SASKATCHEWAN AND ITS PEOPLE
1924

         WILLIAM B. BASFORD.  
		No history of the province of Saskatchewan would be complete with-
out extended and detailed mention of William B. Bashford, one of the
first men to locate in Rosthern. Like many other prominent citizens of
Canada, he was born in London, England, in 1875, a son of Rev. Robert
Bashford, M. A., a native of Surrey and Ellen Mary (Brown) Bashford,
who was also born in that part of England.
		At the age of fourteen years William B. Bashford had completed his
course in the Great Yarmouth grammar school and then accepted a clerk-
ship in England, in a wholesale house, there laying the foundation of a
sound business experience. He was but a young man when he came to
Canada and was first employed in mercantile lines for several years at
Morden, Manitoba. From that town he came to Rosthern, in 1898, and
here established a store and yards for dealing in implements and lumber,
He built up a trade which increased with the settlement and development
of the surrounding country and in 1911 disposed of the business at a
substantial profit.  A contemporary writer has said of the transaction:
"(He) sold a prosperous establishment, the goodwill of which was worth
more than the original investment."  In 1922 Mr. Bashford organized the
Rosthern Creamery & Produce Company, Limited, and he is president of
the company, which with such an efficient and experienced business man
at its bead, may be assured continued prosperity. He owns considerable
real estate in both the city and surrounding district.  He is a great be-
liever in diversified farming and for some time engaged in raising high.
grade sheep and cattle, but he has discontinued the stock business. In
1922 he was instrumental in the building of the Rosthern Curling and
Skating Rink, which building is probably the best in the province 
and is certainly the best of its kind between Winnipeg and Calgary.
		In 1902, at Calgary, Mr. Bashford was married to Miss Susan A.
Hawkins, formerly of Port Hope, Ontario. She is a woman of culture
and refinement and is prominent in the club and social circles of this
city.  In his political views Mr. Bashford is a Liberal and he is promi-
nent in party affairs.  He was a member of the town council for three
years and served on the school board for one term.  In 1914 he was
elected to the Legislative Assembly for this district and thus continued
until 1921. During that entire time he was chairman of the Private Bills
committee. The religious faith of Mr. Bashford is that of the Church of
England. During the Great war he was president of the Red Cross So-
ciety and was active in all war work, giving unselfishly of his time and
money.  Mr. Bashford's own success and his loyalty to the country of
his adoption have been influential in inducing a number of other English
people to take up residence in Canada. Among those who have come here
are his sister and two brothers, who have likewise prospered and are
prominent citizens of the communities in which they reside.

         
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