6) Moses Betts: Elected reeve for the Village of Welland in 1865, 1867 & 1870

Vital statistics

Birth: December 14, 1820 at New York State, USA

Death: April 21, 1873 at Flint, Michigan, USA (age 52)

Burial place: Fonthill Cemetery (Find a Grave)

Parents: Platt / Lydia

Spouse: Albina (née Seeley)

Children: Cornelia / Corrinne / Angeline / Margaret / Carrie / Charles / Harriet / George

Occupation(s): Lumber Merchant

Religion: Quaker

Political affiliation: Conservative

Community affiliations: Welland County Agricultural Society / Pastmaster at Merritt Masonic lodge

Profile

Moses Betts was born December 14, 1820 in Otswego County, New York, USA to Platt and Lydia Betts. Unfortunately little has been written about his family, but they must have moved to Canada by 1827 as that was when Moses’ sister Sarah was born (it was recorded she was born in Whitby, ON). Platt himself was recorded as being born in Canada on June 11, 1787, so the family had ties to Canada and must have had reasons to come back. As to when and why they moved to Canada, and how Moses ended up in Welland, it is currently hard to determine.

Along these lines, of all the biographies that will be written on the reeves and mayors of Welland, Moses Betts may be the most enigmatic of all. He passed away April 21, 1873 but no detailed obituary discussing his life and character has been found. No issues from the Welland Tribune for April of 1873 have survived, and for the Welland Telegraph we do have April 24, 1873 but it only contains the first two pages, neither containing his obituary. The same problem of missing newspapers that could contain an obituary also occurs for his wife Albina, who died in 1875, for if her obituary could be found it would have told us a lot of useful information. Additionally, looking through historical books on Welland, no biographical entry was devoted to Moses. This is somewhat strange as, among other accomplishments, he was reeve on three separate occasions, and in his day he was considered one of the “big men” of the village, meaning he owned lots of property and multiple businesses.

However, we can piece together the information that does exist to get a sense of the man and his interests. Currently we don’t know when Moses arrived in Welland, but by the 1850s he was one of the aforementioned “big men” of Welland. He owned a saw mill located around where Black Sheep Lounge is currently situated on Niagara St., also a grist mill and a general store located at 26 West Main St. He also owned other properties, and he lived at a house on the corner of Merritt and Niagara Streets. He also opened up one of the first subdivisions in the village.

In 1858 when Welland was incorporated as a village, he was one of the first five councillors elected. In fact he was elected as a councillor for each of the first six years, from 1858 to 1863. After that he was elected as reeve for 1865, 1867, and 1870. He obviously had an interest in public affairs and an ability to appeal to his electors.

His time as reeve in 1867 is notable for two reasons: he was reeve the year of Canada’s Confederation, and his election win was challenged by his opponent Andrew Gregory Hill. Hill’s argument was that Betts was not eligible to be elected reeve of the Village of Welland, as he was currently in the employ of the County of Welland. The fact was that Betts had been a surety, or bondsman, for the County Treasurer James McGlashan since July 24, 1865 and had not been released from this duty. His election as reeve for the Village of Welland in January of 1867 therefore became invalid and a second election was held March 26, 1867, again pitting Betts against Hill. On March 14 the County Council released Betts from his liability before the second election to ensure Betts would be eligible. Betts easily won the second election over Hill.

Andrew Gregory Hill would, however, be elected as reeve in the years 1869, 1871, 1872 & 1873 and he will be the subject of our next biography. There can be no doubt there was a bitter rivalry between Betts and Hill. The fact that he ran against him in the first place tells us they had different political viewpoints (Betts being right-leaning and Hill on the left), otherwise Betts would have been elected via acclamation.

There is also an interesting discussion in a December 3, 1870 edition of the St. Catharines paper The Times. By December of 1870 Moses Betts, while still reeve of Welland, had moved to Flint, Michigan. Unfortunately documentation on the reason for his move has not survived. But the article went as follows: “There was a caucus a few days ago at the office of the present Reeve, who, by the way, is now off to Michigan for good, at which the official party was ably represented by the Deputy Sheriff and the Deputy Clerk of the Crown… They concluded to publish the statement that if Hill was brought out, Betts, the present Reeve, although in Michigan, would oppose him. The deputies were well satisfied that this line of operations would have the effect of deterring Hill from accepting a nomination, in which case Mr. Betts would go in by acclamation; but if, notwithstanding this heavy threat, Mr. Hill’s friends would not be intimidated and a contest was imminent, then they agreed to come forward with a gushing show of noble self-sacrifice, and say that to avoid the unpleasant disturbance of a contest such as had occurred during the previous two years, it would be preferable to lay both Betts and Hill aside and take a new man – one not allied with either party… This is undoubtedly a nice little scheme, but it is too plain and undisguised.” Also from the same paper later on December 17, 1870 this was written: “There was one (court) case that excited a good deal of interest in our village, because it was supposed that the result would have some effect upon the coming municipal elections. It was in effect a searching criticism upon the conduct of the present Council, and particularly upon the Reeve of the municipality (Betts). The result, being against the Corporation, has not raised the conduct of some members of the Council in the estimation of the public, and has placed the Reeve in anything but a creditable position before the electors… it appears that all the costs incurred are mainly owing to his peculiar – to say the least of it – conduct in the discharge of his duties.”

It turns out Hill did run in 1871, but Betts did not run in opposition, as perhaps the electors had turned against him, as the quote above alluded to. Hill’s opponent was instead Abraham Hendershot whom he beat 93-84.

Again we don’t know the full particulars on why Moses Betts moved to Michigan while he was still reeve in 1870, but even his contemporaries described his conduct as peculiar, unfortunately not going into specifics. Betts sold his properties in Welland and moved to Flint, Michigan, and it was noted that he was not in the best of health when he left. He also moved to California perhaps around 1871, but when he died April 21, 1873 it was on a train returning to Flint. He and his family are all buried at the Fonthill Cemetery. An article from the Welland Tribune in 1923 says he died due to consumption (a lung infection), but his death certificate says he died of a liver complaint.

Also important to mention is Moses’ interest in agriculture and horses. As a man of means, he owned horses and entered them in contests, whether exhibitions or races. A particularly telling public challenge indicates he must have been a competitive man. A St. Catharines newspaper The Evening Journal has an ad paid by Moses that challenged a Thomas F. Ellis of Niagara Falls, the owner of the “Grantham Chief” racehorse, to race against Betts’ horse “St. Lawrence” under certain conditions: “Having said you would do so, we desire you either to put up or shut up.” Ellis replied with his own ad the next month: “I beg to say that I have no wish to match the horse St. Lawrence with my horse, Grantham Chief, in the manner proposed, and having never, to the best of my recollection, “said I would do so,” am at a loss how to account for the refined desire you express “either to put up or shut up.””

Moses and Albina had eight children together, but tragically Moses lived long enough to bury five of them: Cornelia, Corrinne, Angeline, Margaret, and Carrie. Only one of his children lived long enough to reach what we would consider old age: George who died at 85 years old in 1947. Moses himself only lived to 52, so their family experienced much grief and loss.

In 1962 the City of Welland renamed Home St., located between Thorold Rd. and Price Ave., to Betts St. in honour of Moses, which acts as a permanent reminder of the mark he made on Welland in its early days.

Sources

“At Welland.” The Evening Journal, December 30, 1869.
“Challenge.” The Evening Journal, October 29, 1868.
“The Contested Welland Reeveship.” The Evening Journal, June 1, 1867.
“Disqualification case brings to light interesting history.” The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, February 1, 1923.
“Municipal Elections Yesterday.” The Times, January 4, 1870.
“Our Municipal Elections.” The Times, December 3, 1870.
“That Challenge.” The Evening Journal, November 26, 1868.
“Court.” The Times, December 17, 1870.
“The Welland Reeveship.” The Evening Journal, March 1, 1867.