John Pliny Crysler, whose name is associated with the legislature and military history of Canada, was born on the 26th of February, 1801, on the farm on which the battle of “Crysler’s Farm” was fought, in 1813. His father was Col. John Crysler, a U. E. Loyalist, who came to Canada in 1781, being fifteen years of age, a drummer boy, or, as he used to call himself, a “sheep-skin fiddler;” was a farmer, merchant, and magistrate; had at an early day a patent deed for 6,000 acres of land in his chest, and was ” monarch” of nearly “all he surveyed” was, in short, a man of much note and great influence, and for sixteen years represented his county in parliament.
Our subject was a mere lad during the war of 1812-14, but well recollects the battle, the whole of which he witnessed, he aiding his father while it was in progress, in secreting treasure. He was Captain of a company which took part in the battle of the Windmill, in December, 1837; was a merchant during the early part of his life, and was also over forty years engaged in the square timber business of Canada.
He was appointed deputy-registrar of the county of Dundas, in 1823, and held that office until 1839; represented Dundas in Parliament from 1848 to 1852, and again from 1854 to 1857, a staunch Conservative in politics, and since 1867 has been registrar of that county, with his son, C. S. Crysler, a very competent young man, as his deputy, since 1869. He is a large property holder in the united counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, and is a prudent and successful business manager. The village of Crysler, Stormont county, where he has mills, took its name from him.
His wife, Mary Westley Crysler, died in 1864. He is a member of the Church of England, and is a man of sterling worth. He has always resided one mile from the battle ground, where he has a fine residence and handsome property.