Another important Eastern Canadian influence in the settlement of farms was the government's propagation of agricultural information. As early as 1884, the York Farmers colonization Company and the settlers had formed an Agricultural Society -an organization strongly supported by the public works director of the Lieutenant Governor's office of the Territorial government. The main purpose of the society and others that sprang up across the North West was to organize annual fairs dedicated to education, to bringing first hand information regarding the best agricultural methods, and to entertain the new settlers. We have excerpts from the Manitoba Daily Free Press that show the progress in the field of agriculture in the Colony, how the settlers entertained themselves and the early religious services being held.
COMMUNICATION - Agricultural News
To the Editor of the Free Press
Sir: Indications of the rapid development of different districts in our great Northwest are seen in the establishment of agricultural societies. A show is being held while I write, at Crescent Lake, Assiniboia, and last week at Yorkton, York Colony, we had our first and very successful fair. The value of such gatherings as a stimulant to enterprise in the production of all this or any other country is capable of, is everywhere well known and recognized. The governments of various provinces of the Dominion give grants as liberal as they are popular to supplement and strengthen the efforts of the various agricultural societies, and perhaps nowhere are the good results of such assistance more apparent than in the Province of Ontario, whose productions owe much of their excellence to the competitive system established at the show fairs. We are about organizing an agricultural society here at Yorkton, York Colony and trust that an ordinance regulating this and the many other societies which will be organized before next autumn, will be passed by the Northwest Council, from which liberal supplementary grants may be obtained.
Yours truly, J. Armstrong, Manitoba District York Farmers Colonization Company. October 18, 1884 -
January 16, 1885: On the first of January, we held a school social at Mr. Reaman's Hall, about 130 being present. The fair sex was well represented. Those present soon disposed of the refreshments on a well provided table. After satisfying the cravings of a North West appetite, Dr. Stevenson was voted to the chair. Mr. Fergus opened the programme with "The Campbells' are Coming." Spirited readings and recitations followed, contributed by Messrs Reaman, Meredith, McFarline, Mrs. Moynes, and our talented young Methodist and Presbyterian missionaries, Messrs Moore and Cooke. The musical part of the entertainment was ably sustained by Messrs Reid, McConnell, Ferguson, Fawcett, Dick Thompson and Mrs. Moynes in song, duet and trio. Messrs Jones, Tarbottom, Thynne, Rogers, and Roach from the Saskatchewan Colony gladly volunteered their services and delighted the house with well chosen songs and delineations of Ethopian character. The proceedings closed with the national anthem.
April 14th, 1885: The York Colony - Mr. Robert Sinclair Jr. writes (to the Manitoba Free Press) to give an account of his trip from Scotland: "I sailed from Glasgow on September 18 on board the SS Siberian, one of the Allan Line steamers. We had a pretty quick passage and arrived in Québec on September 27, and during the time we had a pretty good time, plenty to eat and lots of music and dancing. After dinner at Point Lévi, we got in one of the Grand Trunk Railway carriages, which hurried us on our way to Winnipeg. After a four days drive we arrived there. Halting for a night and starting the next day we arrived in Whitewood. The same day we were met by our friends. After purchasing necessities, we started for the colony the next day. We enjoyed our trip on the trail, having lots of game to shoot all the way. The colony was soon reached where we were introduced to the Managing Director, Mr. James Armstrong. After looking over the country for a few days we decided on our homestead, being well pleased with the appearance of the ground, there being plenty of hay ground as well as agricultural ground. We think the country is well suited for agriculture and stock raising. We then visited the flour mill which was in process of completion, the building being stone throughout, it being the only stone building we saw since leaving Winnipeg, and built on the banks of the White Sand River so as to utilize the water power of the same in addition to the steam power. The machinery is being supplied by a well-known firm of Galt, Ontario. The building is a first class substantial fire proof building. On Sunday, we went to divine service at Yorkton which was being conducted by Reverend Mr. Moor, Presbyterian Minister. The following Sunday, the service was being conducted by the Methodist Minister, Reverend Cook. The first of my friends who have settled here were few, but now we are twenty two and many more coming. We hope many more will come and not stay in the old country plowing four furrows for the landlord and one for themselves, but come out here and plow as many furrows for themselves as they like.
Oct. 13, 1885 - The fall show on this 1st Inst. Passed off very successfully, and the agricultural dinner was largely attended. A large number of settlers met Honourable Thomas White here and presented him with an address. Mr. White made a lengthy reply and everybody looks forward to a vigorous and liberal policy.
January 18, 1886 -Wallace (Post Office)
The first Sunday School social ever held here took place on Christmas night, when notwithstanding the blizzard a large company assembled to do justice to a very fine supper prepared by the ladies of the Township. The children attending the Sunday School were presented with a very elegant volume each, also some very valuable presents from the Christmas tree, which in their juvenile eyes was a thing of beauty, if not a joy forever.
After the physical wants of all had been supplied, the superintendant took the chair, when the musical and literary part of the entertainment was proceeded with. It consisted of readings, recitations, speeches, songs and solos.
February 22, 1887: The energetic manager of the company, James Armstrong, has received six different varieties of seed wheat from a company in Berks, England, a leading seed firm there which he has handed over to James Sharpe, J.P. for him to grow and test the growing season. Mr. Armstrong and the Company think as others in this Northwest do, that if a variety of an earlier wheat can be introduced into this country than the Red Fyfe variety that it would be an advantage. The Company is also sending in a carload of fine White Fyfe wheat for the settlers for seed, and also some oats.
Things in this country are quiet after the holidays. The settlers are mostly busy getting firewood, fencing and building timber. A great deal of valuable bush has been burned in this part by prairie fires last fall on account of so much dry timber lying through it, and the settlers think the government is making a great mistake by binding them down to the regulation 30 cords that they ought rather to be allowed and encouraged by it to take all the dead timber.
The English Church people are also about to build a stone church in the village. Their numbers are few here, but they are full of pluck and energy, as well as their pastor the Reverend Mister Cooper, who is well liked by all denominations here, and is well fitted for a pioneer clergyman.
The York Farmers Colonization company has and is proving a nursing father to the settlers on their lands, and is certainly showing a noble example, which it would be well for other companies to imitate in this Northwest.
The Presbyterians around Yorkton are preparing to build a church in the spring.
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]
