Asa Danforth (29 June 1768 – c.1821) was a highway engineer and leading citizen of Onondaga County.
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Early years
Danforth was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts. to Asa Danforth Sr. (1746-1818) and Hannah Wheeler. His father was considered by John Graves Simcoe as an enemy of Great Britain, as he was an American Revolutionary War veteran. The Danforth family moved to Onondaga County in 1788. Danforth Jr. married Olive Langdon in 1789 and had three daughters. After his marriage, Danforth began a salt business in at Salt Point (later Salina) near Syracuse, New York.
Road builder
In 1797, he was contracted by the government of Upper Canada of Colonel John Graves Simcoe to clear a road from the outskirts of York (now Toronto) to the Bay of Quinte with work commencing in 1799. There is little information to prove Danforth was an engineer and the project was behind schedule. Angered by the problems, the province ended their contract with Danforth in 1800 and Danforth completed only part of the work. Work on the road continued without Danforth and was completed. The road was later named The Dundas Road (also Kingston Road) after a prominent British colonial official. Besides this road, Danforth was also responsible for the design on Lot Street (later as Queen Street). His activities in Upper Canada was on suspicion and claims of defrauding the province.
Departure and death
Danforth left Upper Canada around 1800 and returend in 1801 to demand repayment. Unsatisfied with his payment, however, Danforth left in 1802 never to return. Some reports have Danforth attempting to conspire to overthrow the British, but this never materialized. Danforth entered into the business of salt leases, but he was always in financial troubles. In debt, Danforth was on the run around 1811 and spotted in New York City. His last whereabouts are sketchy and he died around 1821.
Trivia
Danforth Road, Danforth Village and Danforth Avenue (built by the Danforth Plank Road Company in 1855), which is a major east-end thorougfare in Toronto are named for him.
See also
References
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.
- The Dan
- Asa Danforth
