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Pioneer - KIRBY, Mathias
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
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KIRBY, Mathias
(d.), b. Middleton, Yorkshire, Eng., 1829; d. on his farm in Guelph Tp., 1888,
age 59 years. He was a shepherd in England, and also had the care of fine
stock. He came to Canada with the late Thomas Waters. They were shipwrecked and
lost all their belongings. Young Waters afterwards discovered two sovereigns in
his pocket, and gave one to his friend Kirby, which, with a poor suit of
clothes, represented his earthly possessions when he arrived in Guelph in 1850.
He quickly found employment on a farm, and by dint of industry and frugality
was in a position a few years later to rent and stock the Gideon Hood farm of
300 acres, lots 6, 7, and 8, con. 12, Guelph Tp. He worked this farm
successfully for eleven years, and in 1879 purchased lot 6, con. 11, 100 acres,
and moved on it in 1883. By his energy and thrift he gained a competency, as
well as the respect and confidence of the community. His warm personal
friendship with the late Thomas Waters, whose success in life had been
co-incident with his own, was kept up until the latter's death. Mr. Kirby was a
fancier of fine stock, and raised some of the best horses and sheep in the
section. He took a healthy interest in municipal affairs, and was at one time a
Councillor in Guelph Tp., and a Director of the South Wellington Agricultural
Society for some years. He m. Bessie Bonsfield, who was also b. in Eng. He d.
in 1888, age 59 years, while she d. in 1890 age 66 years. They were members of
the Methodist church, and in politics he was a Liberal. Issue: William, Mrs.
Thomas Card, Joseph, John (d. um.), Elizabeth J., and Mrs. William Card.
William m. Susan Cook, set. in Nichol. Issue; Bessie, Mathias, Herbert, Vida G., and Wm., Jr. Joseph m. Catharine A. Waters and owns the old homestead in Guelph Tp, (100 acres). Issue Henrietta J. and Bessie B. He carries on mixed farming, making a specialty of Cotswold sheep and thoroughbred Shorthorns. He has taken first prizes on the latter at the Guelph Mid-Winter Fair. From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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