George Sexsmith (1845-1912)

George Sexsmith (1845-1912)

George Sexsmith was born in Hastings County, Ontario on 30 March 1847, a son of Irish immigrants George Sexsmith and Mary Smily. He was a half-brother of Samuel Kennedy, the first Ontario settler in the Boyne area. In June 1872, he and his brother-in-law, Alex McCullough followed Kennedy to Manitoba and settled on W1/2 25-6-5w and W1/2 24-6-5w where W.H. Clendenning later located his mill.

In 1875, George Sexsmith married Flora Field and they had sixteen children. Their oak log house was located between Salterville and Campbellville and was a stopping place for travellers as well as the site for school classes and church gatherings. The family home was restored by the Carman Dufferin Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee as a municipal heritage site and is a feature attraction at the Dufferin Historical Museum in Carman.

Sexsmith was a councillor for the RM of Dufferin from its organization in 1891 to 1894. He also served as its Reeve from 1891 to 1894, and from 1900 to 1908. He was also a founding member of the local school board and a trustee for 23 years. He was a member of the Masons, Loyal Orange Lodge, Canadian Order of Foresters, and the Anglican church.

George Sexsmith died at Carman on April 2, 1912.

See also:
Memorable Manitobans: George Sexsmith (1845-1912)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Dufferin Historical Society Museum