Our Heritage / Contents

We Made Carberry

Pioneer 

John G. Baron

 

 





Mr. Baron was born in Elora, Ontario on October 27, 1850. 

One of the first homesteaders in the region, Barron walked to the Carberry region in1878 with George “Laird” Hope and filed for a homestead. John, a single man at the time, later married Ellen Hope (a daughter of George Hope). They raised four sons and four daughters.

Mr. Baron quickly became a community leader. In 1879 Barron was appointed the first postmaster on the plains.  In the summers of 1879 and 1880, Presbyterian services were held in his home.

He served as Councillor and as Reeve of the Municipality.
 
THE CATTLE INDUSTRY

It was as an agriculturist that J. G. Barron has left his legacy. In 1882 he began what was to be recognized as one of the best Shorthorn herds in Canada. In 1897 he swept the field at the Industrial Exhibition in Winnipeg.  

Both the Manitoba and the Canadian Shorthorn Breeders' Associations recognized the tremendous contribution Mr. Barron had made to the breed, and held two banquets in his honor. 

 

Baron’s prize-winning shorthorns – 1920

Community Leadership

Aside from his achievements in farming, Mr. Barron continued throughout his life to be an active member of the community. He gave the land on which the Fairview Schools were built.  In 1905 he was made Honorary President of  the Agricultural Society. In 1908 he was on the committee in charge of finances for the new town hall. 

He died on Feb. 12, 1926 and was posthumously inducted into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame.




Our Heritage  People / Index