Stories of the Rix Family

Coming to Canada

Thomas and Mary were married at St. Lukes Anglican Church, Old Charlton, Kent England.
In the spring of 1832, they came to Canada with their son Thomas. They came across they ocean in a sailing vessal, which was shipwrecked off Newfoundand.The women and children were placed in a lifeboat, and the men held on to the side.
All the passangers were saved, and enough supplies were secured from the ship to enable them to survive until a passing ship took them to Quebec City.
They had lost all of their possessions, but had made arrangements for thier land prior to leaving England.
They had enough money to purchase transportation for Mary and the child Thomas, but Thomas senior made his way on foot.
They settled on the property at Lot 7 Concession 3, North Orillia Township,(now part of Severn Township). The land there was of poor quality, and they later called it Hard Scrabble.
They built a home and raised their family in the wilderness.
Thier first winter, they had no supplies, little money, and no supply of winter food. For a young couple, with a small child in the wilderness, it must have been a nightmare.
They were some of the first settlers in this section.
In 1868, the Rix family moved to a farm at Lot 3 Concession 1, East and West part lying North East of Bass Lake and South west of Coldwater Road in South Orillia Township. (now Oro-Medonte)

Thomas Rix 3rd and Margaret Dunlop

In 1850, this couple married and settled in a cabin in Innisfil. They had two children at this location, Magaret and Mary.
Shortly after Mary was born, they moved to Oro Township. Thomas rented land on Lot 15 Concession 1, and here he operated a tavern.
The first Oro Fair was held on the north west corner of this farm. For the first two or three years, they had a spring ploughing match, and the regular fair in the fall.
The directors of the fair held a meeting at the Rix tavern on St. Patricks Day.
The Oro Fair was held here in 1853, 1858, 1859, 1864, 1866, and 1868.
The Tavern was a one story log structure with with a stable in the south end for horses. It was destroyed by fire in the early 1890's.
The first meeting of Oro Council was held in the Rix Tavern.
In October 1867, Thomas purchased the Front, west 1/2 of Lot 13, Oro from the Crown.
Margaret died of stomach cancer in 1879.
Thomas hired Lucinda Irwin to help raise his family and shortly after they were married.

Coming to Alberta

John J. Rix came to Alberta from Orillia Ontario in 1892 to look for a homestead. With new developement to western Canada and encouragement to "Go West young man", John Rix sought land by watching road sides for good soil. He choose naturally drained land and filed on S.E.2-45-24-W4th and on S.W. 2 for his eldest son Herb (who was old enough to to take a homestead). That year the railroad ended at Red Deer.

The next year he came with his family-his wife Marie, two daughters Berta (Mrs Alf Ellis), and Hazel (Mrs.Frank Ballhorn), six sons, Herbert, Arthur, Percival, Edward, Clayton, and Austin. They arrived March 1893, by train to Edmonton. During the year the railroad had been extended. Mr. John Rix had farmed in Ontario, and was a carpenter by trade. The carload of household goods and farm equipment they brought with them included a set of wooden finishing tools and hand carpenter tools, including planes and chisels to make quarter rounds. They also brought a wooden Chatham fanning mill which was used on the farm for many years.

Mrs. JJ Rix brought a setting of eggs which she carried on her lap. Later they were hatched providing them with a beginning of a flock of chickens.

C. C. Reeds on N.E. 2-45-24-W4th provided a home for them until their log home was built. Later they added to the house which stood until it burned in 1958.

Clayton Rix, who was of school age, first attended school with Indian children at the Hobberma Mission.

On the 13th of March, 1895 a chairman and two trustees were elected for the new school district of Bears Hill, Mr. John Rix was elected chairman in this first election.

When John Rix retired, he and his wife Maria moved to Wetaskiwin. Their eldest son Herb took over the farm.

This is a copy the will of Thomas Dunlop 1787-1852.

As it was copied from a copy, there may be errors.
He was born in Scotland, and died in Orillia, Ontario. He was the father of Margaret Dunlop, who married Thomas Rix 3rd.

In the Surrogate Court file # 131(?) shows that Thomas Dunlop died on April 10th 1852 in Orillia.

To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting. Know ye that on the day and date hereof at Barrie in County of Simcoe was approved and insinuated the last will and testament of Thomas Dunlop late of the township of Medonte in the County of Simcoe, Yeoman, deceased, he having at the time of his death and chattels right and within the said County of Simcoe a true copy of which said last will and testament is herewith written.

And the execution of the said last will and testament is hereby committed unto Walter Barr of the township of Medonte aforesaid Tavern Keeper and Edwin Graham of the Village of Orillia in the aforesaid County, of Simcoe Postmaster, executors named in the said will they having been duly sworn well and truly to administer all and singularly the good and chattel rights and credit which were of the said deceased Thomas Dunlop at the time of his death or lawfully accruing after within the said County of Simcoe, and to exhibit or cause to be exhibited a true full and perfect inventory thereof together with a just and true account of their said administration into the Registry of the Surrogate Court of the County of Simcoe, when thereunto lawfully.

In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court this day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three.

James Robt. Gowen

Judge of the Surrogate Court in and for the County of Simcoe

Copy of the last will and testament of Thomas Dunlop, deceased.

In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas Dunlop late of the Township of Medonte in the County of Simcoe and Province of Canada now of the Village of Orillia in the aforesaid County of Simcoe Yeoman being of sound mind do make this my last Will and Testament and all my former wills I hereby revoke that is to say I will and desire that all my just debts funeral expenses and testamentary expenses be paid by my executors as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and as to my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me, I give and dispose of the same as follows. I give and divide unto my four sons Andrew John James and David the homestead and farm being composed of lot number four in the fourteenth concession of the Township of Medonte in the County of Simcoe and Province of Canada to be divide, between them in the following manner, that is to say my executors hereinafter named shall divide the said lot of land into four equal portions and they shall have the said portions valued by competent persons and in case one or more of the portions shall be of' greater value than the others then those whose portions shall not be equal in value shall be received from those whose portion is of more value such amount of money as shall make all the portions of equal value, and my executors shall determine what length of time shall be allowed to pay the said difference and in what manner they shall think just and right. I give to each of my four sons Andrew, John, James and David one of the said portions for the term of their natural lives and at their decease to their youngest surviving sons and their heirs forever.

My son Andrew to have the first choice of the four portions, my son John the second choice my son James the third choice and my son David the regaining portion on the condition that he pays over to my daughter Margaret the sum of five pounds currency and to son Alexander a like sum of five pounds currency, and in case my son Andrew select the portion on which is the dwelling house lately occupied by me then if the dwelling house shall not be charged in the valuation against him but he shall have it over and above and in case the amount of the proceeds of the sale of my personal estate shall not be sufficient to pay the amount due on the said lot of land to the Indian Department then the aforesaid Andrew, John, James, and David shall each pay an equal proportion of the balance unpaid in order to have the said estate free and clear and 1 give and bequeath all my farming implements farming implements, farming produce and all other my personal estate not hereinbefore bequeathed unto my executors hereinafter named in trust to dispose of to the best advantage and after paying all my just debt and executorship expenses in trust to pay the reminder to the Indian Department on account of the purchase money due on the before mentioned lot of land.

I also give and bequeath my gun to my daughters husband Thomas Rix, I desire my executors let the farm before mentioned one year after my decease also to sell or dispose of the Distillery and utensils used therein or belonging thereto to the best advantage before the expiration of the time for which a mortgage has been granted to Walter Barr on the said Distillery and utensils and apply the surplus of such sale together with the rent arising from the farm after deducting the necessary expenses to the liquidation of the debt due to the Indian Department for the aforesaid lot of land. 1 nominate and appoint my trusty and worthy friend Walter Barr of the Township of Medonte Tavern Keeper and Edwin Graham of the village of Orillia Postmaster to he the executors of this my Will.

In witness, whereof I the said Thomas Dunlop have hereunto set my hand and seal the first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two.

Signed, sealed published and declared by the said Testator Thomas Dunlop as and for his last will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witness thereunto.

John C Langman
Joseph Calverly
Neil Morrison

Back to Rix History

Back to Index