PERCY M. FLORENCE.
 


	Percy M. Florence, one of the most successful auctioneers in this part
of Canada, is senior member of the firm of Florence & Turnbull of Wilkie,
provincial auctioneers for Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba, and also
engaged in the live stock and insurance business. Mr. Florence was born
in Balmoral, Manitoba, on the 4th of September, 1886, a son of Peter
and Annie (McCroby) Florence, natives of Aberdeen, Scotland.  Peter
Florence was a bookkeeper in his native land and he and his wife came
to Canada in 1879 and located at Balmoral, Manitoba.  He acquired a
homestead near Balmoral and engaged in farming until 1916, when he
retired from active life, and he is now making his home in Victoria,
British Columbia.
	The public schools of Balmoral afforded Percy M. Florence his educa-
tion and he remained with his parents on the home farm until June, 1905,
when he came to the province of Saskatchewan and took up a homestead
one mile from where the town of Wilkie now stands. At the time he
located on the land there was neither town nor railroad here. Mr. Flor-
ence followed agricultural pursuits until 1907, when he formed a part-
nership with E. H. Carruthers for the conduct of a livery stable, the firm
being known as Carruthers & Florence. The lumber to build their barn
was hauled from Battleford. In March of 1910 Mr. Florence made his
initial step as an auctioneer and took charge of his first sale on the 18th
of that month. He has ever since been an auctioneer and for three and
one-half years traveled for the Massey-Harris Company.  In 1920 he
formed a partnership with J. H. Turnbulland the firm of Florence &
Thrnbull is the outgrowth of that association. The company enjoys the
distinction of having sold the largest amount of business in western
Canada. In 1919 Mr. Florence cried the largest sale ever held in the
stockyards at Edmonton, disposing of the cattle in a very short time.
At his suggestion an arena was built in the yards. He is without a peer
in this line of work and although he has been invited to sell in Winnipeg
he has never accepted, preferring to make Wilkie his home.  Through
the public nature of his work Mr. Florence has become widely acquainted
with the country and can write the addresses of some two thousand farm-
ers without the aid of a mailing list. Mr. Florence and Mr. Turnbullown
a half section of land and had one hundred and seventy-five acres in crops
in 1923.
	On the 16th of June, 1909, Mr. Florence was married to Miss Emma
Bergman, a daughter of M. E. and Mary (Mjoberg) Bergman, natives
of Sweden, who came to the United States in later life and located near
Stephen, Minnesota, where the father engaged in farming and grain buy-
ing for fourteen years. In 1906 he came to Canada and located at Phip-
pen, Saskatchewan, and took a homestead, which he operated until 1914,
when he retired from active life, and is making his home with Mr. and
Mrs. Florence.  Mrs. Bergman died in 1913.  Mr. and Mrs. Florence
have become parents of six children: Harold Percy, twelve years of age;
Merle Douglas, ten; Donald Eugene, eight years of age; Glen Allister,
seven; Gordon Albert, five; and Kenneth, nine months old.
	Since attaining the right of franchise Mr. Florence has given his
support to the man he thinks best fitted for the office without regard to
party principles. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons and he is
an active member of the Wilkie Curling Club. He has always taken a
great interest in the organization and was on the financial committee for
years. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian. church.







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