Original research on the founding Families of Lanark County, settled 1820-1821 in New Lanark Upper Canada. These families information often not elsewhere available, led later emigrations to Bruce County and the then North-West Territories (Saskatchewan and Manitoba mostly) and were key to Canada's economic, agricultural and cultural development. Founding first libraries, bringing the first non-Church of England (presbyterian, Methodist, baptist) clergy and education, and establishing an marked level of literacy among pioneer families.