Emery

(submitted by Noreen Croxford)

In 1922 Fred Emery, his wife Winnifred Gale, and their sons Rea (1919 - 1983) and Edwin (1921 - 1970), came to Warwick Twp. from Toronto and bought the west 3/4 of the north 1/2 of Lot 20, Con. 5 NER. This is where his family lived until 1924, when Fred purchased the west 1/2 of Lot 6, Con. 7 NER from Gordon and Flossie Isabelle Curts. He moved a house to this location from West Williams Twp. Fred lived the rest of his life on the 6th Line (Hickory Creek Line) or Warwick Twp. Arlene (m. John Douglass, 1933 -) was born there. All three of the children, Rea, Edwin and Arlene, went to school at SS#14, Warwick.

In 1930 Fred purchased the east 1/2 of Lot 5, Con. 6 NER.

Rae married June Martelle, the daughter of George and Charlotta (Borthwick) Martelle of Northville, in 1940. Rae and June lived in the house on Lot 14, Con. 6 NER, where Fred rented and worked the land owned by Sam McCool. Their daughters Lois (White) and Geraldine (Maher) were born at this location. 

In 1943 Rae purchased a house from the old gravel pit, now the Forest Gold Course, and moved it to the east 1/2 of Lot 5, Con. 6 NER. Because of the narrow bridge over Hickory Creek at the west end of the 6th Concession, the house had to travel south on Highway 21 to the 4th Concession, and all the way around the block to reach its final destination. This house became the homes of sons Larry and Kevin, and daughters Noreen (Croxford) and Karen (Boris), to complete the family of six children.

Lois, Larry and Noreen all went to SS#14 Warwick. Geraldine started there, but after a couple of years was enrolled in the Belleville School for the Deaf. Karen and Kevin attended the new Warwick Central School. 

In 1946, Fred purchased the west 1/2 of Lot 5 from Basil Kernohan. Rae bought it from Fred in 1957. This farm was considered mixed agriculture. There were milk cows, pigs, chickens and cash crops. In 1953 and 1954 Rae Emery was elected Warwick Twp. Councillor. Then in 1955 and 1956, he was elected Deputy Reeve for Warwick Twp. As Deputy Reeve he also sat on Lambton County Council. From 1960 to 1965, he was the assesor and tax collector for the township. 

By 1938, and for many years thereafter, Rae was an active member of the Forest Excelsior Band. In later years, Lois, Larry and Noreen also were members of the band. Even later, although not with the band, Karen played the guitar, and Kevin took up the violin, so somebody was always "practicing" music in the house. 

Rae and June retired in 1974 and moved to Forest. They sold all the farms to Larry and Vicki. By this time, the farm was predominantly cash crop, but Larry and Vicki added some variety to the farming industry by raising foxes and chinchillas for several years. 

Emery family: Karen, Noreen, parents Rae and June, Kevin, Lois, Geraldine, Larry. Courtesy N Croxford.

In 1968, Larry Emery had married Vicki Brandon. They moved into a vacant house on Lot 7, Con. 7 NER, which had been purchased from Ivor Weaver. This was the first home of their two daughters, Debbie and Lorrie (Nagano). In 1993 Larry and Vicky retired from the farm, and moved into Forest. They sold the Farms to Eugen and Silvia Burgin, who moved there from Switzerland. 

Noreen married Robert Croxford in 1969. Their married life started in Sarnia, but within a year, they were in Warwick Twp., living on Hickory Creek Line. Following that, they lived in Bosanquet, Thamesville and Warwick again, on Nauvoo Road, and finally Forest. Their daughter Della (Sipkens) was born while they lived in Bosanquet, and Tammy (St. Louis) was born while the family lived in Thamesville. 

In 1970, Geraldine married Gerald Maher. They lived in Rexdale, where their children Frank and Kathy were born. Frank works and lives in Windsor. Kathy married Tom Oulds in 2006, and they lived on the Egremont Road until moving into Watford where they now reside. 

In 1975 Karen Emery married Donald (Joe) Boris. They bought the house that Larry and Vicki had previously lived in at Lot 7, Con. 7 NER. This house was built by Orville Weaver. During renovations, Karen and Joe found a board near the chimney with his name on it. Orville was a teacher, and taught Rae and Edwin at SS#14. Karen and Joe's children, Daniel and Marilyn, both attended Warwick Central School. Marilyn is married to Brent Ferguson, and they reside at 7054 Brickyard Line in Warwick Twp. 

In 1972, Lois returned to Warwick Twp., when she and her husband Robert White purchased the Birnam store from Ken and Doris hair. In 1977, they sold the property to Doug George. While living there, their daughter Cindy (Vermist) and son Robert attended Warwick Central School. 

In 1979 Lois White purchased Fred and Winnifred Emery's previous residence on Lot 6, Con. 7 NER, from Larry and Vicki Emery. Once again, a family member was living in the old homestead. At that time, the house was yellow brick, but has sine been re-sided. Lois sold this in 2004 and moved into Forest. 

Kevin married Karren Bell in 1987, and after several years in Forest, they recently purchased a house at 6659 Elarton Road in Warwick Twp. They have three children, Christopher, Kevin and Kelly. Kevin has continued with the springtime hobby of making maple syrup, which is something he enjoyed when working with his father on the 6th Concession. 

Fred and Winnifred Emery's daughter Arlene married John Earl (Jack) Douglas in 1955. They lived in Plympton Twp., where a son, Raymond and three daughters, Joan (Catt), Brenda (Armitage) and Donna (McCormick) were raised. Of these children, Joan, who married Wayne Catt, now lives in Warwick Twp., at 7187 Townsend Line. 

Chapter 24 of 25 - Emery Family

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