Author, David H. Breen explains in his 1983 book The Canadian Prairie West and the Ranching Frontier 1874-1924 that "for too long scholars have either neglected this aspect of Western Canadian history - satisfied to treat the region as the haven of the monolithic wheat economy - or have simply seen it as an extension of the American frontier, but the cattle trade has its own place in Canadian history, distinct in the history of prairie agriculture and quite different from the wild-west legacy south of the border. A unique aspect of the Canadian ranching frontier was the cattlemen themselves. Many were former officers of the North West Mounted Police - English Canadians from the East who decided to remain in the West. Their presence on the range was particularly useful in protecting the ranchers from rustlers."
Breen is correct in stating that the ranching part of our history in Western Canada has been neglected. It certainly was not taught in school history classes that I recall. I was born and raised in the village of Dollard in Southwest Saskatchewan, 2 miles from the beginning of the Cypress Hills range. We knew many ranchers and knew of the large ranches of the region, but we did not know about the large scale ranching that took place before the opening of the land for homesteads in 1908-09. Only in 1980, when I began my research project - to write the history book of my home village of Dollard and the district, did I discover the fascinating story of the huge ranch leases that had existed in the southwestern part of the province. I was amazed to find a map of those ranches that occupied the whole of the region, and their colourful names; there was the Circle Diamond, an American outfit on the United States border, the large tract of the T-Bar down south of Eastend, the N-N, an American company near Wood Mountain, and the Turkey Track - the largest of all ranch lease holdings south of Swift Current. Somewhat smaller enterprises, but still of considerable size was for example, Pascal Bonneau and his son Pascal who ran herds of 5,000 to 6,000 head of cattle, and 400 horses east of Wood Mountain. Most interesting for me was to discover that Dollard was established on land that had been the large ranching enterprise called The 76, with its home ranch at Crane Lake, near Gull Lake. At first, it had American owners - the Powder River Cattle Company of Wyoming, occupying by lease a large chunk of the region. Their herd numbered about 20,000 cattle.
In a 1983 Federal Government publication From Wood Mountain to the Whitemud by Loveridge and Potyondi, they tell us that this large scale ranching in the region took place between 1884 and 1899, then -the "Golden Age" (a general improvement in market conditions) of ranching took place between 1900 -1907.
Ranching was also going on smaller scale throughout the central and eastern part of the District of Assiniboia. In the rural areas around Yorkton, and of other communities in the region, homesteaders had since 1882, also become interested in ranching. Again, this history is not altogether well known. Although the land was considered parkland - not the typical open spaces one usually associates with ranching - it was rich in grasses. The region became known as ranching country especially after the arrival of railways, when producers could more easily market their cattle and horses.
We are lucky to have a reliable account of the extent of this industry in the area and its influence on the town. This account was written by the first banker in Yorkton, C.W.R. Pearson, who opened the Pickering Private Bank in 1897 and worked in this profession in Yorkton for twenty years: "Cattle ranching was the main business in early days and our customers extended over a large territory. The cattle used to be driven from great distances to Yorkton to ship, and the shipping days were lively. Yards full of cattle and the town full of ranchers meant a busy time in the bank, as these men crowded in to cash their cheques."
Pearson described Yorkton as having the appearance of a frontier town, when the ranchers were in doing business. Unfortunately, we have very few photos relating to Pearson's description of Yorkton.
A 1914 columnist with the YORKTON ENTERPRISE relates an early story of the beginnings of the cattle industry, as told to him by James E. Peaker. Originally from Yorkshire, England, Peaker arrived with his family in Langenburg in 1888, where they spent two weeks in the immigration sheds awaiting spring. In March they traveled south of Yorkton to three homesteads on which they had previously made entry. They lived initially in a dugout, and then built a house with a sod roof. They also built a stable for two oxen and seven cows and, to meet one of the requirements of homesteading, broke 30 acres of land. The winter of 1888-89 was very mild, so much so that Peaker could go out in shirt sleeves on Christmas Day. The cows were let out on the prairie on the 10th of March, the snow being then fast disappearing.
The next year, 100 acres were broken and the cattle increased to 200 head. At that time, the country was in a partially dried up condition; York, Armstrong and Leach Lakes were all dry. It was not an easy matter to procure water by means of sinking wells.
The Peakers continued to acquire land until their holdings consisted of 1,000 acres.
"A considerable amount of cattle was invested in pure bred short horn cattle and at one time Peaker had the best stock in the whole district."
As early as 1902, Mayor Hopkins stated that in livestock, Yorkton was the second largest shipping district in the Territories, growing from carloads of cattle being shipped to Eastern Canada and from trainloads to Liverpool. Next week, we will continue with the ranching history of the Yorkton district.Note: Seeking histories and photos of the early parishioners of Yorkton's St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church which will be celebrating 100 years in 2014.
Contact:
Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher
City of Yorkton Archives,
City of Yorkton,
Box 400,
37 Third Avenue North,
Yorkton, Sask.
S3N 2W3
306-786-1722
[email protected]
