Beacom

(submitted by Bob O'Neil, with additions from Lambton & Kent by William L. Clink, 1987)

The Beacom family emigrated from Ireland. They seem to have arrived in Warwick Twp. some time after 1875, according to census records.

Robert Henry (Harry) Beacom (1891–1969) was born on the west half of Lot 6, Con. 2 SER, Warwick Twp. He was the fifth child and second son of William and Phoebe Beacom. His sisters Mary Jane (1879–1889) and Edith Maude (1887–1889) had both died before he was born. In 1904 his brother William George (1882–1904) died of tuberculosis. His remaining siblings were: Mary Elizabeth (Bessie, 1886–1954) and Alice Maude (1896–1963).

On the 1861 and 1871 census, William Beacom was living in the Clinton, Ontario area with his parents. He came to Warwick to work at the Elarton Salt Works, and shortly after his arrival he married Phoebe Palmer Shaw (1858–1927) of Warwick Twp. in 1878. By 1880 William and Phoebe had settled on the farm where Harry was born. In 1889 William ran for Council in Warwick Twp.

Family records show that Phoebe Shaw's sister Elizabeth (1856–) married Robert Beacom and moved to California. Phoebe's sister Catherine Shaw (1854–1923) married Robert's brother George (1853–1933) and moved to Manitoba. Robert and George appear to be William's cousins.

Harry's early education was at Elarton School, SS#3, Warwick. He passed his high school entrance exam at age eleven and was sent to Watford High School in 1903.

In 1916, Harry's father passed away from cancer and Harry became responsible for the family at home: his mother Phoebe, his sister Alice and his aunt Mary Ann Shaw (1848–1918). By this time his sister Mary Elizabeth (Bessie) had married Herman O'Neil.

Harry Beacom married Hilda Edith Bell (1900–1967) in 1924. Their honeymoon was a trip to Niagara Falls. They raised three sons, Robert, Donald and Murray, who helped with the harvest and barn chores as soon as they were old enough to work. In 1937 Harry bought an International Harvester tractor, one of the earlier ones in the township. For twenty years Harry was secretary for the Warwick United Cemetery Board. Robert, Donald and Murray all moved away from Warwick Twp.

In 1952 Harry and Hilda Beacom sold their farm to Don McCabe and moved to Forest. Bessie and Herman O'Neil were the parents of Audrey, Bill, George and Doug O'Neil, who lived on Brickyard Line.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Beacom Family

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