Crysler

Crysler is named after Col. John Crysler, renowned for his leadership during the battle of Crysler Farm in November 1813.  History tells us that the Crysler family came from the Palatinate in Germany.  They were of the Lutheran religion and because of this were driven out of Germany by Louis XIV.  Some members of the family went to Holland and then to England.  Others went directly to the United States.  John Crysler’s father settled in the Scoharie Valley in the colony of New York.  In 1775, a skirmish of the Revolutionary War took place on that particular farm.  At the age of twelve, John Crysler joined Butler’s Rangers and became a drummer boy.  During the American Revolution, many of these Lutherans, desiring to show their allegiance to the German-speaking King George III of England, moved to the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in 1776.  And so John Crysler emigrated to Canada at the age of sixteen and went into business.  He became wealthy by operating lumbering, milling and merchandising enterprises.  He also became a large landowner, owning more than sixty thousand acres along the St. Lawrence River and further north.  In Williamsburg Township he owned the land where the battle of Crysler’s Farm was fought.  He also owned the land in the Township of Finch in Stormont County, where the village of Crysler is now situated.  The common factor which joins these two entities is the land owned by Col. John Crysler.

In 1808, John Crysler succeeded in becoming an elected representative for the County of Dundas on the fifth Parliament of Upper Canada and served until 1824.  He was also a Colonel in the militia, and a very prominent person in the community.  He donated land in Crysler for the erection of three churches: the Roman Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church and the Anglican Church.  he was a very active and generous member of the Anglican congregation.  He chose to live his final years in Crysler and is buried in the Anglican cemetery in that village.  His tombstone bears the dates 1768-1852.  In 1987, a historic site marker was erected by Finch Township Council to honour his contribution to his country.  Lorna Armstrong of Crysler was instrumental in the erection of this plaque.  One of the last remaining members of the Crysler family was Kate Crysler and she died in 1946 in Ottawa.  At the time of her death, Kate still owned a house in Crysler; Built in 1903, it was a large impressive brick structure.  Lindsay Crysler and his sister Mrs. Fred O’Connor died shortly after Kate.  Land originally owned by Col. John Crysler was purchased by farmers in the area.

16 3rd Street
Crysler, ON
K0A 1R0
Phone: (613) 987-2877
Web: cryslercommunitycenter.ca

Deputy Chief: Kevin Lapp
18 Second Street
Crysler, ON

For emergencies call 911
For non-emergency information, call 613-984-2821 (x257)

SDG Police Services
Main Detachment
4 Mille Roches Road
Long Sault, ON
K0C 1P0

Phone: (613) 534-2223
Fax: (613) 534 – 2486

Emergency: 911