In the Queen’s Bush, Concession 3 of Minto Township, William Bent came from Lincolnshire, England to make a home for his family. The one and a half story house was situated parallel to and not far from the road. It was built of logs standing upright with a plaster-like filling between and later covered with cream coloured brick. A door with narrow windows on each side was at the center front and another entrance faced the lane on the east.

A double chimney was built on each end of the roof. The one on the east end served the fireplace in the dining room as well as a cook stove and later a furnace that fed into it through metal pipes that ran up to and across the big bedroom.

The house was blessed with four large twelve paned windows downstairs – two at the front and one on each end. Upstairs there was a fifteen-paned window in each of the four bedrooms and a small square window overlooking the roof of the back kitchen. Many little feet had worn a hollow in the pine floor by the chimney while looking out the bedroom window.

At the back of the house was a brick summer kitchen, a woodshed and an icehouse. Between the kitchen and woodshed there had once been a fireplace and bake oven that was plastered over.

The icehouse was insulated with sawdust. Large blocks of ice were cut from the pond along the creek during the winter and stored until summer when it was sold in town to people with iceboxes. The need for ice ceased with the adoption of electric refrigerators.

Over time a windmill was built to pump water to the barn but not to the house. Hydroelectric power came to the area in the early 1930s. It was installed in the house and barn. Water was not pumped into the house until the mid 1940’s. Rainwater drained from the roof into a cistern and was pumped for washing into the house by a hand pump. A bathroom was put in about 1959. Later an oil furnace was put in. By then with the steady heat of the furnace and an electric kitchen stove, the wood cook-stove was retired and an insert stove was put in the fireplace opening for occasional heat.

Near the end of the century, the house became hard to heat cost effectively and when it was taken down it was found that all the chinking between the logs had deteriorated and had fallen out leaving no protection between the brick outside and the lath and plaster inside.

Elizabeth Bent, born in 1856, was a small child when the house was built and it remained her home until her death in 1936, with the exception of eighteen years when she and Matthew Bramhill lived on the 4^th Concession of Minto on his parent’s (George and Ann Bramhill) farm. She had married Matthew, a widower, in 1877 and raised nine children: the youngest being Clendon.

Clendon married Violet Bridge in 1918 and took over the farm. Ivan was born in 1919, the eldest of eight. He attended S. S. No. 2 Minto Grade school (School Section Number 2 of Minto Township) as did his siblings. He enjoyed skating and hockey. In 1942 he married Thelma L. Holmes and took over the farm from Clendon. When the men came home from World War II a pipe band was organized in Palmerston and happily Ivan became a piper wearing the Mackenzie tartan until the group was disbanded.

Ivan ran a mixed farm with a small cow-calf operation. Over the years he bought and sold several farms – Marilyn and Bryon have one and Doug and Terry another. In 1967 the Junior Farmers had signs for farms that had been in the same family for at least a century and one hung by the home farm gate.

Ivan and Thelma had three children: Marilyn born June 21, 1943, Judith born on February 6, 1945 and Douglas born on March 8, 1946.

Marilyn and Doug live locally. Judith is a registered nurse and has remained in Toronto to work in her training school St. Joseph’s Healthcare.

Thelma bought a red brick bungalow in Palmerston but Ivan remained on the farm until his death at the age of 74 years. He had a massive brain hemorrhage and with no chance of recovery he was removed from life support on November 2, 1993. His liver, kidneys and pancreas were retrieved so that several people may be enjoying better lives with these transplants. Ivan’s remains are resting in the Palmerston Cemetery not far from where he lived his entire life.

Thelma, whose paternal grandparents also came from Lincolnshire, England, will be interred there also. She has lived in Wellington County her whole life being born in Rothsay, attended S. S. #15 Maryborough, Drayton Continuation School and attained her Registered Nurse Degree from Guelph General Hospital. She did private duty nursing and later became "Charge Night Nurse" at Palmerston and District Hospital until her retirement in 1981.

Their children:
                Marilyn born June 21, 1943
                Judith born on February 6, 1945
                Douglas born on March 8, 1946
 
 

Marilyn Bramhill
By Marilyn Fritz

Bryon and I grew up within 20 minutes of each other but didn’t go to the same school or know each other until one night in a smokey crowed bar and it was love at first "bite".

We come from similar backgrounds – our mothers were professional women and our fathers were "free spirits". We were raised on farms, so it would seem fitting that we would live in the country. Shortly after we were married in 1971, we moved to the "Deckert Farm" on the 2^nd of Minto – an ideal home for us.

Bryon was from a family of masons – a trade he practiced for the first years of our marriage. As winters are slow in the construction field, he was asked to "help out" at the Harriston Co-Op for a couple of months. The couple of months have turned into years. He came through the system to be a manager of stores and then to be asked to work out of UCO Head Office in Mississauga. When Gromark of Bloomington, Indiana took over, he became their "Retail Specialist" for Ontario. Lots of work and many miles on the road – and he loves it.

I worked as a "Temporary Office Replacement" worker or as it is affectionately known – "desperation help". Then in September 1999, I was asked by Stats Canada to work for them as an "Interviewer". I would get to run the roads, meet people and best of all – get paid for it! Perfect!

Bryon always enjoyed Duck hunting and had always wanted a Labrador Retriever. So when we moved to the country -–now was the time. He could have his Lab. Well it grew like Topsy. Not only did he get his Lab but we also became involved with Tracing and Treating Retrievers to become quite reputable breeders of Labrador and Golden Retrievers for the avid hunter. At times we have at least 6 – 8 dogs in our kennels. It has been a hobby and avocation for over 30 years – and will continue to be for another 30.

One of the thrills of our lives was when Bryon and Kanaka went to the 10^th Series in the Canadian National Retriever Championship in Estevan, Saskatchewan.

Right now, we are re-decorating the old farmhouse and loving every minute of it. I guess that means we are here to stay ……………….

Judith (Judy) Elaine Bramhill
Judy was born on February 6, 1945 in the Palmerston Hospital. She also attended S. S. No. 2 Minto Public School and then attended Norwell District Secondary School. She now is a Registered Nurse working in Toronto in the training school at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Centre.
 
  
 

Douglas Ivan Bramhill
By Thelma Bramhill

Douglas Ivan Bramhill was born on March 8, 1946 in the Palmerston Hospital. He attended S. S. No. 2 Minto Public School under the guidance of Miss Annie Bramhill then went on to Norwell High School. One winter he worked in a logging camp in British Columbia. He farmed for most of his life but now drives a feed truck for Drayton Co-Op.

On September 9, 1972 Douglas married Terry Arlene Walker who was born on January 26, 1949. They built a two-story red brick house on Lot 25 Concession 3 of Minto in 1976 and raised their three girls there.

Terry was selected as a "Torch Bearer" in the run across Canada for the Calgary Olympics. She still plays baseball with the Moorefield Ladies Team. She worked at Midwestern Regional Centre Palmerston until it closed; now she is a Correctional Officer at the Bluewater Youth Centre at Goderich.

Doug rents out the home farm and the one beside it. The roadbed of the old Canadian National Railroad tracks separates the two properties. The old house was dismantled and all but the brick was taken to Lake Rosseau to be rebuilt. Doug has a natural mechanical bent and keeps the family cars in running order.

Jennifer Ann, their eldest, was born on July 7, 1974. She is an accomplished horsewoman winning many ribbons and trophies at fairs and shows. After High School she graduated from Fanshawe College as a Medical Radiation Technologist and is currently working on the Ultrasound Course.

Josie Lynn, born on June 11, 1976 is an accomplished horsewoman winning ribbons and trophies in her age group. Josie will be graduating from Mohawk College in the Business Administration Course in 2000.

Jessica Arlene was born on January 20, 1981 and attended Norwell District Secondary School. She also learned to ride and played some baseball. Jesse has a fondness for cars and tried her skill at stock car racing at Varney Race Track the summer of 1998.

Doug and Terry still live at Lot 25 Concession 3 of Minto at the corner of Concession 3 and Highway 89.

Their children:
                Jennifer Ann born July 7, 1974
                Josie Lynn born June 11, 1976
                Jessica Arlene born January 20, 1981