Paris in Brant in Brant County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

“King” Capron 1796-1872

Photographed By Tim Boyd, May 10, 2023

1. “King” Capron 1796-1872 Marker

Inscription.
This house was built in 1831 by Hiram Capron, a native of Vermont who, in 1822, had emigrated to Norfolk County where he helped to establish one of Upper Canada's earliest iron foundries. He settled here at the Forks of the Grand in 1829, divided part of his land into town lots, and in 1830 constructed a grist-mill. The following year he renamed the community "Paris”. In 1842 with other partners he purchased the nearby gypsum deposits which he built into the village's primary industry. His leadership in founding and developing the town earned him the nickname King.

Erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

Erected by Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Foundation series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1831.

Location. 43° 12.048′ N, 80° 23.013′ W. Marker is in Brant, Ontario, in Brant County. It is in Paris. Marker is at the intersection of Homestead Road and Hiram Road, on the right when traveling east on Homestead Road. The marker is 100 metres east of Grand River

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Street North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8 Homestead Road, Brant ON N3L 1P4, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Hiram Capron (a few steps from this marker); Syl Apps (1915-1998) (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Alexander Graham Bell (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); The Asa Wolverton House (approx. 1.1 kilometers away); Paris Plains Church (approx. 4.1 kilometers away); William Charles Good (approx. 7.6 kilometers away); Centennial of Confederation (approx. 8 kilometers away); Adelaide Hunter Hoodless (approx. 8.1 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brant.

Also see . . . OurOntario: Hiram Capron’s Life. From the County of Brant Public Library digital collection.

As Capron dug his roots into Paris, he began to take actions to help develop the land from a set of mills and businesses into a proper village. He focused his energies on changes which would help settlers to reach Paris, and to provide them with the amenities they needed to live out their lives there. One of his first projects was the development of Governor’s Road, the Paris section of Dundas Street, which was at the time the only road which led into and out of Paris. By expanding it and improving its quality, he
Photographed By Tim Boyd, May 10, 2023

2. “King” Capron 1796-1872 Marker
Capron’s house is in the background.
was able to make it passable and allow traders and, perhaps more importantly, settlers to reach Paris

(Submitted on May 12, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Portrait of Hiram “King” Capron by Robert Whale, ca 1852 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Robert Whale, 1852

3. Portrait of Hiram “King” Capron by Robert Whale, ca 1852

Source: Paris Museum and Historical Society

Plan of the Town of Paris, 1847 image. Click for full size.

May 12, 2023

4. Plan of the Town of Paris, 1847

Earliest existing survey of the Town.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 61 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 12, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.