 Michael Fitzsimmons Sr., and his wife Bridget Kent immigrated from Ireland late in the fall of 1840 not having time to secure a farm and build a house before Winter set in, he dug a large hole in the bank of the S.W. River and used a tent for the other room on John Bernards farm (Couslons). Here Robert was born and was fed from a clam shell.
The following year Michael bought a farm in Margate, Robert learned the blacksmith trade but his one and only ambition was to breed and train race horses, he was a lover of good horses. He bought a farm in Long- River now owned by his great-grandson Emmett.
After Duncan MacLeans death Mrs. MacLean hired Robert for farmer and a few years later she and Robert married, her oldest son Scott exchanged farms with Robert.
Robert and Ann Smith MacLean had two children Bernard and Emily (Mrs. Michael Brennan).
Robert made a half mile trotting park on his farm, here he trained horses in Summer and in the South West River in Winter. A good picture of his track and farm building can be seen in the old Atlas.
From an old advertisement, Dec. 21st, 1888.
"The proprietor of Sunny Side Stock Farm in Long River offers by private sale ten young horses, consisting of Stallions, Geldings and Mares, the produce of such sires as Dean Swift 2.36, Island Chief 2.34, Royal Harry 2.57, Administrator 2.291/2."
Robert in his balmy days farmed 275 acres of land, had over thirty head of trotting horses and a large heard of Shorthorn cattle, later he shifted to Jersey cattle and had some outstanding animals.
Some of his famous horses were Dean Swift, Chief Jolly, Gold Clip, Brilliant Wilks, Lady Chief and Breezy Jane.
In 1895 an American horseman arrived at the Revere Hotel in Charlottetown wanting to buy the best young mare on P.E.I, for his stock farm, price no consideration, the proprietor, P.S. Brown, said I know where she is so tomorrow morning at 6 p.m. we leave for Long River. Arriving at "Sunny Side Stock Farm" they found Robert busy with his horses, introductions over, the American asked if he had horses for sale. Robert answered in his modest way that he had horses and would be pleased to show them. The buyers keen eye soon spotted the mare and he had Robert put a halter on her and take her out, he looked her over carefully, well pleased to find her so well trained, just what I want and I will pay a good price. Robert didn't name his price so he offered $500.00, a handsome price at that date. Robert refused the offer. $550.00 another shake of the head, at last he counted out $700.00. Robert took the money in his hand looked at it then at the mare and said that is a lot of money and I could use it. Very slowly he walked back looking at the lovely beast, his mind was made up and he said no! no! mister you haven't got enough money to buy that mare; a year later Lady Chief met with an accident and Robert had to shoot her.
Robert's mother came to live with him and his sister Bridget in her old days and when she was 95 while visiting her son Michael up West she had the misfortune to slip and fall and broke both hips, she partially recovered and lived six months over the century mark. Robert too lived to a good old age. |
