(from Arkona Tweedsmuir and Beers)
George Fitzsimons (1826–1917) was ten years old when he came to Canada from Ireland with his parents Heatley and Esther (Allen) Fitzsimons. They settled in Nissouri Twp., Middlesex County. George had limited opportunities for education. He worked at home for several years, then worked out, hoping to clear the farm of debt. His first wages were 25 cents per day and he worked for that wage for several years, his monthly pay never exceeding $13. In spite of his meagre wages, George accomplished what he started out to do and eventually freed his family from debt.
In 1857, George Fitzsimons married Nissouri native Elizabeth Logan (1834–1921). They had six children: Robert (1858–1948), Esther, Elizabeth (1861–1946), Thomas (1855?–1939), George and John (1867–1879).
After marriage, George and Elizabeth settled on the home farm, of which George owned one third, until 1876. At this time the family moved to 100 acres on Lot 23, Con. 4 NER, Warwick Twp. Here, he busied himself for the remainder of his life farming, remodelling, and building improvements, new barns and outbuildings.
The five surviving children of George and Elizabeth Fitzsimons married and raised their families in or near Arkona. Thomas Fitzsimons took over the Warwick farm when the elder Fitzsimons retired. He married Margaret Pullen (1876–1965) to whom Vera (1908–, m. Lloyd Paisley) and Eileen (1916–, m. Marvin Bond Harding) were born. In 1924 they sold the farm to Frank Barnes and retired to Arkona. Beers states that Thomas “is well known and extremely popular throughout Warwick Twp.”
Robert worked on the family farm for 40 years, then married Charlotte Macklin (–1913) of Sarnia. He later settled on a 50 acre tract previously owned by his brother George. In addition to farming, Robert was involved in politics, serving on Warwick Twp. Council for three years. When the law was passed providing the County Councillors be elected by direct vote of the people, he was elected for the 6th District.
George Fitzsimons married Elizabeth Moore and had three children: Ivan, Orelle who married C. Johnston, and John.
Esther Fitzsimmons married Joseph Feightener and had one daughter, Ada, who married Murray McLeish.
Elizabeth Fitzsimons (1841–1926) married Fred Rutter. They had two children: Blythe who married T. Riley, and George who married Cora Richter.
Chapter 24 of 25 - Fitzsimons Family
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