The subject of this brief sketch is a grandson of Samuel Canfield, senior, a United Empire loyalist, who resided in Connecticut at the time of the American Revolution, and who subsequently moved into the Mohawk valley. New York, and thence into the Genesee valley, same State, settling in the township of East Oxford, County of Oxford, Upper Canada in 1794; and son of Samuel Canfield, junior, who was born in Connecticut, and accompanied his father to this part of Canada. The mother of David was Catherine Lick. He was born in East Oxford, at the old homestead, November 12, 1806, the family moving to West Oxford near Ingersoll in 1811. Prior to his majority he obtained such an education as could be had in the log school houses of Oxford County sixty years ago; then attended a private school a few terms, and farmed steadily until forty-five years of age. He still owns his farm, most of which is in the corporation of Ingersoll. While engaged in agricultural pursuits he served in the township council, and was Clerk of the township, and has since been in the town council. When the Rebellion broke out near the close of 1837, he enlisted as a private; was appointed Lieutenant the next year, and Captain a year or two later, holding the latter commission until the change in the militia laws, several years ago.
Mr. Canfield has held the office of Clerk of the Division Court, since 1847, and that of Magistrate a longer period, and is active and efficient, though in his seventy-fourth year. There is no truer, more reliable business man in Ingersoll.
Mr. Canfield has long been a member of the Church of England, and has held the office of warden of St. James’ Church for many years. He has evidently not only found “honesty the best policy,” but has practiced it without any reference to “policy,” which should in all cases be commended. There is satisfaction in doing right, as every honest man finds Mr. Canfield among the number.
He was first married in 1834, to Miss Maria R. Dorchester, of Ingersoll, she dying in 1846, leaving one son, James Canfield, who is Clerk of the County Court of Oxford, residing at Woodstock. In 1851 he married Miss Susan Grannis, of London, Ontario, and by her has had two sons and one daughter, the latter being dead. George S. the elder son, is clerk in a bank at Simcoe, and Frederick D. the younger, is a medical student with Drs. Hoyt and Williams, Ingersoll.