125 YEAR HISTORY OF MAPLE GROVE FARM
- THE HARRIS FAMILY
James Henry Harris was born June 20, 1869 at Stoneleigh, mid-Warwickshire, England. Stoneleigh is a historic village situated where the River Sowe joins the Avon River. Generations of the Harris family were farm laborers on the Sir Thomas Leigh Estate.
Sir Thomas Leigh was Lord Mayor of London when Queen Elizabeth I was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1558. The estate was originally Abbey lands of the Cistercian Monks in the middle of the twelfth century until it was suppressed by Henry V111.
The land was put up for sale and had three owners prior to Thomas Leigh who was given the land by Sir Rowland Hill, a rich London merchant and alderman. Famous visitors to the Estate were William Shakespeare and Jane Austin.
James began apprenticing as a farm laborer at the age of 11 as well as attending school. Education was important to Thomas Leigh. He built a large school and insisted that all children of the estate be educated. James continued working until he had enough money to come to Canada.
James arrived in Woodstock, Ontario at the age of 21 working there until 1888 when he was enticed by tne offer of 160 acres of free land by the Dominion Government for a $10.00 administration fee to settle the North West Territories,Provisional District of Assiniboia.
In 1888 he traveled to Saltcoats by train, the end of the line at that time, we have no record of how he traveled to his homestead NW quarter of section 12, Township 25, Range 4, West of the 2nd Meridian on September 5, 1888.
James Henry (Harry) returned to Woodstock to marry his sweetheart Elizabeth Ann Bass on March 21, 1889. They immediately traveled to the homestead, built a log cabin by July 1889, and began living as permanent residents August 1,1889.
According to the Dominion Lands Act any male farmer who agreed to cultivate at least 40 acres of the land and build a permanent dwelling on it within three years qualified. The farmer could also buy a neighboring 160 acres for an additional $10 registration fee.
We assume that Harry Harris acquired the 160 acres bordering York Lake by paying the additional fee and registering NE 11-25-4-2. Harry eventually owned section of neighboring land Section 13-25-4-2.
The Dominion Lands Act required a Sworn Statement by the homesteader as well as Sworn Statements by two farmers who knew the farmer for at least two years before a patent (title) was issued for the land.The Sworn Statements were filed August 15th 1892 three years after his residencyon the land.
Eighteen questions were asked on the statement. Harry answered all by stating: lived on the land since August 1889; he had a wife and two children;broke and cultivated each year and now had 45 acres cultivated, 20 head cattle, two horses, six pigs, built a log cabin16 feet x 22 feet, a log stable, and a granary.
Sworn before Thomas Ferguson, Local Agent of Dominion Lands for Touchwood District, Divisional District of Assiniboia, NWT. Tom Buckle and George Evans vouched for Harry by signing sworn statements.
The Patent (title) was registered and issued October 31, 1892. Thomas Buckle (Tom) homesteaded the neighboring quarter of Harry Harris SW12-25-4-2.
Tom came west in 1886 and was established before Harry arrived. We think Tom and Harry knew each other in Woodstock. The families of Harry and Tom grew up and attended school together and have continued to be friends through 3-4 generations.
Tom and his wife had 15 children (three died). Many remember, sons, Dick, Dan, Alfred and Sam. Raymond and Sam 2nd are still farming south of Yorkton.
We presume that Tom and Harry's brick houses were built at the same time. They were of the same brick, two storey, and the same windows. Tom Buckles' house was dismantled in the late 50's or early 60's.
Five children were born to Harry and Elizabeth while they lived in the log house. Six more children were born when they moved to the brick house in 1898. James Lloyd Harris (Jim) was the first baby born in the new home. May 12,1898.
The first born in the log house was Mary May, 1890 died 1899. Ababy was born almost every year until 1907. Louise as a young woman traveled with her brother George west to Peace River where Louise lived and married. George continued on to British Columbia. Minnie married and lived in Ontario.
