Samuel Strickland came to Canada in 1825. He first spent time in Newcastle District and then later cleared some property for a farm in Otonabee Township. He later sold his farm and purchased land in Douro and there he began clearing land at the present site of Lakefield. He was active in church, military and town life. In 1847 he became a Major and in 1851 he was the Reeve of Douro for three years. He also became a Justice of the Peace. During the years of 1828-1831 he worked for John Galt in the Canada Company. In his later years Samuel established an agriculture school for young men and boys interested in pioneer farming. Around the same time that Samuel moved to Douro his sisters Catharine Parr Traill and Susanna Moodie arrived in the area. His sister Agnes edited a book "Twenty-Seven Years in Canada West" which was based on Samuel's writings. H. Stickland was born in 1870 in Peterborough to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Strickland. He married a Miss Hall. He gained fame on his 5 hour and 15 minute swim from the Lakefield locks on the Trent Canal to the Peterborough Lift Locks in 1905.