far distant future a portrayal of those characters who have left so great an impress on this county. To the present they may be entertaining, to posterity instructive. Imbued they were with a bold and robust individuality, typical of a large class of our early settlers. The work accomplished by these old veterans requires no special pleading to render their lives a subject of such import as to demand the exercise of literary merit far beyond the humble effort of at least one who has essayed the task of placing them on record. The lowly circumstances in which they were placed, to struggle with penury alone, far from home and friends, in a constant endeavour to attain success through honest and steady perseverance, never losing sight of true manhood, never without an aim and a determination to attain it, surely adds lustre to pioneer life. On these qualities true greatness must ever rest, and are worthy of emulation by every youth entering on his career to play a part in the great drama of life."