Wilkinson

(submitted by Frances Harper and Joan Michlowski, with additions)

Joseph and Mary (Chambers) Wilkinson came from England in 1851 with eight small children. They settled in Adelaide Twp., Middlesex County. In a 1928 interview Robert Wilkinson still remembered how the ten of his family, along with their luggage, piled onto an overloaded wagon. Even though many years had passed, he could still picture clearly in his mind the “grand dinner” that his aunt and uncle, the Butterys, had prepared for them when they arrived.

His father developed a lame knee, so the family rented a place in Adelaide Twp. where the boys had to do most of the work. Within a week of their arrival, Robert’s little sister died of “ship’s fever”. The following year his father died of inflammatory rheumatism, and one year later, his mother died, causing the family to be broken up.

In 1859 Robert (1838–1930) married Eliza Lambert. Robert and Eliza moved to Lot 7, Con. 1 NER, Warwick Twp. When they came to their “bush farm” in Warwick, they had two acres cleared and an axe as a tool with which to work. A log cabin was their only building. Wilkinson bought a pair of steers which he used as oxen. He farmed this land for ten years.

Robert and Eliza Wilkinson had four children: Delilah (1861–1906, m. Charles Hawkins), William (1862–1961) who moved to Plympton Twp., George M. (1865–1887), and John Charles (1870–1960). Eliza made all the family’s clothes. One year she hired two girls who spun one hundred pounds of wool and then Eliza made it all up into cloth for overcoats, suits and dresses.

Robert became a successful farmer. He and Eliza bought another 100 acres — Lot 7, Con. 1 SER — where they built a large brick home. Robert raised thoroughbred Durham cattle. His prize bull was Prince Royal. Robert and Eliza retired in 1900.

Robert and Eliza Wilkinson’s son John C. married Ann Jane McRorie (1873–1964). John and Annie had eight children: Verna (1897–1986), Etta, Mina May, Gordon (1905–1993), George Clifford (1907–2000), Clarence Wilfred (1909–1998), Jean, and John Winston (1914–2005). They took over the family farm. John specialized in Hereford cattle. He also had an apple orchard. John C. was involved in municipal politics: Councillor, 1934–1936; Deputy Reeve, 1937–1939; and Reeve, 1940–1943.

The first telephone in the area was installed by the Wilkinsons in 1908; the first closed car was purchased by them in 1921; and oil was found on John’s property in 1945.

Verna married Fred Ellerker (1898–1978) in 1917. They resided in Warwick Twp. Etta married Robert Abell of Plympton Twp.

Mina married William Blain. They had seven children.

Gordon married Freida Luckham (–1991) and bought the Wilkinson homestead when his father retired. John and Ann lived in the west part of the house. Gordon always wanted to have a store so in 1964 he sold the farm, then built and operated Wilkinson’s Clothing Store in Warwick Village. Gordon was the trickster in the family. He was also noted for his prolific melon patch and his annual melon and ice-cream making party.

After George had a serious motorcar accident when he was young, he felt compelled to become a minister or missionary. He attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where he met Alta Bell (1904–1983). After their marriage, they stayed at the home farm for a while then moved to Northern Ontario to minister to northern communities.

Clarence eloped with Muriel Clark (1913–1940) in 1932. They had one daughter, Joan Gwendolyn (1934–2007). Clarence took one year of medical study at the University of Western Ontario and then returned to his grandfather’s first farm. After the death of his first wife, Clarence married Anastasia (Nellie) Boychuk (1914–1985) before going overseas as a bombardier in the RCAF. He was shot down over Europe and spent some time as a German prisoner of war (POW). Muriel was fond of music and poetry. Nellie enjoyed quilting, traveling and playing cards. Clarence and Nellie had three children: Muriel Jean (1944–); Catherine Ruth (1947–); and David Allan (1955–). Clarence was a long time member of the Forest High School Board and the Lambton County Board of Education. He served one year as Chairman of the County Board. Clarence’s influence helped develop Warwick Central School as the first central school in the county.

Jean married Frank Minielly in 1935 and settled in Windsor. Their oldest daughter Fran taught at Warwick Central and she and her husband Ralph Harper still live in Warwick Village.*

John Winston (Chub) Wilkinson married Doris Attwood in 1937. They had one daughter Anne (1939–). Chub and Doris farmed on the Egremont Rd. for several years, then left the area. After Chub became ill with rheumatic fever and was unable to work for six months, they moved back to the Egremont Rd. and built a new house just west of Warwick Village. Chub then worked for Imperial Oil, Sarnia, and helped to build the refinery at Fort McMurray. Chub and Doris retired to Forest in 1974, but continued to enjoy their cottage at Arntfield, Quebec for many summers after retirement.

Wilkinson family. Standing: Etta Abell, George Wilkinson, Jean Minielly, Clarence Wilkinson, Mina Blain, Gordon Wilkinson. Seated: Anne Wilkinson, Verna Ellerker, Winston (Chub) Wilkinson, John Wilkinson. Courtesy J Blain.

*Information has been modified from the publication, The Township of Warwick: A Story Through Time (2008).

Chapter 24 of 25 - Wilkinson Family

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