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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-05-17, Page 18ID D Reza FARM EQUIPMENT - EXETER, ONTARIO Sales, Service & Rentals since 1932 (519) FAX (519) 235-2121 1-800-265-2121 235-2791 • Hodgins farm at Clandeboye first in McGillivray Ross Haugh T -A Staff with information from Jean Hodgins CLANDEBOYE -The Hodgins family farm located at Lot 19, Con- cession 1 of McGillivray township, on the west side of Highway 4 at the curve at Clandeboye known as "Shadyside Farm" was established in 1840. Robert Hodgins (1807-1871), the third son of Old Robert Hodgins and Mary Elizabeth (Lewis) of Bal- lymackey, Tipperary, Ireland., mar- ried Ann Maunsell (1811-1847) in 1831 in Ireland. There is an interesting story con- cerning their early years in Ireland. When Robert was a young man he went to work as a groom for the riding stable of the well known gentry family of Maunsells. Robert often found himself in the company of the young ladies of the family while tending their horses. Ann Maunsell and Robert Hodgins fell in love. Ann was determined to marry Robert, despite the tremendous op- position of her parents, who dis- owned her and disinherited her as well. The marriage took place and Ann and Robert set sail for Canada soon after to establish a new home and a new way of life in the new world. They lived in Huntley township, near Ottawa with friends and rel- atives for a year or so where their first child, Robert R. was born in April of 1834. Statistics tell us he was born in Que- bec. Robert and Ann and their new baby trav- elled by oxcart from Quebec to McGilkvray township. They settled on Lot 19, Concession 1. They applied for 100 acres which was later pur- chased from the Canada Com- pany for 61 pounds, 13 shil- lings and four pence. The deed was dated April 7, 1840. The 1836 Robert Hodgins assessment roll for McGillivray shows that Robert Hodgins was liv- ing at Lot 19, Concession 1 at that time. It also tells they had four acres cultivated, 96 uncultivated, five persons living there, two oxetis and two milk cows. The assessment was 37 pounds and four shillings. Ann soon dis- covered she had not only exchanged her way of life in Ire- land for that in Can- ada, but also the lux- ury and refinements of her parents lavish manor home and es- tate, for the rough and comfortless con- ditions of the log cabin. She was living the life of a pi- oneer woman, learning by trial and error, doing her own cooking, sew- ing, cleaning and gardening. Then the children came along, their first Robert R. 1834, Anne in 1835, Jaynes B. in 1838, Maunsell in 1841 and Isobelia in 1842. Robert Hodgins was listed as an Innkeeper. To be eligible as such, two rooms in the home had to be available at all times for travellers, as well as room in the stable for two teams of oxens or horses. Ann endured 16 years of that rugged pioneer life, missing her parents who were unrelenting and unforgiving. She died at the age of 35 from burns she received when her nightgown caught fire while stoking the fireplace in the log cab - "in. Robert remarried, a widow, Mar- garet (Lewis) Culbert with two sons. There were no children from his.sscoad marriage.. In Canada, Robert Hodgins of Tipperary, Ireland was re- ferred to as Rob- ert the Elder, while his son Robert born in Canada was Robert, the Younger. When Robert, the Elder pur- chased the 100 acres in 1840, he divided the land into two, 50 acre farms, being the north and south half of Lot 19. In 1876 plans show the north half owned by his son Maunsell while his son Robert was farming the south half. Later in 1899 it shows Ellison Hodgins as owner of the north half until 1921, when the north half was sold to Louis Kilmer leaving the south half as the orig- inal family farm. In 1861, Robert, the Younger married Mary Ann Pardy and became the second generation to farm Lot 19, Conc. 1. Robert and Mary Ann had seven chil- dren, Ellison, Millie, Elmore, Amanda, Al - lie, Ida and Ward. Rob- ert, the Younger died in 1901. His wife Mary Ann lived to 1934. The youngest child of Robert and Mary Ann, Ward Hodgins married Laura Haskett in 1906 and were the third generation to own the Hod- gins family farm. Ward and Laura had seven children - Jean, Murray, Emerson, Bruce, Alice, Arthur and Victor. In 1921 Ward Hodgins es- tablished a registered, purebred Holstein herd. At that time the farm name "Shadyside was registered and the herd carried the name "Shadyside Holsteins". They took many prizes in the show ring at the Middlesex Black and White shows and local fairs. In 1941, Arthur won the honour of being the "Top Showman of All Breeds", for all of Southwestern Ontario. In 1944, Arthur married Jean Morley of Whalen Corners. They had three children, Laura, Pat and Ann was living the life of a pioneer woman, learning by trial and error, doing her own cooking, sewing, cleaning and gardening. Pam and Paul Hodgins at Shadyside Farms. c A P T V R F. THOSE 5 P E c A T M E 5 t. yr WITH IN5TANTOLOV ONES Enlarge family or team photos to 8-1/2x11 or even 11 x 17 instantly with our outstanding results. Ideal for business presentation materials, even colour transparencies • IQQ 424 Main St. Exeter 235-1331 Paul. This was the fourth genera- tion of the family farm. Victor, the youngest child of Ward and Laura Hodgins returned to the family farm at the time of his father's death in 1959, to farm with his brother Arthur under the name of "Hodgins Bros." Through the years land was purchased in Bid- dulph township, across the road from the home farm and in 1963 the farm bordering the south half of Lot 19, Concession was purchased. The first house was a log house which served the family as a home until the late 1800's when the present white brick house was built. The back part was added about 1912. A three-piece bathroom was installed in 1934 and hydro was put into the house and barn in 1925-26 with telephone service about 1912 The barns were changed through the years , enlarged and improve- ments made, wooden silos were re- placed by large cement structures. As they built their purebred milk- ing herd (over a period of 75 years) the barns were made larger and milk houses built accordingly. Water was supplied, first by windmill across the road and run by gravity to the house and barn. In later years shallow wells, drilled wells were used and now the Lake Huron water pipeline passes the property and serves the farm. In September, 1982 the barn burned losing not only the barn but the entire feed supply of hay and straw for the winter season. No stock was lost in the fire but with- out a barn to milk the cows in, the mature herd was sold. The oun er heifers were housed at another farm. In 1982-83 it was an open winter so the barn was rebuilt and the tiairy business going again, trying to rebuild the herd. The love of horses seemed to pass down throughout the genera- tions as Ward and his son Arthur were interested in thoroughbred and standardbred horses. They did a bit of breeding, training and rac- ing as a sideline to farming. Ar- thur's brother Victor also had a sideline to farming. He was a teach- er at Centralia College from 1967 to 1989. As farming continued on the Hodgins family farm, Arthur and Jean's children grew up. Laura was married in 1976 to Peter McLean, a farmer on Concession 12 of Lobo township. Patricia helped her father with the training of his harness horses as well as helping on the dairy farm. Paul graduated from Centralia College and continued to work on the farm as well. In 1984 Arthur developed cancer and passed away in August of the same year. His son, Paul married Pam Smith of Lucan on September 13, 1986 and took up residence on the family farm, being the fifth gen- eration of Hodgins to farm on Lot 19, Concession 1 of McGillivray township. Arthur's wife Jean and daughter Pat moved to a new home in the village of Lucan and Victor also moved to Lucan, but holds an inter- est in the family farm. He returns each day to help with the milking chores. Amanda and Ward Hodgins at Shadyside in 1900. 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