Ontario surveyor Alexander Niven (1836-1911) settled in Haliburton in the 1860's to work for the Canadian Land and Emigration Company as their surveyor. This company was responsible for the settlement of the townships which became the present-day Municipality of Dysart et al. Niven subsequently became the company's resident agent. On the side, Niven also sold property insurance to local residents. Visiting their homes, farms, and businesses, he sketched and measured their properties in his notebook in order to assess the risks. This notebook is one which he kept, beginning in 1875.
See also Niven's insurance notebook compiled under the auspices of the A.M.A.A. commencing in 1871, another Virtual Exhibit in this series.
