HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-03-29, Page 17•
Second section - March 29, 1995
The May family farm the oldest in Osborne Township
This is the first of a series
of articles which will appear
periodically listing the oldest
Century farm in each of the
townships in the areas sur-
rounding Exeter.
By Ross Haugh
T -A staff
William May and family ar-
rived in Canada from Exeter,
England, (Devonshire area)
about June 10,1832 after thir-
teen weeks in a boat crossing
the Atlantic Ocean.
They travelled to the Lon-
don area where there were
only a few log buildings, then
travelled on to this area,
which was also known as
Devonshire. Settlers were
few and far between. Their
nearest neighbours were a
settlement of Indians and
wild animals.
William May cleared the
land, and built a log cabin in
1833 on the south half of Lot
8, Concession 1 of Usborne
township, on what eventually
became Highway 4, about a
mile north of the Crediton
Road.
The farm consisted of 100
acres. The terms of purchase
were to include eight years of
homesteading as proof of
farming and then the land
was purchased from the Can-
ada Land
Company
for $250.
The first
log barn
was built
behind
the house. The present house,
of white brick, was built in
1862 by Thomas May.
William May had
installed in 1920.
Alma May married Melvin
Southcott who later became
owner and publisher of the
Exeter Times Advocate and
son Hedley
bought the farm
in 1929, and lived
there until 1988.
An apple orchard
was planted in
1930, hen house
was built in 1940 and a bath-
room was installed in the
house in 1966.
In the late 1930's, just be-
fore Christmas fire destroyed
the winter kitchen and the
summer kitchen. Volunteers
of the Exeter fire department
helped save the main house.,
Hedley May married Alice
Pfaff and they have two sons,
Douglas of Poplar Hill and
Murray May, a resident of
London and two daughters,
Kathleen Hodgen and Mari-
an Tinneyt both living in Ex-
eter.
Hedley May passed away
in October, 1988 and his wife
Alice moved to the Exeter
Villa in 1989 where she still
resides.
Their nearest
neighbours were
a settlement of Indians
and wild animals.
two
daughters and one son,
Thomas. One of William's
daughters married a Cook
and they had a store on the
north-west corner of the
farm. A saddle -back preach-
er, Rev. John Edwards also
lived with the May family.
William May's son Thomas
took over the farm in 1850,
and his family consisted of
three boys. His son, Joseph
purchased the farm in 1902
and married Clara Hicks.
They had one daughter Alma
and one son, Hedley.
In the year 1916, a silo was
built, and the telephone was
An aerial picture of the farm as it appears now.
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In the late 30's, just before Christmas, a fire destroyed the winter and summer kitchen of
the May family home. The Exeter Fire Department helped save the main house. Thomas May
built the house in 1862. Hedley May and a retired minister by the name of John Edwards are
enjoying a chat while sitting on the side verandah.
•
Standing outside the front door, below, is the Thomas May family, Alma (Southcott), Joe, Cla-
ra (Hicks), Hedley and John Edwards, a retired minister who lived there.
•
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