The Early Settlers: cattle ranching came first

A common practice for the ranchers, horses and cattle were treated to the branding iron as most animals were free-ranged. T.J. Smith was a well-known ranching name in town and the first main wharf carried his name.

Near the end of the 19th century, the South Okanagan was mainly inhabited by livestock! It was said that Thomas Ellis, "Cattle King of the Okanagan" owned thirty thousand acres from the US border to Vernon. However, much of the land around Summerland was commonage, available to both Indian and white people for grazing their stock.

A few settlers had made their way to Trout Creek prior to the turn of the century. Alexander McLennan was thought to be the first to take up or pre-empt land in the district. He and his partner W. H. Conkle were heading for the mines at Granite Creek, when McLennan took a liking to the area out along Prairie Creek. Edgar and William Garnett arrived here in 1887 and pre-empted in the northern valley of the Trout Creek district, which now bears their name. Their family, the Lloyd-Jones’ came a bit later and pre-empted land which now constitutes much of the area of Summerland.

The Garnett’s cousins, David Lloyd-Jones and his brother William also came to the Valley along with another brother Edward and their father John. Amongst them, they pre-empted about four thousand acres. In about 1890 David built himself a farm house on Jones Flat. But he and William left for Kelowna six years later to get into the sawmill business and the rest of his family went back east. But David had a reason to return to the area and would in fact walk from Kelowna to “Gartrell Point” to court Edith, one of the Gartrell girls, whom he would eventually marry.

George Nevil Barclay was sent to Canada by his father to take up cattle ranching and he ended up in the Valley working for Tom Ellis. He then purchased a lot in Trout Creek, the McLennan and Conkle property and the Lloyd-Jones’ ranch and started his cattle ranch. George moved the ranch house from its original location to a spot at the foot of Giant’s Head, where it still stands today.

Harry Dunsdon, struck out from Harrow, England on an adventure to the Okanagan in 1891. He scouted the area, found some work and then built his log home in Garnett Valley and started his cattle ranch. His brother Jim joined him a few years later.

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