In 1883, Thomas H. Garry left Kippen Station in the County of Huron, Ontario to head west to High Bluff, Manitoba. There he worked on a farm until June. At some point he was joined by his father Thomas and a brother, Dan. After learning of York Colony from a pamphlet obtained from the York Farmers Colonization Company, the party of three boarded the train west. Once at Whitewood, they took the trail leading north to York City. Their first night was spent at a spot on the Qu'Appelle River where Benjamin Boake operated a ferry. The accommodation there was a camp fire, and a pile of brush as a sort of shelter. They then continued the next day to the Cutarm district, where they found a fellow who had set up a tent as a sort of stopping place for travelers. There were no mattresses or blankets, so they cut some grass to cover themselves. The breakfast menu consisted of a choice between pork or porridge, but not both. After a skimpy ration of pork, they headed out again, spending the next night in a bluff. They must have been glad to reach York City and be welcomed by Joel Reaman who provided meals and a shelter. With Reaman's help, all three filed for land in the Orkney District. Thomas Jr. chose for his homestead SE of Section 2 Township 26 Range 5 West of the Second Meridian, and Pre-emption NE of the same description.
Garry served in the Home Guard during the North-West Rebellion of 1885. He worked at a nearby grist mill for two years before finding work at the ranch of Frederik Robert Insinger in the Willowbrooke area. Garry later bought the ranch for himself. In 1900, he married Nellie Sharp, daughter of James Sharpe first postmaster and Justice of the Peace in the Armstrong Lake District.
The Manitoba Free Press reported the following about Garry:
November 24, 1905-
Yorkton Liberals Nominate Thomas H. Garry, Yorkton rancher, the Choice of the Convention
"The three names brought before the convention were; T.H. Garry, rancher and farmer, Henry Christopherson, agent, and J.T. Spice, farmer. The first mentioned secured the nomination on the first ballot. Mr. Garry is one of the earliest settlers in the district and was for several years associated in business with Mr. R. Insinger, who represented Yorkton in the Legislature from 1892 to 1897. (Territorial Government) He has taken active part in the affairs of his own locality, and has acted as a school trustee, Justice of the Peace, and Councillor. The experience gained will assist him in representing Yorkton district in the first Legislature of the Province of Saskatchewan."
Garry was defeated by Alan Carl Stewart when he ran for reelection to the Saskatchewan assembly in 1929. He died at the age of 92.
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]
