Collection - Haight Family Collection

Samuel Haight (1809-1901) was the son of Reuben Haight (1779-1861) and Sarah Haight (1775-1853), who were from originally New York and settled in the Sparta district in 1821. At this time, Reuben purchased 400 acres of land on Lots 16 and 17, Concession 4, in Yarmouth Township. When Reuben died in 1837, the farm was divided into two and, his sons, Samuel (1809-1901) and Ephraim Haight (1812-1887)), each inherited 200 acres. Samuel built a house on Lot 17, and eventually built a larger brick home east of the first homestead. When he moved into the new brick house, his nephew James W. Haight (1834-1896) lived in the older house. In 1940, Samuel Haight's great niece (Eva) Marguerite purchased the Samuel Haight homestead, known as Locust Grove, with her husband, Russell Zavitz.

Eva Marguerite (known as Marguerite) was the daughter of Reuben Haight (1843-1933) and Eva Haight (nee Norman) (1853-1944). She was born on September 9, 1895, in the Township of Yarmouth on the farm cleared by her grandfather, James Haight. At six years of age, her family moved across the street to a home called Cedar Villa when her father retired from farming. In 1908, her family spent time in Corpus Christie, Texas, where her father had business interests. In 1910, Marguerite attended George School in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a school founded on the quaker religion. She eventually returned to Elgin County and attended the St. Thomas Collegiate Institute and the St. Thomas Business School.

Marguerite married Russell William Zavitz (1899-1989) on August 3, 1920 at Cedar Villa, and they had four children together: Elizabeth Evangeline (known as Betty, later married Joseph Corner), David Homer, Paqul Louis (known as Paul), and Frank Edwin. After their marriage, the family lived at the Zavitz family home "Sunnyside" in Lobo, until they moved back to Cedar Villa in 1934. Marguerite and Russell eventually purchased her great uncle Samuel Haight's home in 1940, located on Lot 17, Concession 4, Township of Yarmouth. In 1951, Russell's work with the Canadian National Railways relocated the family to London, where Marguerite worked as an aid at the London Psychiatric Hospital, and Cedar Villa remained their cottage. Upon retirement, Marguerite and Russell moved back to Cedar Villa permanently. Marguerite died in 1991.