Birmingham Farm -- Pictures

Some History of the Farm

The 1851 census shows Patrick Birmingham and his wife Catherine with six children. The family had arrived from Ireland shortly before and were living in a shanty. The 200 acre farm had been obtained from the crown after the Queen's Bush tract in Wellesley Twp was opened after 1842. It was Lot 9 on Concession 5. Patrick farmed 150 acres at the south of the lot and his eldest son William, the other 50 acres.
The next owner was Patrick's son Richard and his wife Annie Miehm.
In 1902, Patrick's grandson William James Birmingham purchased the farm. Known as James, he was born Dec 16, 1874 and married Theresia Baessler.
In 1940, James' son John Birmingham bought the farm, now just 50 acres. John was born Sept 3, 1911 and married Royetta Linseman on Feb 17, 1942. She was born Oct 23, 1924.
John Birmingham farmed there until May 24, 1972 when the farm was sold out of the family to Ezra Gerber.

L-R: Russell Uttley (standing), Anne, Theresa (Baessler) Birmingham,
Elizabeth (Liz), William James Birmingham (1872-1945) -- known as James,
Richard (Dick) and George.

The youngest child in the photo is Dick Birmingham who was born in 1905.
This would date the picture to about 1907.

L-R: Josephine "Anne" (b. 1897), Theresa (Baessler) Birmingham (1874-19??),
Elizabeth ("Liz") Marie (b. 1900), William "James" Birmingham (1872-1945),
Richard ("Dick") (b. 1905) and George Edward (b. 1896).

From the photo albums of John Robert Birmingham (1911-). These are three of his older sisters:
From left to right:
Josephine Ann Birmingham, known as Anne (1897-1976),
Elizabeth Marie Birmingham, known as Liz (1900-1985)
and Edith Birmingham (1903-1953)
The picture was taken in Listowel at C.A. Lee, Photographers.

This is the site of the Birmingham farm, taken in February 1998. It was an El Nino winter and with very little snow. Traces of the original farmhouse from the 1850s are present in the expanded farmhouse of today.

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