THOMAS ALFRED PATRICK, M.D.
Dr. Thomas Alfred Patrick, a pioneer physician and surgeon of York-
ton, is not only prominently known as a professional man but has won
widespread recognition for his political services. He was born on the 23d
of December, 1864, a son of George B. and Alicia (Hobbs) Patrick, at
their home in London township, Middlesex district, Ontario.
In the acquirement of his preliminary education Thomas Alfred Pat-
rick attended the public schools of his birthplace and the Strathroy high
school. Subsequently he enrolled in the Western University and was
graduated in medicine in 1888, and practiced medicine in Ignace, Michi-
gan, until the end of that year, after three months' postgraduate study.
He then went to East Assiniboia and located in Saltcoats, and in 1894 re-
moved to Yorkton. He was the pioneer physician in northeast Saskatche-
wan and all of the experiences and hardships of the pioneer doctor were
his. For thirty-five years he has been in active practice and during that
time he has rendered valuable service to his fellowmen.
Not all of the Doctor's time and attention have been devoted to his
profession, however. From 1898 to 1904 he represented the constituency
of Yorkton in the Northwest Territories Legislature. In 1891, as a can-
didate from the constituency of Wallace, in an election address he was
the first in the Northwest Territories to announce himself a follower
and supporter of Mr. Haultain. In 1898 at a by-election, and in the gen-
eral election of 1899, he was elected by acclamation as a member for
Yorkton in the legislature of the territories. In 1902, while a member
of the legislature, he withdrew his support when Mr. Haultain's govern-
ment proposed that one province should be erected from the Territories.
He was reelected in 1903 as an opponent of the government on a platform
advocating the creation of two provinces and opposing the annexation of
any portion of Manitoba. In the Conservative convention at Moose Jaw
in 1903 he introduced the resolution which committed that party to the
policy of fighting local elections on party lines. In the Dominion election
of 1904 he was the Conservative candidate for the representation of the
electoral district of Mackenzie. It was a series of letters published over
the Doctor's name in the Free Press during January, 1897, which probably
had most to do with his subsequent prominent part in territorial politics.
In these letters he gave a lucid statement of his views regarding the propo-
sitions to annex the eastern part of the territories to Manitoba, and his
arguments were the more forceful from the fact that he was a resident of
that region which was directly tributary to Winnipeg. In 1898 he was
associated with Mr. Haultain in a presentation of the arguments for ac-
tion of some kind which would relieve the Territories of their disabilities
and financial difficulties. During the years of his public service Dr.
Patrick has exerted widespread influence. Associated with him were
such prominent men as Mr. Sifton, R. B. Bennett, J. J. Young and G.
W. Brown.
In 1890 was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Patrick to Miss Marion
Griffith, a daughter of James E. Griffith of Byron, Ontario. He has three
daughters, all of whom are honor graduates of the University of Toronto,
and one son, a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan.
Bibliography follows:
Previous Page
Next Page