(submitted by Gertie Caris Rombouts)
Mathew (1913–1986) and Theodora (Van Eyk 1915–1997) Caris and their eight children, ages four to seventeen, left Someren, Noord Brabant, Holland in 1961. They first landed in Prince Edward Island where they picked potatoes all summer in exchange for a house in which to live. In February 1962 they moved to Watford, where they rented a house owned by Tony Manders, while looking for property. In 1963 they purchased a dairy farm from the Veeke family in the Arkona area. They had dairy cows, pigs and cucumbers “to keep the kids out of trouble.”
In 1968, Mathew and Dora sold their farm to Joe Van Aert and bought the Verelst farm on 15 Sideroad (now 6613 Bethel Road). They built a chicken barn and continued to grow cucumbers.
Their son Theo (1955–) married Joanne Berkelmans (1954–) in 1976 and bought the “home place.” Matthew and Dora built a house in Watford on Victoria Street.
Caris family, 1961: Back: Bert, Mathew (Mac), Gertie (m. Rombouts). Middle: Wilma (m. Bastiaansen), Mathew Sr., Annie (m. Timmermans), Theodora, Nellie (m. Vandenhoven). Front: Theo, John. Courtesy G Rombouts.
Theo had pullets and laying hens until 1991 when he switched to broilers. He also cash cropped. Joanne ran a hairdressing shop from her home. Theo and Joanne raised four children there: Kevin, Monique, Jill and Gina.
In 1997, Theo and Joanne sold the farm on Bethel Road to Peter and Wilma Aarts. They purchased a farm at 8078 Egremont Road and went into partnership with their son, Kevin, to purchase Watford Home Hardware (formerly know as Reid's). Joanne continues to run a hairdressing shop from her home.
Kevin Caris married Jennifer Esselment, from Warwick Village. They have three children: twin girls Alex and Cassy and a son, Kent. Kevin operated Caris Construction until 2005, when he and his father purchased the Home Hardware.
Kevin's sister Monique Caris married Shawn Wilson. They live on Confederation Line and are the parents of Taylor, Nichelle, Mikayla and Brooke. Monique works at St. Willibrord (Libro) Credit Union in Arkona.
Kevin and Monique's sisters Jill and Gina, both live and work in London, Ont.
Mathew and Dora's daughter Gertrude “Gertie” (1948–) married Casey Rombouts (1943–). They operated a chicken farm on Zion Line. The house on that property has had several additions over time, but the original log house that belonged to the Willers was still intact in the centre of the structure. The Rombouts have three children: Dorothy, who married Spencer Seiler; Mackie, who married Jennifer Felkar; and Jenny, who married Brian DeGroot.
Mackie and Jennifer took over the family operation from his parents in 1996. Casey and Gertie built a new house on the property, at 6782 Zion Line. The Rombouts' children are Dustyn, Morgan and Carson.
The fifth child of Matthew and Dora Caris was Bert (1950–), who married Maryann Bastiaansen (1952–). They lived on 15 Sideroad (5650 Bethel Road). Bert bought the farm from Tony and Annie Dolan in 1971. He grew cash crops, raised chickens, pigs and emus. They also operated a boarding kennel. Bert and Maryann had two children: Sandy, who married Rob Maitland; and Jason, who married Barb Chalmers. Bert and Maryann sold the farm to Peter and Wilma Aarts in 2005 and moved to Strathroy.
Mathew and Dora's other children included Wilma, who married Pete Bastiaansen and farmed in Thedford; Matthew, who died in a car accident in 1970; Annie, who married Peter Timmermans; Nellie, who married John Vandenhoven; and John, who married Marta Plawiuk. These families all moved out of Warwick Twp.
Chapter 24 of 25 - Caris Family
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