Frederick Edward Guppy

	Born in Portshead, Somersetshire, England, 1878 Died in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, December 03, 1949 Known for: Prominent pioneer of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Occupation: Harnessmaker Fred's father was a police constable and later a restaurant keeper, but Fred seems to have decided that he wanted the opportunities offered by the opening Canadian frontier. In any case, Fred joined the group of colonists organized by two Anglican ministers, G. E. Lloyd and I. M. Barr. The two had a plan for a large colony near Saskatoon. Unfortunately, Rev. Barr appears to have been less than competent in his organization, with 2,684 passengers booked on board a ship that was intended for 900, and without sufficient supplies. Barr disappeared with most of the passengers luggage about the time Rev. Lloyd discovered that that Barr had not made any arrangements for the colonists to travel from their landing site in Saint John, New Brunswick. Lloyd arranged rail transportation, and the colonists continued on, although almost half stopped in Manitoba, and only 1,500 arrived in Saskatoon in April, 1903. From there, where Barr reappeared, but without the missing luggage, the colonists walked to the proposed site for the colony, what is today Lloydminster. Apparently Fred Guppy decided to stay in Saskatoon rather than continue on with the colonists. Some say that when the train stopped in Saskatoon, then a town of only a few hundred people, a group of local residents asked the colonists if anyone was a harnessmaker. Fred was thus persuaded to leave the train. Certainly he seems to have thrived in the booming new city of Saskatoon. He set up F.E. Guppy Harness and Leather Goods Co. Ltd. on 2nd Avenue, and became active in civic life. (The Saskatoon Western Development Museum has a harness shop in its "Boomtown" display which is reputed to be a replica of Fred Guppy's shop.) Fred was a justice of the peace for 25 years, served on the Police Department Board, the Fire Department Board, and the Parks Board, and was active in his church and several fraternal organizations. He was a strong advocate for the preservation of the riverbank as a park. He was a city councillor from 1909-1910 and from 1926-1927. Fred married Lucy Marion Gash in 1912 and they raised six children. Interestingly, Lucy's cousin, Sir Cecil Chubb, was a British Baronet who bought Stonehenge at auction and later gave it to the people of Great Britain. There is a Guppy Street in Saskatoon named after Fred.

	Wife: Lucy Marion Gash, born 1886, Plumbstead, Kent, England Father: Edward Guppy, born about 1851, London, England, police constable in Portshead, Somersetshire, England, and later a restaurateur in Weston Super Mare, Somersetshire.