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Lakeshore Advance, 2012-06-27, Page 25Renovations • Additions Homes • Decks • Siding Roofing These and others became pioneer farmers on land which they acquired from the Canada Company for prices ranging from two to three dollars for an acre. At such prices the farms were necessarily small. They cleared the land; built houses and barns; planted crops and tried to make a life. Life was hard and the farms were small so that they were still poor but they persevered. Surplus grain was carried to Francistown a distance of 14 miles to the mill there in the north end of Exeter. Mills in Seaforth and Goderich were eventually patronized as well. Food was often in short supply but the fish from the lake and wild fowl and game supplemented the food which was grown. These folks suvived on their own ingenuity and with the help of neighbouring farmers. The French community on these shores has survived for 165 years but did not expand in numbers very much because many had to leave for the neighbouring cities and towns of Michigan and Ontario cities as well. This French community makes up part of the ethnic settlement pattern that has characterized the south part of Huron County. Joining the French are German, Irish, Scots, English,and later Dutch and Belgian groups. Place names in Huron reflect this pattern, including one of the names of our area: French Settlement. Joe Wooden PHIL MASSE Sand, Gravel, Topsoil and General Trucking 519.236.4582 R.R. # 3 Zurich, ON NOM 2T0 Zen - Eaot JEFFREY BROTHERS LIMITED BUILDING, CONTRACTORS RESIDENTIAL -COMMERCIAL -AGRICULTURAL RENOVATIONS R.R.# 2, ZURICH ONT. NOM 2TO john Tel: 519-236-4441 Fax: 519-236-7183 11