Brodie

(submitted by Donald Brodie)

John and Janet (MacFarlan) Bredie (Brydie or Brodie) were married in the County of Dunbartonshire, Scotland in 1782. They had a family of nine. Their son Daniel (1795–1850), who married Christina MacFarlane (1804–1880), immigrated with their family of nine to Ontario in 1849. They sailed from Scotland to New York, up the Hudson River to Albany, by Erie Canal to Buffalo, and then by steamer to Port Stanley, finishing the journey by horse team to Dunwich Twp. in Elgin County.

After Daniel's death in 1850, Christina and most of her family moved to Warwick Twp., settling on Lot 8, Con. 4 NER. They lived for a while in a log house located some distance from the road. The log house was later used as an implement shed (still standing during the 1950s). In a few years a two storey brick home was built on the east half of Lot 8. When a well for water was drilled near the house it was discovered that there was natural gas underground in that area of Warwick. There was enough gas to keep the water tank full, with plenty left over to operate a gas stove in the summer kitchen, as well as operate a light in the dining room.

Brodie homestead on E 1/2 Lot 8, Con. 4 NER. In front: Daniel with sons Fred and Roy. Courtesy D Brodie. 

Christina and Daniel Brodie had nine children: John (1826–) married Emma Moore, whose family were also Warwick pioneers; Malcolm (1828–) became a carriage maker in London; Duncan (1830–) whose wife was Margaret Livingston; Agnes (1833–) whose husband was James McLellan of Warwick and a native of Argyleshire, Scotland; Janet (1835–) who became the wife of G. B. Stephenson, of Warwick and Arkona; Daniel (1838–1912) married Jane McElroy (1857–1915), whose family were early settlers of Warwick; Margaret (1841–) the wife of David Wright, who for many years resided in Forest, Warwick and afterwards Enniskillen; Peter, who died as a youth and is buried in the abandoned cemetery located on the northeast corner of Lot 6, Con. 4 NER Warwick ; Mary (1846–) who married Richard Karr, one time Mayor and Clerk of Forest, and whose family were early residents of Warwick.

In 1865 ownership of Lot 8, Con. 4 NER, Warwickwas granted by the Crown to Christina's son Daniel. During the period 1871 to 1915, Christina and other family members attended Ebenezer Congregational Church. In 1880 SS#19 school was built beside the church. This little crossroads settlement on the corner of 6 Sideroad. (Elarton Road) and Con. 4 NER (Birnam Line) became known locally as the Brodie Settlement because several families of Brodies lived in the immediate area.

Christina's son Daniel and his wife Jane (McIlroy) had six children: Fred (1878–1962), James (1883–1905), George (1886–1952), Mary (1888–1898), Roy (1894–1985), and Tena (1896–1977). When Daniel died in 1912, by his will Lot 8 was divided in half, Fred receiving the east half with the house and other buildings. He lived and farmed here along with Tena and Roy until they all retired in 1951 and moved to Arkona. George received the west half. In a few years he proceeded to establish a home and farm buildings. A barn that had formerly been used when the family lived in the log house was moved much closer to the road. George had a modern brick home built, with a 3-piece bath, one of the first in the area to have inside plumbing. There was a large cement cistern outside that collected rainwater. Inside in the basement was a large vertical tank with a manual pump connected to it. The tank had to be pressurized to move the water upstairs. Also upstairs was a small vertical tank with small pipes running to a closed box on the side of the wood cook stove. As long as the stove was on, you had hot water to wash. Don Brodie recalls that during his early years a Saturday night bath with hot water during the winter was an event worth waiting for. When hydro lines were built along the road in 1941 the pump was soon motorized.

In 1927 George married Vera McKenzie (1907–1968), from the Arkona area. They had one child, Donald (1933–). George and Vera continued with mixed farming until they retired in 1951 and moved to Strathroy. All the farm buildings have since been removed although the houses are still there and lived in, but have been separated from the farmland.

Donald and Isobel Brodie were married in 1952. They have five children: Steven George, Donna Marie, David Orville, Sharon Isabel and Brian Keith and several grandchildren.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Brodie Family

Back Next