The Wickens Family in Kimberley, 1857 and on

The first settlers began to enter Cuckoo Valley in the mid-1850’s. When the Thomas Wickens family arrived in the fall of 1857, four other families had already located there, those of Jehial Hurd, John Hurlburt, Alexander McLean and James Magee. Wickens’ son, Rufus, who was six years old at the time, lived nearly ninety years in the valley and recalled those early days.

The Wickens family had come from the Ottawa area to Thornbury, which then had only half a dozen houses, in 1853 and lived there for four years before deciding to push on into the forest. The trip was made to Williamstown (Heathcote), the oldest settlement with two stores, two hotels and Euphrasia Post Office, by team and wagon and from there by Indian canoe up the Beaver. Jehial Hurd was Wickens’ father-in-law, and the family stayed there until their own home was built, moving in on Christmas day. The new house did not yet have doors or windows, the openings being closed against the wintry blasts with heavy quilts.

Shortly thereafter Thomas Wickens went on foot to purchase provisions which included a sack of flour. After carrying the precious burden home, on foot, he slipped while crossing the river on a fallen log, the only bridge at that time, and fell with the sack into the icy waters. He was, however, able to rescue himself and salvage the flour, most of which was still usable.

Indians were numerous in the valley and Rufus could well remember their wigwams with smoke from the cooking fires drifting out through a hole in the roof. Deer, too, were plentiful, and their father was able to keep the family well supplied with fresh venison. Passenger pigeons, of which there were thousands, and speckled trout from the river were also welcome additions to the family table.

Rufus could remember the buildings of the first log school which he attended when he could be spared from helping at home, and going to Sunday School in the log house of Alexander McLean at the bend of the road just east of the four corners. Until the post office opened at Epping in 1858, mail came only when one of the local settlers made the trip to Williamstown (Heathcote) and returned with mail for anyone in the Queen’s Valley. The nearest doctor was Dr. Symes in Meaford who travelled about the townships on horseback if needed.

Three generations later…

Nestled among the trees near the Beaver River and at the foothills of the Niagara Escarpment, just north of the Beaver Valley Ski Club, is the former farm house of Ora and Cliff Ward of Markdale. But this weekend it is more than likely that the house will be no more.

Fourteen years ago the farm was purchased by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Mr. and Mrs. Ward moved to Markdale. The Ministry recently awarded a contract to Lumley construction of Windsor (the same firm that demolished Beavercrest Annex here) to tear down the house. When told that the house is going, Ora said, “It is sad to hear my house is going down.” And added that the government should have to keep up and keep clean properties they buy.

Until she and Cliff moved to Markdale all her memories revolved around the homestead where she was raised. Her great grandfather, Thomas Wickens was one of the first settlers in this part of the Valley, once known as Coocoo Valley. He passed over ownership of the farm to his son (Ora’s grandfather) Rufus in 1877, and in turn her father, Fred farmed the land.

About 41 years ago Ora and Cliff bought the farm from her father. Then 14 years ago the government decided it wanted the land, and although the Wards argued for quite a while they finally sold when the Ministry said it would expropriate the farm if they didn’t sell. Ora and Cliff wanted to rent the farm from the Ministry, but the Ministry didn’t want them to stay there.