Thompson, George - Bell Farm Squatter
George Thompson (c.1857-1933) came from Durham County, Ontario in the spring of 1882 and claimed a homestead on land that was designated to be part of the Bell Farm. Consequently, he was referred to as a "squatter", along with about a dozen others. The resolution of the Indian Head squatters' rights took considerable time, about two years, and not necessarily to everyone's satisfaction. That issue also resulted in the irregular eastern boundary of the Bell Farm.
While many of the squatters relocated elsewhere, George stayed at Indian Head, and participated in many community organizations. Thompson served as the first mayor of the Town of Indian Head (1902-1905), and sat on both the Rural Municipality and Town councils, as well as the nearby Wide Awake School Board, and the Indian Head Board of Trade. He likewise helped establish and operate the Wide Awake Rural Telephone Company.
SOURCES:
History of Indian Head and District, p. 6,9,23,30,107,133, 136,141,401,592,707,708,783,792
List of Squatters: http://books.google.ca/books?id=OKQgAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA205&dq=%22+woods+MP%22+%22brockville%22+%22major+Bell%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JKz6TtqTIOTy0gGL48iaAg&sqi=2&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22%20woods%20MP%22%20%22brockville%22%20%22major%20Bell%22&f=false
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon and Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask.