OSWALD BAYNES FYSH, SR.  

	Oswald Baynes Fysh, Sr., a prominent citizen of Moose Jaw for a
third of a century and probably one of the best known men in Saskatche-
wan, was called to his final rest on the 16th of April, 1916, when in the
fifty-ninth year of his age.  He was actively and successfully engaged
in the auction, real estate and insurance business, conducting one of the
oldest and most reliable offices of its kind in the city. It was about the
time when Moose Jaw was given its first railroad that Mr. Fysh arrived
in this city and throughout the remainder of his life he was an influential
individual factor in every stage of progress and upbuilding here.  His
birth occurred in London, Ontario, on the 6th of June, 1857, his parents
being Henry and Eliza Ann (Harris) Fysh, the former a native of Nor-
folk, England, while the latter was born in the north of Ireland. They
emigrated to Canada in the year 1837 and the father settled in Brantford,
Ontario. He passed away on the 16th of July, 1883, being long survived
by his wife, who died August 29, 1905.
	Oswald Baynes Fysh, the second son in his father's family, obtained
his education in the old Union school of his native city and after putting
aside his textbooks worked in a drug establishment there for eight months
before answering the call of the west.  It was in 1875, when a youth
of eighteen years, that he made his way to California, in which state he
secured employment as clerk in a warehouse at Pleasanton.  He lived
along the Pacific coast until 1883, when he crossed the border into his
native Canada, arriving at Moose Jaw in April of that year. Here he
first engaged in the implement business but in 1889 directed his energies
to auction sales, real estate and farmers' fire insurance, which claimed
his attention to the time of his demise. While he was still an active fac-
tor in the world's work a local newspaper said: "As an auctioneer he can
take a first place in any country, the demand for his services being
abundant proof of this.  His thorough knowledge of the west and his
genial and frank disposition eminently fit him for the business, and his
host of friends, especially those who expect to auction, all wish that he
may long be spared to wield the hammer."
	Mr. Fysh early became connected with the municipal government.
He was a member of the second council of Moose Jaw, where he served
as alderman from 1885 until 1892, while during the twelve succeeding
years he acceptably filled the office of town clerk. During the years 1911
and 1912 he again ably represented his constituents as alderman, and
for a period of six years he acted as school trustee. At the election of
1905 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Saskatchewan legislature.
Some of his most important public service was done in a semi-official
capacity. In 1903, as the delegate of the Moose Jaw grain growers to
Ottawa, Mr. Fysh was instrumental in securing certain important amend-
ments to the Manitoba grain act. The same year he also served as immi-
gration delegate for the Dominion government at various places in Great
Britain.  He traveled widely, thus gaining liberal knowledge and cul-
ture, and was recognized as a broad-minded, sagacious business man who
not only gained individual success but also contributed in large measure
to the prosperity and upbuilding of the community in which he made
his home.  An effective and convincing public speaker, he addressed
meetings of prospective immigrants in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Min-
nesota in the interests of landholders of the rapidly developing district
of which Moose Jaw is the metropolis.  He witnessed the phenomenal
development of Moose Jaw as a wheat center and when called upon re-
lated the experiences of pioneer days in a most interesting and vivid
manner, having been connected with all the activities of the city from the
time when he first took up his abode here. He became the owner of the
Moose Jaw Chambers, one of the best office blocks in the city, located at
the corner of Main and River streets.
	On the 23d of March, 1887, at Moose Jaw, Mr. Fysh was united in
marriage to Miss Grace Theresa Cowan, daughter of Thomas and Mar-
garet (Snetsinger) Cowan, who were natives of Scotland and of Thames-
ford, Ontario, respectively. Both died in Moose Jaw, the father on the
11th of June, 1887, and the mother in 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Fysh became
the parents of eight sons and three daughters, as follows: Ethel Florence,
Reginald, Charles R., Leonard, Oswald Baynes, Clifford, Grace Mar-
guerite, Russell, Olive Beatrice, Earl and Roy E.
	In politics Mr. Fysh was a Liberal, while his religious faith was that
of the Presbyterian church and fraternally he was identified with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masons.  He was very fond
of baseball, which afforded him his principal source of diversion. In his
passing the community sustained the loss of one of its honored pioneers
and highly esteemed and valued citizens.




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