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"In its early years, when Canada was just beginning to flourish as a nation, pioneers came from all corners of the world to till its soil, work in its factories, build its railways and raise new generations of future Canadians. The Niagara Peninsual, because of its shared waterway with the United States and due to its superb soil conditions below the escarpment, and mild summer climate, flourished steadily with a healthy shipping industry, grain harvesting and eventually became a farming centre for the tender fruits. Naturally, an extremely successful wine industry grew up out of this region, producing excellent wines some of which are world renown.
It was in the late 1800s when my family arrived here from England, bought land just outside the village of Beamsville and became, relatively successful farmers. The original parcel of land was just over 90 acres was known as Lakelands. It boasted a grand stone house surrounded by lavish lawns and stately elm trees. William and Georgina Andrewes and their children were the first of our family to work the farm and raise their children there.
Their eldest daughter Muriel married Guy Stone and they purchased a 28 acre parcel of land a little south of Lakelands, built a house and raised their family. Their eldest daughter was Margery, my grandmother, who had only one son, my father. He had four daughters who now are all married with children of their own.
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